Topic: 2024-Gender Equality in Rural Areas
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Daniel Hernanz
Much like in domestic work, Iran knows the importance that rural women have in maintaining and advancing a country. Rural women have a significant role in the agriculture of Iran, playing an active part in crop production, fisheries and poultry raising and other livestock. It is thanks to these women that Iranian culture has always had a key emphasis on traditional family and cultural values.
Because of this, Iran has held in high priority the importance of women’s rights in these areas. In the 62nd session of the CSW, Iran highlighted its efforts to improve access to healthcare and education in rural areas, such as through community health worker programs. The delegation of Iran has also supported the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development, expressing particular emphasis on Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality). Iran has also always highlighted the importance that Women in rural areas play in agricultural development and reaching food security. Iran has also always advocated for more overarching solutions, as zeroing in on just women, which only leads to ineffective solutions. This would include everything from encouraging agricultural development in all nations to zeroing in on struggles that rural people face, such as climate change. Iran recognizes the increased need for access to credit, training and markets for rural women, and would support resolutions based upon that.
Although Iran has recently struggled with its relations with other countries in the U.N., as it was expelled from the CSW in 2022, it hopes that this committee will not be a repetition of that and that all countries will respect national sovereignty and the integrity of the U.N..
As Iran is heavily impacted by this issue, the Iranian delegation is looking forward to collaboration on a resolution that proposes a multifaceted approach to solving this issue, which accounts for the multifactorial nature of it, that recognizes the importance rural women play in international food security and overall health, and urges nations to implement initiatives that increase access to markets for all people in rural areas. Iran will also advocate for a framework around traditional familial values. Iran also heavily encourages an unbiased resolution, that proposes an unilateral approach for each country, and does not target any one country, as not infringing on national sovereignty and respecting differences in culture should always be the committee’s top concern.
