A/HRC/26/48
and Northern Ireland, the United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela (Bolivarian
Republic of) and Viet Nam.
6.
The following non-Member States were represented by observers: the Holy See and
the State of Palestine.
7.
The following intergovernmental organization was represented at the meetings of
the working group: the European Union.
8.
The following non-governmental organizations were represented: Europe–Third
World Centre, FoodFirst Information and Action Network, International Federation of
Rural Adult Catholic Movements, La Via Campesina, Villages unis pour le développement
and HelpAge International.
C.
Election of the Chairperson-Rapporteur
9.
At its 1st meeting, on 15 July 2013, the working group elected Angélica C. Navarro
Llanos (Plurinational State of Bolivia) as its Chairperson-Rapporteur, by acclamation. She
was nominated by the delegation of Ecuador on behalf of the Group of Latin American and
Caribbean Countries. The representative of Ecuador, on behalf of that regional group,
indicated that the nomination was based on the leading role played by the Plurinational
State of Bolivia in moving the working group forward and Ms. Navarro Llanos’ leadership
in the previous informal meetings. Furthermore, the representative of Ecuador stated,
Ms. Navarro Llanos possessed all the necessary credentials to successfully carry out and
accomplish her mandate.
D.
Documentation
10.
The working group had before it the following documents:
(a)
Human Rights Council resolution 21/19 on the promotion and protection of
human rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas;
(b)
The final study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on the
advancement of the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas
(A/HRC/19/75);
(c)
The draft declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in
rural areas (A/HRC/WG.15/1/2).
E.
Adoption of the agenda and organization of work
11.
In her opening statement, the Chairperson-Rapporteur thanked the delegation of
Ecuador and the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries for her nomination as
Chairperson-Rapporteur and welcomed their encouraging remarks on the working group.
Referring to the draft declaration before the working group, the Chairperson-Rapporteur
informed participants that the programme of work would include three thematic panel
discussions, with 17 panellists. Each panel discussion would be focused on one of the
following thematic issues: the importance of peasants, including their positive contribution
to food security, the fight against climate change and the conservation of biodiversity; the
situation of human rights in rural areas, in particular in terms of discrimination, poverty and
hunger; and the need for a United Nations declaration on the rights of peasants and other
people working in rural areas. After the panel discussions, there would be an opportunity
for general statements, followed by the first reading of the draft declaration on the rights of
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