Globalisation and human development

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The Right to Food as a way to link food, trade
and agriculture Concord, Food, Trade and
Agriculture Forum Mariano Iossa, Food and
Trade Policy Adviser Actionaid
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HUNGER

• 850 million people suffer from hunger
• 75 of which live in rural areas
• Only 8 of hunger related death are caused by
  humanitarian emergencies
• Main cause is lack of access and control over
  natural resources and means of production

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Trade and Hunger

• Tariff reduction, market opening and dumping
• Sri Lanka 300000 people involved in production
  and marketing of onions and potatos were
  seriously affected by tariff reduction (FAO)
• Haiti 50.000 rice producers hardly affected by
  US rice exports
• Tomatoes in Ghana and poultry in West Africa
• Corporate quest for natural resources abuse
• Vedanta case in Orissa (India) displacement of
  communities Niyamgiri from of for bauxite mining

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Incoherence between HRs and trade liberalisation

• Trade agreements should not contraddict human
  right obligations
• States must have the right to structure their
  agricultural policies in a way that the right to
  food is not violated, including limiting trade
• Any agreement must end existing distortions such
  as dumping of surpluses
• Human right laws entitles food insecure peasants
  to special protection and support by the state..
  But neo-liberal policies require equal treatment
  of all products irrespective of the ways of
  production

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What is the Right to food

• It is a human right enshrined in the UNHRD and IC
  ESCRs and other laws and treaties
• It is a state obligation to respect, protect and
  fulfill the right to food
• the right to adequate food is realised when
  every man, women and child alone or in a
  community with others, has physical and economic
  access at all times to adequate or means to its
  procurement

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The Human Right to Food
Everyone has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the health and well-being of himself
and his family, including food, clothing, housing
and medical care and necessary social services,
and the right to the security in the event of
unemployment , sickness, disability, widowhood,
old age or other lack of livelihood in
circumstances beyond his control. UN universal
declaration Art 25
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Right to food in comparison to other concepts

• RIGHT TO FOOD
• The right to food does not only focus on the
  access to food, but also implies the access to
  productive or income generating resources.
• Is both instrument and normative and legal
  framework to free the world from hunger.
• Emphasizes states responsibility and state
  obligations inherent to human rights. Individuals
  and groups can demand the compliance with the
  state obligations under the right to food.
• Looks at issue of food security from
  people/consumer not only producer point of view

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Right to food what can be done

• VG on R2F (FAO) propose a strategy and priority
  fields of action to achieve the right to food.
  Practical steps, process of engegement and
  concrete areas of national policies.
• UN Committee ESCRs and SR on R2F legal aspects
  of the violation of the right to food.
  (Enforceability, cases of violation)

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Actionaid International Single Campaign
Why R2F is interesting for Concord

• Highlights the links between trade, agriculture
  and food security
• turns people into claimers of rights, empowers
  people and does not perceive them as mere
  recipients of aid.
• Provides opportunity for a strong micro-macro
  linkage and a positive agenda
• Combines case work with effective advocacy and
  media work, networking, training and
  mobilization.

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Actionaid International Single Campaign
Grazie!
Mariano Iossa Actionaid Food Trade Policy
Adviser IFSN focal person for Europe Action Aid
- EU office Rue du commerce, 41 B 1000
Brussels T. 32 2 503 2837 www.actionaid.org www.i
fsn-actionaid.org