New Rights Advocacy and the Human Rights of Peasants: La Via Campesina and the Evolution of New Human Rights Norms. (24th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shawki, Noha
• Is Part Of: Journal of human rights practice. Volume 6:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 306
• Page End: 326
• Publication Date: 2014-06-24
• Subjects: civil society -- human rights -- international norms -- peasants' rights -- social movements; Human rights -- Periodicals; 341.4805
• DOI: 10.1093/jhuman/huu009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-9619

Abstract

Abstract : La Via Campesina (LVC), the international peasant movement, has long campaigned for the recognition of the human rights of peasants and adopted the Declaration of Rights of Peasants—Women and Men in 2008. This article is an effort to understand the global policy process surrounding peasants' rights. It does not address internal debates within LVC about the utility of the human rights framework. Rather, it addresses the following questions: How did the norms surrounding peasants' rights begin to emerge? What are the future prospects of internationally recognized peasants' rights? How can the campaign for peasants' rights be understood and interpreted, and how can it be situated within the broader context of transnational human rights law and advocacy? Situating this campaign in a broader context is important as it can help describe any broader implications it may have for future advocacy, new ideas or innovations it introduces, and any dimensions it has that may be an example of emerging or expanding trends in human rights law and practice. This in turn can help explain its significance for human rights practitioners. The argument developed in the article posits that the characteristics inherent to the norms, the international normative context, and the role of norm entrepreneurs, claimants, and gatekeepers, are all factors that can help us understand the policy process surrounding the human rights of peasants and their current status. The article provides an account and interpretation of the peasants' rights campaign as an instance of pluralization and new rights advocacy.