Summary of activities of civil society in 2012 under the World Preparation Program for the IYFF-2014.
It has been over a year since the General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, IYFF-2014, on 2011 December 21th. This achievement of more than 350 organizations from five continents, which supported the campaign coordinated by the World Rural Forum, did not end there. Since then, civil society, with the role of women and men farmers’ organizations, artisanal fishers, pastoralists, indigenous communities, has continued to organize and add new wills and initiatives in favour of the rights of those engaged in Family Farming worldwide.
When just a year is left to its launching, the IYFF-2014 has already gained a space on the agenda of many institutions and associations working in the field of rural development, agriculture and food, and has become a reference for those who strive for better public policies in favour of rural people.
The 2012-2013 World Preparation Programme for the IYFF-2014 has reached its Equator. Left behind is a year full of contacts, meetings, debates, documents and activities that have begun to bear fruit.
The firsts IYFF-2014 supporting National Committees were created in America, Asia and Africa during 2012, with the aim to establish themselves as real advocacy and awareness centres in each country; the role of the World Consultative Committee has been strengthened to ensure comprehensive and coherent development of the IYFF-2014; new and influential civil society organizations have been incorporated to the Campaign, and new collaboration spaces have been woven with various international organizations.
All this suggests that civil society moves towards performing a shared, inclusive and truly effective IYFF-2014; a great tool to strengthen advocacy work and political awareness in favour of Family Farming: women and men farmers, fishermen, shepherds and indigenous people. With this goal in mind, it remains the year 2013, for further specifying and organizing activities; twelve months to continue gathering wills, social power and hard work in favour of Family Farming. This is also the commitment of the World Rural Forum, as a catalyst and coordinator of this process.