Desertification and Drought Day 2023 – Her Land, Her Rights 

Bonn/New York, 18 May 2023 – This year’s Desertification and Drought Day, marked on 17 June, will put the global spotlight on women’s land rights with events taking place in New York and around the world. 

The global observance event, titled “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals” will take place at the United Nations Headquarters’ General Assembly Hall on Friday, 16 June 2023.  

The event will be opened by the President of the 77^th General Assembly, and will convene high-level policymakers, women leaders, renowned scientists, land activists, and youth representatives from around the world to discuss policies and actions needed to advance women’s land rights and promote stronger female leadership and decision-making power in sustainable land management.   

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Of all the gender inequalities we experience in the world, the imbalance in women’s access to fertile land remains arguably the most shocking. In every corner of the world, filling this particular gender gap remains an unfinished business. That’s why on this year’s Desertification and Drought Day we are mobilizing the international community in support of women’s land rights.” 

Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland and UNCCD Land Ambassador, who is among women leaders attending the high-level event, said: “Solving gender inequalities is not just the right thing to do. If we ensure that women are fully able to use their abilities, knowledge, talents, and leadership potential, our societies are simply better off.” 

Inna Modja, Malian singer and UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador, who will be performing at the high-level event, said: “As a woman, artist, and climate and social justice activist, I believe it’s vital to empower women and youth and promote gender equality in the fight against desertification and land degradation. Together, we can create a brighter, sustainable future.” 

In addition to the global observance event in New York, events to mark Desertification and Drought Day 2023 will be taking place in all parts of the world, including Fiji, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Serbia and Vietnam. 

Ahead of this year’s Desertification and Drought Day, UNCCD launched #HerLand, a public-awareness campaign to promote successful examples of women and girls’ contributions to sustainable land management, and mobilize support to advance land rights for women and girls around the world.  

Women, who comprise nearly half of the world's agricultural workforce hold a vital stake in the health of the land and suffer most when land is degraded. Yet, discriminatory practices related to land tenure, credit access, equal pay, and decision-making often impede their active participation in sustaining land health. Today, less than one-in-five landholders worldwide are women. 

This represents a missed opportunity: when they are given equal access to land, women and girls can increase agricultural productivity, restore land and build resilience to drought. Women invest more in nutrition, health and education which benefits their families, and wider society. 

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Confirmed details 

Event title 

Her Land. Her Rights. Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals 
High-level event to mark Desertification and Drought Day 2023 

Venue 

General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York 

Webcast Link: UN webTV 

Streaming through Twitter and Facebook: @unccd 

Dates and time 

Friday, 16 June 2023 

10:00 hrs –13:00 hrs (EDT) / 14:00 hrs- 17:00 hrs (GMT/UTC) / 15:00 hrs– 18:00 hrs BST/ 16:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs (CEST) 

Speakers 

Organized jointly by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Women, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Human Rights Office, the high-level event will focus on policies and actions needed to advance women’s land rights and role sustainable land management.  

Notable speakers are expected to be in attendance, including:  

• Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly 
• António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations (via recorded video message) 
• Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General 
• Tarja Halonen, Former President of Finland and UNCCD Land Ambassador 
• Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women 
• Alain-Richard Donwahi, UNCCD COP15 President 
• Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President, Association des Femmes Peuples Autochtones du Tchad (AFPAT)  
• Rex Molapo, Co-founder, Conservation Music, Lesotho  

The programme of the high-level event will feature musical performances by UNCCD Goodwill Ambassadors, Malian singer, and artist Inna Modja who executive-produced the Great Green Wall documentary, and Senegalese musician Baaba Maal who composed music for the latest instalment of Marvel’s film Black Panther, as well as Ricky Kej, 3 times Grammy Award-winner, Indian Composer.  

It will also offer an immersive experience, including the launch of a metaverse game demo and a photo exhibition entitled Her Land. 

Notes to Editors 

For preview interviews and media related inquires please contact: UNCCD Press Office: press [at] unccd.int and Portland Communications: unccd [at] portland-communications.com

Journalists wishing to cover the event who don’t hold valid press accreditation for the United Nations Headquarters in New York need to be registered, and should email: press [at] unccd.int and unccd [at] portland-communications.com. A copy of your valid press card and passport will be required to pick up your access badge. 

Video and multimedia assets  

Video and multimedia assets from the event will be made available immediately afterwards. 

Existing videos and assets from Her Land Campaign –  https://trello.com/b/AuQjCPfN/unccd-herland-campaign. Credit: UNCCD 

Human interest stories showcasing vital contribution of women to sustainable land management will be available nearer the time. 

Social Media 

Twitter: @UNCCD 

Instagram: @unccd 

Hashtags: #HerLand #UNited4Land 

Download relevant social media assets here: https://trello.com/b/AuQjCPfN/unccd-herland-campaign 

Learn more about the campaign: https://www.unccd.int/land-and-life/gender/herland 

For information about Desertification and Drought Day visit: https://www.unccd.int/events/desertification-drought-day/2023 

For information about Desertification and Drought Day 2023 events in New York and around the world visit: https://www.unccd.int/events/desertification-drought-day/2023/events-around-world  

About UNCCD 

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.