Director-General's remarks at the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 exhibition

“The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026” exhibition
Monday, 16 March 2026, at 12.45 p.m.
Salle des Pas Perdus, Palais des Nations

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Palais des Nations for the opening of this exhibition to mark the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026.

I would like to thank the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva, the Secretariat of this International Year, and the FAO’s Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division for bringing this important initiative to Geneva. I also wish to acknowledge the countries supporting this exhibition — Ireland, Jordan and Switzerland — for their co sponsorship and engagement.

The United Nations General Assembly’s designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer recognizes the indispensable contributions of women across agrifood systems — from production and processing to trade and distribution — and highlights the need to address persistent gender inequalities in rural communities worldwide.

Women represent a significant share of the global agricultural workforce, yet they continue to face structural barriers. Access to land, credit, technology and markets remain unequal. Many women work in informal and precarious conditions, limiting both their productivity and their economic security.

The International Year of the Woman Farmer also coincides with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, drawing attention to the vital role of women in pastoral communities — as stewards of ecosystems and leaders in climate adaptation. Their contributions to sustaining land and livelihoods deserve greater visibility and stronger support.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Through powerful images and video testimonies, this exhibition invites us not only to observe, but to reflect. It brings into focus the diverse roles women play — as farmers, pastoralists, fishers, traders, processors, entrepreneurs and knowledge holders — to sustain food systems and entire communities across generations.

Taking place during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council, this exhibition is also a timely reminder that the empowerment of women farmers is also a human rights imperative. Equal access to resources, education and participation in decision-making is essential to realizing the right to food and advancing gender equality. As the Secretary-General has emphasized, supporting rural women and transforming food systems are essential to building a more just and sustainable future.

The United Nations Office at Geneva is proud to host this exhibition. In a city that serves as a platform for multilateral dialogue and human rights engagement, it is fitting that we shine a light on those whose daily labour feeds the world, yet whose voices are too rarely heard.

Once again, I would like to thank the FAO and the supporting Permanent Missions for their collaboration in bringing this exhibition to Geneva.

Let this exhibition serve not only as a moment of visibility for women farmers, but as a catalyst for sustained progress in strengthening equality, enhancing resilience, and building more inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.

Thank you.