Two women are working on iyik - national technique for thread making.
Sozul and Makhabat are working on iyik - national technique for thread making. FAO contributes to the development of mountain regions by enhancing the sustainable management of mountain ecosystems and the promotion of local economies.
Photo:©FAO/Mirbek Kadraliev

Women move mountains

The theme of this year's International Mountain Day (IMD) on 11 December will be Women move mountains.

Women play a key role in mountains' environmental protection and social and economic development. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture, and experts in traditional medicine.

Increasing climate variability, coupled with a lack of investment in mountain agriculture and rural development, has often pushed men to migrate elsewhere in search of alternative livelihoods. Women have therefore taken on many tasks formerly done by men, yet mountain women are often invisible due to a lack of decision-making power and unequal access to resources.

As farmers, market sellers, businesswomen, artisans, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, mountain women and girls, in particular in rural areas, have the potential to be major agents of change. When rural women have access to resources, services, and opportunities, they become a driving force against hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty and are active in the development of mountain economies.

International Mountain Day 2022 is an opportunity to promote gender equality and therefore contribute to improving social justice, livelihoods and resilience. 

Get to know more about women in mountains and use FAO's, communication materials in all six UN languages, which are available on their website.

While Women move mountains is the suggested theme for 2022, countries, communities, and organizations are welcome to celebrate IMD through a theme that is more relevant to them.

Celebrate this International Day 2022 with your community and friends preparing an event or joining the conversation on social media using the hashtag #MountainsMatter. Pass on some of the key messages, or share about the important role of women in mountains, or post, or a photo of your favorite mountain.

Natural jewels we should treasure

Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation. As the global climate continues to warm, mountain people — some of the world’s poorest — face even greater struggles to survive. The rising temperatures also mean that mountain glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, affecting freshwater supplies downstream for millions of people.

This problem affects us all. We must reduce our carbon footprint and take care of these natural treasures.

The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare to 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains. The first international day was celebrated for the first time the following year, 2003.

Its roots date back to 1992, when the document “Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development” (called Chapter 13), was adopted as part of the action plan Agenda 21 of the Conference on Environment and Development.

Most recently, the UN proclaimed 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. 

Mountains

Did you know?

  • Rural mountain women are vital to biodiversity conservation, and water and food security
  • Mountains host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and 30% of all Key Biodiversity Areas."
  • Of the 20 plant species that supply 80% of the world's food, six originated and have been diversified in mountains: maize, potatoes, barley, sorghum, tomatoes, and apples.
  • More than half of humanity relies on mountain freshwater for everyday life.

+ More info in this FAO poster

Events

FAO high-level event “Women move mountains.”
9 December 2022 - 12.30-14.00 CET

Join the live event to discover the importance of women in our mountains, followed by a fashion show that will prove how fashion has a significant role in empowering rural and marginalized women in mountain communities.

FAO invites you to promote your event through its website.

Register your event and check out the events around the world for 2022-2023.

 

Resources

Websites

Reports

A girl holds her harvest on her back

This FAO website highlights the key role women play in environmental protection and social and economic development in mountain areas. It can help you to create awareness and take action for bringing positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world. Celebrate mountain day in the best way possible! Visit a mountain! 

Mountain women of the world – Challenges, resilience, and collective power

FAO will publish a study called Mountain women of the world: Challenges, resilience and collective power. The report highlights the stories and voices of mountain women in eight countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Tanzania, with a focus on rural areas and mountain tourism

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.