WUNRN
World Food Programme:
Women
are the world's primary food producers, yet cultural traditions and social
structures often mean women are much more affected by hunger and poverty than
men. Seven out of 10 of the world's hungry are women and girls.
While around 25 percent of men in developing countries suffer from anaemia
caused by an iron deficiency, 45 percent of women are affected. Lack of iron
means 300 women die during childbirth every day. As a result, women, in
particular, expectant and nursing mothers, often need special or increased
intake of food.
Maternal stunting and underweight are also among the most prevalent causes of
giving birth to a low birthweight child.
World Health Organization:
Nutrition is a fundamental pillar of human life,
health and development across the entire life span. From the earliest stages of
fetal development, at birth, and through infancy, childhood, adolescence and on
into adulthood, proper food and good nutrition are essential for survival,
physical growth, mental development, performance, productivity, health and
well-being.
Via ESCR-Net
The Right to Food
“The
States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an
adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate
food… The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the
fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually
and through international co-operation, the measures, including specific
programmes, which are needed…” Article 11 of the International
Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
The right to food is essential for a dignified life and is vital for the realization of many other rights, such as the right to health. Food is important not just for physiological survival, but also for the full development of one's physical and mental capabilities. The right to food is not limited to just having a certain amount of calories and necessary nutrients in one's diet; it means that everybody should have physical and economic access to food or the means of producing it at all the times. Governments are obligated to take all necessary steps to progressively fulfill the right to food for everyone. It is the duty of every state to make sure that at least the minimum nutritional needs of every person under its jurisdiction are fulfilled.
General Comment 12 of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights has set forth these standards for the right to food:
1. Adequacy. The food available for consumption has to be adequate to the social, cultural, environmental conditions of the person, and it must be free from harmful substances. The diet has to contain the mixture of nutrients that are necessary for a healthy life.
2. Availability. Everybody should be able to obtain food either through the market system or have the means to produce it himself. Food should be available in quantities that are needed to satisfy one's physical needs.
3. Accessibility. This means physical and economic accessibility. The price of food should be at such a level that it will not be a burden on the income and it will not prevent the realization of other rights. Physical accessibility means that everyone should have access to food, particularly disadvantaged groups such as children, disabled, and the elderly.
4. Sustainability. Providing food for the current needs of the population should not jeopardize the long-term availably of food. Practices such as overgrazing, deforestation, pollution of soil and water by pesticides are detrimental to the future availability or security of food.
Legal instruments on the right to food:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights art.25
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights art.11 (1)
Convention on the Rights of the Child arts. 24(2)(e), and 27(1)(3)
San Salvador Protocol arts. 11 , 15(3)(b) ,and 17(a)
African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
General Comment 12. The right to adequate food.
Additional Resources:
Circle of Rights: The Right to Food
Special Rapporteur on the right to food
Righttofood.org (Unofficial website of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food)
FIAN
International - FoodFirst Information and Action Network
Permanent
People's Tribunal on the Right to Food and The Rule of Law in Asia
FAO Portal on the Implementation of the Right to Food
================================================================
To leave the list, send your request by email to: wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com.
Thank you.