A/HRC/33/59 22. The representative of the United States maintained the previously stated reservations of that country regarding the draft declaration. While the United States took seriously many of the issues covered in the draft declaration, it believed that the Human Rights Council and subsidiary bodies were not the right forum to discuss many of those issues. The representative did not agree with the suggestion that some categories of individuals merited different treatment in the international human rights canon. 23. The representative of Switzerland noted that the major challenge was the implementation of existing human rights instruments but reaffirmed the support of Switzerland for a new declaration and also its openness to discussing the development of new rights, while respecting a consensus approach. The declaration should address the specific needs of women. 24. The representatives of Cuba, El Salvador and Panama expressed support for that initiative. The representative of Cuba insisted that the recognition of new rights for peasants was fundamental, as was giving more visibility and coherence to existing rights. The declaration could contribute to improving living conditions in rural areas in the long term and on a global scale. 25. The representative of China stated that the culture and development of rural areas were crucial for the development of humanity, as stressed by the Sustainable Development Goals. Countries had different conditions, considerations and agricultural policies. The relationship between the State and the market should be well managed by the State, which should promote coordinated development between urban and rural areas. 26. The representative of the Russian Federation expressed the support of that country for a gradual drafting process to achieve consensus, but expressed concern about the extension of the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination, including free, prior and informed consent, to peasants and other rural people. 27. The representative of Argentina highlighted the importance of advancing on a declaration and welcomed the inclusion of a gender perspective. 28. The representative of the Republic of Korea expressed the support of that country for the work of the working group, and expressed reservations on some rights that were in contradiction with its trade agreements. 29. The representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia expressed the commitment of that country to the adoption of the declaration, which would fill gaps in international law, in particular in relation to the rights to seeds, land, information and cultural preservation. The representative emphasized that the contribution of peasants and other people working in rural areas to food security and food sovereignty was key to addressing the food crisis. The methods and systems of production developed by peasant communities played a central role in the conservation of biodiversity, and could become one of the principal solutions to climate change. 30. The representative of Pakistan expressed support for the right recommended the inclusion of a reference to transfer of technology cooperation in the field of agricultural research and development. The recommended stronger language on human rights in the context of environment and the right to development. to seeds and and technical representative business, the 31. Representatives of civil society welcomed the effort to use agreed language in the draft text and stated that the draft declaration covered most of their concerns (Centre Europe-tiers monde), in particular with regard to the following: (a) the rights to land, the collective use of land, seeds, protection from biopiracy, and use of their traditional knowledge (Landless Peoples’ Movement and Serikat Petani Indonesia (members of LVC)); (b) the rights to the means of production and to a decent income (Mouvement 7