Food Security the Right to Adequate Food and

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Food Security, the Right to Adequate Food and Food Sovereignty FAO, Rome

Food Security, the Right to Adequate Food and Food Sovereignty FAO, Rome

Comparison of Concepts • Food Security - a technical concept • Right to food

Comparison of Concepts • Food Security - a technical concept • Right to food - a legal concept • Food Sovereignty - a political concept the three terms/concepts are not strictly comparable because of their different scope

Food Security I Final Goal: “Food security exists when all people, at all times,

Food Security I Final Goal: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” World Food Summit, 1996

Stability Utilization Access Availability Food Security II FNS

Stability Utilization Access Availability Food Security II FNS

Food Security III Twin Track approach: Track 1: improving long-run sustainability of food Track

Food Security III Twin Track approach: Track 1: improving long-run sustainability of food Track 2: addressing immediate food requirements Cross-cutting conditions: creating an enabling environment for food security

Right to food I • Legal foundation: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25),

Right to food I • Legal foundation: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 25), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 11) • Interpretation: General Comment No. 12 by CESCR • Operationalization: Voluntary Guidelines

Right to food II Ultimate Goal: “The right to adequate food is realized when

Right to food II Ultimate Goal: “The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or in community with others, has physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement” CESCR, General Comment No. 12, para 6 Food Security = Right to food (goal, process)?

Right to food III Right to food vs. Food Security • Rights holders –

Right to food III Right to food vs. Food Security • Rights holders – not “beneficiaries” • Duty bearers – not matter of choice • Human right – not charity • Human rights principles (participation, nondiscrimination, transparency, equity, interdependency of human rights e. g. food, health, education) • Accountability • Empowerment

Food Sovereignty I Definition: “…the right of peoples, communities, and countries to define their

Food Sovereignty I Definition: “…the right of peoples, communities, and countries to define their own agricultural, labor, fishing, food and land policies which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances. It includes the true right to food and to produce food, which means that all people have the right to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food and to food-producing resources and the ability to sustain themselves and their societies.

Food Sovereignty II Food sovereignty means the primacy of people’s and community’s rights to

Food Sovereignty II Food sovereignty means the primacy of people’s and community’s rights to food and food production, over trade concerns. This entails the support and promotion of local markets and producers over production for export and food imports. ” NGO/CSO Forum’s Statement Food Sovereignty: A Right for All, 2002

Food Sovereignty III That implies: • Priority to food production for domestic and local

Food Sovereignty III That implies: • Priority to food production for domestic and local markets; • Ensuring fair prices for farmers; • Redistribution of resources (e. g. land); • Gender sensitivity; • Community control over productive resources; • Protecting seeds; • No GMOs; • Public investment in local markets.

Key Areas I “Rights-based approach” • Food Security Needs based • Right to food

Key Areas I “Rights-based approach” • Food Security Needs based • Right to food Yes, but only IESCR • Food Sovereignty Yes, beyond IESCR (e. g. ‘right to produce’)

Key Areas II “Targeting” • Food Security Undernourished population • Right to food Malnourished

Key Areas II “Targeting” • Food Security Undernourished population • Right to food Malnourished population • Food Sovereignty Small farmers (less concern for urban and land-less poor, entitlements of the latter? )

Key Areas III “Development” • Food Security Integration in existing system • Right to

Key Areas III “Development” • Food Security Integration in existing system • Right to food Integration in existing system but HR principles applied • Food Sovereignty An alternative policy proposal

Key Areas IV “Role of state” • Food Security No obligations; charity; matter of

Key Areas IV “Role of state” • Food Security No obligations; charity; matter of choice • Right to food Legally binding obligations; Government as duty bearer • Food Sovereignty Government as primary protector of farmers

FAO’s view I • FAO promotes Rights-based approach to Food Security (SPFS new generation)

FAO’s view I • FAO promotes Rights-based approach to Food Security (SPFS new generation) • Food security and right to food - Not contradictory but complementary concepts • Promotes twin-track approach • Current development framework is sufficient to achieve food security

FAO’s view II • Promotes Voluntary Guidelines for the right to food • Practical

FAO’s view II • Promotes Voluntary Guidelines for the right to food • Practical Tool • Endorsed by Governments • Based on Human rights • Holistic view www. fao. org/righttofood

FAO’s view III Opinion on Food Sovereignty: • Laudable aim • FAO agrees that

FAO’s view III Opinion on Food Sovereignty: • Laudable aim • FAO agrees that international trading rules should have a development dimension • FAO agrees on critique of the working of the Ao. A and TRIPS • Evolving concept, still needs thought

FAO’s view IV Opinion on Food Sovereignty: • FAO puts more emphasis on strengthening

FAO’s view IV Opinion on Food Sovereignty: • FAO puts more emphasis on strengthening entitlements than promoting food production • Right to food of landless and urban poor not sufficiently recognized • Terminology unclear