14 May 2012, Rome – On 11 May 2012, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) formally endorsed the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT).

The Voluntary Guidelines are the result of an unprecedented negotiation process, chaired by the United States that featured broad consultation and participation by 96 national governments, more than 25 civil society organizations, the private sector, nonprofits and farmers’ associations over the course of almost three years. 

The new guidelines provide a set of principles and practices that can assist countries in establishing laws and policies that better govern land, fisheries and forests tenure rights, ultimately supporting food security and sustainable development. The endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines also has significant importance for the right to food as many violations of the right to food around the world are related to access to natural resources. Margret Vidar, Legal Officer in FAO, explains the importance of the endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines in relation to the right to food.

“Secure tenure of land, fisheries and forests is essential for the realization of the right to food of people in rural areas, who depend on them for their livelihoods”, said Margret Vidar.

“The VGGT build on the Right to Food Guidelines of 2004 and have the explicit goal of contributing to the realization of the right to food. The Right to Food Guidelines contain a section on access to natural resources, and the VGGT have provided much more details on the just and equitable governance of tenure”, she added. 

For further information on the human right to adequate food and land tenure, please also see the following publications and news release by the Right to Food Team:

• The Right to Food and Access to Natural Resources
• Land Tenure, Investments and the Right to Food
• Responsible Governance of Land Tenure:
  An Essential Factor for the Realization of the Right to Food
• Consensus reached on Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance
  of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests

For more information, please contact: 
The Right to Food Team
Agricultural and Development Economics Division (ESA)
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 
00153 Rome 
www.fao.org/righttofood 
Email: [email protected]