Working group on peasants

Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas

Purpose of the mandate

Poverty is still predominantly a rural problem. 80 per cent of people suffering from hunger live in rural areas, particularly in developing countries, and 50 per cent are small-scale and traditional farm holders, as well as subsistence peasants and other people working in rural areas.

Peasants and other people working in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to  discrimination and to a wide range of human rights abuses, including inadequate access to land, adequate food, resources, and markets, as well as facing threats to their livelihoods from climate change, land grabbing, and exploitative labour practices.

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About the mandate

The Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas was established in 2023 by Human Rights Council through resolution A/HRC/RES/54/9 for a period of 3 years.

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About the members

The Working Group is composed of 5 independent experts of balanced geographical representation, working collectively as a group and producing work in the name of the mandate. Members are elected by the Human Rights Council for a period of 3 years, which can be renewed once for an additional 3 years.

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