In a move to promote gender equality and food security, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This resolution, spearheaded by the United States with the support of 123 co-sponsors, aims to highlight the critical contributions of women farmers worldwide.
The initiative underscores the importance of equitable access for women farmers to essential resources such as land, technology, credit, and education. This support is seen as vital for building more resilient food systems. The International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) will be a global effort, coordinated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with other UN Rome-based agencies, member states, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
This marks the first time the United States has sponsored an International Year resolution in the UN General Assembly. According to U.S. Mission to the United Nations Spokesperson Nate Evans, this initiative reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to gender equality and food security. The United States aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by women in agriculture and to promote actions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
The resolution is expected to drive global efforts to address gender inequality and food insecurity, emphasizing the crucial role of women in agriculture.
