High poverty rates among rural women holding back dev’t, says UNESCO

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), rural women and girls suffer some of the highest rates of poverty globally. In particular, of the world’s 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty in developing countries, rural households headed by women are among the most vulnerable.

UNESCO is therefore devoting its observance of International Women’s Day to call attention to the plight of rural women and girls.

UNESCO estimates that about 80 percent of the 67 million children out of school live in rural areas, and that the majority of whom are girls. Young girls from poor rural households are also the least likely of any social group to be in school or to ever gain access to education. Illiteracy rates in rural areas are almost twice as high as in urban areas, and higher still among women.

According to UNESCO, this holds back progress towards development targets and hinders rural economic growth. Improving education for women and girls in rural areas is a central issue both for achieving gender equality and for poverty eradication.

“Too often marginalised, women living in rural settings face steep challenges to the exercise of their human rights, their personal development and the pursuit of their aspirations,” said UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova.

MIDORI 2012 prize for biodiversity now open for nominations

The AEON Environmental Foundation announced today the opening of norminations for the 2012 MIDORI Biodiversity Prize. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions towards the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Applications will be judged according to the following criteria: (1) international contribution; (2) contribution to conservation and sustainable use; (3) social contribution; (4) long-term viewpoints/continuity; (5) creativity/originality; (7) civic mindedness/broad viewpoints;  and (8) efficacy/influence.

Nominations will be accepted from 1 March - 30 June 2012. Nomination forms are available on the MIDORI Prize website: www.aeon.info/ef/midori/prize. 

MIDORI Prize is a biennial international prize established by the AEON Environmental Foundation. The foundation has made diverse efforts in planting trees, supporting environmental NGOs and NPOs, and organizing international congresses.

For more information, please visit the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) website: www.cbd.int.