Position paper by @via_campesina, ahead of the @UN @FoodSystems summit, arguing for a food system guided by the principles of food sovereignty & agroecology, & against corporate takeover (by the likes of @wef/ @wbcsd/...) https://viacampesina.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/12/LVC-Position_EN_UN-Food-Summit_2020_LowRes3.pdf

"Previous summits saw a..fully supported participation of Civil Society...the UNFSS21 hasn't received any mandate from an intergovernmental decision or process. Instead, the decision was taken by the UN General Secretary, in response to a request made by the World Economic Forum"

"it had crucial support from a few powerful member states & major ‘philanthro-capitalist’ organizations as sponsors. The governance of the Summit remains firmly in the hands of a handful of large international corporations."

"No compunction has been shown in including small-scale food producers, civil society & indigenous peoples’ organizations in a way respecting their autonomy, self-organization, & self-determination"

"The idea that a restricted panel of ‘experts’ should be at the helm of global food system policy is utterly undemocratic...the Summit’s build-up process allows the global power elites..to once again legitimize themselves as architects of the future of our food system"

"we cannot consider the @FoodSystems summit as a legitimate multilateral governmental space allowing the autonomous participation of Civil Society. The process towards the UNFSS also clearly shows the increasing corporate capture of some important @UN Bodies"

"There are clear indications that corporate interests will control the Summit, evident from the fact that it originates from a partnership between the World Economic Forum ( @WEF) & the @UN Secretary-General" @antonioguterres

The @WEF- @UN partnership agreement..has de facto provided transnational corporations preferential & deferential access to the UN System. [It] raises serious concerns about the integrity of the UN as a multilateral system & its independence & impartiality"

"Moreover, many UN agencies, including UNICEF, UNDP, WHO & UNESCO, have engaged in partnerships with major transnational companies...The result is that we see more and more UN policies that put private interests & speculation above public interests"