CSIPM Closing Statement at #CFS51
Tyler Short (Family Farm Defenders/La Via Campesina), of the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples’ Mechanism (CSIPM) Coordination Committee, delivered this statement on behalf of CSIPM on the final day and final round of discussions of the 51st Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Read the transcript below:
The government that I pay taxes to has already left the plenary hall, but I thank everyone for staying here.
Unfortunately, the CSIPM has to ask: Does anyone here actually think that food and water should be used as weapons of war? Does anyone here think that essential goods and services should not reach Palestinian civilians? Does anyone here think that the RBAs should be hindered from doing their life-saving work on the ground?
You do politics, and they go hungry. You do politics, and the war continues. Clearly, the CFS cannot stop the war, but we can strive to realize the right to food for all.
The rules! What rules? International law? What about human rights? Are these not rules to consider also and to act upon? They too are legally binding. The CFS has a mandate and we have a shared vision to realize the right to food. Sadly, some member states must have lost this vision. So can you not see? Can you not see what is happening?
New York, Geneva, and Rome, are we not connected? Can the CFS take a step forward? Can we affirm our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and the worth of the human person? In the equal rights of nations, large and small? We see hypocrisy, and yet we are still here. We believe in the CFS and we defend the CFS. We claim our right to directly participate in this committee. You cannot take this away from us.
The text proposed by Egypt aligns clearly with the CFS framework for action on protected crisis and many member states argue in policy negotiations that agreed language should always be maintained. What about this policy product of the committee? We have this framework for action for a reason. So now is the time to put it into action. Unfortunately, it appears that we cannot finish our work today, but we still must take a step forward. Otherwise, what will happen? How many more lives will be taken from this earth?
The CSIPM therefore reaffirms our call for peace. We call for respect for international law. The right to food must be realized everywhere, for everyone. Thank you.
Tyler Short is a member of National Family Farm Coalition in United States of America, La Via Campesina’s North America Region
