France: The Confédération Paysanne and FADEAR continue to advocate for women Peasants’ Rights
On the occasion of International Women’s Rights Day on March 8, the Confédération Paysanne and FADEAR reaffirm their support for women peasants in defending and improving their rights.
The rise of conservative and far-right movements is exacerbating gender inequalities. In rural areas, women farmers are on the front lines. We play a key role in transforming the agricultural sector, carrying forward vital struggles for peace, solidarity, and inclusivity!
Since its creation in the 1990s, the Women’s Commission of the Confédération Paysanne has been working on the place of women in agriculture, fighting for the recognition and enforcement of rights for women farmers and rural women. We bring together local exchange groups, in chosen non-mixed settings, to share experiences and advocate for social progress measures that benefit women farmers. As part of this commitment, the Confédération Paysanne has consistently campaigned for improved access to maternity leave replacements, the establishment of a decent income, and better legal statuses to enhance the recognition of women farmers and the appeal of the profession.
In this spirit, the upcoming “Rencontres Paysannes” will take place on March 20 and 21, providing a space for discussion, knowledge-sharing, and collective reflection, linking local, national, and international struggles. These national meetings will focus on key issues such as combating gender-based and sexual violence, increasing the inclusion of women in decision-making bodies, and strengthening connections with labor unions and women’s rights organizations.
To amplify the voices of women farmers and rural women, the Confédération Paysanne organized the “Paysannes Partout” initiative last November, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based and Sexual Violence. Over 20 events were held across the country, demonstrating the strength and determination of women farmers advocating for their rights and the necessary changes to ensure their participation in agricultural decision-making bodies.
Making women farmers more visible is also at the heart of the mapping project on gender-related agricultural and rural initiatives, led by several networks, including FADEAR and the Confédération Paysanne. This map [1] already lists over sixty initiatives, with around forty originating from the Confédération Paysanne/FADEAR networks across different regions. This tool for knowledge-sharing contributes to the crucial challenge of generational renewal by fostering conditions that welcome and support new entrants into the profession.