A/HRC/39/67 36. The representative of FIAN International stated that the draft declaration sought to address the systemic discrimination against peasants and other people working in rural areas, making a critical contribution to the protection of their rights. The draft declaration would provide critical guidance on the promotion and protection of the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. It was important to recognize the collective character of peasants, as land displacement affected communities as a whole. Collective rights did not clash with the individual enjoyment of rights but rather complemented them. 37. The representative of Via Campesina Asia commended the inclusive process and highlighted the importance of the declaration. 38. The representative of Centre Europe — Tiers Monde recalled the historic background of the process of transparent negotiations, welcomed the revised draft and called for its urgent adoption. The speaker called for stronger references to some issues, including food sovereignty. 39. The representative of the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Pastoralists expressed support for the Declaration and called for an agreement. 40. The representative of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations stated that the draft declaration would complement standards aimed at ending discrimination and called for child labour to be further integrated into the text. 41. The representative of the International Indian Treaty Council welcomed the revised draft, called for its urgent adoption and stated that it would improve the legal framework for the rights of peasants, which still faced protection gaps. 42. The representative of Via Campesina Europe emphasized the support or the organization for the draft declaration, for which it had presented comments. 43. The representative of Via Campesina Latin America called for the urgent adoption of the draft declaration, which would be a useful tool for Member States. 44. The representative of Via Campesina Africa called on the Human Rights Council to send a strong political signal by adopting the draft declaration. V. Reading of the draft declaration Preamble 45. The Chair introduced the preamble and made reference to the difficulties facing peasants worldwide. The majority of interventions by States requested that the terms “food sovereignty” and “Mother Earth” be retained, as those concepts had been recognized at the international level, including by the General Assembly, and at the regional and national levels. Some delegations supported the preamble and suggested including a reference to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One international organization made a concrete language proposal on child labour, which was supported by delegations. A number of delegations made written comments which are summarized in annex III below. Experts called for the concept of food sovereignty to be retained, welcomed the additional reference to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the proposal to address rural-urban migration. An expert suggested the need to protect diversity, as uniformity was a threat. Experts also supported the reference to Mother Earth, as it had been recognized in United Nations instruments and texts. Civil society organizations supported the preamble as it stood and also supported the reference to Mother Earth. Article 1. Definition of peasants and other people working in rural areas 46. There were no major objections to the content of article 1, however delegations and civil society made concrete suggestions on language. One delegation suggested changing 7