Nyéléni Global Forum
1st Nyéléni Global Forum
In February 2007, 600 delegates from every corner of the globe gathered in Mali, uniting diverse voices across society with a shared passion for agriculture and food justice. This historic meeting reaffirmed the right to food sovereignty, defining its deep economic, social, ecological, and political impact. It marked the beginning of a global movement dedicated to securing food sovereignty as a fundamental right for all.

1st Nyéléni Global Forum

About the 1st Nyéléni Global Forum 2007

During the first decade of the 2000s, in view of the failure of neo-liberal policies and the deteriorating living conditions of both rural and urban societies, a growing number of political decision makers and social movements became interested in food sovereignty.

In 2006, a group composed of Friends of the Earth International, Via Campesina, the World March of Women, ROPPA, WFF (World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers) and WFFP came together to organise Nyéléni 2007, the World Forum for Food Sovereignty.

600 delegates from the five continents, representing all sectors of society with an interest in agricultural and food issues, met in Mali in February 2007.

“We will strengthen the movements for food sovereignty through mobilisation, alliance building, education, communication and joint action among movements throughout the world (…).”
Synthesis report Nyéléni 2007 page 8

This gathering was an opportunity to reaffirm the right to food sovereignty and to clarify its economic, social, ecological and political implications. It also created an international process with the aim of recognising the right to food sovereignty.

The organisers made a deliberate decision to hold this meeting in Africa, where agriculture plays a central role, and where numerous rural and urban families suffer from hunger, despite the abundance of natural resources.

Mali was a natural choice – a democratic country where civil society organisations enjoyed freedom of action and expression. Furthermore, Mali was one of the first countries in the world to make food sovereignty a policy priority with its agricultural framework law.

Read the full 1st Nyéléni Global Forum Declaration

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