FAO's Participation at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva – FAO participated in the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council that took place in Geneva from 27 February to 4 April 2023 and contributed to several events.

During the session, the Council held various thematic discussions, including on the right to food, adequate housing, the rights of children and persons with disabilities, minorities, the right to development, and climate and environment, among others. FAO intervened in the high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming, focusing on challenges and progress made in the implementation of the UN Youth Strategy. FAO stressed its strong support for the Youth2030 strategy, which provides support to countries in developing more youth-inclusive policies, strategies, investments, and programs. FAO emphasized that young women and men are key to rural development and inclusive transformation, as they provide ideas, inspiration, and energy for stronger, more connected, resilient, and prosperous rural areas.

Furthermore, FAO also participated in the high-level meeting commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, in which the international community reaffirmed its commitment to the effective realization of the right to development. In this meeting, FAO stressed that meaningful participation and inclusion, based on the rights of all, gender equality, free prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, agency and non-discrimination, will lead to fairer partnerships, balanced cooperation as well as transparency, accountability, and global collaboration.

At the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, FAO shared the Special Rapporteur’s concern for the disrupting effects of violent conflict on the enjoyment of the right to food. FAO´s intervention built on the latest report of the Special Rapporteur, which focuses on how violence in agrifood systems harm people and generate the conditions that lead to human rights violations. The Organization pointed to conflict being among the major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition, along with climate extremes and economic downturns, compounded by poverty and inequality.

During the Interactive Dialogue on Human Rights and the Environment, FAO stressed that human rights-based approaches are catalysts for accelerated action to protect the environment, address climate change, conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. Moreover, FAO noted that the One Health approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems, should be one of the guiding principles for the new pandemic instrument being negotiated under the auspices of WHO. The Organization highlighted the importance of the right to a clean and healthy environment, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly last year in July, for smallholder farmers.

FAO also attended the Interactive Dialogue on the rights of persons with disabilities to put forward that development and humanitarian programmes should more proactively target persons with disabilities, by focusing on: enhancing capacities for data collection and analysis on persons with disabilities; increasing access to skills development opportunities, advisory services, and decent rural jobs, tailored to their specific needs; ensuring greater access to adequate social protection; fostering innovation, digitalization, and labor-saving technologies; partnering with persons with disabilities and their organizations.

Dominique Burgeon, Director for the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva said ‘’At this session, we made good progress as, FAO supported the informal consultations for a biennial resolution on the Question of the realization in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights.” He added “From these consultations, Member States agreed on the inclusion of specific language on the importance of the coverage of social protection in rural areas.’’

FAO and the Human Rights Council
As the lead intergovernmental actor advocating for and supporting the realization of the right to food, FAO is committed to applying a human rights-based approach to its programs and policies.

Human rights are at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and FAO’s Strategic Framework further supports countries to meet their targets. The Organization puts people at the centre, paying due regard to transparent and accountable standards in the implementation of the four Betters, to ensure sustainable and inclusive results, as well as synergies with the UN system and the development cooperation community. FAO supports the implementation of inclusive actions and interventions to boost livelihoods for the most vulnerable, including rural youth and women, increasing resilience to threats and crises, so that no one is left behind.

75 anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This year, the Human Rights Council celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which is the first document to set out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. The Declaration reflects an agreement that equality, freedom and justice are values that drive a thriving society when everyone could experience equal access to opportunities in these domains and any of their choosing. It also acts as a guide, encompassing 30 articles that address rights and benefits, which have been realized by many yet outside the reach of others. These include access to education, employment, fair pay, voting rights, healthcare and more; the values of free speech, privacy, and mutual respect irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion are evinced by the Declaration.

Resources:
- FAO’s work on the Right to Food 
- FAO´s work on rural youth
- Opening session of HRC52
- HRC52 Opening Statement by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
- Video-message by FAO DG on Human Rights Day 2022