A/HRC/40/29
and quality, these rights can further guide efforts towards the implementation of the Goals
at the national level.
36.
An example of the practical guidance offered by economic, social and cultural rights
to empower people is contained in the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive
Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security,
adopted by the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO) in 2004. The Voluntary Guidelines contain 19 guidelines, which incorporate much
of the content of general comment No. 12 (1999) on the right to adequate food of the
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and additional provisions that should
be considered by Member States, non-governmental organizations and other actors for the
advancement of the right to food at the national level. For example, Guideline 7 on the legal
framework calls on States to recognize the right to food in their national law. Guideline 13
on support for vulnerable groups encourages States to systematically undertake
disaggregated analyses on food insecurity and vulnerability and to establish transparent and
non-discriminatory criteria for food assistance so that no one is left behind.
37.
Since the adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines, there has been significant
advancement in the legislative recognition of the right to food worldwide. Latin America
has led the way with Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) adopting food and
nutrition laws containing elements of the right to food. Building on the Voluntary
Guidelines, FAO has outlined five steps for implementing the right to food at the national
level: (a) advocacy and training to empower individuals to claim their right to food; (b)
information and assessment to identify rights holders at risk of being left behind; (c) access
to justice for empowered rights holders to seek remedy when their rights are violated; (d)
effective action, strategy and coordination, with meaningful participation of rights holders
themselves; and (e) measuring impact by applying rights-based monitoring.17
38.
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is central to living a life in dignity and
upholding human rights. Yet billions of people still do not enjoy these fundamental human
rights. Women, and particularly girls, are most affected by the lack of safe drinking water
and sanitation facilities. Greater efforts are needed to provide them with opportunities to
enhance their capacities and engagement. This means alleviating them of the burden of
fetching water and providing dignity through adequate sanitation services. Lack of such
services often prevents girls from attending school and developing the means to empower
themselves.
39.
As an illustrative example of a participatory approach to water management, in large
informal settlements of Kisumu, Kenya, Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company installed
meter chambers at various points on their bulk water supply network and appointed master
operators, selected by each community, to run the water supply from those chambers. This
approach aimed at improving the water-provisioning services and facilitating greater
stakeholder participation in decision-making. Over time, the approach had a positive impact
on both the extent and quality of the services residents received. In 2012, the project served
around 64,000 people through 366 kiosks and 590 individual household connections. Prices
for water decreased from US$ 0.20 to US$ 0.03 per 20 litres and there were fewer water
shortages. Women and children travelled shorter distances and spent less time for water
collection. Residents were also empowered to influence decisions at the utility, while also
serving as master operators.
C.
Right to work
40.
Work, as a human right, is not only essential for realizing other human rights but is
an inseparable and inherent part of human dignity. 18 Decent work means more than
economic empowerment: it is key to equality, dignity, justice and human development and
17
18
10
The Right to Food in Practice: Implementation at the National Level (Rome, 2006).
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 18 (2005) on the right to
work, para. 1.
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