Earlier this month the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, released his latest report titled, Fisheries and the right to food in the context of climate change and will present it at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) at Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The report is significant for small-scale fishers globally as it focuses on the experiences of small-scale fishers and how their right to food is impacted by the climate crisis. The report “provides a framework for the advancement of the rights of small-scale fishers, fish workers and Indigenous Peoples and a guide for States to ensure that the world’s aquatic ecosystems are biodiverse and safe and that States fulfil human rights obligations despite climate change challenges”
South African small-scale fishers are currently facing numerous threats to their livelihoods and human rights, including climate change impacts, blue finance initiatives disguised as conservation measures, and ocean and land grabbing for economic development purposes. Many of these challenges are highlighted in the international report.
The HRC session will take place between 26 February – 5 April 2024 and on 7 March, Masifundise will participate in a side event hosted by the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) and FIAN International in Geneva.
The event, Safeguarding Fisher Peoples’ Human Rights in the Face of threats of Blue Economy aims to foster dialogue, raise awareness, and propose actionable strategies to address the multiple challenges faced by Fisher Peoples. Some of these challenges include the impacts of mechanization, corporate interests, and large-scale aquaculture which have led to the loss of coastal lands, biodiversity, and the marginalization of fisher communities. The space will also be used to advocate for the rights, socio-ecological justice, and the preservation of traditional practices of fisher people in the face of evolving global economic landscapes.
The Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, along with and representatives of Fisher Peoples from different regions, will be present at the side event and will propose strategies on how to advance the realization of the human rights of fisher peoples.