Trump administration rejects UN farm declaration over gender references

The U.S. administration has distanced itself from an international declaration on sustainable livestock, arguing that it contains too many references to gender equality. Paul Welcher, an official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stated on Thursday at the FAO's COAG30 summit in Rome that Washington wished to "disassociate" itself from the UN's Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation.

Welcher explained that multiple mentions of climate change, gender, equality, and UN sustainability goals "distract from the core tactical elements within the FAO's mandate." The plan, which is entirely voluntary, was adopted by delegates on Friday. It advises countries to address issues such as biodiversity, animal welfare, emissions, and disease prevention.

The word "gender" appears only once in the document, to explain the numerous references to women and equality. The goal is to promote equal opportunities for women farmers and their nutrition. "The cross-cutting themes of gender, youth and inclusion are considered essential to ensure that the transformation leaves no one behind," the agreement states.

However, Washington rejects this language. The administration had clarified its stance as early as March, when a working group drafted the plan, and reiterated it in June. U.S. policy recognizes only two sexes: male and female. "To achieve this, we will use clear and accurate language," a U.S. statement said. According to Washington, focusing on inclusion comes "at the loss of recognizing hard work, excellence, and individual achievement." On climate change, the U.S. does not accept the term but prefers to narrow the focus to "specific environmental threats" facing livestock.