A/HRC/43/44 Contents Page I. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 II. Critical perspective: globalization and commodification of food systems .................................... 4 A. Trade agreements, subsidies and neoliberalism .................................................................... 4 B. Marginalization of smallholder farmers and peasants .......................................................... 5 C. Rush to land .......................................................................................................................... 6 D. Worker exploitation and exposure to dangerous pesticides .................................................. 7 E. “Supermarketization” of food and rising rates of malnutrition ............................................. 8 F. Loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation ............................................................ 10 Severe food insecurity: hunger, starvation and famine ................................................................. 11 A. Conflict and food crises ........................................................................................................ 11 B. Climate change and natural disasters .................................................................................... 13 Looking to the future: recommendations for key actors to support the realization of the right to food......................................................................................................................... 14 A. Formally recognize economic, social and cultural rights in times of peace and conflict ...... 14 B. Implement a human rights-based approach .......................................................................... 15 C. Monitor rights and guarantee access to justice for extraterritorial violations ....................... 15 D. Finance human rights institutions and remove the silos separating international organizations .................................................................................................... 16 Adopt economic reform to address the poverty and inequality of marginalized populations ...................................................................................................... 17 F. Empower women and girls and promote gender diversity .................................................... 17 G. Promote youth in farming ..................................................................................................... 18 H. Invest responsibly in technology and regulate innovation .................................................... 18 I. Invest in agroecology and traditional knowledge ................................................................. 19 J. Protect scientific integrity ..................................................................................................... 19 K. Enhance the role of civil society and protect human rights defenders against violence ....... 19 L. Promote food citizenship in times of urbanization ............................................................... 20 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 20 III. IV. E. V. 2