World Rural Women's Day 2008  -  15/10/2008 __________________________________________________________ IT'S GOOD TO BE RURAL - Celebrating Rural Health - Wednesday 15th October 2008 Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIRWN) in partnership with Mid Ulster Women's Network this year helped celebrate World Rural Women's Day locally. Delegates travelled from all over the Province to The Marina Centre, Ballyronan, to enjoy the event. Speaking at the event, Siobhan Doherty, NIRWN Co-Ordinator said, "This is an important date in the calendar for rural women. Last year the UN General Assembly declared that 15 October be recognised as 'International Day of Rural Women', which means that this is now a United Nations Resolution Day. As a consequence UN Member States are called to officially mark the Day in their respective countries. This then allows rural women the opportunity to ask our government what it is doing to address their right to development, to acknowledge their contributions and help improve their conditions". Elaine Devlin, Co-Ordinator with Mid-Ulster Women's Network went on to say "This day was set aside as a practical way of obtaining recognition and support for the multiple roles of rural women. We had a consultation today on the role of a Rural Champion, which is important to allow rural women's voices to be taken into account by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development in defining what this might mean for rural communities. Over 120 rural women had the opportunity to have their say in how this role might be developed". The event heard speakers talk about issues important to rural women. Anita Kelly, Energy Efficiency Officer for Ballymoney, Coleraine and Moyle Council areas, spoke about energy efficiency and how people can take proactive steps to ensure their homes are as energy efficient as possible. She also outlined some of the grants available to make changes to the home to improve efficiency levels. Valerie Buchanan from Drumboughil Community Association spoke of the work she and her group does in the local community to help women develop their skills and activities to promote their physical and mental wellbeing. Ailish Scott from the Foster Team in the Northern Board made a call for people interested in fostering to come forward as there is a shortage in the numbers of people involved in this important support service for children. A number of issues were presented on the day with rural women agreeing that there seems to be an erosion of services in rural areas. Rural primary schools, post offices, hospitals - all essential services for rural women are being closed. Many fear that there will be nothing left for the next generation if there is no action to look at the sustainability of the rural way of life. Rural women's activities have been the backbone of rural community life, in terms of supporting farming and families and preserving the social capital of communities. This activity has often been viewed as a secondary activity which is not recognised or valued at the decision making or policy level. Rural women feel the need to have a voice and this was very clear by the numbers attending today's event.