«Il n‘y a pas un monde développé et un monde sous-développé, mais un seul monde mal développé»
At the global level, there are currently some 1.2 billion peasants and together with their families they represent one third of humanity. In absolute terms, there are more peasants today than ever before in history.
Peasants and other rural workers are key to food sovereignty and the realization of the right to food, in particular in developing countries where they provide up to 80% of the food consumed at the local level.
Peasants play a key role in the fight against climate change and the conservation of biodiversity
Yet peasants and other people working in rural areas are among the most vulnerable and discriminated-against group. They are victims of multiple violations of their human rights and suffer disproportionately from hunger and poverty. 80% of those victims of hunger in the world live and work in rural areas.
The CETIM works for several years in favor of the rights of peasants. lt provides its support to organizations representing peasants and other rural workers in the Global South for the access to the UN human rights protection mechanisms. The CETIM is also strongly involved to their sides in the campaign for the adoption of a United Nations Declaration on the rights of peasants and oher people working in rural areas, offering its support so that they are able to participate in the negotiations and present their proposals.
A Declaration on the Rights of Peasants
On 17 December 2018, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Others Working in Rural Areas. Alongside La Via Campesina, CETIM was strongly involved in the process that led to the adoption of this indispensable tool. In particular, it offered its support to peasants to enable them to participate in the negotiations and to make their proposals heard.
The adoption of the Declaration is a historic moment. It is the result of a 17-year struggle for the recognition of the rights of this particularly vulnerable population. If respected and implemented, this instrument will be useful, not only for peasants, but for humanity as a whole.
One year after the adoption of this indispensable tool, a joint declaration was signed by nine special rapporteurs and experts and four members of the UN treaty bodies. This document stresses that farmers must participate “in all decision-making processes that affect their lives, lands, resources and livelihoods” and repeatedly urges states to play a key role in implementing the Declaration.
In October 2023, the United Nations Human Rights Council, with an overwhelming majority of Member States in favour, took another historic step. It voted in favour of Resolution 54/9 to create a follow-up mechanism to the Declaration. A Working Group of experts is now responsible for promoting and implementing the Declaration.
Download for free the e-book edited by CETIM “The UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants“
Protect Peasants’ Rights Campaign
Access to justice for peasants
Training sheets on peasants’ rights
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 21st session 10-28 September 2012 [Excerpt from the statement] We, the communities of the municipalities of San Andrés and La Libertad department of Petén, Guatemala, have repeatedly requested the Guatemalan State authorities to carry out an impartial investigation into the human rights violations to which we are subjected in that department. However, […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 28th session March 2015 [Excerpt from the statement] We also recognise the positive role that the Government has played in preventing environmental deterioration and water pollution by not granting mining permits. An emblematic case is that of the Australian-based company Oceana Gold, which insists on its will to start a mining project […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 31st session March 2016 [Extract from the statement] There are many cases of planned and targeted assassinations of human rights defenders, whether by public officials or private actors. This is what happened on 3 March 2016 to Berta Cáceres, an indigenous leader and defender of the rights of indigenous peoples and the […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 34th session March 2018 [Excerpt from the statement] La Via Campesina played a very important role in the peace accords in Colombia. It has had the status of official observer on the issue of agrarian reform, a fundamental pillar to guarantee a lasting and comprehensive peace. Read the CETIM’s oral statement in […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 51st session (12 September-7 October 2022) [Excerpt from the statement] Diego Montón calls on the Human Rights Council and all UN member states to work together to advance the implementation of the Declaration, in particular through the creation of a monitoring mechanism on the rights of peasants’ rights within the UN human […]
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