{"id":2085,"date":"2025-11-09T12:45:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T07:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlinepeoplesnews.com\/?p=2085"},"modified":"2025-11-09T12:45:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T07:00:14","slug":"a-month-on-reflecting-on-the-kandy-declarations-vision-for-systemic-change-and-food-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlinepeoplesnews.com\/?p=2085","title":{"rendered":"A Month On: Reflecting on the Kandy Declaration\u2019s Vision for Systemic Change and Food Sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Global movements unite under shared agenda adopted at Ny\u00e9l\u00e9ni Forum in Sri Lanka, calling for transformation beyond capitalism and corporate control<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been a month since social movements, Indigenous groups, farmers, fishers, feminists, and activists from over 100 countries gathered in Kandy, Sri Lanka, for the 3rd Ny\u00e9l\u00e9ni Global Forum and adopted the powerful\u00a0Kandy Declaration<\/strong>\u2014a collective roadmap toward food sovereignty, justice, and systemic change.<\/p>\n

The declaration, rooted in decades of grassroots organizing and solidarity, continues to resonate among communities in Nepal and worldwide, offering a shared political vision in the face of escalating climate, food, health, and economic crises.<\/p>\n

A Stand Against Corporate Control and Extractivism<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Kandy Declaration leaves no room for ambiguity in its critique of the global economic architecture. It names capitalism, imperialism, and financialization as drivers of inequality, ecological collapse, and cultural erosion. It specifically calls out the role of international financial institutions, transnational corporations, and complicit governments in advancing an extractive model that treats nature, traditional knowledge, and human labor as disposable commodities.<\/p>\n

In Nepal, where land grabbing, seed patenting, and corporate-led agriculture threaten small farmers, the declaration\u2019s emphasis on\u00a0agroecology<\/strong>,\u00a0seed sovereignty<\/strong>, and\u00a0land rights<\/strong>\u00a0aligns closely with the aims of many local farming and Indigenous-led organizations.<\/p>\n

Feminist Economics and the Politics of Care<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the standout features of the declaration is its grounding in\u00a0popular feminism<\/strong>. It calls for the recognition and redistribution of care work\u2014much of it performed by women\u2014and commits to a general strike to highlight the centrality of care in societies. This focus offers a meaningful framework for gender justice advocates and women\u2019s rights organizations in Nepal, where women form the backbone of agricultural production yet remain largely unrecognized in policy spaces.<\/p>\n

Solidarity with Palestine and Oppressed Peoples Worldwide<\/strong><\/p>\n

The declaration also made international headlines for its explicit condemnation of the genocide in Palestine and other conflict zones, along with its endorsement of the\u00a0Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement<\/strong>. This political stance reinforces the forum\u2019s commitment to anti-imperialist solidarity\u2014a stance that has been welcomed by justice advocates in Nepal.<\/p>\n

A Call to Reclaim the Multilateral System<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather than rejecting global governance entirely, the Kandy Declaration demands the democratization of institutions like the United Nations. It calls for meaningful participation of social movements in bodies such as the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and urges the implementation of already-won agreements, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).<\/p>\n

What Comes Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the weeks since its adoption, the Kandy Declaration has begun to inform local and regional movement-building. From agrarian alliances in South Asia to feminist networks in Latin America, organizers are using the document to align strategies, educate new members, and strengthen cross-border solidarity.<\/p>\n

In Nepal, where food sovereignty and climate justice are increasingly central to public discourse, the declaration may serve as a tool for unifying diverse struggles\u2014from seed freedom and land reform to youth activism and Dalit rights.<\/p>\n

As one Nepali participant at the forum noted, \u201cThe Kandy Declaration isn\u2019t just a document\u2014it\u2019s a commitment. It reminds us that our local fights are part of a global movement for life, dignity, and justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Key Takeaways from the Kandy Declaration:<\/strong><\/p>\n