On 24 July, the ADB & FAO publication – Gender Equality and Food Security – Women’s Empowerment as a Tool Against Hunger was launched at the Asia and the Pacific Regional High-level Consultation on Gender, Food Security and Nutrition in Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation is jointly conducted by WOCAN, FAO andADB. The report is authored by UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Dr. Olivier de Schutter and takes an in-depth look at women’s role in food production, nutrition, and access to food in the region, and the steps needed to remove the barriers facing them.
At the launch, Dr. Schutter emphasized that women’s empowerment and gender equality is the secret weapon for ensuring food and nutrition security. Increased women’s decision making power in all levels from household to policy is imperative for fighting against hunger.
The report highlights that Food security strategies must also be developed to improve women’s access to childcare, farmer support mechanisms, and credit and agricultural services. Social protection programs, such as active labor market programs with targets for women’s employment should also be fine-tuned to incorporate women’s needs.