This year, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food (SR RTF) will be presenting on 21 October her latest thematic report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the right to food to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The report focuses on these global goals, the cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as a potentially transformative tool to advance the realization of the right to food, as well as other economic, social and cultural rights.

The report highlights the importance of adopting a holistic, human rights-based approach to implementation and also the promise of the Goals to leave no one behind. This idea, in turn, reflects the principles of equality and non-discrimination, and the need of engaging in policy processes populations that have been historically and structurally left behind.

Before presenting it to the UNGA, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food will address CFS plenary and introduce her report on 14 October 2019, during one of the opening sessions of CFS46.

About the Special Rapporteur on the right to food

The Special Rapporteurs of the United Nations are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. They report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective.

The Special Rapporteur, whose position is honorary, is expected to report both to the UN General Assembly and to the Council on their findings, conclusions and recommendations.

As of 1 August 2017, there are 44 thematic and 12 country mandates. One of them is the SR RTF mandate, which is currently hold by Hilal Elver. Previously, Olivier De Schutter (2008-2014) and Jean Ziegler served in this position (2002-2008).