Woman's Worth and Global Sustainability

Women's empowerment is central to global sustainability says New UN Report. The UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability released its report “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing,” on 30 January 2011 in Addis Ababa. The 22-member panel established by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2010 brought renowned global leaders together to “formulate a new blueprint for a sustainable future on a planet under increasing stress resulting from human activities. “Persistent gender inequality in particular has to be addressed as part of any serious shift towards sustainable development.”

Today, while women make up over half the world’s population and produce over half its food, they own less than 2% of its land. While development experts recommend agriculture as one of the fastest advancements out of poverty for Africa, women in many countries like Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe rarely control the profits from their crops, though they make up 80% of the farmers. Women are the farmers of the world. Now their right to own land is being recognized as the key for ending global hunger. See high Stakes at Land