About La via campesina
La Via Campesina: The International Peasants' Movement
La Via Campesina is a global movement that represents the voice of peasants, indigenous people, and rural workers. It was founded in 1993 and has since grown to include over 180 organizations in more than 80 countries. La Via Campesina is dedicated to promoting food sovereignty, social justice, and dignity for all people who work the land.
The organization's mission is to defend small-scale sustainable agriculture as a way of life for millions of families worldwide. They believe that this type of agriculture can provide healthy food for communities while also protecting the environment and preserving cultural traditions.
La Via Campesina works towards achieving its goals through various campaigns and initiatives. One such campaign is their fight against corporate control over agriculture. They believe that large corporations are taking over farmland at an alarming rate, which threatens small-scale farmers' livelihoods worldwide.
Another initiative they have taken on is advocating for women's rights in agriculture. Women make up a significant portion of the world's agricultural workforce but often face discrimination when it comes to land ownership or access to resources like credit or education.
La Via Campesina also promotes agroecology as an alternative to industrial farming practices that rely heavily on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Agroecology focuses on using natural methods like crop rotation, composting, and intercropping to maintain soil health while producing nutritious crops.
In addition to their advocacy work, La Via Campesina organizes events like international conferences where members can share knowledge about sustainable farming practices or discuss policy issues affecting rural communities worldwide.
One notable achievement by La Via Campesina was their involvement in creating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP). This declaration recognizes peasants' contributions to society while also acknowledging their unique challenges when it comes to accessing resources or facing discrimination from larger corporations.
La Via Campesina's impact has been felt worldwide, with many small-scale farmers and rural communities benefiting from their advocacy work. They have also inspired other organizations to take up similar causes, creating a global movement for social justice and sustainable agriculture.
In conclusion, La Via Campesina is an international peasants' movement that has been advocating for the rights of small-scale farmers, indigenous people, and rural workers since 1993. Their mission is to promote food sovereignty, social justice, and dignity for all people who work the land. Through various campaigns and initiatives like fighting against corporate control over agriculture or advocating for women's rights in agriculture, they have made significant strides towards achieving their goals. La Via Campesina's impact has been felt worldwide as they continue to inspire others to join their cause in creating a more just and sustainable world.