A/HRC/26/48 political signal that peasants were key for the future of humanity and needed to be better supported and protected; support traditional peasant systems and enhance traditional agricultural knowledge; better identify the problems peasants faced and what States could do to overcome them; shed light on the problems peasants faced, their causes and how to combat hunger and malnutrition and improve food sovereignty; help to protect women peasants who suffered multiple types of discrimination and violence; help to identify the responsibility of non-State actors, such as multinational enterprises, and issues such as access to productive resources, including land, water and seeds; help to address critical issues faced by small-scale fishing communities; strengthen the rights of peasants and thereby increase their self-esteem and help them to overcome the discrimination and marginalization they faced; and be a tool that communities could use to secure the rights of people working in rural areas, help deal with emerging conflicts and protect peasants’ rights from major threats related to, inter alia, tourism development, oil and gas exploration, aquaculture, agricultural activities, exclusive access agreements, the privatization of fishing rights, export-oriented production and pollution. 23. One expert commented that the working group should recognize the right to social security, as it was essential for hundreds of millions of people working in rural areas and could provide a safety net for older persons. Another expert noted that it was essential that the working group define “peasant” and “peasantry” in a way that was significantly inclusive of the very wide variety of vulnerable, oppressed and discriminated rural populations, and suggested that the working group should consider broadening the definition to encompass related vulnerable and discriminated groups, in particular rural migrant workers who were not members of households, such as displaced youths; economic and political refugees, and women who had fled domestic or other forms of violence. 24. The experts also highlighted the link between the lack of rights for peasants and discrimination, particularly related to gender, noting that women in agriculture often faced multiple forms of discrimination and that if those obstacles faced by women were removed, economic output would be much higher. They noted that women were discriminated against in gaining access to land, to extension services and to access to credit, and that an approach that was truly gender-sensitive should be adopted. 25. Multiple discrimination against peasants was further highlighted by panellists, who observed that peasants were not engaged in the formal sector and therefore were not effectively protected by the International Labour Organization conventions. Panellists argued that peasants did not have access to the seeds they preferred and that Governments should implement policies to support farmers’ seed systems. One panellist noted the importance of coherency, consistency and progressive advancement among similar standard-setting efforts across the United Nations. A non-governmental organization stressed that the declaration should take into consideration demographic ageing and discrimination on the basis of age, rather than the rights of older persons more generally. IV. General statements 26. On 17 July 2013, following the panel discussions, the floor was opened for general statements. In introducing that part of the session, the Chairperson-Rapporteur reiterated her intention for the working group to proceed in a transparent, inclusive, consensual and objective manner. 27. Some delegations and other participants stated their appreciation of the efforts made by the Advisory Committee in preparing an initial draft declaration on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas. They stressed that the Human Rights Council had given the working group a clear mandate, through its resolution 21/19, to negotiate, finalize 8