Tackling a recurring challenge of our times, this spans all geographic borders across the globe. This challenge is rather sparked by the dehumanizing behavior of some people in our societies, whose acts of violence against women and children continue to be a source of pain in the lives of countless women and children. In strengthening women’s capacity to combat VAW using ICT, its worthy to mention upfront that Mahyoro Rural Information Centre (MARIC) remains committed in the global fight against this scourge.

The volatile and rising global commodity prices have not only affected the rural farming communities but also set uncertainty among the farming communities. The World Bank earlier this week said that its index of food prices showed that the cost of basic food was up 36% this year in March, and since June last year, 44 million people had fallen below the poverty line around the world as a result of higher food prices. If prices rose further, tens of millions more could be also be pushed into poverty, it warned.

The 3rd European Forum on Rural Development took place in Palencia (Spain) from the 29^th  March to 1 April 2011. This Forum was a follow up to the previous forums held in Montpellier in 2002 and Berlin in 2007, respectively. Organized by various European stakeholders, the 3^rd  Forum was convened by the  European Commission, the Government of Spain and the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development.  Convened under the theme “Future agriculture and rural development to fight against hunger”.  The forum consisted of Plenary sessions, breakout and Special sessions, Practitioners from Africa, Asia and Latin America gave in-depth talks,  real-life examples and scientific research. A special session on ICTs and rural development was also organized by Technical centre for Agriculture and Rural development - CTA