The Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Water and President of the Biodiversity Foundation, Josep Puxeu, participated this Tuesday in the inauguration of the European Forum on “Women in the Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment” together with the President of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara, and other personalities.

The Forum, which is being held in Cáceres between 27 and 29 April and brings together more than 570 attendees and 20 delegations from Member States, is organised by the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) in collaboration with the European Commission, the Regional Government of Extremadura, the Provincial Council and the City Council of Cáceres.

The Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Water and president of the Biodiversity Foundation stressed that the Ministry has among its priorities the consolidation of gender equality in the rural world, as well as strengthening and publicizing the important role played by women.

Josep Puxeu stressed that 48.9% of the rural population is made up of women, so it is necessary for them to increase their power in decision-making, a process in which organizations, and the ministry itself, are making great efforts.

Despite the progress, Puxeu stressed that inequalities persist in many areas of European society and are aggravated by the demographic situation and the economic and social shortcomings that characterise the rural environment in some of the member states.