Sign on statement for global day of action against UPOV, 2 December 2023 For thousands of years, communities have nurtured and taken care of the crops and seeds that sustain us. Seeds are part of human history, work and knowledge systems, and our relationship with them is a never-ending conversation of care. This mutual nurturing has given rise to specific ways of cultivating, sharing, feeding and healing that are linked to community norms, responsibilities, obligations and rights.People’s freedom to work with seeds hinges on the responsibility of communities who defend and maintain them, who care for them and enjoy the goods they provide. And this freedom is under threat.Today there is a strong assault on people’s seeds. It comes from the drive to regulate, standardise and privatise seeds to expand markets for corporations. This is done through plant breeders' rights and patent laws, as well as seed certification schemes, variety registers and marketing laws. Whatever the form, it is about legalising abuse, dispossession and devastation.Today’s attack on seeds aims to put an end to peasant and Indigenous agriculture, an end to independent food production. Where peasant food sovereignty prevails, it is difficult to turn us into cheap and dependent labour, people without territory and without history. We face a coordinated political and technocratic crusade to impose uniform and rigid laws and regulations in favour of agroindustry. There is a determined effort to discredit people’s historical practices and ancestral indigenous peasant knowledge in order to make us dependent on corporations. Communities who have resisted have faced criminalisation, repression, and even imprisonmentWhether in Africa, Asia, Europe or the Americas, communities are fighting this pressure and we are united and mobilised to actively support them.- In Benin, social movements have stopped the national parliament from discussing a law proposal to join UPOV, the Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties. UPOV sets global standards for seed privatisation in favour of transnationals like Monsanto/Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva.- In Guatemala, Indigenous peoples are in the streets demanding that their government’s proposed bill to adopt UPOV standards be scrapped as well. They call it “the Monsanto Law” and its rejection is part of an ongoing nationwide strike.- In El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, groups are working together to prevent the adoption of a new ruling that would open the doors to genetically modified seeds in all three countries at once.- In Thailand, civil society organisations are fighting hard against free trade agreements that impose UPOV instead of protecting the rights of farmers and other rural communities to maintain and use their local seeds.-In Indonesia, farmers and civil society organisations continue to reject UPOV, which is being imposed through free trade negotiations and under pressure from countries like Japan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4pD_yZG1lc -In the Philippines, farmers, scientists, concerned citizens and civil society organizations filed an environmental case to the Supreme Court to stop the commercial propagation of the genetically modified golden rice that is patented by Syngenta and other agrochemical corporations. Moreover, Filipino farmers are spearheading the fight for the recognition and strengthening of farmers’ rights to seeds and farmers’ seed system by forwarding seed commoning as an alternative to the UPOV-like laws in the country.- Internationally, peasant and other social movements are also trying to get the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) translated into enforceable national laws.We are determined to resist the dispossession of seeds from the hands of the people. We vigorously oppose registration, certification, patenting and marketing schemes, treaties, conventions, national and international laws and legal frameworks such as UPOV and other seed laws that promote the dispossession of the common goods and knowledge of our peoples.We, as peoples in resistance, guardians of the seeds, will continue keeping, sharing and reproducing our seeds so our presence will germinate from our roots.Signatories (Only organisation name displayed):ABSDD/Slow FoodBurkina FasoAcción ComunalColombiaACDICCamerounAFSAAfrica regionagrarinfo.chSwitzerlandAgriMovementLebanonAIFFRSIndiaAKban MagueColombiaAlexander von Humboldt FoundationUSAA lo Verde Escuela de Huertos AgroecologicosEcuadorAlliance pour le Développement Durable et pour l'EnvironnementCôte d'IvoireAlliance for Sustainable and Holistic AgricultureIndiaAmigos unidos con amor hojas de agriculturaColombiaAnti-mining struggle committeeIndia.ANAGAVECEcuadorAPBREBESGlobal/SwitzerlandAravali BachaoIndiaARBA (Asociación para la recuperación del bosque autóctono)SpainAseasColombiaAsoproorgànicosColombiaAssociation des Jeunes Agriculteurs de la CasamanceSenegalAsociación de mujeres unidas por el desarrollo juanchopuquio encañadaPeruAsociación Ecoaldea AldeafelizColombiaAsociacion Agroecologia y FeBoliviaAsociación PROBIVIRColombiaAssociation pour la Défense de l'environnement et des Consommateurs (ADEC)SénégalAsociación Shuar Sharup de cuidado y protección de semillas.EcuadorAssociation Sénégalaise des Producteurs de Semences PaysannesSenegalAssociation Tunisienne de PermacultureTunisieAtukpamba y Red de Guardianes de Semillas de EcuadorEcuadorAudace Institut AfriqueCôte d’IvoireBangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF)BangladeshBadabon SanghoBangladeshBendito PrashadamColombiaBioThaiThailandBiodiversity and Biosafety Association of KenyaKenyaBiodiversity Information BoxJapanBiowatch South AfricaSouth AfricaBhartiya Kisan Union (BKU)IndiaBuilding FuturesUSACabildo Indígena de la cuenca del Río GuabasColombiaCámara Verde de la AmazorinoquíaColombiaCampesinos construyendo futuroColombiaCaritas Diocese of Malakal (CDoM)South SudanCasa de semillas El OrigenColombiaCCPASénégalCEIPColombiaCENDABoliviaCERAISpainChile Mejor sin TLCChileChilis on WheelsUnited StatesC.netzeroDRCCity Mouse GardenUnited StatesCOAGSpainCoatiColombiaCocapeutas Cooperatica Mujeres MedicinaPeruColectiva de mujeres MuralistasColombiaColectivo Agroecológico Del EcuadorEcuadorColectivo Cultura SaravitaColombiaColectivo por la Autonomía / Saberes LocalesMéxicoColombia HumanaColombiaColectivo Minga de soberanía alimentaria deChiaColombiaColectivo Semilla NegraMéxicoColectivo XieguaColombiaComité de Derechos Humanos de la Sierra Norte de VeracruzMéxicoComité Ouest Africain des semences PaysannesWest AfricaCommission of Charity and Social Actions - Caritas DalatViet NamComunidad Moneda LunaColombiaComunidad Rural de la BuitreraColombiacomunidad kishuar AmazangaEcuador Cooperativa HuacalMéxicoCoordinadora Ambiental Popular de Santa Rosa de CabalColombiaCOPAGENWest AfricaCORDES MAELA RENAFColombiaCorpalabraColombiaCORPONIMAColombiaCorporación AlunaColombiaCorporación Creare SocialColombiaCorporación CompromisoColombiaCorporacion Frutos de UtopíaColombiaCorporación SíntesisColombiaCorredor biológico Montes del aguacate costa RicaCosta RicaCREATEINDIACSRDIndiaCSFdeepinnerMusicNetherlandsCuatro Rumbos Para TiMéxicoCULTIVISAColombiaCultivo Lo NuestroColombiaCustodios de Semillas AncestralesColombiaDarbar Sahitya SansadaIndiaDESMI, A.C.MéxicoEcofeminisarteColombiaEcosinergiaColombiaEdibleBristolUKEl Jilote, SPGMéxicoEnda PronatSenegalESALColombiaEscuela de Líderesas del Ecuador, y mujeres por el cambio, y defensa por la salud de los pueblosEcuadorEvobiota Consultancy CorporationPhilippinesExtinction Rebellion ValènciaEspañaFAEB / Federation Agroecologique du BeninBENINFIAN IndonesiaIndonesiaFinca CarrizalesColombiaFrente de lucha Ambiental Delia VillalbaUruguayFriends of the Earth NigeriaNigeriaFundacion AmbientalColombiaFundacion AváArgentinaFundación Julia MárquezColombiaFundacion Biosistemas IntegradosUruguayFundación la COSMOPOLITANAColombiaFundacion Luna ArteColombiaFundación RunakawsaiEcuadorGealacPeruGender JusticeZambiaGlesiNetherlandsGood Food CommunityPhilippinesGRAINInternationalGrassroots klimaatboerderijBelgiumGrassroots TrustZambiaGroupe d'action Écologique pour le développement intégralRDCGrow Local ColoradoUnited StatesGrupo AllpaEcuadorGrupo Raquira Silvestre SASColombiaGrupo SemillasColombiaHEKS Swiss Church CooperationSwitzerlandHumaineBelgiqueHuerta comunitaria y Jardín Polinizador Con Ojos de AmorColombiaHuerta MarsellaBogotaHuertas Swa ChoColombiaHuerto Agroecológico AtemajacMéxicoIncredible Edible LambethUnited KingdomIndigenous Women and Girls InitiativeKenyaInstituto Agroecológico Latinoamericano MéxicoMéxicoInstituto HumanitasPerúISRASénégalJAL DivisoColombiaJoint Action for WaterIndiaJunta de agua vereda laurelesColombiaJVE Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireKikandwa Environmental AssociationUgandaLaboratorio de TierrasEcuadorLa Via Campesina East and Southern AfricaZimbabweLa TucanetaColombiaLapapayaColombiaLa Cité IdéaleBurkina FasoLa Cuica CósmicaEcuadorLa SaviaColombiaLes amis de la TerreTogoLideresa socialColombiaKansas interfaith ActionUSAKarnataka State Farmers Association (KRRS)IndiaMalaysian Food Sovereignty Forum (FKMM)MalaysiaMASIPAGPhilippinesMesa Departamental de Diálogo y Concertación Agraría, Étnica y Popular de Nariño Methods LabUnited StatesMINGAnetColombiaMink'a ComunicaciónArgentinaMirachikEcuadorMouvement d’Action PaysanneBelgiumMouvement des jeunes pour l'agriculture,l'agroécologique,et Agro pastorale (M.J.A.A.P)R.D.CongoMovement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR)Sri LankaMovimiento Agroecológico de América Latina y el Caribe-MAELAColombiaMovimiento Campesino de PapayeHaïtiMovimiento pacto históricoColombiaMovimiento Rural CristianoEspañaMujeres que reverdecenColombiaMunsenga cooperativeZambiaNational Alliance for Agroecology The GambiaGambiaNeverEndingFood.orgMalawiNtaamba Hiinta Development TrustZambiaOfranehHondurasojoVozMexicoOK Seed ProjectJapanONG YVEOCôte d'IvoireOrganisation des Ruraux pour une Agriculture DurableBeninOrganización campesinos construyendo futuro (OCCF)ColombiaPanitar Pally Unnyan SamitiIndiaParalegal Alliance NetworkZambia Perkumpulan INISIATIFIndonesiaPerkumpulan Kediri Bersama Rakyat (KIBAR)IndonesiaPlataforma del País Valencià per un tren públic, social i sostenible que vertebre el territori i refrede el planetaSpainPrimavera ZurColombiaPromotores ambientales del eje cafeteroColombiaProyecto agroecologico familiar y educativo ambiental sueño verdeColombiaPTR AssociatesUSAPunarchithIndiaRADDCamerounRadio BéninBéninRECHERCHE SANS FRONTIÈRES RSFRD CongoRed de Agricultores Urbanos BogotáColombiaRed de consumo Responsable y conscienteColombiaRed Colombiana de Agricultura Biológica de AntioquíaColombiaRed de Custodia de Semillas Criollas y Nativas (CESTA)ColombiaRed de foresteia análogaEcuadorRed de huertos agroecológicos de CaliColombiaRed de huertos urbanosColombiaRed de Resersvas / ResnaturColombiaRed de semillas criollas y nativasUruguayRed de semillas libres de ColombiaColombiaRed Distrital de AgricultoresColombiaRed en defensa del MaizMéxicoRed KunaguaColombiaRedmacColombiaREDMUNORCAColombiaRed de Pueblos HermanosColombiaRed de jóvenes por la AgrobiodiversidadPerúRed YumaColombiaRegional Schools and Colleges PermacultureKenyaReservorio de Semillas TechotivaColombiaRESNATUR - Red de reservasColombiaReseau JINUKUNBeninResource Institute of Social EducationIndiaSalt FilmsIndiaSanwadIndiaSave Earth Save Life MovementIndiaSave Our Rice CampaignIndiaSecretaria de educación de BogotáColombiaSeed In A BoxLebanonSemillas de Nuestra TierraMéxicoSemilla Nativa ColombiaColombiaSemillas de Identidad - SWISSAIDColombiaSerikat Buruh Migran Indonesia KalbarIndonesiaSERVIHUERTAColombiaSiyada networkArab régionSociété civile environnementale et agro-rurale du Congo RDCSociedad libre y NeocampesinaColombiaSoil if CulturesNew ZealandSouth India Coordination Committee of Farmers MovementsIndiaSSNEnglandSsfafrica.comZambia and AfricaSukruthamIndiaSynergie Nationale des Paysans et Riverains du CamerounCamerounTanzania Alliance for BiodiversityTanzaniaTamizhaga Vivasayigal SangamIndiaThe Ecocene ProjectIndiaThe Failing FarmerTunisiaThe Hummingbird FoundationKenyaThe Sixth Element SchoolIndiaThe Utopian Seed ProjectUSATierra FertilColombiaTinto to goColombiaTlalixpan, sobre la faz de la tierraMéxicoUnillanosColombiaUnión de Organizaciones de la Sierra Juárez OaxacaMéxicoUnion Démocratique de l'AgricultureMarocUnión de Organizaciones de la Sierra Juárez OaxacaMéxicoUnión nacional de organizaciones regionales campesinas autónomas (UNORCA)MexicoUnion Régionale des Associations Paysannes de DIOURBEL URAPDSenegalUruguay SoberanoUruguayWaia Reserva SagradaColombiaWe Are the SolutionSenegalWest africa sea turtles conservation networkCôte d'IvoireWFDFFMIndonesiaWild WebcapAustraliaWomen’s Alliance MNUnited StatesWMW/ATPATunisiexermoladasSpainYouth talkRDCYuva Kaushal Vikas MandalIndiaZambian Alliance for Agroecology and BiodiversityZambia