Ecuadorians’ New Constitution Guarantees Resource Rights & Makes Food Sovereignty a Right

On September 28, 2009, Ecuadorians approved a  new constitution that includes an article granting nature the right to « exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution. » The new constitution recognizes the right of all Ecuadorians to have access to sufficient resources to feed themselves in a sustainable manner with respect to cultural differences between people and communities. A priority is local food production, recognizing implicitly that the right to adequate food represents, among many things, the right of the small food producers, harvesters and fisherpeople to acquire appropriate resources and the right to rely on the laws, measures and programs that assist them in providing food.

To learn more about Ecuador’s constitution and its potential impacts on the movement for food sovereignty, check out these links:

Common Dreams
FoodFirst Information and Action Network
Global Exchange