Faced with global crises, we build food sovereignty to ensure a future for humanity
During its 8th International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia, from 1 to 8 December 2023, La Via Campesina issued several solidarity statements to express its support for peasants and indigenous communities worldwide. The peasant movement advocates for the struggles for food sovereignty, climate justice and the rights of peasants. It firmly opposes capitalism, imperialism, patriarchy, and all types of wars and violence that devastate our land and contribute to global crises.
Review again:
Political Declaration of Bogotá from the 8th International Conference of La Vía Campesina
Declaration of the 6th Assembly of Women of La Vía Campesina
Declaration of the 5th International Youth Assembly of La Via Campesina
Declaration of the 1st International Meeting of Diversities and Supporters
Declaration for peasant unity and solidarity
All over the world, the vast majority of small-scale farmers are trapped in the industrial food system, invisibilised by neoliberal policies. Forced to adhere to imposed contracts, with insurmountable debts, they have lost control of their own land and their products have been reduced to mere commodities for the agro-industry. Multi-nationals, backed by many governments, control food production, and farmers, stripped of their traditional agricultural ways of farming and seeds, lose their autonomy and become dependent workers in the capitalist system.
LVC, on the occasion of its 8th international conference in Bogotá, calls on peasants the world over to unite in solidarity and defend their demands, collectively resisting the growing power of multinationals over their land, seeds, knowledge and farms, in a collective struggle to regain autonomy, sustainability and transformation of the model that subjugates them.
SHORT STATEMENTS
Statement of solidarity with the Sudanese people ravaged by a civil war
The Sudanese people are experiencing a fierce civil war carried out by the military, and planned by imperialist powers, and supported by regional powers with the aim of dispersing the region, plundering its and mineral resources. The war in Sudan, taking place in the midst of terrible silence of the international community, has resulted in more than 6 million displaced persons, the destruction of infrastructure, and aggravation of hunger and drinking water shortages.
The eighth conference of La Via Campesina held in Bogotá, Colombia under the slogan “Faced with Global crises, we build food sovereignty to ensure a future for humanity” and in the light of the dangerous situation that the Sudanese people are experiencing, especially the peasants and rural workers men and women, expresses its unconditional solidarity with the Sudanese people and calls for stopping the war and providing the necessary conditions for the Sudanese people to decide their fate and preserve their unity. It also condemns the intervention of the imperialist powers and their allies to divide Sudan.
Statement of Solidarity with Gaza
La Via Campesina demands an immediate ceasefire and condemns the genocidal war being waged against the Palestinian people in Gaza. In less than three months, this aggression has resulted in the loss of almost almost 16,000 Palestinian lives, of which around 70% were children and women. In addition, 45,000 Palestinians have been injured, and more than 7,400 are still trapped under the rubble. La Via Campesina also condemns the settlers’ attacks on Palestinian farmers in Area C. Recognizing Palestinian resistance to colonial violence for 75 years, La Via Campesina underlines the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in protecting their land against imperialism and capitalist exploitation, and reaffirms that the struggle for food sovereignty, climate justice and peasants’ rights is closely linked to the Palestinian struggle against colonialism.
Rooted in the values of justice and sovereignty, La Via Campesina strongly opposes Israel’s colonial occupation of the Palestinian territories, and expresses unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people as they resist brutal occupation and fight for their liberation.
Solidarity with the West and Central Africa Region
La Via Campesina expresses its profound solidarity with the entire African people, in particular the peasants who have been traumatized, killed and forced to flee due to rebellions or popular insurrections resulting from deficient policies in countries such as Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and others.
La Via Campesina calls on the leaders of these countries and the international community to step up humanitarian aid and solidarity with civilians, especially peasants, and to pay greater attention to these crises.
Statement of Solidarity with plantation workers of Sri Lanka
The Indian origin plantation community in Sri Lanka who were brought to Sri Lanka by British Colonials 200 years ago to work in the Tea plantations are still living in slavery conditions. As of today they do not possess any land rights as citizens in the country. Therefore we firmly stand with plantation peasant workers in Solidarity in their struggle for land rights and other human rights as citizens of Sri Lanka in the battle to ensure their food sovereignty.
LONG STATEMENTS
Statement on the conflict in Manipur, India
We, La Via Campesina, the largest peasant movement in the world, declare our deep concern and profound sadness at the escalating violence in Manipur, India, which has gripped the state since May 3, 2023. This senseless conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has resulted in the tragic loss of over 175 lives, countless injuries and the displacement of over 70,000 people.
We stand in solidarity with the people of Manipur and pledge to support all efforts to end this violence and build a lasting peace. Download the complete statement.
Stop the dumping of radioactive water from Fukushima, Japan!
Japan’s dumping of nuclear waste from Fukushima is not just a problem for Korea and Japan, but a problem for all humanity, and we must all fight together to stop it. We call on the Japanese government to put an end to this environmental disaster and to address the nuclear issue responsibly to prevent serious negative impacts on the environment, lives, health, and livelihoods. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity towards social movements in Philippines facing criminalization
La Via Campesina expresses its solidarity with Philippine peasants and calls for an end to their recurrent criminalization by the Philippine government.
Our particular solidarity is with 71-year-old Antonio Tolentino, who will have spent 10 years in prison by April 2024 on trumped-up charges. Antonio Tolentino was the leader of the peasant movement demanding the redistribution of land at Hacienda Dolores in Porac, Pampanga province. Two leaders of his organization were murdered in 2015, while 300 peasants have been evicted from these lands since 2014. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity with the struggle of the Indonesian peasant union (SPI) for agrarian reform against international corporations
La Via Campesina expresses its solidarity with the Indonesian Peasants’ Union (SPI), an organization that brings together small farmers, landless peasants, agricultural workers, and rural communities. This solidarity arises from their struggle for agrarian reform, the reduction of emissions linked to deforestation and forest degradation, as well as their fight against subsidiaries and cooperatives that have forcibly evicted people from their land, and their efforts to reclaim and cultivate this land. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity with the Myanmar rural working people
La Via Campesina stands with Myanmar rural working people and their struggle against military dictatorship. Myanmar military violently crackdown the nationwide uprising against the 2021 coup. Civilians, largely rural agrarian communities and ethnic minority areas, are being targeted with indiscriminate attacks including aerial bombardments. Transport, food, internet and telephone were cut indiscriminately. Currently, over 4,000 civilians including children were killed, and over 25,000 imprisoned. Over 86,000 houses, schools and religious buildings were burned. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity statement for the Peoples of the small Pacific islands
We, La Via Campesina, the global movement of peasants, express our deep solidarity to the peoples of small Pacific island states in your struggle for climate and food justice.
The Pacific region bears the greatest impacts of the climate crisis and neoliberal capitalism as their islands face severe human-induced disasters. We denounce imperialism and neo-colonial aid and trade that impose structural reforms on Pacific states, undermining self-determination, and sovereignty. Download the complete statement.
Declaration of solidarity with Ukrainian peasants
On the occasion of its 8th International Conference in Bogotá, La Via Campesina sends a message of solidarity to the Ukrainian people and to all populations affected by wars and armed conflicts around the world. We denounce all war profiteers and condemn the imperialism of the EU and all the imperialism of the world. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity with the struggle of the Sami people in Norway
In solidarity, La Via Campesina supports the Norwegian Sami people’s vital and legal demands to the Norwegian government: Stop the violation of human rights, stop the wind turbines! Restore destroyed nature! Never again accept the violation of indigenous peoples’ rights! Download the complete statement.
Solidarity with the peoples in struggle of Latin America and the Caribbean
Meeting from December 1 to 8, 2023 in Bogota, Colombia, La Via Campesina, at its 8th International Conference, stands in solidarity with all peoples in struggle in Latin America and the Caribbean.
We stand in solidarity with the people affected by the climate crisis and the effects of El Niño this year in Central America, the Caribbean and South America; families who have lost homes, infrastructure, production and human lives in the tropical storms of recent months. In most countries, these farming families have been abandoned by their governments, even though it is the state’s responsibility to implement programs and public policies to deal with the climate crisis and natural disasters. Download the complete statement.
We demand Julian Assange’s freedom
La Via Campesina, on the occasion of its 8th international conference in Bogota, Colombia, demands the immediate release of journalist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who has been held in London for over 4 years, pending a decision on his extradition to the United States. Download the complete statement.
Declaration on the protection of pollinators and their guardians
La Via Campesina recognizes that capitalism and its industrial agriculture are the cause of the crisis of the collapse of pollinator and bee populations worldwide, directly affecting the biological and cultural diversity that sustains our mother earth, and all forms of life in fields and cities. This directly affects the rights of peasants: the availability and diversity of indigenous seeds, local food, the development of agroecology, food sovereignty, just transition and territorial health. Download the complete statement.
Declaration of Solidarity and Commitment to the rights of Migrants and Refugees around the world
La Via Campesina underlines its unwavering commitment to the most vulnerable sector of the peasant society, calling for, together with our allies, a Global Pact of Solidarity on the Rights of Migrants and Refugees. Peasants across the globe, including young people, women, children and rural workers, will continue to resist and fight against all wars, dictatorships, and a trade and agri-food system that destroys our planet and all living populations. Through our peasant unity, we will continue to sow agrarian reform, agroecology, food sovereignty, union organization and mobilization for peasant rights to build a new society in which no one is forced to migrate and full rights are guaranteed to whoever decides to do so. Download the complete statement.
Solidarity with the peoples in struggle of Puerto Rico
La Via Campesina reaffirms its solidarity and support for the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination, decolonization and independence. We additionally recognize the historic and heroic resistance of the Puerto Rican people. Furthermore, we recognize that Borikén – Puerto Rico constitutes a Latin American Caribbean nation that has its own unmistakable national identity. Download the complete statement
La Via Campesina stands in solidarity with our member organizations in Haiti – Tet Kole Ti Peyizan Ayisyen, the Mouvman Peyizan Papay (MPP) and the Mouvman Peyizan Nasyonal Kongre Papay (MPNKP) in their steadfast struggle for dignity and against foreign interference in their territories. These interferences have left an indelible mark on the 20th century and persist today, hindering Haiti’s political, economic, and social progress towards becoming the prosperous nation it should be, owing to the strength and resilience of its people. Download the complete statement
We reject the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement because it violates the rights of peasants and threatens nature
La Via Campesina, rejects the Free Trade Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which only benefits the big transnational corporations, responsible for hunger and the climate crisis, because its consequences will be destructive for the peoples, in particular for the peasants of the affected regions. It does not take into account human rights and destroys peasant food systems without respecting their diversity, in favor of the concentrated and transnationalized sectors of agriculture, mainly responsible for poverty, climate and food crisis. Download the complete statement.
For the defense of the sovereignty and self-determination of the peoples of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela
La Via Campesina stands in support of these three nations of the American continent. Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua continue to face criminal sanctions and smear campaigns and “regime change” driven by the United States and the European Union. All these unilateral actions in violation of the framework of international law mercilessly affect the most vulnerable populations and undermine our food sovereignty.
Statement of Solidarity of La Via Campesina against Repression and Criminalization of Dissent in Peru
La Via Campesina and its member organizations in Peru, raise their voice in rejection of the current situation one year after the demonstrations against the current government of the corrupt and racist right wing represented by Dina Boluarte. Download the complete statement.
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