VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES
to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security

Adopted by the 127th Session of the FAO Council
November 2004

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 2005

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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, in order to achieve the goals of the World Food Summit Plan of Action. They provide an additional instrument to combat hunger and poverty and to accelerate attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. The Voluntary Guidelines represent the first attempt by governments to interpret an economic, social and cultural right and to recommend actions to be undertaken for its realization. Moreover, they represent a step towards integrating human rights into the work of agencies dealing with food and agriculture.

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CONTENTS

Foreword

I PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION

Preface
Introduction

Basic instruments
The right to adequate food and the achievement of food security

II ENABLING ENVIRONMENT, ASSISTANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

GUIDELINE 1 Democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law
GUIDELINE 2 Economic development policies
GUIDELINE 3 Strategies
GUIDELINE 4 Market systems
GUIDELINE 5 Institutions
GUIDELINE 6 Stakeholders
GUIDELINE 7 Legal framework
GUIDELINE 8 Access to resources and assets
GUIDELINE 8A Labour
GUIDELINE 8B Land
GUIDELINE 8C Water
GUIDELINE 8D Genetic resources for food and agriculture
GUIDELINE 8E Sustainability
GUIDELINE 8F Services
GUIDELINE 9 Food safety and consumer protection
GUIDELINE 10 Nutrition
GUIDELINE 11 Education and awareness raising
GUIDELINE 12 National financial resources
GUIDELINE 13 Support for vulnerable groups
GUIDELINE 14 Safety nets
GUIDELINE 15 International food aid
GUIDELINE 16 Natural and human-made disasters
GUIDELINE 17 Monitoring, indicators and benchmarks
GUIDELINE 18 National human rights institutions
GUIDELINE 19 International dimension

III INTERNATIONAL MEASURES, ACTIONS AND COMMITMENTS

International cooperation and unilateral measures
Role of the international community
Technical cooperation
International trade
External debt
Official development assistance
International food aid
Partnerships with NGOs/CSOs/private sector
Promotion and protection of the right to adequate food
International reporting

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ISBN 92-5-105336-7

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