«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
As part of the 4th cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Cuba, CETIM submitted a report on the situation and advances in terms of agroecology and peasant rights on the island. In the field of agriculture and food production, Cuba has played a leading role in […]
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The Confédération paysanne (a long-standing ally of CETIM) is delighted with the decision of the Poitiers administrative court, which has just ruled on two appeals and cancelled the project to create fifteen mega-basins: nine planned for the Aume-Couture basin (including seven in Charente and two in Deux-Sèvres) and six in the Pallu sub-basin (Vienne). The […]
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PRESS RELEASE Bagnolet, Geneva, October 11, 2023. In its 54th session, an overwhelming majority of member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council took a historic step by voting in favor of a resolution aimed at further implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP). […]
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PRESS RELEASE Geneva 4th October 2023 – CETIM and La Via Campesina express concern over foreign intervention in Haiti and demand human rights protection. The 2nd of October 2023, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of an international security force to supposedly fight gang violence and restore security. Social movements and peasants’ organizations have […]
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PRESS RELEASE Geneva, September 20, 2023 – La Via Campesina and CETIM denounce the sanctions against Niger at the UN A biennial “Panel discussion on unilateral coercive measures and human rights” was held during the 54th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Fatimatou Hima from the Plateforme Paysanne du Niger, a member of […]
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