Proclamation establishing July 6th as World Rural Development Day.

 

The General Assembly, 

Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business, 

Reaffirming also its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of 20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries, in particular paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed criteria for the proclamation of international years, as well as paragraphs 13 and 14, in which it is stated that an international year should not be proclaimed before the basic arrangements for its organization and financing have been made, Reaffirming further the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development of 2015, 

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2 Noting its resolution 73/165 of 17 December 2018, by which it adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, Noting the Declaration on the Right to Development, 3 Noting with concern that rural poor and other people working in rural areas, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, suffer disproportionately from poverty, hunger and malnutrition, Recognizing the interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals, and reiterating that the eradication of rural poverty and hunger is crucial for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and that rural development should be pursued through an integrated approach that encompasses economic, social and environmental dimensions, 

Recognizing also the critical role and contribution of rural women, including smallholders and women farmers, fishers, Indigenous women and their traditional knowledge and women in local communities, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and nutrition and eradicating rural poverty, and therefore highlighting the importance of promoting their economic empowerment, their full access to land ownership and decent work and economic opportunities and their participation in decision-making, 

Underscoring that investing in key facilities and services in rural areas will be an effective approach to address rural poverty and hunger, create productive employment and enterprises, and promote digital financial inclusion for rural communities and rural institutions such as community-based organizations and cooperatives, particularly for rural youth and women, including through regional and national initiatives, 

Recognizing the importance of sharing locally driven development approaches and pathways to promote rural development and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, 

Noting the efforts of regional organizations, including the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), in assisting national action and promoting regional cooperation relating to integrated rural development, Trusting that the observance of an international day will create a comprehensive platform to assess the challenges and opportunities of rural development,

 1. Decides to declare 6 July World Rural Development Day, to highlight the critical importance of rural development and transformation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals;

2. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, individuals and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, farmers’ organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, the private sector and academia, as well as schools, to observe World Rural Development Day by presenting and promoting, as appropriate in national and regional contexts, concrete activities with regard to the sustainable development of rural areas and communities;

3. Invites the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat, in cooperation with Governments, relevant international and regional organizations, the specialized agencies and all other stakeholders, and mindful of the provisions contained in the annex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1980/67, to facilitate the organization and implementation of World Rural Development Day as a way of promoting rural development, raising awareness of the contribution of rural development in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and supporting Member States in planning and coordinating activities for observing the Day; 

4. Stresses that the cost of all activities that may arise from the implementation of the present resolution should be met from voluntary contributions; 5. Invites all relevant stakeholders to contribute to and support World Rural Development Day; 6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, farmers’ organizations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, the private sector and academia, for appropriate observance. 

107th plenary meeting 

6 September 2024