Guatemalan Women’s Rights reminded by UN Committee
Heidelberg, March 30, 2009. FIAN, the international organization for the Right to Food (FoodFirst Information and Action Network) welcomes the Concluding Observations of the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) Comittee regarding Guatemala, which were issued on February 12, 2009, following the Committee's 43rd session.
In coordination with the IWRAW-AP network, FIAN International presented a parallel report on the right to food of peasant and indigenous women in Guatemala, highlighting the fact that 60% of the Guatemalan population lives in rural areas, and of that group, 61% are indigenous. This population suffers from poverty, and extreme poverty, which particularly affects peasant and indigenous women. The situation of these women is marked by a high work load (domestic and agricultural), lack of access to education and information, a high vulnerability to various forms of violence and a lack of access to productive resources like land and other possibilities for feeding themselves and exercising their right to food.
FIAN has requested that Guatemala take steps to progressively guarantee and fulfill the right to food, and food security and sovereignty of the peasant and indigenous women. The request focused on their access to resources like land and credit, and their self-empowerment through participation in all actions bearing influence on their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
The CEDAW Committee while recognizing the efforts made by the State of Guatemala to support and initiate community projects to economically empower women, expressed concern about the impact and sustainability of these programs, and the continuing high levels of poverty and social exclusion of women – especially those in rural areas. Taking into consideration the issues presented by FIAN, the Committee also expressed its concern about the lack of access to land of women- particularly indigenous women, who “…may be displaced as a result of new economic development plans.”
Therefore, the Committee recommends that the State party ensure “…that economic and social policies and public investment specifically take into account the situation of women and monitor the resulting impact of these programs. The Committee urges the State party to strengthen efforts to encourage the sustainable economic empowerment of women, and, in particular, promote women’s access to land and credit.”
In following up with the Concluding Observations of CEDAW, FIAN International has urged the Government of Guatemala to fulfil these recommendations.
FIAN has a special interest in CEDAW adopting a systematic approach and eventually a General Comment on the Right to Food. Such a General Comment could help Member States implement CEDAW monitoring tools concerning the Right to Food, with special emphasis on women, using the FAO Voluntary Guidelines as a tool for monitoring State actions against hunger.
To read more: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws43.htm