New Research Brief Examines the Role of Social Movements and Civil Society Organizations in the Promotion and Monitoring of UNDROP

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new Research Brief authored by Dr. Christophe Golay, which examines the role of social movements and civil society organizations in the promotion and monitoring of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).

This Research Brief is available in English, French and Spanish. It is the last publication of our project on the rights of peasants.

IN MANY COUNTRIES, Social movements and CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS PLAY A key role in the promotion and monitoring of UNDROP

In this publication, we present examples of good practices in the promotion and monitoring of UNDROP by social movements and civil society organizations in Southern Africa, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Nepal. These examples, which are key achievements of the RAISE project between 2022 and 2025, should be replicated in many other countries and regions to support UNDROP’s implementation.

Social movements and civil society organizations can create websites, popular materials, translate UNDROP into national and local languages, conduct awareness raising workshops and training courses for rights holders and duty bearers. They can use strategic litigation in cases of violations of UNDROP. They can create local, national, regional and international coalitions to promote UNDROP. They can study the level of protection of UNDROP and its key rights in national laws and policies, and lead advocacy campaigns to fill the gaps. They can also send information about UNDROP to national, regional and international human rights mechanisms. When they perform this role, they need to be supported by all relevant actors, including States, international and regional organizations, and human rights mechanisms.

Collaboration with FIAN SWITZERLAND, Fastenaktion/Action de Carême and RAISE

This Research Brief is published with FIAN Switzerland, Fastenaktion/Action de Carême and RAISE. The project Rights-based and Agroecological Initiatives for Sustainability and Equity in Peasant Communities (RAISE) was launched in 2022, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It promotes the agroecological transition and UNDROP’s implementation in India, Nepal, Kenya, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Africa. Fastenaktion/Action de Carême is coordinating this project, in collaboration with Rural Women Assembly, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Switzerland, DKA Austria, Center for Minority Rights Development, Reseau Billital Marobee and the Social Work Institute. The Geneva Academy has been a strategic partner in this project between 2022 and 2025.  This role will be played by FIAN Switzerland in the second phase of the project starting in 2026.