A/71/282 Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to lead the implementation of the Decade, recommending that multi-stakeholder platforms such as the Committee on World Food Security and the Standing Committee on Nutrition be entrusted with coordinating oversight. Recognizing legitimate concerns about the influence of private interests on nutrition policymaking, a participatory process is particularly important. This makes it imperative to protect open spaces to ensure that policy formulation is consistent with the public good, which may require the empowerment of civil society. 95. Such a system must include safeguards against potential negative influences of market forces and powerful economic actors in the food and nutrition industries with respect to the human right to adequate food and nutrition, and promoting a system to manage conflicts of interest that arise from private sector involvement in nutrition initiatives. 96. While certain States have taken encouraging steps, most national systems to combat malnutrition are fragmented and lack effective action, evaluation and accountability mechanisms. It is imperative that responses move away from isolated interventions and “medicalized” approaches to fighting malnutrition. In line with their obligations under the international human rights system, States must acknowledge the underlying causes of malnutrition and develop multisectoral approaches to coordinate nutrition policies with health, housing, water and sanitation, social protection, poverty and inequality reduction initiatives. Moreover, it must be recognized that, to effectively combat malnutrition, women’s rights should be at the forefront. 97. Recognizing that industry self-regulation is ineffective, Governments should impose strong regulatory systems to ensure that the food industry does not violate citizens’ human rights to adequate food and nutrition. It is recognized, however, that such efforts may face formidable resistance from a food industry seeking to protect its economic interests. 98. A holistic approach to nutrition requires national policymakers to create an environment conducive to nutritious, healthy diets, including through education, and dietary guidelines. Finally, a comprehensive approach should encourage adjustments in food supply and changes in food systems to increase the availability and accessibility of healthier food that is both sustainable and nutrition sensitive. 99. With a view to respecting, protecting and fulfilling the right to adequate food and nutrition, the Special Rapporteur recommends that: (a) Member States embrace the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition as an opportunity to achieve ambitious nutrition targets and ensuring the right of every individual to adequate food and nutrition, especially the people who most need it. To this end, United Nations agencies and programmes should establish coordinated, effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms to implement the multitude of existing nutrition targets in ways that are coherent, harmonized, mutually reinforcing and overcoming gaps, together with clear timelines, funding and indicators to assess progress; (b) The Committee on World Food Security, as recommended by the General Assembly, ensure the participation of all partners during the Decade, in particular rights holders and representatives of vulnerable groups. 16-13441 23/24

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