
Why Hunger is a Human Rights Issue
Fatima Zohra Merzouk
27 Oct 2023
Hunger is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a human rights issue. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Moreover, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognizes the right to adequate food as an inherent part of the right to an adequate standard of living.
However, these rights are violated for millions of people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Hunger deprives people of their dignity, freedom, and potential. Hunger also undermines other human rights, such as the right to health, education, work, and participation. Hunger is both a cause and a consequence of poverty, inequality, conflict, and injustice.
Therefore, addressing hunger requires a human rights-based approach that respects, protects, and fulfills the rights of the hungry people. A human rights-based approach to hunger means:
- Recognizing hunger as a violation of human dignity and rights, not as a natural or inevitable phenomenon.
- Empowering the hungry people as rights-holders who can claim their rights and hold duty-bearers accountable for their obligations.
- Identifying the root causes and structural barriers that prevent people from accessing and utilizing adequate food.
- Implementing policies and programs that are participatory, inclusive, transparent, accountable, and non-discriminatory.
- Monitoring and evaluating the impact and effectiveness of policies and programs on the realization of the right to food.
A human rights-based approach to hunger also implies the responsibility of the international community to cooperate and assist in the realization of the right to food. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to respect, protect, and support the efforts of states and civil society to end hunger. The international community can do this by:
- Providing humanitarian aid and development assistance to countries and regions affected by hunger and food insecurity.
- Promoting trade and investment policies that are fair and conducive to food security and sovereignty.
- Supporting peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives that address the root causes of hunger and violence.
- Advocating for human rights standards and principles in global governance and decision-making processes.
- Mobilizing public opinion and political will to end hunger and uphold human rights.
Hunger is a human rights issue that affects us all. We all have the right to food and we all have the duty to respect and protect this right for ourselves and others. By adopting a human rights-based approach to hunger, we can ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a world free from hunger.
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