Belgium supports creation of UN working group on farmers' rights

Belgium voted in favour of a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday to establish a working group on "the rights of farmers and other persons working in rural areas" for a period of three years.

The working group will be composed of five independent experts selected on the basis of equitable geographical representation. Their task will be to "promote the effective and comprehensive dissemination and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Farmers and Other People Working in Rural Areas". This was adopted by UN member states in November 2018.

At the same time, the group should "identify gaps and challenges in its implementation at the national, regional and international levels and make recommendations in this regard", according to a Human Rights Council press release.

Exchange and cooperation

The establishment of the working group should also pave the way for facilitating and contributing to the exchange of technical assistance, capacity building, technology transfer and international cooperation in support of national efforts, policies and measures to improve the application of the declaration.

According to government statistics, agricultural land accounts for about 44.2 per cent of Belgium's total land area. Flanders generates 43.1 billion euros a year in agricultural exports, mainly fresh meat, dairy and cocoa products, but also fertilisers, agricultural equipment and pesticides. The agricultural sector in Flanders employs 45,938 people.

(BRV)

^{© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}