- VIII Global Conference on Family Farming: “The sustainability of the planet - Empowerment of rural women for a comprehensive response”
- “We are achieving positive results and it is necessary to disseminate that value among Youth”
- For statistical purposes, 73% of the municipalities of Euskadi are rural, 74% of the surface.
- The percentage of women living in rural Basque areas represents 49% of the population, lower than in urban areas, where it exceeds 52%.
Vitoria-Gasteiz 2024 03 21
Mrs Nerea Melgosa, Minister of Equality, Justice and Social Policies of the Basque Government, indicated that “the empowerment of Rural Women requires a comprehensive response and in Euskadi we strongly promote gender equality in the sector, which is why we are achieving results.” positive. It is also necessary to disseminate it among Youth; those young girls and boys who, little by little, take the helm of the new society.”
Melgosa has spoken at the opening of the Family Farming Conference “Empowerment of rural women for a comprehensive response: The situation of rural women in Euskadi and the Policies of the Basque Government to promote gender equality in the sector” that is taking place at the Europa Conference Centre in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
“Collaboration between institutions and social organizations is achieving this empowerment, although there is still a long way to go. I trust that this example of principles and work that we do in the Basque Country will serve as an example and good practices for other parts of Europe”
To this end, Nerea Melgosa has set the objectives of promoting the participation of women in decision-making areas in rural areas; the visibility and appreciation of the role and work of rural women, the promotion of actions that promote a co-responsible society and the development of a forum for detecting and transmitting the real needs of rural women, with solutions and improvements for them. She also suggests a forum for collaboration between the different institutions and social agents that work for the equality of women and men in rural areas.
Sustainability
“Euskadi is hosting these days this World Summit on Family Farming: an excellent setting given the importance, work and actions that we carry out in this land in favor of the empowerment of rural women, to debate the need for a commitment to sustainability of the planet and the reduction of inequalities,” said Mrs Nerea Melgosa.
Basque rural women, according to data from the Eustat-Basque Institute of Statistics, are today more than double what was reflected in previous studies due to the change in the concept of “rurality” that is defined in the Basque Rural Development Law of 2022.
“Here we are moving towards a concept of development in line with the Territorial Cohesion Policy promoted by the European Union,” said Nerea Melgosa. Currently, 12% of the population of Euskadi lives in rural areas: a percentage that has experienced slight growth in recent years. Today, for statistical purposes, 73% of the municipalities of Euskadi are rural, 74% of our surface area.” The percentage of women living in rural Basque areas represents 49% of the population, and is lower than in urban areas, where it exceeds 52%.
As detailed by the Minister, “in Araba, this percentage is the highest of all the Territories. Here, a greater number of women live in rural areas - 9% -, followed by Biscay and Gipuzkoa with 7% and 6% respectively. This gives us a scenario - both rural and urban - balanced in terms of population by sex - up to 40/60 is considered equal -, with a small difference of 3% towards masculinity in rural areas.
More information on the portal Irekia (Will open in a new window)