Adoption by the UN Committee on World Food Security of the guidelines on good land governance for the purchase and leasing of land (May 11, 2012)

France welcomes the adoption on May 11 by the UN Committee on World Food Security of “Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security.”

These guidelines constitute a milestone in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. They provide a frame of reference for land tenure systems that ensure more secure and more equitable access to land and natural resources, a key condition for encouraging responsible investment in agriculture, in particular by and in support of the most vulnerable agricultural producers. Regarding the issue of large-scale land appropriation, the text calls for the implementation of additional protection measures (parliamentary oversight, ceilings, etc.).

France, together with the EU, has successfully achieved recognition of existing lawful land rights, including informal rights, and the application of strong principles such as respect for human rights, the rule of law, the principles of consultation, transparency, non-discrimination and gender equality.

The governments must now implement these guidelines, with the involvement and support of all stakeholders. France will play its full role in order to help achieve this.

The text is the fruit of an exemplary negotiation process involving representatives from the governments, civil society and the private sector. It’s an achievement for the Committee on World Food Security hosted by the FAO and promoted by France and the EU.