Rights of Peasants

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 CETIMThe UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants

Protect Peasants’ Rights Campaign

Access to justice for peasants

Training sheets on peasants’ rights

Support for the study by the Advisory Committee on Peasants’ Rights

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 10th session 02 March – 27 March 2009 [Extract from the declaration] Existing human rights instruments do not meet the specific needs of peasants in the context of globalisation. The rules of international trade favour the law of the strongest, in other words the stranglehold of transnational corporations on the economy and […]

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The right to work and the realization of the right to food

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 10th session 02 March – 27 March 2009 [Extract from the statement] The report on the mission to the World Trade Organization finally allows everyone to see the links between the various areas of international relations and puts an end to the fallacious arguments claiming that there are issues that should not […]

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Those responsible for human rights violations must be brought to justice

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 9th special session on the Gaza Strip January 2009 [Exerpt from the statement] Serious violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention on war crimes have been committed, including killings and the mass destruction of buildings. These crimes are not justified by military necessity; they are carried out arbitrarily and premeditatedly. In addition, the […]

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To promote and strengthen the agricultural local and national economies: only effective way to fight against prices escalation of agricultural products and their shortage

The current crisis of agricultural raw materials severely affects the poorest peoples of our planet.1 Prices on the world market for cereals are rising for a year : wheat prices increased by 130%, rice 80% and maize 35%.2 This crisis has not one single cause. This current food crisis is the result of many years […]

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