“Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living that assures them, as well as their family, health and well-being, and especially food, clothing, housing, medical assistance and necessary social services; (...)” - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25.
In December 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations marked an important milestone with the first international recognition of fundamental human rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 25 of this Declaration established the human right to food. However, 71 years later, there are still millions of people around the world lacking these basic rights. More specifically, over 820 million people do not have enough nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives.
Since its creation in 1945, FAO has dedicated all of its efforts to eradicating hunger and malnutrition. To this end, the Organization works closely with its member states, but also with actors from other essential sectors to ensure that the right to food is upheld throughout the world.
A worldwide struggle
Hunger and malnutrition do not just affect developing countries. Even in high-income countries, people are still fighting for this right. Not only must food be accessible, but it must also be healthy and nutritious. Governments must work to ensure that this is the case, adopting legislation to do so.
"Hunger is a complex problem that cannot be tackled in isolation from a single perspective since there are several factors that impact agriculture and food," explains Celia Fernández Aller, a law professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid in Spain. Celia is part of the Right to Food Watch in Spain (ODA-E), a network of academics unique in Europe.
"A Watch of this nature is necessary in Spain," she said firmly. “Not only because food insecurity has worsened in recent years, but because building a fairer world involves all countries. Developed nations cause and influence many of the problems that affect the world, such as climate change, the industrial model and energy consumption.”