A/HRC/33/59 17. Sangeeta Shashikant (Third World Network) stated that the right of peasants to seeds was already recognized in article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and as part of the right to food. However, the rights to seeds and other propagating material were threatened by the advancement of seed certification and marketing laws and intellectual property regimes that outlawed peasant practices, such as the 1991 Act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. The key issues facing peasants were the protection of traditional knowledge and equitable benefit sharing; increasing restrictions on saving, exchanging and selling protected seeds; and cases of misappropriation of seeds. Ms. Shashikant stated that existing legal instruments were clearly inadequate and implementation was weak. It was imperative that article 22 of the declaration be maintained in its entirety. She insisted on the importance of the right of peasants to sell protected seeds. IV. General statements 18. The representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, reiterated the support of that country for the achievement of the right to food and its commitment to fight hunger and malnutrition. The need to address the economic, social and environmental challenges to sustainable agriculture, and the importance of revitalizing agriculture, including through the empowerment of small-scale farmers, were also highlighted. The statement was supported by the representatives of Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). The representative of Indonesia expressed support for a clear definition of peasants and other people working in rural areas, as well as for the inclusion of the obligations of States. The representative of India made reference to relevant national legislation protecting the rights of peasants. 19. The representative of South Africa, on behalf of the African Group, expressed support for a declaration, which was necessary to address normative gaps under international human rights law and address the historic and persistent discrimination endured by the groups concerned. The representative recalled the links between world food security and family, small-scale and traditional farming. The representatives of Egypt and Ethiopia associated themselves with the statement, with the representative of Egypt emphasizing that a special instrument was needed because peasants faced challenges such as the denial of their means of livelihood and of the ability to control their means of production and set market prices for their products. 20. The representative of the Dominican Republic, on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, expressed support for the elaboration of a declaration, and highlighted the centrality of policies that promoted the empowerment of women and gender equality, as well as community and family agriculture. The statement was supported by the representatives of Ecuador and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). The representative of Ecuador highlighted the need to address gaps in standard setting, while the representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela mentioned relevant provisions in the constitution and legislative framework of that country that enshrined the right to the land, food sovereignty and promotion of sustainable agriculture. 21. The representative of the Netherlands, on behalf of the European Union, stated that the working group provided an opportunity to discuss how the existing international human rights framework could be used more effectively to improve the promotion and implementation of the rights of those living and working in rural areas. The European Union reserved its position on the entire text, as no new standards were needed. However, it was ready to continue its constructive engagement. 6