Press release. 5 years after the adoption of UNDROP, on 11 of October, 2023, the members states from the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, voted in favour of the creation of a Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas that will monitor the use and application of the rights defined by the UNDROP.
The creation of this mechanism is a major step forward for the humanity and for human rights as a whole, especially for rural populations, confronted by multiple and profound crisis. Protecting the rights of peasants and other people who work in rural areas needs to be a priority for the governments all over the world, particularly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which have a key role in ensuring food security in the region, despite the vulnerabilities and systemic discrimination that they are facing.
The Working Group was established for a period of 3 years (with the possibility to extend the mandate), consisting of five independent experts with balanced geographical representation to be appointed by the Human Rights Council at its 55th session, which will take place between 26 February to 5 April 2024.
The mandate of this newly created Working Group on Peasants Rights includes:
a) To promote the effective and comprehensive dissemination and implementation of the UNDROP while identifying challenges and gaps in its implementation at national, regional, and international levels, and to make recommendations in this regard;
b) To identify, exchange and promote good practices and lessons learned on the implementation of the UNDROP to seek and receive information from all relevant sources, including Governments, the rights-holders as defined by article 1 of the UNDROP, national human rights institutions, civil society, other relevant special procedures of the Human Rights Council, the treaty bodies, OHCHR, UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes, bodies, organizations of the United Nations system and regional mechanisms;
c) To work in close coordination, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, other special procedures and other human rights mechanisms, the treaty bodies and other relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, international organizations, and regional mechanisms;
d) To facilitate and contribute to the exchange of technical assistance, capacity building, transfer of technologies, and international cooperation in support of national efforts, actions, and measures to better implement the UNDROP, in consultation with the right-holders as defined by article 1 of the UNDROP;
e) To report annually to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly on its work and activities, together with its conclusions and recommendations according to their respective programmes of work.
The full text of the Resolution on the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas – in all UN languages.
The recording of the Human Rights Council session of debate and vote for the Resolution on the Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.
The peasant organizations from Eastern Europe and Central Asia have now the possibility to work with this newly created UN mechanism, to promote their rights and to work with governments for the necessary public policies that will implement Peasants Rights, as they are defined by UNDROP Among the most pressing rights that need to be integrated into national legislations are: the right to land, the right to seeds, the right to water and other natural resources, as well as the rights of rural women and the right to social security.
Further references:
* The full text of the UN Declaration for the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).
** More informations about the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC).
*** More information about Special Procedures in the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Signed by:
Eco Ruralis Association (Romania)
Agency of Development Initiatives – ADI (Kyrgyzstan)
Biological Farming Association Elkana (Georgia)
National Association of Farmers and Private Land Owners of Ukraine (Ukraine)
Eco Action (Ukraine)
Ukrainian Rural Development Platform (Ukraine)
Zher Ana–Astana (Kazakhstan)
Association of Local Food Initiatives – AMPI (Czech Republic)
National Federation of Beekeepers Association – ROMAPIS (Romania)
Agropermalab (Poland)
Tomiris (Tajikistan)
Hungarian Agroecology Network (Hungary)
Grădina Moldovei (Republic of Moldova)
Abrorigen Forum (Russian Federation)
Alica Foundation (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Schola Campesina (Italy)
Stina SHPK (Kosovo)
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