Human Rights Mechanisms Must Play a Key Role in the Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Right of Peasants

A general view at a 26th session of the Human Rights Council A general view at a 26th session of the Human Rights Council

3 February 2020

The 2018 adoption by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly of the UN Declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas (UNDROP) represents a major step towards better protection of the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas worldwide.

Our new Research Brief discusses the role of human rights mechanisms at national, regional and international levels in monitoring the implementation of the UNDROP. It complements our former Research Brief, which focused on the role of states and international organizations in the implementation of the Declaration.

‘Human rights mechanisms – be it at the national level, regional one or at the UN – must and will play a key role, in the coming years, in protecting the right of peasants and in providing guidance to states on how they can implement the UNDROP. Some of them have already committed to doing so in a joint statement, released on 17 December 2019’ underlines Dr Christophe Golay, Senior Researcher at the Geneva Academy and author of the study.

‘Their contribution will be key as peasants, who represent 70 percent of people living in extreme poverty and 80 percent of the world’s hungry, are too often marginalized within international, regional and national laws and policies’ he adds.

Lessons Learned from the Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Making the link with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Research Briefs shows the important role of human rights mechanisms in monitoring a similar instrument, as well as the necessity to create specific mechanisms for this purpose.

The Need for New Mechanisms

A major recommendation of this new publication is therefore addressed to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and calls for the creation of a new special procedure – a UN special rapporteur or a UN working group – on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

‘This is the only way to make sure that the protection of the rights of peasants will be a key component of the work of the HRC. The creation of a new special procedure by the HRC would be its most important contribution to the implementation of the UNDROP’ explains Dr Golay.

Similarly, the Research Brief also calls for the establishment of new mechanisms at the regional level, with a Working Group on peasants and other people working in rural areas in Africa and a mandate for a Rapporteur on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas in the Americas.

The Roles of National, Regional and International Human Rights Mechanisms

Via a series of recommendations, the Research Brief details what human rights mechanisms – the HRC, the Universal Periodic Review, UN special procedures, UN treaty bodies, as well as regional and national human rights mechanisms – can do to integrate the UNDROP in their work and ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the rights of peasants.

‘In doing so, these mechanisms should pay particular attention to the rights and special needs of peasants and other people working in rural areas who have been historically discriminated against, including older persons, youth, children, persons with disabilities and women. They should also ensure full participation of peasants and meaningful grassroots engagement in human rights systems’ stresses Dr Christophe Golay.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

Human Rights Tiles News

From Signals to Action: Strengthening the UN's Conflict Prevention Efforts

31 March 2025

Our recent research brief series explores how the United Nations' human rights system can enhance its role in early warning and conflict prevention.

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

Local Government Event

Enhancing National Reporting and Implementation of Human Rights through Coordinated Engagement at the Local and Regional Levels: The Role of NMIRFs

23 July 2025, 10:00-17:00

This seminar explores how national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up can better integrate the capacities, data, and experiences of local and regional governments in advancing human rights implementation and reporting.

Read more

Open dump Training

Protecting Human Rights and the Environment

15-19 September 2025

Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Project

Follow-up Review Pilot Series

Started in November 2021

Read more

Neutrotechology Project

Neurotechnology and Human Rights

Started in August 2023

This project addresses the human rights implications stemming from the development of neurotechnology for commercial, non-therapeutic ends, and is based on a partnership between the Geneva Academy, the Geneva University Neurocentre and the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. 

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