There is need to empower rural women so as to meet climate change challanges, Executive Director of the Centre of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) Soukeina Bouraoui said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a regional workshop organised in Tunis under the theme: “Rural women and the challenges of water, energy and food systems,” Bouraoui explained that the crises associated with climate change could have a negative impact on the conditions of women in rural areas, leaving them more exposed to gender-based violence, health risks and the fall-out of natural disasters.
She pointed out in this regard, the need to further empower rural women and train them in new agricultural practices to help them deal with the problems associated with climate change.
Reinforcing the rights of women working in the agricultural sector is a key issue in building sustainable economies and societies capable of withstanding a future that guarantees climate justice and gender equality, Bouraoui considered.
Taking the floor, Partne
rship for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) Project Manager Ali Rhoum said that this programme is funding 202 research and innovation projects in Mediterranean countries, including projects focusing on the correlation between water, energy and environmental systems to ensure the sustainability of food and energy security.
Women are no longer considered as victims who need to be saved, but have become a pivotal player and component of programmes drawn up to combat global warming.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse