A caravan by the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles – West Africa will go across the region to get the voices of communities heard and engage national authorities in the realisation of the right to food and all related rights.

Departing from Burkina Faso on 3 March, the Caravan will mobilise 15 countries in the region and carry out advocacy activities. With the finishing line in Dakar, it will culminate its journey at an international conference by the Global network for the Right to Food and Nutrition. A ‘Convergence Book’ will list both the demands and proposals of the sub-regional platform regarding land, water and seeds and will be handed over to the president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Commenting on the Caravan, Sofia Monsalve Suárez, FIAN’s newly appointed Secretary General, says: “Policies on land water and seeds must benefit the people and small-scale farmers. This is why we support this amazing initiative by the Convergence and invite social movements and communities to mobilize. We are witnessing the building of a strong movement that advocates for the rights of the people.”

Notes to editors:

– The Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles – West Africa is composed of more than 300 organizations and networks representing victims of land and water grabbing in rural, peri-urban and urban areas; evictees of popular districts; youth; women and; NGOs from the 15 countries of the ECOWAS and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA ) spaces.

– The declaration Rights to Land and Water, a Common Struggle. Dakar to Tunis: Declaration of the Global Convergence of Land and Water Struggles sets out the vision, principles and aspirations of the Convergence and serves as the basis for the building of a strong and unified movement that struggles for policies, which promote our human rights and food sovereignty. You can sign the Declaration here and support the caravan.

– The representatives of Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Benin will join the Caravan in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. Ghana will join the caravan in Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. Côte d’Ivoire will join the caravan in Sikasso in Mali, Mauritania in Rosso in the north of Senegal, Guinea Conakry in Tambacounda (Senegal). The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Léone will join the caravan in Kaolack. Multi-country activities will take place in several villages in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal.

For more information about the Caravan, see the call for mobilisation.

For media enquiries, please contact delrey[at]fian.org

Photo: © Sebastian Rötters