«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
ADVISORY COMMITTEE 1st session 4 – 15 August 2008 Introduction Hunger and malnutrition in the world has been a recurrent problem for a long time. Its causes and those of the recent food crisis are well known to those who face the facts. However, the responses to one of the greatest violations of human rights […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 8th session 02 June – 18 June 2008 [Excerpt from the declaration] In Bolivia, for the first time in modern history, the majority indigenous population was able to democratically elect a President from their ranks. Since taking office in January 2007, Evo Morales has been confronted with destabilization attempts by economic interest […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 7th special session May 22, 2008 [Excerpt from the statement] The global food crisis is serious and profound. It is not the result of natural or cyclical factors that have suddenly appeared together. We therefore welcome the fact that the serious rise in food prices is considered to be only one cause, […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 7th extraordinary session May 22, 2008 [Extract from the declaration] The causes of the so-called food crisis are well known: the promotion of harmful farming methods and unsuitable crops, the promotion of agribusiness and the concentration of fertile land in the hands of a latifundist minority, the privatization of public regulatory mechanisms, […]
Continue readingHUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 7th special session on the Right to Food May 22, 2008 Read the CETIM’s written statement 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 […]
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