The Rural Caucus convened on Friday March 4^th to begin to plan for next year’s CSW theme, “The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.” The Rural Caucus was first called together at last year’s CSW meetings and was organized by RDLN.

The Panel and Caucus were attended by women from more than twenty-one countries from Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Europe, who joined the dialogue with the RDLN participants, speaking from the experience of their respective countries, cultures, and organizations.  Participants expressed appreciation for the chance to focus on rural issues and to participate in a discussion based on community experience rather than simply on statistics or theory.  They also expressed enthusiasm for being part of RDLN’s proposed ongoing collaborative efforts to raise the voices of rural women within the UN.

RDLN Guests Cheryl Gee and Alina Diaz from the Farmworkers Legal Services of New York participated in the Caucus and raised issues about farmworker women including trafficking and domestic violence.