A/HRC/9/23 page 4 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The present report is submitted in accordance with resolution S-7/1, adopted by the Human Rights Council at its seventh special session on 22 May 2008, on the negative impact on the realization of the right to food of the worsening of the world food crisis caused, inter alia, by the soaring food prices.1 It aims to offer an analysis of the global food crisis and of possible solutions which are grounded in the right to adequate food, as recognized under international law. In proposing a human rights framework for an evaluation of the initiatives aimed at addressing the global food crisis, the report is based on article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as interpreted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as well as other relevant international standards.2 The Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security adopted by States members of the General Council of the FAO on 23 November 2004 are also taken into account, since they offer detailed and practical prescriptions about how States and other actors should implement the right to adequate food in a number of areas. 2. A number of implications follow from the adoption of this perspective. In identifying these implications, the Special Rapporteur is mindful of the fact that the impact of the recent surge in food prices on the right to adequate food must be addressed by measures adopted at both the national and the international levels. It is the primary responsibility of each State to ensure that every man, woman and child under its jurisdiction, alone or in community with others, has physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement.3 A human rights approach will target the most vulnerable segments of the population, who are most severely affected by the crisis or who may least benefit from the remedies. It is therefore particularly important that States (a) base the measures they adopt on an adequate mapping of food insecurity and vulnerability, and (b) that they ensure accountability for violations of the right to food. In addition, the present report explains why States should (c) improve the protection of the rights of land users, in a context characterized by increased competition for land and other natural resources such as water and biodiversity; and (d) strengthen the protection of women’s rights (see sect. III below). It is however the responsibility of all States and of the international community as a whole, including international agencies whether or not from the United Nations system, to shape an international environment that enables States to effectively comply with these obligations. This requires all States and international agencies (a) to re-examine policies that have a negative impact on the enjoyment of the right to food in other 1 http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/7/index.htm. 2 See in particular Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, general comment No. 12: The right to adequate food (1999), E/C.12/1999/5. See also CRC, article 24 (2) (c), and CEDAW, article 12 (2). 3 General comment No. 12, para. 6.