Peasants’Charter. The Declaration of Principles and Programme of Action of the 1979 World Conference on Agrarian Reforme and Rural Development

La Conférence Internationale sur la Réforme Agraire et le Développement Rural convoquée par la FAO à Rome en Juillet 1979 a permis aux 145 gouvernements représentés de se mettre d’accord sur un document important, à la fois Déclaration de principes et Programme d’action, la Charte des paysans.

In the foreword of this document, EDOUARD SAOUMA, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations writes :

« The Declaration of Principles and Programme of Action constitutes, in fact, the charter of the rural poor. It points out that rural development is a global problem, which has to be tackled simultaneously on several inter-connected fronts: by the action of rural institutions, at village level; by the reorientation of national development policies, at country level; by the realization of a New International Economic Order throughout the world

Developed and developing countries as well as the international community as a whole must contribute to the immense effort required to eliminate rural poverty: the rural poor must be given access to land and water resources, agricultural inputs and services, extension and research facilities; they must be permitted to participate in the design, implementation and evaluation of rural development programmes; the structure and pattern of international trade and external investment must be adjusted to facilitate the implementation of poverty-oriented rural development strategies.

Growth is necessary but not sufficient; it must be buttressed by equity and, above all, by people’s participation in designing, implementing and evaluating rural development programmes and policies.

In the final analysis, the responsibility for agrarian reform and rural development rests with governments and their people - on a political commitment and their determined efforts. But in order to be involved, people need to be motivated and encouraged to recognize the issues and to pledge their unswerving commitment to rural development, with particular attention to the least advantaged.

This publication is intended for scholars, thinkers and writers as much as for social and political leaders; it is destined to reach all those who can help to spread the message of the World Conference. FAO hopes that it will constitute a turning point in the history of man’s struggle to conquer poverty. »

This paper is available on the FAO website [www.fao.org/docrep/U8719E/U8719E00.htm]. There is no electronic version of this book. A portuguese version, elaborated by Brasil for the preparation of the 2006 ICARRD is available in pdf and can be downloades from this page.