Press release
11 May 2012
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Rural Affairs
Fairer conditions for the world's farmers
The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) today endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests. The CFS is a joint committee consisting of UN bodies and civil society.
The Guidelines were produced with the help of representatives of several countries, the business sector and civil society. They provide guidance to states and national authorities that manage and use land, fisheries and forests. In the longer term they are meant to contribute to achieving food security and reducing poverty. From a Swedish perspective, it is hoped that the Guidelines will improve famers, and particularly womens, rights of ownership and use of land, and that natural resources are used in a more sustainable manner.
"Responsible governance of land issues is, in itself, extremely important to poverty-oriented economic growth in many developing countries where many poor people are dependent on using natural resources to make a living. Land issues are key to being able to promote responsible investments investments that are very important for many developing countries to be able to increase their agricultural production and ensure sustainable food supplies," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.
"The strength of the Voluntary Guidelines is that they are based on rights and highlight issues important to Sweden, such as rights of ownership and use. This particularly applies to women, who are often the ones who work the land. These issues are important, not least as regards justice, access to food and jobs that provide a chance to break out of poverty," says Minister for Rural Affairs Eskil Erlandsson.
Contact
André MkandawireActing Press Secretary to Gunilla Carlsson
+46 8 405 59 39
+46 704 06 14 10
E-mail to André Mkandawire Anna-Karin Nyman
Press Secretary to Eskil Erlandsson
