48th regular session of the Human Rights Council (13 September to 8 October 2021)
In the "Half-day panel discussion on deepening inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and their implications for the realization of human rights", FAO underscored that COVID-19 shed light on human rights, including the right to food, health, education, housing, decent work, social security and an adequate standard of living. The most vulnerable including all those living in rural areas deserve our attention.
The pandemic is having an effect on access to information and technology inducing a direct negative impact on world-wide inequality. Technology has the power to address some of the greatest vulnerabilities created by extreme remoteness and incapacity to access basic services, markets and livelihoods. Today’s children and youth must be guaranteed access to information and knowledge to put them back in charge of their own future. COVID-19 is putting people’s human rights at risk through its impact on all dimensions of our agri-food systems. Access to healthy food and related production and consumption practices are affecting the most vulnerable disproportionately.
COVID-19 is adding to significant challenges already felt through climate change and biodiversity loss across the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors where harder working conditions and impacts of disasters place a disproportional burden on the most vulnerable workers – deepening the gender equality gap and exacerbating efforts to eliminate child labour.
FAO supports its Members by strengthening their capacity to act through an integrated and inclusive agri-food system agenda, creating better economic and social conditions and opportunities to relieve people from poverty, exclusion, and inequality and promote fairer, more equitable and accountable societies to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and leave no one, behind.
In the "Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms - The gender digital divide in times of the COVID-19 pandemic", FAO mentioned that unequal reach and access to information affects rural women involved in different agricultural activities around the world. In general, they have less access to information, resources and technical knowledge, leading to a significant gender gap in agricultural productivity. Unfortunately, this gap is also evident in relation to access to information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the existing gender digital divide especially in the rural areas. Of the estimated 3.7 billion people still unconnected, the majority are girls and women. Factors such as digital literacy, the lack of decision-making power over finances, unpaid domestic work, restricted social norms, as well as exclusion from the formal economy, limit the ability of many rural women to access to and benefit from ICTs.
As countries emerge from the COVID-19 crisis and prepare to roll out recovery plans and long-term reconstruction efforts, addressing the structural barriers that are associated to the gender digital divide is more essential than ever. Measures may include closing the digital skills gap through education, establishing gender-responsive extension and rural advisory service, optimizing labour-saving technologies and leveraging the existing digital solutions to deliver post COVID-19 recovery measures targeted to rural women. Digitalization however should not be considered as an end in itself. The digital gender divide is thus not simply a question of access to digital technologies but also about the capacity to make meaningful use of its access.
FAO is committed to assist governments and partners to promote rural women’s equal participation in the process of inclusive digital transformation of agri-food systems. FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022- 2031 emphasizes the importance of ensuring equal access to rural services, information, training, technologies and innovations and minimize the risks of rural women’s exclusion in the digitalization of agri-food systems.
In the "Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples", FAO highlighted that Indigenous Peoples' food systems, traditional knowledge and territorial management practices are genuinely game-changers that can change the world, make it a better place for humankind. However, the legal insecurity over their lands and territories, climate change, and natural resources' pressure have placed Indigenous Peoples in situation of vulnerability. This is a matter of concern.
For this reason, FAO presented some recommendations to address the rooted causes to the 21th UN-Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues' session. Foremost, it is crucial to secure tenure rights as a precondition for guaranteeing the realization of Indigenous Peoples' rights. The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure constitute an avenue to ensure those rights.
It is critical to integrate a human rights-based approach in laws, policies, and projects and in the Climate Change agenda, including COP26 and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. It is also urgent to rethink hierarchies of knowledge. In this regard, the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples’ food systems is committed to leading process of intercultural co-creation of knowledge. FAO reassured its commitment to continue working with Indigenous Peoples to preserve and revitalize their traditional knowledge and provide technical support to governments to advance their rights.
In the "Annual half-day panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples: Situation of human rights of Indigenous Peoples facing the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on the right to participation", FAO observed that Indigenous Peoples preserve 80% of the World´s remaining biodiversity thanks to their food systems. These food systems are sustainable, resilient and game changers when looking at transforming global food systems and food security for all. However, lack of recognition, marginalization, and violence is pushing indigenous peoples into situations of vulnerability, poverty and malnutrition.
It is concerning to see the latest data of violence and killing on indigenous peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic. FAO´s COVID19 policy-brief urged Governments to prevent encroachment of Indigenous Peoples' lands, support their traditional governance and respect Free, Prior and Informed Consent processes.
It is urgent to promote COVID-19 recovery measures that are innovative, collaborative and based on intercultural co-creation of knowledge that respects Indigenous Peoples´ rights. FAO referred and thanked the 7 member countries supporting the Indigenous Peoples' food systems coalition at the recent UN-Food Systems Summit. This coalition provides an opportunity to work together to strengthen Indigenous Peoples' food systems and advance in recognizing their rights as well as to foster intercultural co-creation of knowledge and ensure their meaningful participation in policy-making.
In the "Interactive dialogue with the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)", FAO highlighted that Indigenous Peoples are well placed to contribute to global, regional and national debates dedicated to food, sustainability, resilience, and conservation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted negative impacts on food security and land tenure among Indigenous Peoples.
FAO advocated for culturally appropriate actions to support Indigenous Peoples' food and Knowledge systems, ensuring their voices are included in policy and decision-making processes. FAO recognized the influential work of the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems in co-creating knowledge with Indigenous Peoples and the outstanding work of the Rome Group of Friend of Indigenous Peoples. FAO welcomed the Indigenous Peoples' food systems coalition set at the recent UN Food System Summit which is critical to strengthening Indigenous Peoples' food systems and fostering their well-being and collective rights. FAO reassured its support to the coalition and invites other countries to join the coalition to work hand-in-hand with Indigenous Peoples.