In a landmark decision the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the new Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security on 11 May 2012.  FAO launched a major fund-raising campaign with the aim of securing USD 20 million to translate into action the guidelines, aimed at helping governments safeguard the rights of people to own or access land, forests and fisheries. For the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives, FAO took the lead and partnered with WFP and IFAD and others to help the focus on improving the lives of millions of smallholder farmers and their families.