Join with churches, Christian organizations and people of faith around the world in prayer, study and action from 10-17 October. The focus will be on food and gender. We can all take part by lifting up the voices of small-scale food producers, particularly women, as an act of solidarity and in recognition of the key role they play in food production and the need to protect and strengthen their rights.
Over one billion people are estimated as chronically hungry in our world today and women account for 70 percent of the world's hungry and are disproportionately affected by malnutrition, poverty and food insecurity. According to the Report of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, despite representing the majority of the agricultural workforce and production, women are estimated to have access to or control only 5 percent of land globally. During the Churches’ Week of Action and on World Food Day 2010 (16 October), let us be part of the movement for justice that demands that all people have access to the food they need for life. Learn about the issues, plan activities for your church or community, and work with others in taking action!
Let us all take action to ensure protection of women’s rights to access land, water, ability to save their own seeds and to acquire affordable seeds. There are many resources and ideas to assist those participating in the Week of Action. These include prayers, bible studies, reflection questions and advocacy ideas.
Your church, women’s group, prayer circle, club or school is encouraged to join people from all over the world in prayer during the Churches’ Week of Action. Plan bible studies and group prayers during the course of the week and hold a special order of worship on one Sunday.
If your church is developing worship materials for the Churches’ Week of Action on Food, please send them to us to share with others.
Join us in a host of actions calling for the right to food for everyone. Here are a few ideas that can be combined with worship, prayer and bible studies.
Use the EAA Model Letter to governments calling them to safeguard communal land against land grabbing.
Learn about land laws in your country and how they affect women.
Find out what your church is doing and has said about food security, poverty reduction and empowerment of women. Ask church leaders what they have done to follow up on their statements.
Link up with other civil society organizations and networks and farmers’ groups planning events during World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 16 -17 October.
Enter the EAA food for life competition by writing and submitting sermons on food and gender. Details will be announced during the Week of Action.
Use the EAA prayer card before meals.
Hold a Sunday worship service on food and gender on the Sunday at the beginning or end of the Week of Action or on both days. Use or adapt the liturgy found in the EAA resource guide.
For more ideas, see our resource guide for the Churches Week of Action on Food.
