Violated Rights in Rural Populations Exposed to Transgenic Soybean Crop (Preliminary Study)

Introduction: In Latin America the introduction of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) involves a risk of harm to human health, to the environment and a violation of human rights in exposed populations.

Objective: To investigate risk conditions of pesticide exposure in a population devoted to subsistence farming and surrounded by GMO crops, through the analysis of the fulfillment of State obligations to guarantee basic human rights.

Methods: A survey was conducted among local farmers in San Juan, in the Canindeyú Department (Py) in January, 2016 concerning farming practices. The compliance with state obligations was performed by analyzing the National Constitution and the Law of Phytosanitary Control.

Results: 43 Settlers were interviewed, out of which, a hundred percent (100%) are dedicated to farming, of which 53,5% (23/43) are dedicated to subsistence farming and 46,5% (20/43) are dedicated to income and subsistence. Their median level of education is 4,9 years. The population is surrounded by monocultures that are close to a 100% of the families, climate conditions are not taken into account, nor are they informed, also they were not trained in agrochemical handling and knowledge. An irregular handling of the proper preservation of recipients was described, also a lack of suitable spray equipment, washing of clothes, and child safety inside their home during massive spraying.

Conclusion: There is a risk of permanent exposure to pesticides in a context of a repeated violation of human rights of that population.