FINAL DECLARATION OF THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGRARIAN REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
ICARRD+20

We, representatives of the official delegations participating at the Second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development +20 (hereinafter, ICARRD+20 or the Conference) who subscribe to this Declaration, recognize the essential role of agrarian reform, sustainable rural development policies and responsible land governance to promote food and nutrition security, ending hunger and poverty, conflict prevention, and the transformation of living conditions for peoples and communities in rural areas through just, equitable, and sustainable actions, with a view to implementing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

We value previous efforts and recognize their contributions made to the adoption of the Peasants' Charter (1979); of the "Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security" (VGGT, 2012); of the "Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security" (2004); of the "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" (UNDRIP, 2007); of the "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas" (UNDROP, 2018); and of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD, 1992) and its decision (2019) to integrate the VGGT in the agenda of soil degradation neutrality. We recognize that the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) serves as reference point and tool for advancing agrarian reform policies and for the protection and promotion of rights to land and territory.

We affirm that ICARRD+20 promoted and organized by the Government of Colombia, co-organized by the government of Brazil, and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), contributes to the global alignment of the agendas on land, soil protection, biodiversity, and peace, linked to climate action and to food and nutrition security. Furthermore, it renews and updates the principles of Porto Alegre Declaration (2006) and reaffirms the commitment of States to human rights and with secure and sustainable access to land and other essential natural resources for peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

WE HAVE THEREFORE CONSENTED THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION:

1. We recognize that rural peoples and communities in their diversity form a plural universe that includes, among others, peasants; smallholders, family farmers; Indigenous Peoples; Foresters; riverine, fishing, coastal communities; pastoralists; agrarian workers and other working people in rural areas; landless people; Afro-descendants, local communities, people of different generations; people living with disabilities, as well as rural women, young people, girls; and other groups in vulnerable situations.

2. We note with concern that the growing convergence of environmental, climatic, and food crises deepens inequalities and land and natural resources conflicts, with effect on the quality of life of present and for future generations, affecting disproportionally peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

3. We note that hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty, and rural unemployment are phenomena intrinsically linked to inequality in access to and control over land, water, and other natural resources.

4. We underline that biodiversity loss, soil degradation, overfishing, and the degradation of marine and inland water ecosystems, as well as water scarcity are interdependent processes that lead to desertification, the loss of ecosystems and their functions and natural services.

5. We recognize the challenges of the current agrifood system and the need to prevent agricultural land from being treated exclusively as a financial asset, in order to curb its concentration and unsustainable use, as well as to reduce barriers to access.

6. We consider it a priority to strengthen the capacities of formal and customary justice systems, to ensure effective access to justice and the protection of tenure and property rights of peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

7. We note with concern any form of dispossession and forced displacement inconsistent with national legislation that disregards the rights to land and territory and affects the integrity of peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

8. We note with concern that women and girls face greater barriers in accessing land tenure, ownership, and secure, documented rights to land, forests and water.

9. We reaffirm our commitment to creating opportunities for young people to strengthen their capacities as agents of change and to build their life projects in rural areas with dignity.

10. We recognize that States have the primary responsibility to formulate and implement policies and strategies for agrarian reform, sustainable rural development, and responsible governance of land tenure.

11. We value the active, free, and meaningful participation of peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities as rights holders and agents of change in the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies.

12. We call for the establishment of a structure and system headed by a Coordinating Committee, under the auspices of FAO, to draw up guidelines and a funding model for identifying the country that will host the next ICARRD.

ICARRD+20 VISION AND PRINCIPLES

13. Driven by our determination to implement policies of agrarian reform, sustainable rural development, and responsible land tenure governance, we seek to transform the conditions of peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities through fair, equitable and inclusive actions.

14. We agree on principles to guide agrarian reform, sustainable rural development, and responsible governance:
14.1 Recognising the contribution of peasants, smallholders, rural workers, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
14.2 Promoting equitable access to, control over and distribution of rural land, fisheries, forests, water and land with agricultural potential.
14.3 Protection and recognition of all collective, communal, and community-based forms of ownership, use, and tenure.
14.4 Differentiated protection in line with non-discrimination, gender equality and equity.
14.5 Active, free, and meaningful participation and respect for free, prior, and informed consent.
14.6 Promoting agroecological and innovative approaches toward fair, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems.
14.7 Conservation, protection, and restoration of biodiversity, ecosystems, and soils for food production.

ICARRD+20 POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

15. Intensify implementation of CFS and UN voluntary guidelines in policies and legal frameworks.
16. Promote rights protection and meaningful participation in collective action.
17. Encourage governance frameworks that include affirmative actions against structural discrimination.
18. Recognize diversity of property regimes and harmonize customary law with equality and non-discrimination.
19. Advance comprehensive policies for equitable access to land, forests, fisheries, and water.
20. Ensure gender equality and equity in agrarian reform and land tenure governance.
21. Strengthen capacities of rural youth to build dignified life projects in rural areas.
22. Promote equitable access to science, research, traditional knowledge, and appropriate technologies.
23. Expand social protection and equitable access to essential public services.
24. Advance sustainable management and cross-sectoral coordination for land, forests, fisheries, water, and environment.
25. Promote equal access to justice and dispute resolution mechanisms in rural areas.
26. Protect and promote food production within peasant, family, smallholder and community-based agriculture.
27. Recommend policy coherence for climate action, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation with agrarian reform and sustainable rural development.

ICARRD+20 FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS

28. Encourage presentation of ICARRD+20 outcomes to relevant FAO and UN bodies.
29. Encourage the Global Land Observatory to generate and register data on tenure and land governance.
30. Consider ICARRD+20 outcomes in preparations for the 2027 CFS High-Level Forum.
31. Promote exchange of experiences and good practices in CFS-VGGT implementation.
32. Invite FAO and other Rome-based UN agencies to consider ICARRD+20 recommendations in international cooperation.

Date reference in source content: 24 - 28 Febrero de 2026.