Abstract

PIP: This paper presents a keynote address by Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on issues related to the human rights to food and nutrition. Food and nutrition rights are considered among the most widely violated economic rights. According to Robinson, approximately 841 million people, mostly women and children, do not have adequate food to satisfy their basic nutritional needs. In addition to the right to food and nutrition is the right of individuals in emergency situations, such as conflicts and disasters, to receive food aid and full access to impartial humanitarian organizations for food and other humanitarian services. Circumstances that deprive food like forced eviction, destruction of crops or products, and gender inequality will therefore be seen as violations. The state is obligated under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of every citizen to food and nutrition. Failure to comply would constitute a violation of human rights. In summary, the provisions of adequate food are inseparable from social justice. The right requires the enforcement of appropriate economic, environmental and social policies, oriented towards the eradication of poverty and the satisfaction of basic needs.