A/HRC/43/44/Add.1 X. Conclusions and recommendations 128. In concluding, the Special Rapporteur notes that human rights are of central importance to the success and achievements of the sustainable development efforts of Azerbaijan, which are closely connected with achieving high levels of food security and self-sufficiency. 129. The next 10 years are going to be crucial. Azerbaijan should concentrate its efforts on achieving self-sufficiency and strengthen its independence from big agricultural powers and companies to safeguard food security in the country. To achieve this, it is crucial to increase the market competitiveness of small farmers. If the Government is ready to promote the country’s human capital through education, incorporate a human rights-based approach into its agricultural policies and adopt meaningful public consultation, especially with vulnerable groups such as women, children, rural communities and persons with disabilities, sustainable development could be accomplished. If this course is followed, Azerbaijan will deserve great praise for its record of achievement and reform. 130. The Special Rapporteur wishes to reiterate her commitment to continue the dialogue initiated during her visit. She looks forward to working with the Government in a spirit of cooperation on the implementation of her recommendations. 131. Of her many recommendations, the Special Rapporteur urges the Government and other stakeholders to prioritize the following issues: (a) Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; (b) Ratification of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence; (c) Development of human rights education and raising awareness, understanding and acceptance of economic, social and cultural rights, in particular on the right to food; (d) Adoption of a comprehensive legal framework on the right to adequate food that integrates all relevant sectors, such as the environment, trade, nutrition, health, the empowerment of women and the protection of smallholder farmers, provision of a monitoring mechanism and promotion of food sovereignty for all; (e) Integration of a human rights-based approach to the legal and policy framework, which will ensure that priority will be given to the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and allocation of adequate resources for the implementation and enforcement of the existing legal framework; (f) Continuation of efforts towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 2 to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and establishment of a national monitoring system; (g) Investment and encouragement of small-scale farmers to form associations to increase their capacity to process their products and access the market; (h) Implementation and monitoring of the environmental regulations that protect against soil degradation and water pollution, and enhancement of efforts to protect the access of small-scale farmers and rural communities to water resources; (i) Investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and full integration of the right to food into climate change and disaster policies, paying special attention to those who are especially vulnerable, including farmers, rural communities and coastal communities, while also taking a gender perspective; (j) Enhancement of the control and monitoring systems against the excessive use of pesticides and banning of the use of glyphosate; 20