La Via Campesina @ UN Human Rights Council: “it is high time that States systematically protect, promote and respect the rights enshrined in the UNDROP”
La Via Campesina participated in the side event on “How Can the Human Rights Council Strengthen the Rights of Those Who Feed the World in Times of Multiple Crises: The new resolution on the implementation of UNDROP in the Human Rights Council”, held in conjunction with the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Room XXV at 12.00hrs, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 19 September 2023.
Zainal Arifin Fuat, a member of the International Coordination Committee spoke about how the world has changed since the 2008 food and financial crisis and how it now faces a multi-dimensional crisis linked to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has led to the worsening climate emergency and escalating wars and conflicts to growing poverty and widening inequalities, with peasants and other people working in the rural areas affected the most. He said that it is high time UNDROP be promoted at the international level through the creation of a UN special procedure.
This special procedure will ensure implementation of UNDROP; identify and promote good practices and lessons learned on the implementation of UNDROP; and work with relevant instances to ensure cooperation and technical capacity needed for the efforts to implement the UNDROP.
La Via Campesina appealed to Member States of the UN Human Rights Council to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally, and make recommendations to address violations of human rights. The movement hopes that the resolution to be presented by Bolivia mission in Geneva during this 54th Session will be adopted – to help strengthen peasants’ rights as these are important to better equip them in times of multiple crises.
La Via Campesina wants a better world, a better life for peasants and other people working in rural areas, a better life for all!