OFFICIAL NAME
Fédération Internationale des Mouvements d’Adultes Ruraux Catholiques
ACRONYM
FIMARC
ALSO KNOWN AS
International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements
ESTABLISHED
1964
HISTORY
Founded in Fatima, Portugal by rural adult Catholic movements from various European countries and then spread in other continents in the 1970’s, FIMARC (International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements) is an international organisation of Catholic farmers and rural people, involved in training and education in socio-political issues and in actions for sustainable rural development. Recognised by the Holy See in 1975, FIMARC was confirmed as an international association of the faithful by the Pontifical Council for the Laity’s decree of 16 October 2006. As an NGO, it has consultative status in ECOSOC, UNESCO, FAO, Council of Europe and Committee on World Food Security (CFS).
IDENTITY
In response to the Gospel appeal to show a preferential love and option for the poor, FIMARC works for the genuine evangelisation of rural areas and for the integral development of rural populations, where the vast majority are deprived of everything needed for a dignified human existence. The overall objective of FIMARC is to foster sustainable rural development and peasant based agriculture by promoting and creating a lively rural world with dignified life based on Christian values and principles. FIMARC also aims for the creation of a sustainable society based on solidarity and respect for sex, race, culture and religious faith, in order to contribute, in the spirit of Vatican Council II and the Social Teaching of the Church, to its mission of evangelisation and to the humanisation of society, promoting the comprehensive education and training of rural people.
ORGANISATION
FIMARC is governed by the General Assembly, which is composed of delegates from all the member movements. It meets in every four years, sets down the Federation’s guidelines and programmes, and elects the members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of two regional coordinators per continent, and one for the Middle East, and implements the decisions of the General Assembly. The Bureau, elected by the Executive Committee, is made up of President, Vice President, Secretary General, Treasurer and the Ecclesiastical Assistant.
WORKS
FIMARC has been struggling against hunger and for the eradication of poverty ever since it was founded. FIMARC defends food sovereignty and organises campaigns on family farming, peasant rights, as well as awareness-raising programmes on rural and agricultural issues in relation to World Food Day. FIMARC has committed to the elaboration of voluntary guidelines for the right to food, voluntary Guidelines on Land Tenure, the UN Declaration on Peasant Rights. Grass root groups and movements have agricultural and rural projects on agro-ecology, family farming, sustainable agriculture and rural development. FIMARC draws up and promotes collective strategies and actions to strengthen these initiatives and share best practices. FIMARC creates opportunities for sharing and exchanging experiences among people living in rural areas, especially the most deprived small farmers, through organising mutual visits, support programmes, inter-country meetings, as well as regional and continental training sessions on issues vital to rural people, and on the teachings of the Church.
PUBLICATIONS
Voice of the Rural World (VMR) periodical published quarterly in French, English and Spanish. Letter to the movements (LMR) and pedagogical documents on key developmental and social issues are published on a regular basis in support of grass root groups.
WEB SITE
HEADQUARTERS
Fédération Internationale des Mouvements d’Adultes Ruraux Catholiques (FIMARC)
Rue Maurice Jaumain, 15
5330 Assesse
Belgium
Tel. and Fax: [+32]83.656236
Email: fimarc@skynet.be
