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Food Sovereignty Roundtable
APWLD
July 2, 2004

Amarsanaa Darisuren of UNIFEM-Bangkok making a presentation on of food sovereignty

The APWLD organized Roundtable on Food Sovereignty brought together women from across the Asia-Pacific region together to enjoy some local traditional foods from the region and to discuss the meaning of food sovereignty and the importance of retaining control over productive resources. It was agreed that food sovereignty requires the full recognition and promotion of women’s roles in food and agriculture, and women’s equal access to and control over land, water, seeds, forests, fishing areas, and other productive resources. Participants discussed how food sovereignty is much more than the right to food—it is the right to access food, but it is also the right to decide what food, how we get food, how we produce food, and who we sell it to. It also includes issues of mining, forestry, fishing and the right of access to water. As a result, food sovereignty can be seen as a framework that encompasses a variety of different issues, many of which are related to globalization and increasing trade liberalization. The participants came up with recommendations for action including the importance of local organizing; political education that takes global issues into account; looking at the impacts of government policy locally, regionally, and nationally; and raising awareness of the issues at the local level. All participants were encouraged to join the 30 day Peoples Caravan for Food Sovereignty across Asia to raise awareness in the region. Many thanks to all participants!

Fatima Burnad of Society for Rural Education and Development, India, speaking at Food Sovereignty workshop

Olga Djanaeva of Alga Rural Women's NGO from Kyrgyzstan speaking about impact of Land Reform in Kyrgyzstan

Tamilnadu Dalit Women's Forum organised a Food Stall with traditional foods from the region