Topic: 2024-Gender Equality in Rural Areas
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Zaara Syed
Committee: UN Women
Topic: Gender Equality in Rural Areas
The Republic of Ethiopia acknowledges the critical need to advance gender equality in rural areas of Ethiopia, where rural women continue to face significant social, economic, and cultural barriers. Gender equality in these areas is deeply entrenched in traditional norms and practices that limit women’s access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political participation. With our large rural population, Ethiopia is at a crossroads in addressing these discrepancies.
The delegation of Ethiopia is home to a population of over 120 million people, with about 80% of the population residing in rural areas. Rural women, in particular, face profound challenges in access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political participation. Despite ongoing efforts, gender inequality remains rooted in the social and cultural fabric of rural communities. In these areas, women are predominantly involved in agriculture, with around 60% of Ethiopia’s rural women working in farming. According to the World Bank, women in rural Ethiopia account for nearly 80% of agricultural labor, but their contribution is undervalued and their access to land and credit is limited.
Ethiopian society remains committed to improving gender equality, particularly in rural areas, by addressing historical and structural barriers that perpetuate gender-based inequalities. Despite the progress, there is still much to be done to ensure the empowerment of rural women and girls. Education for girls in rural areas continues to be a major hurdle. As reported by UNESCO, rural girls are still 1.5 times more likely to be out of school than their male peers. Gender-based violence continues to be a major issue, with rural areas being particularly affected. 66% of rural women have experienced physical or sexual violence, and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriage persist in rural communities.
Ethiopia acknowledges the need for continued international support and collaboration to address gender inequality in rural areas. To improve educational access for rural girls, Ethiopia calls for the construction of more schools, particularly in remote regions. Additionally, initiatives to reduce early marriage and promote girls’ education are essential. UNICEF reports that 58% of rural girls are enrolled in school, compared to 82% of urban girls. Increasing scholarships for females, providing school transportation, and promoting community engagement to reduce the cultural barriers to female education can improve school attendance and retention. To empower rural women economically, Ethiopia calls for increased access to credit, land, and agricultural technologies. Strengthening law enforcement, offering better support for survivors of gender-based violence, and raising awareness in rural communities about women’s rights are essential to combatting violence.
Gender equality in rural Ethiopia remains a central challenge in the country’s development agenda. Although Ethiopia has achieved significant strides thanks to international collaboration, national regulations, and government programs, much more has to be done to guarantee rural women’s equality in the economy, healthcare, and education. Ethiopia urges sustained international assistance to tackle these issues, emphasizing the expansion of rural women’s access to economic, medical, and educational possibilities as well as bolstering initiatives to prevent gender-based violence.
Sources
https://www.unicef.org/ethiopia/learning-and-development
https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/supporting-ethiopian-women-farmers-adapting-changing-climate
https://www.fao.org/economic/social-policies-rural-institutions/en/
https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en
