Exploring the concept of ‘tenure’ in South African civil society
Cape Town gathered delegates representing social movements to raise awareness of the CFS Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, as a tool of change.
Representatives of small-scale farmers, fishers, forestry workers, and rural workers came together in Cape Town from across South Africa to attend a national workshop on the Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, issued by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the Tenure Guidelines, enabling participants to further understand the concept of ‘tenure’ itself and providing them with the skills to use the guidelines as a tool of change.
The workshop, held from 8-10 June, was organized by Masifundise Development Trust, in partnership with the Trust for Community Outreach and Education (TCOE) and with the support of FIAN International and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The 3-day discussions resulted in “A Plan to Act!“, a declaration on Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries, where delegates declare a series of broad strategies and actions, which encompass themselves and government bodies.
With this declaration, the delegates committed to documenting their own stories in cases of lack of ‘tenure’ and marginalisation and exposing these violations at local and global level. Additionally, their struggles will be led by their community organizations and they will engage with government bodies, including local and national government, as well as with international agencies including the FAO.