A/HRC/36/58 declaration would address challenges such as poverty, climate change and land privatization and of how it would fill the existing gap in international law. IV. General statements 10. Tunisia, on behalf of the African Group, expressed support for the mandate of the working group. The representative stressed that peasants had suffered historic and persistent discrimination in many countries and that it was necessary to address the normative gaps in international human rights law. 11. South Africa affirmed the importance of elaborating norms and standards on a range of important thematic issues included in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Declaration on the Right to Development. The representative reaffirmed its support and eagerness to engage constructively in the process. 12. The European Union highlighted the importance it attached to the rights of persons living and working in rural areas and the support they received from European Union policies, including through development assistance. Some concerns about the draft declaration remained. Since the declaration was not legally binding, it could not create new rights. 13. El Salvador, on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), acknowledged the contribution of peasants and traditional agriculture to the environment, a contribution that had also been recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and General Assembly resolution 66/222, in which 2014 was declared the International Year of Family Farming. 14. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, welcomed the negotiations on the draft declaration, a process that had been supported by participants in the Seventeenth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Movement. The shift towards sustainable agriculture, improved agriculture management and support for family farming and smallholder famers was crucial in developing countries. 15. Japan reserved its position on the draft declaration as a whole, as it believed it was inappropriate to include points that were immature and that had not yet been recognized as human rights by the international community. It would be more effective to make use of existing mechanisms. 16. Nicaragua endorsed the statements of CELAC and the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and highlighted the importance of defending the rights of peasants, who were key members of a fundamental sector of society. 17. Ethiopia highlighted that peasants were the cornerstone of development and reiterated its support for the draft declaration, which could be an important instrument for development. 18. Mexico noted that the draft declaration put peasants in a separate category and that the rights in the text had already been codified in other international human rights instruments. The document duplicated efforts and did not help with the proper implementation and systematization of international human rights law. 19. Argentina welcomed the Chair-Rapporteur’s open and constructive spirit and noted that several of its suggestions had been taken into account. Doubts were expressed on some concepts. The gender aspect and the role of women peasants in the current text were highlighted as positive. 20. Guatemala viewed the working group as an excellent opportunity to explore ways of improving the situation of those working in rural areas. An inclusive consultation process was under way at the national level to provide comments to the declaration. At the current stage, Guatemala was not in a position to support the draft and reserved its position on the whole text. 21. Egypt expressed support for the mandate of the working group and stated that a special instrument was needed to promote and protect the human rights of peasants that 3