August 9, 2024
On the 11-12th of June, 18 participants from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen met in Istanbul. Discussions were launched on the region’s needs in the direction of food sovereignty, in the context of the Nyéléni Process with the participation of La Via Campesina (Palestine), World March of Women, HIC, Egyptian Association for Personal Rights, al Aghsan foundation for agricultural and environmental development (Iraq), Environment and Development Sustainable for Centre (Iran), Association Environment the & Human protect to Together (Iraq), Racine de la Terre et Justice Sociale (Tunisia), Association Tunisienne de développement, Djazairouna (Algeria), The North African Network for Food Sovereignty Siyada (Morocco), Knitting Aunties Cooperative (Lebanon), Jeyetna (Lebanon) and others.
The first day witnessed long discussions around the 6 Nyeleni Principles and their meanings, applications and effects on the different contexts of the region.
On a more practical note, the second day, while the participants were divided into three groups, discussed the issues faced and the suggested steps: Food Sovereignty, Women and Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Development Agenda.
The three groups came up with the following work plan:
Food Sovereignty
- Analysis and evaluation of existing urban food production systems
- Raising awareness on food production methods and fair trade, consistent with food sovereignty principles
- Capacity building, technical and financial support for popular initiatives for sustainable food production
Women and Food Sovereignty
- Creating a women’s network that brings together agricultural and processing practices, based on traditional and inherited knowledge in the region
- Producing a map of health diseases in the agricultural sector and food systems
- Working towards universal social protection, specifically covering women working in the agricultural sector, small farmers, and family farmers.
Sustainable Development Agenda
- Establishing a food sovereignty observatory (regional) as a coordination form.
- Monitoring agricultural pests that affect production and their relationship with food systems in the region and their relationship with multinational companies, linked to climate change, and linked to indigenous local seeds.
- Reviewing international and regional bilateral agreements and policies in line with food sovereignty and serving the interests of the region.
Finally, it was agreed to draft a statement about the war on peoples and food sovereignty, in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan, and it was suggested to have a “Palestine tent” during the Nyeleni meeting in India, in which we will present all the above-mentioned ideas.