Nepal Country Component
In Nepal, the project begun activities and networking in 2012 and will be working closely to the FAO Office in Nepal. The Nepal component of the project focuses on three main areas of work: capacity development of main stakeholders; technical assistance and advice on integrating the right to food in policies, programmes and legislation; and finally advocacy and information activities with civil society organizations.
A ratifying party to the ICESCR since 1991, Nepal is making progress towards incorporating the right to food into its national legislation. In April 2011 the Supreme Court of Nepal published a key decision regarding the right to food in the country. Included in the Interim Constitution of 2007 and clarified by a Supreme Court interim order in September of 2008, the right of everyone to adequate food has been reinforced by this directive and some vital specifications have been made. Despite that, and even though the Interim Constitution and the Three Year Interim Plan recognize food sovereignty and food security as a basic right, there is still much to be made in order to include food security and the right to food into the new Constitution as well as other legislative frameworks, which are currently under restructuring. Therefore, it is important that the parliamentarians, government officials, members of the Constitutional Assembly and other interested stakeholders involved in the legislative process, as well as those in charge of implementing the relevant legislation, have good and comprehensive knowledge on the right to food.
A technical FAO mission was undertaken in February 2011 in order to identify possible areas of collaboration. From these discussions, a strong willingness to incorporate the right to food was expressed by the different actors in the country. Also, it is worth noting that Nepal has agreed to the adoption of the “Voluntary guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to food in the context of national food security”.
LATEST OUTPUTS
Joint FAO and NHRC Publication, 2017.
The document presents the way to undertake a contextual interpretation of the international normative standars on the Human Right to Adequate Food in Nepal, including how relevant provisions under the domestic law could be integrated in a framework for identifying indicators.
Available in: English
Review of the legislative framework and jurisprudence concerning the right to adequate food in Nepal
Right to Food Assessment, 2014.
The Review of the legislative framework and jurisprudence concerning the right to adequate food in Nepal discusses overarching aspects of Nepalese law and jurisprudence dealing with this human right. It provides a critical assessment of constitutional as well as legislative provisions and offers a thorough analysis of Supreme Court jurisprudence pertaining to the right to food. Available in: English | Nepalese
The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security promote secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests as a means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the environment. They were officially endorsed by the Committee on World Food Security on 11 May 2012.
Available in: English | Nepalese
Available also in other languages here
Joint FAO-OHCHR Fact Sheet No. 34, 2010.
This Fact Sheet explains what the right to adequate food is, illustrates its implications for specific individuals and groups, and elaborates upon State parties’ obligations with respect to this human right. The Fact Sheet also provides an overview of national, regional and international accountability and monitoring mechanisms.
Available in: English | Nepalese
Available also in other languages here
Right to Food Guidelines
Adopted by the 127th Session of the FAO Council, November 2004. The objective of the Voluntary Guidelines is to provide practical guidance to States in their implementation of the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security.
Available in: Nepalese/English
Available also in other languages here
RELATED NEWS
Nepal: an account from the field promoting the “Draft Framework on Monitoring the Human Right to Adequate Food in Nepal”
by the FAO Representation in Kathmandu
From the 25th to the 28th of August 2015, a series of consultations, workshops and meetings were organized by the FAO Representation in Nepal in Kathmandu with the aim to sensitize lawmakers, members of the Constituent Assembly (CA), government officials, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions and other stakeholders on the importance of human rights-based monitoring frameworks for the right to food, particularly in post-disaster recovery phases. The events helped introducing a “Draft Framework on Monitoring the Human Right to Adequate Food in Nepal”, a publication supported by the FAO and the Government of Norway to be finalized by October 2015. Most importantly, the four days led to important discussions about challenges and opportunities, and to renew the commitment to implement the Right to Food Guidelines in the country.
Supreme Court of Nepal ruling on the Right to Food
30.05.2011 – In April 2011 the Supreme Court of Nepal published a key decision regarding the right to food in the country. Included in the Interim Constitution of 2007 and clarified by a Supreme Court interim order in September of 2008, the right of everyone to adequate food has been reinforced by this decision and some vital specifications have been made. Aside from the availability of food, the Court puts emphasis on the role of the authorities in ensuring that food is accessible and affordable for the people. This is a significant step forward taken to ensure the respect, protection and fulfilment of the right to food.