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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
The mountain region being different from the conditions in the plain, the farmers of the Hindukush Himalayan region face greater challenge regarding the liberalisation of trade. These conditions are more or less disregarded by both conventional development strategies and by mountain people themselves within the changing demographic institutional and technological settings leading to breakdown of production system that are resource-regenerative and diversified.
The main objective of the project is to make strategic interventions, which will contribute to securing farmers’ rights to livelihood in the Himalayan region in the context of liberalisation, globalisation and the WTO (World Trade Organisation) agreements. Specific objectives are:
Establishing a preliminary database on the products, biodiversity, indigenous medicines, indigenous arts, crafts and knowledge, which need to be protected against illegal patents.
Collecting empirical evidence on the good and bad practices and course of action to be followed.
Ensuring farmers’ rights to a range of mountain products and resources that may come under threat due to the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
Assessing the likely impact, possible opportunities and threats of liberalisation, structural adjustment and globalisation and recommend strategies to optimise gains and mitigate the adverse impact on mountain people and mountain resources.
Assessing the impact of international, national and sub-national legislation, effectiveness of local institutions in empowering the people in customary and traditional regimes in mountain areas.
DESCRIPTION
This is a research and advocacy project with the aim to study the impacts of WTO agreements on the Farmers’ Rights to Livelihood in the Hindukush Himalayan Region and empower mountain communities on the implications of the market penetration and exercising existing rights. South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE), based at Kathmandu, Nepal is co-ordinating the project in five South Asian Countries, viz. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (in Candy Hill Area), in association with its member organisations.
Research agenda aims to highlight the good and bad practices prevailing in the region, asses the threats and mechanisms in place to protect the rights of the target communities by providing recommendations on how the problem could be resolved.
Advocacy and dissemination component of the project aims to empower local communities on the impact of the issues on exercising existing rights, strengthening the existing network and sensitise elected representatives, policy makers, trade negotiators academia and media to uplift the life of mountain communities by addressing poverty and livelihood issues.
PARTNER ORGANISATIONS
South Asian Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE)
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA)
Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS)
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Law and Trust Society (LST)
CONTACT SAWTEE
Dr. Ramesh C. Arya
Executive Director
SAWTEE
South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment