«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
Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development : Notes on the thematic discussion “Trade, biodiversity and the right to development: an equation to be constructed“ La Via Campesina and CETIM took part in the thematic discussions organized during the 10th session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development. In […]
Continue readingEXPERT MECHANISM ON THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT 10th Session 29 october 2024 [Excerpt from the declaration] The dominant trade and investment regime, mainly promoted and enforced by the WTO and other international organizations and instruments, has consistently harmed the world’s peasantry and thus the protection of biodiversity. Since 1995, the WTO Agreement on Agriculture has […]
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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 57th session (9 September 2024 – 11 October 2024) UNDROP: a key step towards social and climate justice At the occasion of the presentation of the first report of the newly appointed UN Experts’ Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, CETIM, FIAN International and […]
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During the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the new UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Ms Gina Romero, presented a visit report on Peru drafted by her predecessor, Mr Clément N. Voule. He had visited the country in May 2023 to investigate the bloody repression of social […]
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On 25 June 2024, a new foreign military intervention of Haiti began. However, in October 2023, CETIM, La Via Campesina and the Haitian peasant organisations Tet Kole Ty Peyizan Ayitien, Mouvman Peyizan Papay and Mouvman Peyizan Nasyonal Kongre Papay (via CETIM and La Via Campesina), expressed their concern at the imperialist threat of foreign military […]
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