UK: Muslim Aid supports rural women in fight against poverty

14-10-2010

London, (Muslim Aid):

Muslim Aid today issued a statement recognising the importance of women in rural communities in alleviating poverty and stressing the need to invest in their development ahead of the International Day for Rural Women, held on 15 October 2010.



Commenting on the significance of the day, a Spokesperson for Muslim Aid said: "Every year, millions of women from rural communities in developing countries participate in crop production and livestock care, feed their families and carry out vital functions in caring for children, elderly persons and the sick, yet their contribution is not accounted for in national economic indicators because they contribute only in the informal sector."



"Empowering women from rural backgrounds leads to long-term sustainable development and has proved to be an effective tool to fighting poverty. We therefore need to elevate their status and make their role pivotal for the health, development and livelihood of communities,” added the Spokesperson.



Muslim Aid supports women from rural communities with programmes such as microfinance schemes, income generation, skills training and education in a number of countries from Bangladesh to Iraq and Sri Lanka to Sudan. Through these programmes hundreds of women have been able to start up small and medium enterprise businesses, acquire skills, feed their families and enhance their personal development.