The municipality of Albox hosted the commemorative events organised by the Provincial Council of Almería on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women throughout the day on Wednesday. The president of the Institution, Javier A. García, and the mayor of Albox, María del Mar Alfonso, were in charge of inaugurating a programme that ran until the early afternoon.
Round tables with mayors of small municipalities and women’s associations for sustainable rural development; a theatrical performance by Territorio Violeta; a lunch at the Hospedería Virgen del Saliente and a guided tour of the Sanctuary were the activities that took place during the day. More than 120 women from 34 municipalities and 43 associations from all over the province participated in the day.
Javier A. García has expressed his special enthusiasm for opening this event and sharing this space with women who are “protagonists of the present and the future” of the towns in the province. “Today we are in Albox not only to celebrate the role of women in the rural sphere, but also their leadership capacity in politics, the economy and in the associative fabric of our small municipalities. Women who, with effort and determination, have known how to weave collaboration networks, promote transformative projects and contribute decisively to the development of the rural municipalities of the province. Thank you to all the mayors and women’s associations for so much,” he explained.
The President of the Provincial Council has highlighted that “you are the most convincing proof that rural women are the driving force of development because the greatest source of social and business innovation that exists within our province emanates from their daily activity”. In this sense, he has assured that “the Provincial Council of Almería has a firm commitment to the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women, wherever they live. We know that the progress of our towns depends on the active and full participation of women.”
Finally, she explained that this day is an opportunity to claim and remember. “To claim the fundamental role of women in our towns, a figure who, with her invisible work, has been essential to the history of our towns and to whom today we want to give the place she deserves, as a driving force of transformation and development. The leadership of rural women is not only necessary, it is essential. Therefore, from the Provincial Council of Almería, we will continue working to ensure that this leadership is strengthened and grows, because we know that, without you, there is no future for our municipalities.”
For her part, the Mayor of Albox said that “we are extremely grateful to the Provincial Council for having chosen Albox to hold this provincial meeting of rural women and from here to be able to promote all the demands and needs of a group that is vital in our towns. Today we are sharing experiences and projects to improve life in the rural world.”
During her speech, María del Mar Alfonso said that “for me there are three concepts that I think we have to develop: rural women, the rural world and depopulation. We all have to develop policies so that depopulation does not affect the rural environment, as well as promote employment and the socio-cultural aspect. It is from the rural world that we can promote this.”
Experience tables
During the day, the challenges facing rural women were analysed through round tables. The first was attended by the Mayor of Albox, María del Mar Alfonso; the Mayor of Santa Fe de Mondújar, Trinidad Góngora; Emilia Mateo, Mayor of Urracal; and Ana María López, Mayor of Vélez Blanco.
Each mayor has described the challenges faced by rural women in the interior. Trinidad Góngora has emphasised that “their dedication is total and a source of pride. Women in the rural world go beyond being workers in agriculture and livestock farming”. In addition, she has said that “society owes a debt to rural women, as we have difficulties in accessing the world of work and in achieving conciliation”.
For her part, the Mayor of Vélez Blanco has highlighted the evolution of society and the importance of the rural world through agriculture and women in this sector but that “there is still a lot of work to be done because it is still not deservedly valued.”
Emilia Mateo has once again highlighted the importance of rural women and has said that she has always lived and been educated in a rural life, “my parents were farmers”. She has also highlighted that there has been progress because “before it seemed that there were differences because of being from the rural world”, and she has also highlighted the importance of the PFEA for the rural world and for job accessibility, which “is giving a lot of life to rural women”.
Finally, the Mayor of Albox stressed that “the role of rural women in society is very important. I work to instil in my children equal treatment in society. I think it is one of the fundamental tasks that must be done in the family. We must work to value the rural world so that young people maintain the link with the villages.”
Another round table of experiences on women’s associations for sustainable rural development was also held. The association GEA, Women Cooperative Members with Inmaculada Idáñez; AFFAMER, Women and Families of the Rural Environment of El Ejido, with Rita Mateos; CERES, the Association of Women of the Rural World of Vícar, with María Dolores Romera; as well as AERAL, the Association of Rural Entrepreneurs of Almería, with María Remedios Pérez, participated in it.
At this round table, rural life and the importance of women were also highlighted, with personal experiences of how society used to be and how it has evolved. Each of the speakers highlighted their experiences and situations that have helped to evolve and to increasingly recognise the role of women.
This meeting of associations of the Provincial Council of Women also included a theatrical performance, as well as a guided tour of the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Saliente.