Outlining the Role of UN Human Rights Mechanisms in Implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants

Peasants work in a rice field in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Peasants work in a rice field in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

25 June 2019

After having provided academic support to the negotiation of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas (UNDROP) for ten years, our research project on the rights of peasants focuses on its implementation.

At an expert seminar co-organized with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Geneva Office, several United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, members of UN working groups and UN treaty bodies, civil society representatives and staff of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights discussed the role of UN human rights mechanisms in the implementation of the UNDROP.

‘We took advantage of the annual meeting of UN Special Procedures in Geneva to organize this seminar in order to get concrete inputs from UN Special Procedures whose mandates touch upon the promotion and protection of the rights of peasants’ explains Dr Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow and Strategic Adviser on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the Geneva Academy.

Towards a New Monitoring Mechanism

Our Research Brief The Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas and its main recommendations informed the discussions.

Several UN experts agreed to integrate the UNDROP in their work and discussed the possibility to issue a joint statement describing their role in monitoring the UNDROP's implementation before the start of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2019.

One of the recommendation of the publication calls for the creation of a new monitoring mechanism, such as a new UN Special Procedure on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

‘In another study that will be published later in 2019, we will describe the potential role and mandate of such a new mechanism, as well as the specific role of existing monitoring mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review, UN Special Procedures and UN treaty bodies in monitoring the implementation of the UNDROP’ concludes Dr Golay.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

neurotech image News

Human Rights Concerns in Neurotechnology Examined in New Research Brief

15 April 2025

Our research brief 'Neurotechnology - Integrating Human Rights in Regulation' examines the human rights challenges posed by the rapid development of neurotechnology.

Read more

neurodata graphics News

New Research Brief Evaluates the Effectiveness of GDPR in Mitigating Risks Associated with the Distinctive Nature of Neurodata

21 January 2025

Our recent research brief, Neurodata: Navigating GDPR and AI Act Compliance in the Context of Neurotechnology, examines how effectively GDPR addresses the unique risks posed by neurodata.

Read more

Training

Human Rights and the Environment: Introducing Legal Regimes and Key Issues

1-8 September 2025

Participants in this training course will be introduced to the major international and regional instruments for the promotion of human rights, as well as international environmental law and its implementation and enforcement mechanisms.

Read more

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Booklet Training

The International Human Rights Standards and System: Monitoring and Implementation Strategies at the National Level

7-11 July 2025

This training course will delve into the means and mechanisms through which national actors can best coordinate their human rights monitoring and implementation efforts, enabling them to strategically navigate the UN human rights system and use the various mechanisms available in their day-to-day work.

Read more

Wheat field Project

The Right to Seeds in Europe

Started in January 2018

The project will notably identify the main opportunities and obstacles to protect the right to seeds in Europe. It will also discuss how to promote changes in European laws, policies and trade agreements to ensure that they do not infringe, but facilitate the realization of peasants’ right to seeds.

Read more

Crops view from the sky Project

The Right to Food in Europe

Started in December 2022

This research will provide legal expertise to a variety of stakeholders on the implementation of the right to food, and on the right to food as a legal basis for just transformation toward sustainable food systems in Europe. It will also identify lessons learned from the 2023 recognition of the right to food in the Constitution of the Canton of Geneva.  

Read more

Cover of the publication Publication

Briefing N° 25: Localizing Multilateralism

published on March 2025

Domenico Zipoli, Ludovica Chiussi Curzi, Kamelia Kemileva

Read more

Cover page of the working paper Publication

AI Decoded: Key Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence for Human Rights and SDG Monitoring

published on January 2025

Milica Mirkovic, Jennifer Victoria Scurrell

Read more