Women’s rights worldwide are frequently infringed upon, especially in remote and regional settings. Many women face abuse and discrimination from partners and family members. Although judicial systems have set rules and regulations to protect rural women, the fear of repercussions often discourages women from seeking help and support from authorities. Consequently, women’s health issues in rural areas go unaddressed. Owing to a systemic lack of equality, economically disadvantaged, rural women often face hurdles in their daily lives owing to their lack of opportunity and therefore education.

UN Declaration for Rural Women

In 2018, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) adopted a global draft Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. This recognises the major role women play in regional and national economies worldwide. In particular, their contribution to the non-monetised sectors of the economy, such as parenting and free labour. Yet often, they are denied tenure and ownership of land, equal access to land, productive resources, and financial services, making it difficult for women to recover from natural disasters and gain independence.

rural female issues: Safeguarding women’s rights

The declaration mentioned above recognises the important role that rural and indigenous people play in caring for the land and maintaining biodiversity across the planet. It also recognises the threats to livelihoods posed by climate change and urbanisation. Most importantly, it recognises the vital role of women in the care and prosperity of their families in these areas. As per the declaration, states shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate any form of discrimination against rural women, to safeguard their health and rights. In addition, the authorities must promote equality between men and women. Women must be allowed to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Also, they must be allowed to participate in and benefit from rural economic, social, political and cultural development.

How are female rights being Disregarded?

Land Ownership

In developing countries, women constitute, on average, 43% of agricultural labour, often with reduced income and increased hours. Rural women support their households and communities by ensuring food and nutrition security, generating income, and improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being. They contribute to agricultural and rural enterprises and fuel local and global economies. Yet, every day, around the world, rural women and girls face persistent structural constraints which prevent them from fully experiencing the human rights that should be afforded to them. These constraints hamper their efforts to improve their lives as well as those of others around them.

Customs and Social Practices

Women are frequently subjected to violence and mistreatment from partners and through traditional social customs like genital mutilation. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has deep sociological roots in many rural communities in developing countries. It can lead to deep psychological issues for the affected children and lifelong trauma. These social conventions place pressure on parents to perform FGM on their daughters to prepare them for marriage and adulthood. Its cultural significance leads to the false belief that it maintains girls’ chastity, preserves fertility, improves hygiene, and enhances sexual pleasure for men. None of these are true and FGM has been banned in many countries, including Australia, owing to its negative health effects. Education on the issue is decreasing the prevalence of FGM but it still occurs in 31 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Lack of Education

Women make up over two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate population, with just ten countries accounting for 72% of all illiterate adults. In some countries, far fewer rural women can read and write than rural men. For example, in Cambodia, only 14% of rural men are illiterate, compared to 48% of rural women. But in Burkina Faso, 71% of rural women and 63% of rural men cannot read and write. Literacy and education are powerful tools for empowering rural women to address health issues and fight poverty and hunger. Educated women are more likely to be healthy, generate higher incomes, and have greater
decision-making power within their households, reducing poverty, increasing family planning, and ensuring greater economic security.

Rural Female Issues: Sexual Harassment and the Threat of Violence

According to a multi-country study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), rural women report more experiences of physical abuse than urban women. However, this is likely underreported as only one in five women in Australia seek help to escape violent situations. Furthermore, the data shows no clear pattern as to whether more rural or urban women are accessing various services to deal with the abuse. In general, women may doubt that services will offer them the help they require. They may also fear for the safety of their children and themselves if they report abuse. Police, counselling, and legal services may be more difficult for women to access in rural areas, compared to urban areas owing to a lack of transport, the long distance to the services, and an overstretched system.

Access to Healthcare

Access to healthcare in rural areas is often harder than in urban areas as services are focused on population centres. Therefore, treatment for easily curable diseases is inaccessible for many. This also impacts family members as they must become carers, usually unpaid. For example, most of the care for people living with HIV is provided in the home, and women and girls account for 66-90% of all AIDS caregivers. This disproportionate share of AIDS-related caregiving imposes a heavy toll on their own health and well-being, also leading to their increased vulnerability to HIV infection. HIV-associated stigma and discrimination from communities can cause alienation and increase the poverty of female- and child-headed households. Furthermore, a child in a household with AIDS has a higher probability of dropping out of school at an early age, adding to the burden faced by female caregivers.

What rights do rural women have?

Article 6 of the Advanced Draft of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other people working in rural areas sets out several key specific rights for rural women regarding decision-making and health care. This includes autonomy and privacy, income generation, social security, training, and education. In addition, it covers access to land and natural resources, gender violence, and marriage equality. Rural women, and all people, have the right to be free from discrimination and violence. Further, women have the right to determine their political status and social development freely, as well as to freely pursue, participate in, and benefit from their economic and cultural development.

Female Rights in Regional Australia

50% of Australian women live in rural, regional, and remote areas and play a crucial role in strengthening rural communities. In particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in rural, regional, and remote areas are the backbone of their communities. Indigenous people comprise six per cent of the population in remote areas and nine per cent in very remote areas, despite only accounting for three per cent of the Australian population. To uplift such communities, Australia ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1983. Subsequently, the Sex Discrimination Act was passed by the Federal Parliament in 1984. Following this, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner was set up as part of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

For context, women account for 42% of the managerial workforce and only 22% of CEO positions. Only 34% of women are on a board and one in four directorial boards have no women at all. More than ever, these inequalities are exacerbated in rural, regional, and remote areas. To end this, there is a call for leadership teams to be comprised of 40:40:20. The leadership team would then be 40% male and 40% female with 20% comprised of any gender.

Other campaigns for female rights

Looking also at Barefoot Enriche’s campaign for gender equality. It is an education and empowerment program for women living in regional and remote areas.

moving forward

Addressing health issues for rural women and promoting gender equality requires a multifaceted approach encompassing social, economic, and political strategies. First, providing access to education is crucial, as it empowers women with the knowledge and skills to contribute to economic growth and participate in household decision-making.

Remote and regional areas have some of the most rigid social practices and economic conditions. This makes it difficult to enact meaningful change for rural women. However, action groups and government bodies have been seeking to address various related problems. Policies that recognise and address the unique needs of rural women, such as land rights, access to healthcare, protection against violence, and access to resources, are imperative.

Why is it essential that we focus on Rural Female Issues?

By focusing on rural women’s health issues and rights, we can ensure their participation in society and their contribution to sustainable development. We must protect their rights and promote their participation in decision-making processes. When women are healthy and empowered, they significantly contribute to sustainable development. Overall, ensuring rural women’s access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities helps create a more equitable world.

achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and how they link to Rural Women’s Issues

Addressing the issues facing rural women is a crucial step towards achieving gender equality and ensuring equitable education. This is recognised in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) of SDG3 good health and well-being, SDG5, gender equality and SDG4, quality education. Rural women face various challenges, such as limited access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. These can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being. This also affects their participation in cultural, social, political, and economic development. Despite women constituting half of the global population and thus accounting for half of its potential, inequality persists worldwide, hindering social progress. To overcome systemic obstacles and achieve this, rural women’s rights must be a focus of national policies and investments.

A Thrivable Framework

THRIVE (The Holistic Regenerative Innovative Value Entity) Project is committed to promoting sustainability. The THRIVE platform envisages a world in which sustainable practices can lead to a state of ‘thrivability’. The ultimate aim is not only to survive but thrive. We recognise that to achieve a thrivable society, safeguarding human rights and promoting gender equality are paramount to this mission.

Women’s rights come under the THRIVE Foundational Focus Factors, (FFF’s) of complex wicked problems, finite resources and values-based innovation. To work towards a resolution, science-based targets must be used to allow the clear attainment of goals. This allows clear targets to work towards. To understand complex systems and illuminate the way toward a thriving future, the THRIVE framework utilises a science-based approach to examine issues and make predictive analyses to support sustainable transformations. The THRIVE Platform helps visualise performances, thresholds, and allocations through ciambella charts. It is dedicated to researching, informing, and advocating for change in pursuit of a sustainable world.

Through the “Thrivability Matters Webinar Series,” as well as research and informational publications, the THRIVE Project expands awareness of sustainability issues, the UN SDGs, and how they may be accomplished.