Human rights lawyer Dr Cynthia Umezulike has called for structural and financial reforms to support rural women as key drivers of economic development.

Speaking at the United Nations FAO World Food Forum, Thematic Youth Assembly in Geneva, she highlighted the economic vulnerabilities faced by young female traders in rural Nigeria.

Presenting her report, “Strategies for Fostering Sustainable Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion for Rural Market Women in Enugu State, Nigeria,” Umezulike revealed how financial exclusion, price volatility, declining customer spending, and lack of affordable credit continue to stifle economic stability for these women.

She described rural market women as the backbone of informal economies who operate without formal protections or access to stable financial resources, despite their crucial role in food security, employment, and trade networks.

To address these challenges, she proposed targeted microloans, cooperative buying systems, financial literacy training, and women-led business cooperatives to enhance stability and growth.

Stressing that economic justice for rural women is not just a human rights issue but an economic necessity, she urged governments, financial institutions, and development agencies to create a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

With a distinguished career in human rights, sustainability, and climate action, Dr Umezulike continues to advocate for equitable development.