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ILC Asia News
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AFA calls for sustainable and inclusive partnerships to ensure global food security23 January 2015, Davos, Switzerland— Small scale family farmers face big challenges. They have to increase yields to produce more for society. But in so doing, they must provide nutritious food, increase their income, adapt to the changing climate, protect their ecosystem and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Small scale family farmers have a response to these challenges: sustainable, agro-ecological and inclusive approaches to agriculture and agro-based enterprises with them through their organizations. Contributor: Jun Virola, AFAThis, in summary, was the key message delivered by AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia during a panel session on "Ensuring Global Food Security" held last January 23 on the occasion of the 2015 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. In her intervention, Ms. Penunia outlined some features of sustainable agriculture:
Panelists to the session included Mr. Ertharin Cousins, Executive Director of the UN's World Food Program (WFP); Shenggen Fen, Director General of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); David McLennan, President and CEO of Cargill USA; and Deputy President William Ruto of Kenya. The session was moderated by David Nabarro, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Food Security and Nutrition. The panelists agreed that food security policies for the future should focus on partnerships with the private sector, governments and farmer cooperatives and associations, with the latter being recognized as equal partners. Click here for the link to the Synopsis of the Panel Session by WEF Click here for more photos from the WEF panel session |
AFA, GFAR conduct training workshop on grassroots foresight2-6 February 2015, Quezon City, Philippines –AFA, with the support of GFAR, conducted a "regional training workshop to implement grassroots foresight initiative". The workshop held in Manila on 2-6 February included 8 local trainers from India, Indonesia and the Philippines. This aims to promote involvement of family farmers and their organizations in implementing the views of the future of agriculture that usually addresses global issues. The processes of determining the future, called foresight, oftentimes have limited application to local development. However, there is a desire and a need for farmers and their organizations to also shape the future they want. How can foresight processes be more farmer-led, farmer-managed, and be more applicable to local developmental processes; and in so doing help empower farmers determine their future? It is this question and need that prompted the Asian Farmers Association (AFA), with the support of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), to embark on a project that will implement local grassroots initiatives, to be piloted in three local areas, in three countries.Participants were able to already identify forces that can directly influence change as well as the resulting drivers of change through a simulation exercise. The pilot areas for the grassroots foresight work and implementing partner organizations include: Central Himalayan region of India by INHERE (Institute of Himalayan Environmental Resources and Education), southern Palawan in Philippines by PAKISAMA, and in East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia by API (Aliansi Petani Indonesia). |
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International Workshop on Indigenous Women’s Rights, Land and territories6-9 February 2015, Chiang Mai, Thailand–About 50 participants representing various indigenous women organizations, networks from Asia, Africa and Latin America shared their national, regional and/or international work and experience on gender and land rights; including good practices; key developments and human rights issues during the workshop organized by (AIPP) and (FPP) in Thailand.The workshop concluded with regional level action plan with key priority areas for capacity building, policy advocacy and engagements; networking and collaboration; key targets and resources considering key themes such as climate change, safeguards, community-based human rights monitoring, CEDAW, CSW, CERD at national, regional and global levels. Contributor: Lakpa Nuri Sherpa, AIPP |
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CSOs, NGOs, and Media discuss IPs Guarantee of Land Governance16 February 2015, Dhaka— ALRD and Bangladesh Adivasi Forum jointly organized a roundtable discussion on “Evicting Indigenous People from their: Guarantee of Land Governance” at the Lounge of Dhaka Reporter’s Unity held on 16 February, 2015.The event was triggered by the recent eviction of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Habibpur village under Parbatipur upazila, Dinajpur district on 24 January 2015. Longstanding disputes on land possession are present between Bengali’s and indigenous Santal communities and have resulted to bloody incidences.  Contributor: Ripa, ALRD Also, a paper was presented by the Associate Professor of Dhaka University, Robayet Ferdous that depicted the recent land grabbing incidents and different communal attacks on the indigenous people. Speakers concluded that the indigenous communities are major victims of the land grabbers that defy prescribed government rules. Participants and speakers at the discussion demanded the fulfillment of the peace accord to ensure transparency and accountability and to avoid the culture of impunity both in the CHT and plains. The program was presided by ALRD Executive Director, Shamsul Huda. Pankaj Bhattacharya (Oikya NAP President), Rana Das Gupta (Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad General Secretary), Sanjeeb Drong (Bangladesh Adivasi Forum General Secretary), and Dr. Iftekharuzzaman (International Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission CHTC member and Executive Director of TIB) were also present. A total of 145 participants from civil society, NGOs, CBOs and electronics and prints media participated in the roundtable. News report: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/feb/17/iftekharuzzaman-state-patronising-festival-land-grabbing-cht |
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STAR Kampuchea involves other stakeholders in the NES Cambodia implementation5 February 2015, Phnom Penh—STAR Kampuchea organized a NES project launch meeting involving NGO Forum and other advisory group members for NES Cambodia, including: RAO, GVO, PDP, and WMC. Participants exchanged updates on NES Cambodia and draft law on Agriculture Land Management, as well as discussed strategies and activities for 2015.As agreed, they will further involve NGOs and update them on the activities such as finding strategies to advocate for the draft Agricultural Land Management Law. This was a follow-up meeting of the NES Cambodia action plan review on 21 January 2015 where initial activities were discussed and potential implementers were identified. Contributor: Chet Charya, STAR Kampuchea |
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Women must be declared farmers to access credit and market13 February 2015—During the 11th Annual Summit of Uttar Pradesh Land Alliance, participants particularly demand women's rights to be declared as farmers to secure women's access to credit and market. Over 500 participants from different parts of the state of Uttar Pradesh came together to also demand from the government the implementation of the land reform and land redistribution. Detailed demands are outlined in the Lucknow Declaration.Contributor: VB Rawat, SDF |
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4th NLRF Convention concluded with a 29-Point Kanchanpur Declaration22-24,February, Kanchanpur— The National Land Rights Forum conducted a convention in Mahendranagar, Bhimdata Municipality, Kanchanpur to demand the assurance of food, housing, and land rights of land deprived farmers in the new constitution. A total of 585 representatives and observers from 54 districts participated in the event. Extensive discussions were carried out on land reform and organizational development of NLRF.The convention resulted to a 29-point Kanchanpur Declaration that outlines the responsibilities of the newly elected members of the Central Committee. For detailed information on the Kanchanpur Declaration, click here  Contributor: Jagat Deuja, CSRC Nepal |
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NES Philippines shows progress and results
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Treevolution: Greening MindaNOW is new Guinness World Record BreakerFebruary 2015—The Treevolution: Greening MindaNOW is the new official Guinness World Record titleholder for “most trees planted simultaneously at multiple locations.” Contributor: Casandra Emata, XSFTreevolution organized 122,168 government agencies, schools, cooperatives and other private sector groups in Mindanao island, including Xavier Science Foundation, Inc. (XSF), to join the world record attempt on September 26, 2014. Having planted 2,294,629 rubber, cacao, coffee, timber, mahogany and fruit trees at 29 locations across Mindanao, Treevolution has broken the previous record of 1.9 million trees achieved by India in 2011. |
Government-Private Sector Forum to Address Overlapping Land Claims10 February 2015—Stakeholders in Northern Mindanao gathered in the Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute for the "Government/Private Sector Interaction: Addressing Overlapping Land Claims," a forum organized by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. in partnership with the Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.- Institute of Land Governance. As commercial pressures, threats on food security and environmental issues increase in Mindanao, so does the competition for land ownership. Solutions were not immediately formulated but the attendees recommended creating an inclusive growth development area, continued dialogue among stakeholders, support policy reform, conduct case documentation and information sharing. |
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Publications:Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA)2015 International Year of the Soils calendar now available for download Promoting the 2015 International Year of Soils, AFA, La Via Campesina, ANFPa and PIFON, with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), have produced a calendar for the Asia Pacific Farmers' Forum (also known as MTCP2), copies of which have been distributed to national implementing agencies (NIAs) of the program. In line with the IYS theme of "Healthy Soils for a Healthy Life," the calendar emphasizes that "The soil is a living system which sustains humanity. Family farmers keep the soils healthy and fertile through sustainable, agro ecological and organic approaches. Land is life, livelihood and culture. Respect, promote, protect and fulfill the family farmers’ rights to their lands and forests." It calls for support to family farmers in Asia and Pacific to help them unleash their potentials for poverty reduction, food sovereignty and nutrition security. Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) 1. A Briefing Paper on “The Impacts of Land Dispossession on Indigenous Women” The new briefing paper of AIPP highlights the adverse impacts of indigenous women’s resistance against development aggression such as large-scale rubber and palm oil plantations and mining in their lands. It also reflects their efforts and courage to analyze their situation, build their strength and voice their concerns, and advance the advocacy of recognition, protection and fulfillment of their rights. This briefing paper is an outcome of the project “Strengthening the Documentation and Advocacy Capacity of Indigenous Women for Advancement of their Rights and Welfare on Land” implemented in Cambodia, India and Indonesia in 2013-2014 in partnership with UN Women. Click here to download the briefing paper 2. Threatened Lands, Threatened Lives: Human Rights Situation of the Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia This report presents an overview of indigenous peoples in Cambodia. It also contains case studies on how indigenous peoples are loosing their lands in spite of the law on the recognitions of community lands, and is unable to seek redress to the violation of their land rights. The report was prepared mainly from the contributions of indigenous peoples human rights defenders (IPHRDs) and NGOs in Cambodia. This report is part of the project “Strengthening the Network on Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Asia” from 2011-2014. Click here to download the report Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) Read Land Watch Asia Newsletter, January-February 2015 International Land Coalition 1. Engaging local communities in forest ecosystem co‑management Click here to download the case study Authors: Umut Zholdoshova (RDF) and Karishma Boroowa (ILC Secretariat) 2. First Draft of the revised World Bank Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework Synthesis of submissions by members in the ILC network to the World Bank e-consultation. Click here to download the draft report. Videos: 1. Beijing forging new partnerships: Watch here 2. A Roadmap for Family Farming in the Philippines: Watch here |
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1. Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty 2015: Linking Land Tenure and Use for Shared Prosperity
Date: March 23-27, 2015
Venue: Washington, DC The Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty organized by the World Bank Development Economic Research Group (DECRG) is a key global event where representatives from governments, civil society, academia, the development community, and the private sector come together annually to discuss new developments and progress on land policy and implementation. For more information, click here
2. Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations (Sustainable Development Goals and Targets) Date: March 23-27, 2015 Venue: New York For more information, click here |
Announcements: |
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Participatory GIS-based Zoning Training: Capacitating emergent leaders towards sustainable land use |
UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality Issues |
WWSF Prize for women's creativity in rural life 21st Anniversary |
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BANGLADESH
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