A Multi-stakeholder side event on “Realizing The Right to Food: Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Nutrition Security” took place at the Bali International Convention Centre in Bali, Indonesia on 15 March 2011, during the Fourth Regular Session of Governing Body (GB4) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).

The Exigibilidade study is an advocacy tool which provides practical examples on how to implement the right to food at country level. The study underlines the very important role of the civil society in creating mechanisms to make the state accountable for violations of the right to adequate food. In Brazil, important institutional advances towards the development of instruments to claim, investigate and monitor the realization of the right to food have been set up.

This study reviews the legal protection of the right to food at national level, through constitutional provisions, national legislation and the direct applicability of international law. A comprehensive review of all the constitutions of the world found that the right to food is constitutionally protected in at least 106 countries. In these countries, individuals can claim the right to food in front of their national courts.

A milestone was reached last December 15th, 2010 during a workshop organized by members of the Legislative Assembly of the Plurinational State of Bolivia with the support of FAO to discuss issues related to the legislative process around the human right to food. The main outcome of this successful event was the formation of a group of parliamentarians who will be responsible, with other relevant actors, for drafting a human right to food law for Bolivia. It was the first time that the Parliament organized a workshop of this kind on the theme of the right to food.

This study is an important technical tool for everyone working on the right to food and on its implementation at any level. Access to justice is recognized as an essential component of the Right to Food Guidelines and is essential to protect victims of violations of such right. This publication shows that traditional arguments against justiciability are today outdated and that access to justice is therefore possible. To this end, it is important to increase awareness and develop capacities of lawyers and judges to defend this right.

We are pleased to make available on our website the Land Tenure Working Paper 15 entitled “A responsible governance of land tenure: an essential means for realizing the right to food” This paper is available in Spanish and in English and have been jointly produced by the Right to Food Team and the Climate, Energy and Tenure Division, of FAO.

Why is the right to food important for the rural and urban poor? How does it help women and children? What are the obligations of States in relation to the right to food? These and other questions are answered in the Fact Sheet on “The Right to Adequate Food”.

On 25 August 2010, Brazil adopted a Policy on Food Security and Nutrition of Brazil (Decree 7.272 ) that firmly establishes the right to food in Brazil's food and nutrition efforts. The Policy is part of the efforts undertaken in view of the implementation of the Food and Nutrition Security Law (LOSAN ) of 2006. It establishes the framework and principles for the development of a National Food and Nutrition Security Plan. The right to food is firmly anchored in the Policy.

After being approved by popular referendum, the new Constitution of Kenya was adopted and signed last Friday (27 August 2010) by the President. In the new Constitution, the provision related to the right to food is of particular importance. Indeed, article 43 explicitly refers the to the right to adequate food in the context of economic, social and cultural rights that are essential for people to live in dignity.

The expanded FAO Glossary on Right to Food is now available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic (Russian is under finalization). It contains 418 concepts and definitions, where appropriate, which have been selected from FAO and international documents and publications on Right to Food, as well as from the proceedings of meetings of experts discussing Right to Food and Food Security issues.