UN General Assembly Encourages Countries to Adopt Voluntary Guidelines

On December 21st, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Agriculture Development and Food Security, which encourages countries to “give due consideration to implementing the Voluntary Guidelines (VGs) on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security.”

In addition to calling on countries to consider adopting the VGs, the resolution also “requests the relevant entities of the United Nations system, in accordance with their respective mandates and in the most cost-effective manner, to ensure the speedy dissemination and promotion of the Guidelines”.

The Voluntary Guidelines were adopted in May 2012 by the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and are an international soft law instrument that outlines principles and practices governments can refer to when making laws and administering land, fisheries and forests rights. The VGs are intended to create a better environment for investments in agriculture, reduce land-related conflicts, recognize the rights of women, promote improved natural resource management and address challenges related to global climate change.

Click here for more information from USAID on the VGs.

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