Publications
Beyond 20 years of the Voluntary Guidelines for Right to Food: Progress and Emerging Challenges for Indigenous Peoples
13/10/2025
Despite progress in international human rights frameworks and stronger legal protections, Indigenous Peoples’ rights remain at risk worldwide. Global commitments often fail at the national level due to legal barriers, lack of political will, data gaps, and persistent violations of land and territorial rights—factors that critically undermine their right to food.
Plant health and the right to food
05/05/2025
Healthy plants are the foundation of food security and sustainability. This publication explores how protecting plant health supports the right to adequate food, fosters resilient agrifood systems, and promotes inclusive, rights-based approaches. It offers guidance to strengthen plant health frameworks while empowering small-scale producers and Indigenous Peoples in shaping sustainable solutions.
Realizing the right to food in a changing world - The Right to Food Guidelines: 20 years on and beyond
10/12/2024
The fourth report on the status of FAO’s Right to Food Guidelines commemorates 20 years of progress since their adoption by the FAO Council in November 2004. It explores how the Guidelines have evolved to address global challenges, strengthened international human rights frameworks, and tackled barriers to food security. The report concludes with actionable recommendations, and calls for sustainable, inclusive solutions to end hunger and malnutrition.
The impact of gender policy processes on the right to food: The case of Cambodia
10/10/2016
Right to Food Study, 2016. This study was undertaken to identify possible approaches for the development of activities on the right to food in the Kingdom of Cambodia, using the gender...
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Responsible governance of forests: a right to food perspective
11/05/2014
Information Brief, 2014. In light of the endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT), this...
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The right to adequate food in emergencies
29/10/2003
FAO Legislative Study, Number 77, 2003. This study was undertaken by the FAO Legal Office within the broader context of FAO's activities to clarify the normative content of the right to...
The Right to Food - Putting it into Practice
15/10/2005
Brief, 2005. These briefs explain how the Voluntary Guidelines can be used in practice to implement the right to food. The briefs highlight how a right-to-food approach differs from conventional approaches...
Voluntary Guidelines, the Human Right to Food
16/10/2005
Flyer, 2005. Every human being has the right to adequate food and the fundamental right to be free from hunger, according to international human rights law. This is called “the Right...
The Voluntary Guidelines in brief
16/10/2006
Guidelines in brief, 2006. Every human being has the right to adequate food and the fundamental right to be free from hunger, according to international human rights law. This is called...
The Right to Food Guidelines: Information papers and case studies
16/10/2006
Information papers and case studies, 2006. This publication presents seven information papers and a case studies report that were prepared during the negotiation process preceding the adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines...
Questions and Answers
17/01/2007
Flyer, 2007. This document is a part of the Right to Food Essential Package. The Right to Food Essential Package provides you with all the documents you will need in order...
What is the Right to Food?
17/01/2007
Brief, 2007. This document is a part of the Right to Food Essential Package. The Right to Food Essential Package provides you with all the documents you will need in order to...
Monitor the realization of the Right to Food
18/01/2007
"How to" Series, 2007. The paper “Monitor the Realization of the Right to Food” is a part of the “How to” series, which also includes the papers “Conduct a Right to...
Legislate for the Right to Food
18/01/2007
"How to" Series, 2007. The paper “Legislate for the Right to Food” is a part of the “How to” series, which also includes the papers “Conduct a Right to Food Assessment”,...
Conduct a Right to Food assessment
18/01/2007
"How to" Series, 2007. This paper “Conduct a Right to Food Assessment” is a part of the “How to” series, which also includes the papers “Analyze Budgets”, “Legislate for the Right...
Right to Food and access to natural resources
19/01/2007
"Focus on" Series, 2007. This paper “Right to Food and Access to Natural Resources” is a part of the "Focus on" series, which also entails papers on “Right to Food and...
Right to Food and HIV/AIDS
19/01/2007
"Focus on" Series, 2007. This paper “Right to Food and HIV/AIDS” is a part of the "Focus on" series, which also entails papers on “Right to Food and Bioenergy”, "Right to...
Right to Food and gender
19/01/2007
"Focus on" Series, 2007. This paper "Right to Food and Gender” is a part of the "Focus on" series, which also entails papers on “Right to Food and Bioenergy”, “Right to...
Right to Food and bioenergy
19/01/2007
"Focus on" Series, 2007. This paper “Right to Food and Bioenergy” is a part of the "Focus on" series, which also entails papers on, “Right to Food and Access to Natural...