Today marked as World White cane day, Global Hand-washing day and International day of Rural Woman.
International day of Rural Woman.
"Empowering rural women is crucial for ending hunger and poverty. By denying women rights and opportunities, we deny their children and societies a better future. This is why the United Nations recently launched a programme to empower rural women and enhance food security."
Throughout history, women traditionally have been the backbone of society. While men have gone off hunting or fighting, it has always been the women who have quietly stayed behind to run everything in their absence, caring for children and older relatives, managing the home and simply being there when and if the menfolk returned.
In rural areas women have traditionally played a crucial role in agriculture and the local economy. Although in the developed world where modern machinery is now capable of doing much the work formerly done by a large labour force, this is no longer so evident, but in developing countries, where agriculture continues to be largely centered around smallholder farming, a large labour force is still very important.
Rural women and girls make up about a quarter of the world's population and in the developing world women play a vital part in food production from the land.
International recognition of the vital role of rural women was first recognized during the 4th UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, when several international organisations launched World Rural Women's Day. Very soon this was being celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world.
In December 2007 the UN General Assembly decided that the particular role of rural women should be highlighted by making 15th October 2008 the first International Day of Rural Women. This day was chosen since it is the day immediately before UN World Food Day.
The theme for the 57th session of the commission on the statues of Women is:
" Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls"
Global Hand-washing Day
Global Hand-washing Day is a campaign to motivate and mobilize millions around the world to wash their hands with soap. It takes place on October 15 of each year. The campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of hand-washing with soap as a key approach to disease prevention.
It was made at the annual World Water Week 2008, which was held in Stockholm from August 17 to 23 and initiated the Public Private Partnership for Hand-washing. The Global Hand-washing Day took place for the first time on October 15, 2008, the date appointed by UN General Assembly in accordance with year 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation.
The theme for Global Hand-washing Day’s inaugural year was Focus on School Children. The members pledged to get the maximum number of school children hand-washing with soap in more than 70 countries.
2012 marks the 5th anniversary of Global Hand-washing Day!
World White Cane Day
This day of recognition is held around the world each year on 15 October to highlight the use of the White Cane in our community and to promote the safety needs of people who are blind or have low vision.
People who are blind have used canes to help them find their way for centuries but the origin of the White Cane lies between the two World Wars. James Biggs of Bristol claims to have invented the White Cane in 1921. After losing his sight and feeling vulnerable to traffic near his home, he painted his walking stick white to be more visible to motorists. It was after World War II that American Doctor Richard Hoover developed the "long cane" method of cane travel as a means to help war veterans who were blind return to a more functional lifestyle.
A day recognizing the importance of the White Cane was first proclaimed in 1964 by American President Lyndon B Johnson. He designated October 15th as White Cane Safety Day and called upon the community to observe the day with ceremonies and activities.
We celebrate the day (now known as International White Cane Day) with events that promote the safety needs of people who are blind and celebrate the independence that can be achieved in spite of little or no vision.
In Sri Lanka we also celebrate it as " Loka Sudu Sarayati Dinaya"
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