Aragón Commemorates International Day of Rural Women in Tauste
The Government of Aragón held an institutional event in Tauste for the International Day of Rural Women under the theme «Connected to Grow». The day, organized by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Food in collaboration with the Aragonese Institute of Women, brought together regional authorities and professionals from the agricultural sector to highlight the role of women in rural Aragón.
The meeting featured the participation of Councilor Javier Rincón, the technical secretary general of the Department Cristina San Román, the director of the Aragonese Institute of Women María Antoñanzas, the head of the Planning and Equality Section Miriam Ferrer, as well as numerous professionals and women of all ages from rural areas. During the event, a promotional video for the Rural Women project and the Woman Mural project was presented, an artistic initiative that showcases the economic, social, and cultural contributions of women in rural settings through photography. Various forums and round tables were also held where women raised issues and solutions in small communities of the region.
During his speech, Councilor Javier Rincón emphasized that «talking about rural women is talking about roots, innovation, and the future,» adding that «rural women are not the past of the countryside, they are its present and engine of change. And if anything proves today’s theme, ‘Connected to Grow’, it is that when women cooperate, the entire territory advances.» Rincón insisted that the commitment of the Government of Aragón to gender equality is «real and tangible», with policies prioritizing female participation in aid for modernization of farms, the incorporation of youth, and the promotion of employment in rural areas.
In Aragón, women represent 50.59% of the population, but in rural municipalities, their presence drops to 46.98%. In localities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, the gap between men and women widens especially among those aged 30 to 60, reflecting a loss of female talent in rural areas. However, the data shows significant progress in recent years: women hold 23% of agricultural holdings, and 83% of them also serve as farm managers. Their participation in modernization programs and youth incorporation has increased by more than 40% in recent years. Under the Leader program, nearly 40% of projects were led by women. Aragón currently has 31 jointly owned farms, mostly in the province of Huesca.
Miriam Ferrer explained that the goal is «to raise awareness of the essential role of rural women and provide them with real support tools», for which a website has been launched, along with a Telegram channel and informational materials that will reach all the Regional Agricultural Offices. Ferrer also valued the Rural Women’s Table, a dialogue space where «women are the protagonists of the decisions that affect their day-to-day lives.»
The event, held at the Casa de Cultura de Tauste, concluded with the presentation of the Woman Mural project and a musical performance by the Aragonese duo Ixeya, in a day that aimed to give face, voice, and rhythm to the commitment to equality in rural areas.
