Investing in women empowerment is not just fair, it is transformative, Arnold Puech D’Alissac, president, World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Rome, said here on Monday.
He spoke at an event ‘UN Year of Cooperatives: Building Women’s Cooperative Leadership Networks Through Capacity Building’ organised by The Working Women’s Forum (India)- Indian Cooperative Network for Women. It was held as a side event of the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development. “When women have opportunities, communities grow stronger, and agriculture becomes more resilient. Cooperatives can break down barriers. They create spaces where women’s voices are heard, where women can take the lead,” he added.
Andreas Kappes, Secretary General, International Raiffeisen Union (IRU), Germany, said, women leaders are stepping forward to create solutions that benefit all.
Nandini Azad, president of the Working Women’s Forum (India) and Indian Cooperative Network for Women said, she noted that WWF-ICWN focus on women cooperatives has garnered internationally attention, solidifying its reputation as a leading force in the cooperative sector.
Six women cooperative entrepreneurs have been honoured with the H.S. Jaya Arunachalam Awards for Excellence.
Milagros Matus, Representative of the CARICOM Agricultural & Agro-Industrial Development, Directorate of Economic Integration, Innovation and Development, Secretariat, Guyana and Viviana Bezerra De Mesquita’s, Representative of the Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming of Brazil (MDA) were among those who spoke at the event.
Published - February 12, 2025 12:52 am IST
