Video of our Webinar | Nothing About Us Without Us – Realising the Right to Participation of Rural Peoples and Workers through UNDROP
This webinar brought together rural movements, civil society organisations, and the Chair of the UN Working Group on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) for an international dialogue on one of the Declaration’s most fundamental principles: the right to participation.
Held in the context of the UN Working Group’s latest report, which focuses specifically on rural peoples’ right to participation, the discussion explored how this right—far from being a procedural formality—constitutes a cornerstone of democratic governance and a central pillar of rural peoples’ civil and political rights. The webinar created a space for exchange between grassroots actors and international human rights mechanisms, strengthening bridges between local struggles and global advocacy.
The webinar placed the findings of the UN Working Group’s report at the centre of the discussion, examining:
- The democratic and political significance of participation under UNDROP
- Barriers that prevent rural communities from influencing public decision-making
- The Working Group’s recommendations to States
- Practical strategies and good practices that enhance meaningful participation
- The role of collective advocacy and solidarity in advancing implementation
Panellists:
- Carlos Duarte, Current Chair of the UN Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas
- Loupa Pius, World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous People (WAMIP)
- Modesta Arevalos Ortiz, International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements (FIMARC)
- Jones Spartegus, World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP)
- Norah Mlondobozi, Rural Women Assembly (RWA)
- Saúl Vicente, Unidad de la Fuerza Indígena y Campesina (UFIC – Mexico)
- Paula Gioia, La Via Campesina (LVC)
Through their interventions, the panellists shared regional experiences, community perspectives, and movement strategies for strengthening participation at local, national and international levels.
We invite you to watch the recording and engage with this important dialogue as part of the broader collective effort to ensure that those who feed the world and protect its ecosystems are fully included in shaping the policies and decisions that determine their future.
Webinar held on 10 December 2025.
