The right to food A/RES/72/173 communities and local enterprises, including through the facilitation of access for their products to national and international markets and empowerment of small producers, particularly women, in value chains, is a key element for food security and the provision of the right to food; 18. Stresses the importance of fighting hunger in rural areas, including through national efforts supported by international partnerships to stop desertification and land degradation and through investments and public policies that are specifically appropriate to the risk of drylands, and in this regard calls for the full implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa; 14 19. Urges States that have not yet done so to favourably consider becoming parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity 15 and to consider becoming parties to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 16 as a matter of priority; 20. Recognizes the important role of indigenous peoples and their traditional knowledge and seed supply systems, as well the important role of new technologies, in the conservation of biodiversity and in aiming to ensure food security and improved nutrition; 21. Recalls the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 17 acknowledges that many indigenous organizations and representatives of indigenous peoples have expressed in different forums their deep concerns over the obstacles and challenges they face in achieving the full enjoyment of the right to food, and calls upon States to take special actions to combat the root causes of the disproportionately high level of hunger and malnutrition among indigenous peoples and the continuous discrimination against them; 22. Welcomes the outcome document of the high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, held on 22 and 23 September 2014, 18 and the commitment to developing, in conjunction with the indigenous peoples concerned and where appropriate, policies, programmes and resources to support indigenous peoples’ occupations, traditional subsistence activities, economies, livelihoods, food security and nutrition; 23. Notes the need to further examine various concepts, such as “food sovereignty”, and their relation to food security and the right to food, bearing in mind the need to avoid any negative impact on the enjoyment of the right to food for all people at all times; 24. Requests all States and private actors, as well as international organizations, within their respective mandates, to take fully into account the need to promote the effective realization of the right to food for all; 25. Recognizes the need to strengthen national commitment, as well as international assistance, upon the request of and in cooperation with the affected countries, towards the full realization and protection of the right to food, and in particular to develop national protection mechanisms for people forced to leave their homes and land because of hunger or humanitarian emergencies affecting their enjoyment of the right to food; __________________ 14 15 16 17 18 17-22986 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1954, No. 33480. Ibid., vol. 1760, No. 30619. Ibid., vol. 2400, No. 43345. Resolution 61/295, annex. Resolution 69/2. 7/10