Maris Gavino, WOCAN Liaison in Rome, joined the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) preparatory meeting on 17-18 May and the negotiation of the Principles for Responsible Investments in Agriculture and Food Systems (RAI) from 19 to 24 May. The 6-day negotiations worked intensively on the 6 Principle out of 10, also the Roles, Responsibilities, and Application Section still needs to be discussed. Therefore, it was agreed to continue negotiations from 14-19 July in order to finalize the principles for endorsement to the CFS Plenary when it meets 13-18 October 2014.
The Principles were developed by the OEWG, starting in October 2012 that produced the O and 1st draft. They are based on an inclusive process of consultations including regional consultations and workshops that were held in Africa, Europe and Central Asia, North America, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East.
There is a stand-alone right’s based principle on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The Principles for RAI would be a milestone achievement for the CFS, along with the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of the Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VG-GT) that aim to address global food security and nutrition and eradicate hunger and poverty.