HUMAN RIGHT TO FOOD

Human Right to Food



Human Right to Food

Introduction

The existence of more than 840 million hungry people is a scandal that is not justified today because we have the means to avoid it. In addition, everyone has recognized their right to food as this is one of economic, social and cultural determined by the international community.

Discussion

The mere fact of being born, everyone has the right to the diet. It has nothing to do to “deserve” it is a right acquired at birth. However, this does not authorize to sit back and ask to be fed for free. This is the responsibility of everyone to make every effort to make its own right to food. The States Parties to the Covenant International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural are responsible for ensuring that their citizens have the means to achieve it (Kent, 2005).

In general, governments should create conditions of peace, stability, prosperity and freedom, to allow people to feed themselves in dignity. Even if they are not legal obligation, States have a moral obligation to ensure that their citizens are protected from hunger. The right to food has been formally recognized in the first international document on human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Since then, this commitment gradually increased with the adoption of various measures national and international (Kent, 2005).

Governments must create the conditions necessary to comply with that law by adopting policies and by taking actions to ensure people can grow or buy enough food for their needs. But that hearing with "adequate food"? This term refers to a sufficient supply to meet diverse and abundant all the nutritional requirements and allow a healthy and active life. It simply does not cover the right to basic commodities or a adequate caloric intake.

If citizens must do their possible to work towards the right to food, three levels obligation imposed on states that have ratified the Covenant. They are:

respect that right, that is to say refrain from actions that have the effect of depriving anyone their right to food;

protect this right, which imposes to ensure that no private individuals of that right;

give effect to this right, which means one hand that states must facilitate actions that strengthen, the benefit of the population, access resources and their use and second, that whenever citizens are, for reasons beyond their control, in unable to exercise their right to food, States owe their given the resources.

Respect the right to food means, for example, that a State cannot in food deficit areas, confiscate land or divert the course. Water used for agricultural purposes without based on a valid reason and propose adequate compensation. Protect right to food means, for example, before granting permits or concessions for industrial such as logging, authorities should ensure that these activities will not operate to prevent access to food or livelihood. Facilitate this law means that measures more radical reforms such as land may be undertaken ...