World Rural Women's Day
15 October

Poster 2001

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Open Letter to Rural Women of the World - 2001
"Protect Your Traditional Knowledge"

Dear Sisters,
Although, you may not realize it, you are rich in knowledge: knowledge about the many uses of native plants and farming methods, knowledge about your environment that is indispensable for the pursuit of life in your communities, knowledge you depend upon for your livelihood and well being that has been transmitted from generation to generation by your ancestors in your native languages, knowledge you have adapted, enriched and modified constantly over centuries as you face new situations and challenges. It is usually transmitted orally and governed by unwritten customary laws. As the primary conservers and transmitters of your indigenous knowledge, you are the main actors who can ensure its preservation for future generations. Often this also means preserving your native languages, which embody this knowledge, as the loss of language can result in the loss of knowledge together with the only words to describe plants, animals, techniques and concepts.

Your traditional knowledge, practices and innovations are receiving growing attention worldwide as modern society, institutions and governments become increasingly aware not only of how vital this knowledge is for our common survival, but how valuable it is economically. It is rapidly being lost, however, as ecosystems are degraded, as people move to cities, as traditional communities and cultures disintegrate or are absorbed into modern society, and as children are educated only in modern ways and beliefs and in the dominant language. Your knowledge is priceless. However systems called "Intellectual Property Rights" (IPR) designed to prevent people from stealing someone }else{'s invention and selling it for a profit, are now being applied to traditional knowledge and life forms. Your governments are currently taking part in international discussions on how to apply IPRs to your traditional knowledge either to protect it but also to commercialise it. As rightful owners, it is crucial that you be included in any decisions being taken with regard to the formulation of policies aimed at safeguarding your knowledge in the field of health, agriculture, pest and disease resistance, environmental protection, handicrafts, languages and culture.

Your challenge: how to preserve your knowledge from disappearing due to modernization, and how to protect it from appropriation by external commercial interests for their own financial benefit. Many NGOs have called for a moratorium on the patenting of life forms. The long-term economic development of your communities may well depend on your ability to harness your traditional knowledge for your own economic benefit. It is your most precious capital, and constitutes an important potential source of poverty alleviation. One way is to document your past knowledge and innovations involving the younger generation. Your Government has an obligation to help you maintain your knowledge and include you in all relevant discussions.

We stress that traditional practices resulting in the domination of women, causing physical, emotional or material harm, such as female circumcision, forced marriages, and discrimination against women in inheritance and land rights, among others, are NOT included in the definition of traditional knowledge. Those practices not only harm women, but also harm their ability to harness and transmit knowledge, and must be eliminated. In general, however, and especially in the field of agriculture, animal behaviour, herbal remedies, health therapies and techniques, food conservation, building materials, waste disposal, etc. not to mention your customs and celebrations so rich in wisdom, you hold a wealth of knowledge of living values humanity urgently needs. Preserve it! Do not let it be taken from you without your consent! Protecting your knowledge and culture is also protecting your identity and self-worth.

Dear Sisters, we honour you and hope this letter will empower you in becoming more aware of your precious knowledge, which is your power. We urge you to organize yourselves into coalitions and networks, exchange experiences and above all, claim your economic, social and cultural rights. We wish you a most fruitful World Rural Women's Day.

In celebration with you,
Elly Pradervand, Global Campaign Director - World Rural Women's Day - 15 October
Executive Director - Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF ) HQ in Geneva, Switzerland

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