At the 35th FAO Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia (ERC35) in Dushanbe, a call was made on May 14 to protect human rights defenders and activists from indigenous peoples, especially women. During the speech, issues of land grabbing, pressure on activists, and persecution of defenders of land rights and food sovereignty were raised.
One of the central themes of the panel session “From Rights to Results — Empowering Women Farmers for Effective Agrifood Systems in Europe and Central Asia” at the FAO conference was the role of women farmers in ensuring food security and developing sustainable agriculture. The event was timed to the International Year of Women Farmers — 2026, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly.
Participants noted that women in rural areas still face limited access to resources, technologies, markets, and participation in decision-making. They discussed the experiences of women farmers from Europe and Central Asia, the opportunities for developing a sustainable circular bioeconomy, and the main challenges women face in agriculture.
It was noted that rural women play an important role in ensuring food security and supporting local communities. At the same time, due to gender inequality, they often have limited access to production resources, modern technologies, markets, advisory services, and participation in decision-making.
Special attention at the session was given to the fact that empowering women farmers is not only a matter of equality but also an important factor in increasing the efficiency of agriculture and the resilience of rural areas.
Participants also emphasized the need to consider gender aspects when implementing innovations in the bioeconomy so that women can fully utilize new opportunities for the development of the agricultural sector.
One of the notable speeches at the conference was the statement by Pierre Maison from the international network Nyéléni. He raised issues that, according to him, often remain outside official discussions: land grabbing, pressure on activists, and persecution of defenders of land rights and food sovereignty.
Maison also reminded that 2026 has been declared the International Year of Women Farmers. He urged states to comply with international norms, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, as well as the right to food.
According to him, issues of sustainable agriculture and food security are directly related to human rights, the protection of rural communities, and the participation of women in decision-making.
Based on the provided search results, the 35th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia (ERC35) is currently being held in Dushanbe from May 11–15, 2026. More than 550 representatives are participating in the forum, including delegations from 54 FAO member states, observer countries, as well as international and regional organizations.
Following the conference, a report is expected to be adopted that will determine the FAO’s priorities in the region for the next two years.
