Peasants’ Right to Seeds and the state of democracy in Moldova
PEASANTS RIGHTS
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
UN DECLARATION FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEASANTS
AND OTHER PEOPLE WORKING IN RURAL AREAS
IN EASTERN EUROPE
AND CENTRAL ASIA
NEWS
UNDROP
The adoption of the UN Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) - represents a great victory for the evolution of human rights and for the struggle against injustice and the abuse of power.
In 17th of December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), adopted UNDROP (through resolution A/HRC/RES/39/12) obtaining the supporting vote of 121 countries.
It is worth noting that the process towards the adoption of UNDROP lasted for almost 20 years of mobilization and 6 years of negotiations in the Human Rights Council. It started at the initiative of La Via Campesina, an international peasant movement.
UNDROP Manual
A tool designed for governments, public servants, peasants and small scale family farmers associations, international organizations, donors, civil society at large and academic institutions
Inna Savchenko
Ukraine
The Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine / Асоціація фермерів та приватних землевласників України
"The war showed that in the conditions of disruption of logistics networks and lack of food supply, only the peasant is able to satisfy the demand for food at the grassroots level."
Mariam Jorjadze
Georgia
The Biological Framing Association Elkana / ბიოლოგიურ მეურნეობათა ასოციაცია „ელკანა“
"Peasants are especially vulnerable when exposed to challenges of market economy. For them, UNDROP can play an instrumental role, in protecting their rights to land, seeds and other productive resources."
"Peasants have built agroecology with sweat, strength, resilience and wisdom. UNDROP shines a bring light on our food, our cultures and our rights. It makes us realise how important is our role."
THE RIGHT TO LAND
Art. 17. "Peasants and other people living in rural areas have the right to land, individually and/or collectively (...), including the right to have access to, sustainably use and manage land and the water bodies, coastal seas, fisheries, pastures and forests therein, to achieve an adequate standard of living, to have a place to live in security, peace and dignity and to develop their cultures. (...)
Peasants and other people working in rural areas have the right to be protected against arbitrary and unlawful displacement from their land or place of habitual residence, or from other natural resources used in their activities and necessary for the enjoyment of adequate living conditions."
THE RIGHT TO SEEDS
Art. 19. "Peasants and other people working in rural areas have the right to seeds (...), including:
(a) The right to the protection of traditional knowledge relevant to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture;
(b) The right to equitably participate in sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture;
(c) The right to participate in the making of decisions on matters relating to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture;
(d) The right to save, use, exchange and sell their farm-saved seed or propagating material. (...)"
THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND SECURITY
Art. 6. "Peasants and other people working in rural areas have the right to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person.
Peasants and other people working in rural areas shall not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and shall not be held in slavery or servitude."