A/HRC/12/50
Resolved to act to ensure that the human rights perspective is taken into account at
the national, regional and international levels in measures to address the current world food
crisis,
Welcoming the panel discussion on the realization of the right to food in the context
of the global food crisis, held by the Council on 9 March 2009, which offered an
opportunity for persons affected by the crisis to participate and provide input to the
discussions,
Acknowledging the task force established by the Secretary-General, and supporting
the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in this regard,
Recognizing the complex character of the current global food crisis, as a
combination of several major factors, both structural and conjunctural, also negatively
affected by, inter alia, environmental degradation, drought and desertification, global
climate change, natural disasters and the lack of the necessary technology, and also that a
strong commitment from national Governments and the international community as a whole
is required to confront the major threats to food security,
Concerned by the fact that the effects of the world food crisis are not over and that
they continue to have serious consequences on the most vulnerable people, particularly in
developing countries, which have been further aggravated by the world economic and
financial crisis,
1.
Acknowledges with appreciation the report of the Special Rapporteur on the
right to food (A/HRC/12/31), and takes note of his recommendations;
2.
Expresses grave concern at the fact that the current world food crisis
seriously undermines the realization of the right to food for all, and especially for one sixth
of the world population, mainly in developing and least developed countries, suffering from
hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity;
3.
Encourages States to mainstream the human rights perspective in building
and reviewing their national strategies for the realization of the right to adequate food for
all, which could include, inter alia, the mapping of the food insecure, the adoption of
relevant legislation and policies with a right to food framework, the establishment of
mechanisms to ensure accountability so that rights-holders are able to claim their right to
food, and the establishment of mechanisms and processes that ensure the participation of
rights-holders, particularly the most vulnerable, in the design and monitoring of such
legislation and policies;
4.
Also encourages all States to invest or promote investment in agriculture and
rural infrastructure in a manner that empowers the most vulnerable and affected by the
current crisis in order to ensure their realization of the right to food;
5.
Calls upon States, individually and through international cooperation and
assistance, relevant multilateral institutions and other relevant stakeholders, to take all
necessary measures to ensure the realization of the right to food as an essential human
rights objective, and to consider reviewing any policy or measure that could have a negative
impact on the realization of the right to food, particularly the right of everyone to be free
from hunger, before instituting such a policy or measure;
6.
Stresses that States have a primary obligation to make their best efforts to
meet the vital food needs of their own populations, especially of vulnerable groups and
households, such as by enhancing programmes to combat mother-child malnutrition, and to
increase local production for this purpose, while the international community should
provide, through a coordinated response and upon request, international cooperation in
support for national and regional efforts by providing the necessary assistance for
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