Rural Women’s Speak-Out
October 15 via Zoom
11:30 am India & Sri Lanka
11:45 am Nepal
12:00 pm Bangladesh
1:00 pm Indonesia
2:00 pm Malaysia & Philippines
2 hours
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are disproportionately affecting rural women. Rural women are more likely than men to be affected by food insecurity and malnutrition; they are grappling with challenges to livelihood, increase in work burden, and increased risk of gender-based violence.
On International Rural Women’s Day, the Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC) will hold an online speak-out to highlight the plight and demands of rural women as they face the impacts of COVID-19. Part of the 16 Days of Global Action on Agroecology: Fight for Food Systems Change!, hear the voices of women food producers from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, and Bangladesh! The speak-out will also tackle the pandemic’s impacts on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women across Asia Pacific.
Speakers:
Nirmala Shestra is a farmer and chairperson of the Women Awareness Group, a partner of the Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal.
Widya is a leader of oil palm plantation workers in Riau, Indonesia and a member of SERUNI.
Shanthi is an organiser of rural women for the Society of Rural Education based in Tamil Nadu, India.
Fatima Burnad is the founder of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum and Society of Rural Education in India.
Sai Racherla is the deputy executive director of the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Cathy Estavillo is the secretary general of AMIHAN National Federation of Peasant Women in the Philippines.
Aleli Abrazado is a farmer from Isabela, Philippines.
Veneetha is a farmer from Monaragala, Sri Lanka and a member of the Vikalpani National Women’s Federation.
Hosne Ara Hasi is the chief executive of JAGO Nari based in Barisal, Bangladesh.
Sarojeni Rengam is the executive director of Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific, based in Penang, Malaysia.
Register via Zoom, https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0312H9DzR7quEnYeBZLX-g
or watch live via the PANAP Facebook page.
