The New Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas

Event

Adobe

ln October 2023, at its 54th session, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution, with an overwhelming majority, creating a new UN Special Procedure, in the form of a Working Group of five independent experts, mandated to promote the implementation of the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP). This represents a major achievement for rural organizations that have been claiming for the protection of their rights, while suffering from the detrimental impacts of industrial food systems controlled by the agrobusiness sector, as well as for States committed to the protection of the rights of rural people and communities.

In this high level side event of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the main challenges and opportunities of the Working Group will be discussed, as well as expectations arising from States and representatives of rights holders' organizations. The main topics that the Working Group should address will also be debated, from the perspectives of the field, and discussion will take place on the best ways to ensure a good articulation between the different actors involved.

Moderator

• H.E. Maira Macdonal, Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

Panel

• H.E. Omar Sultanov, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan
• H.E. Laouali Labo, Ambassador of the Republic of Niger
• Ms. Micherline lslanda Aduel, Tet Kole Ti Peyizan (La Via Campesina Haiti)
• Mr. Amadou Mahamane, Plateforme Paysanne du Niger (La Via Campesina Niger)
• Mr. Pierre Maison, Confédération Paysanne (La Via Campesina France)