The conference on gender equality in food security, held within the framework of the 69th session of the UNGA, came to a close with a speech delivered by Minister Mogherini. Other speakers at the event promoted by Italy in collaboration with UN Women, with the co-sponsorship of Ghana, the World Food Program and the International Development Law Organization, include Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon. Hannah Tetteh, Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of the World Food Program Ertharin Cousin and Director General of the International Development Law Organization Irene Khan.
Progress made and future strategies
Discussion included progress made over the past two decades in promoting gender equality and in strengthening women’s role in the food security sector, as well as future approaches to enhancing that role. Special attention was given to strategies and policies in favour of women in rural areas.
Italy’s role
Italy is making a significant contribution to the drafting of strategies on behalf of women in the field of food security, a key theme of the upcoming 2015 Milan EXPO, and of the “Women for EXPO” initiative. Italy adopted the Beijing Declaration in 1997 and since then has supported numerous multilateral initiatives in support of the empowerment of women, such as the Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI) launched in 2009, re-baptised the “New Alliance” in 2012. The theme of food security is an integral part of the UN’s “Beijing+20” campaign, i.e. a revision of the “Platform for Action” adopted during the 4th World Conference on Women held in 1995 in the Chinese capital.