Round Table on A Human Rightsbased Approach to Poverty Eradication: Strategies and Experiences from

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Round Table on A Human Rights-based Approach to
Poverty Eradication Strategies and Experiences
from the Field Exploring the Right to
Adequate Food as a Hunger Reduction Strategy

Julian Thomas Senior Coordinator Ad hoc
Unit Right to Food Guidelines Economic and
Social Department, Food and Agriculture
Organization
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Brief History

• 1965 FAO constitution amended to include
• ensuring humanitys freedom from
  hunger.
• Affirmed, but little attention to
  operationalization.
• 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) called for
  clarification
• of normative content of Right to
  Adequate Food.
• General Comment 12.
• Draft Code of Conduct on the Human
• Right to Adequate Food proposed by NGOs.
• 2002 WFS fyl declaration on Alliance Against
  Hunger called
• for elaboration of Right to Adequate
  Food Guidelines.
• Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG)
  with Bureau
• established. Ad hoc Unit Right to Food
  Guidelines
• (FAO) put in place to service IGWG and
  Bureau.
• FAO website www.fao.org/righttofood

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IGWG Structure and process (1)IGWG - Objective

• .to elaborate, with the participation of
  stakeholders, in a period of two years, a set of
  voluntary guidelines to support Member Nations
  efforts to achieve the progressive realization of
  the right to adequate food in the context of
  national food security.
• 1. Voluntary (cannot dilute existing
  obligations)
• 2. Operational (not normative)
• 3. Practical tool to help states (not developing
  or adopting
• progressively operationalize new legal
  standards)
• existing right to food norms
• 4. In the context of national (with necessary
• food security international linkages)

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IGWG Structure and process (2)IGWG -
Participants

• Members of FAO and all member nations of the UN.
• Stakeholders relevant international
  organizations, regional institutions, NGOs and
  academic institutions.
• Stakeholders participate fully in discussions.

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IGWG Structure and process (3)IGWG - Meetings

• IGWG I (March 2003) General debate on basis of
  Synthesis Report of submissions and views. Bureau
  tasked to prepare first draft of Voluntary
  Guidelines.
• IGWG II (October 2003) Bureaus first draft
  examined and summary prepared of main comments.
  Intersessional meeting (Open-ended Working Group)
  scheduled to start negotiations.
• OEWG (February 2004) specific proposals made to
  modify draft Voluntary Guidelines no
  negotiations. Bureau tasked to consolidate
  proposals (438).
• Bureau (May 2004) second draft of Voluntary
  Guidelines prepared to serve as basis for
  negotiations at last meeting of IGWG.
• IGWG III (4-9 July 2004) negotiation of
  Voluntary Guidelines.

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IGWG Structure and process (4)IGWG
Intersessional activities (1)

• Information papers prepared to help clarify
  issues relevant to elaboration of the Voluntary
  Guidelines
• Recognition of the Right to Food at the National
  Level.
• Safety Nets and the Right to Food.
• Implications of the Voluntary Guidelines for
  parties and non-parties to the International
  Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• Justiciability of the Right to Adequate Food.
• Right to Food principles vis-à-vis Rules
  Governing International Trade.
• Food Aid and Right to Adequate Food.
• Identifying and Targeting Vulnerable Groups and
  the Right to Food.
• Monitoring the Right to Adequate Food.

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IGWG Structure and process (5)IGWG
Intersessional activities (2)

• Case Studies
• To gather information on practical in-country
  experience
• in implementing the right to adequate food in
  Brazil,
• Canada India, South Africa and Uganda.
• Projects
• Support to Brazil to Monitor the Operalization of
  the Right to Adequate Food
• Support for Honduras Seminar on Right to Adequate
  Food
• Support to Sierra Leone on Right to Adequate Food
  Coordination

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Results/Observations (1)Voluntary Guidelines
Contents, Bureau Draft

• Part I Introduction
• Part II Enabling Environment
• GUIDELINE 1 DEMOCRACY, INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND
  HUMAN RIGHTS
• GUIDELINE 2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES
• GUIDELINE 3 STRATEGIES
• GUIDELINE 4 MARKET SYSTEMS
• GUIDELINE 5 INSTITUTIONS
• GUIDELINE 6 LEGAL FRAMEWORK
• GUIDELINE 7 ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND ASSETS
• Guideline 7a Labour
• Guideline 7b Land
• Guideline 7c Water
• Guideline 7d Genetic Resources for Food and
  Agriculture

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Results/Observations (2)Voluntary Guidelines
Contents, Bureau Draft

• GUIDELINE 8 FOOD SAFETY AND CONSUMER
  PROTECTION
• GUIDELINE 9 NUTRITION
• GUIDELINE 10 EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RAISING
• GUIDELINE 11 NATIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES
• Part III Assistance
• GUIDELINE 12 TARGETING VULNERABLE GROUPS
• GUIDELINE 13 SAFETY NETS
• GUIDELINE 14 INTERNATIONAL FOOD AID
• GUIDELINE 15 EMERGENCIES
• Part IV Accountability and Rule of Law
• GUIDELINE 16 MONITORING, INDICATORS AND
  BENCHMARKS
• GUIDELINE 17 NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
  INSTITUTIONS
• Part V International Framework

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Results/Observations (3)Challenges

• No accepted definition of right to adequate food.
• ICESCR not universally ratified.
• Hence different opinions about nature and level
  of obligations of States Parties.
• Need for legal mechanisms/actions at national
  level e.g.
• Framework Law(s)
• Judicial and other recourse
• International Dimension.
• New and complex issue - implementation to take
  into account different cultures and realities of
  states while supporting universal values and
  principles that are part of viewing right to
  adequate food as a human right.
• Nevertheless, there is substantial consensus on
  many issues. The guidelines process has served to
  advance thinking about implementing the right to
  adequate food.

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Results and observations (4)Case Study
Conclusions (1)

• Satisfying peoples basic food needs is a right
  rather than an act of benevolence. Is above all
  about the empowerment of rights holders and
  obligations of duty bearers.
• Right to adequate food strategies should focus on
  those whose rights are not fully realized.
• Overarching and integrated food security policy
  based on human rights principles is central to
  achieving right to adequate food
• Empowerment
• Non-discrimination
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Participation

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Results and observations(5)Case Study
Conclusions (2)

• Balance four basic components of food security
• Availability at national and household levels
• Access physical and financial (livelihoods,
  resources, safety nets)
• Stability
• Utilization-nutrition
• Balance economic growth, trade, right to adequate
  food policies
• Legal protection of right to food important. Can
  take different forms (in or derived from
  constitution, different types of legislation) and
  various legal mechanisms by which right can be
  claimed.
• Legal/constitutional recognition not sufficient
  for implementation. Also need other elements e.g.
  rule of law, good governance, accountability,
  participation.

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Results and observations(6)Case Study
Conclusions (3)

• Need effective and appropriate institutions at
  all levels to ensure harmonized implementation.
• Accompany right to food policy by implementation
  strategy with clear, quantified benchmarks and
  targets (monitoring) as well as institutional
  responsibilities and accountability.
• Awareness raising, human rights education,
  capacity building essential.
• Civil society has central role to play in
  developing and implementing right to food
  strategies.

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Future plans

• Conclude Voluntary Guidelines.
• Continue cooperation with countries implementing
  right to food at national level.
• Integrate right to food norms and principles into
  FAO analysis, programming and implementation.
• Continue/expand cooperation with other bodies
  (e.g. UNHCHR, UNESCO, WHO, UN-WIDER, NGOs) in
  normative and operational exercises to strengthen
  understanding of implementing right to adequate
  food at national level.

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• Thank you