Official highlights importance of empowering rural women

Ensieh Khazali, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs,
highlighted the potential of rural women to improve the well-being of the
Iranian society if given equal access to resources and services.

Villagers and nomads play a vital role in the political,
economic, and social developments of Iran, Khazali said on Sunday addressing a
conference in Tehran on the occasion of the International Day of Rural Women.

She added, “The government is making all-out efforts to
support rural life and people, particularly women.”

Khazali further said that many rural residents migrate to
the cities due to unemployment and the hope of making a better future, noting,
“We need to supply affordable housing, education and employment opportunities
to them and help reverse rural-to-urban migration trend.”

Many efforts have been made over the past two years by the
government to support villagers and slow down the trend of migration from rural
areas to cities, she said.

Rural tourism, agritourism, religious tourism, and ecotourism
are alternatives or complementary economic activities that could further
stimulate rural development while decreasing rural community dependency on one
main economic sector (agriculture, forestry, energy, or mining).