A/HRC/10/65 page 17 77. Protecting the interests of farmers was highlighted as central to the mitigation of the food crisis. Farmers are currently threatened by an increase in the price of seeds and means of production. The need for policies to improve the position of small farmers and the production levels of the agricultural sector was also emphasized. In this connection, guaranteeing land rights was also seen as a key to promoting farmers’ rights. It was also stated that more attention should be given to the impact of intellectual property rights on agriculture, the food crisis and exploring innovative ways to alleviate hunger. 78. There were calls for urgent measures by the international community to avoid a situation wherein whole regions of the world are deprived of food and others are plunged into violence. Reference was made to a number of successful national strategies to combat hunger as well as international initiatives, such as the New York Declaration on Action against Hunger and Poverty of 20 September 2004. Also, there were expressions of appreciation for the efforts of the Human Rights Council regarding food security. Reference was made to the prominent role played by the Council in the current food crisis by convening a special session to discuss the matter and at which it adopted resolution S-7/1 on the negative impact of the worsening of the world food crisis on the realization of the right to food for all. C. Interactive debate with relevant thematic procedures mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council 79. The Social Forum devoted a segment of its session to an interactive debate with thematic procedures mandate-holders of the Council, namely the independent expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food and the independent expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights. 80. In inviting the participants to the debate, the Chairperson-Rapporteur recalled the four areas of discussion he had proposed in his statement at the opening of the Forum (see paragraph 10 above). He proposed that the interventions focus on those areas and be made with the view of contributing to the formulation of recommendations and conclusions of the discussions, held during the three-day meeting, and that themes for the 2009 Social Forum be suggested. 81. Cuba, France, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Thailand, as well as the Association of World Citizens, Association universelle d’esperanto, ATD Quart Monde, Franciscans International and the International Federation of Social Workers participated in and made interventions at the debate. IV. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEMES FOR THE 2009 SOCIAL FORUM A. Conclusions 82. The conclusions below are based on presentations and statements made during the interactive debate.