A/HRC/RES/12/10
page 2
Welcoming the panel discussion on the realization of the right to food in the context of the
global food crisis, held by the Council on 9 March 2009, which offered an opportunity for
persons affected by the crisis to participate and provide input to the discussions,
Acknowledging the task force established by the Secretary-General, and supporting the
Secretary-General to continue his efforts in this regard,
Recognizing the complex character of the current global food crisis, as a combination of
several major factors, both structural and conjunctural, also negatively affected by, inter alia,
environmental degradation, drought and desertification, global climate change, natural disasters
and the lack of the necessary technology, and also that a strong commitment from national
Governments and the international community as a whole is required to confront the major
threats to food security,
Concerned by the fact that the effects of the world food crisis are not over and that they
continue to have serious consequences on the most vulnerable people, particularly in developing
countries, which have been further aggravated by the world economic and financial crisis,
1.
Acknowledges with appreciation the report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to
food (A/HRC/12/31), and takes note of his recommendations;
2.
Expresses grave concern at the fact that the current world food crisis seriously
undermines the realization of the right to food for all, and especially for one sixth of the world
population, mainly in developing and least developed countries, suffering from hunger,
malnutrition and food insecurity;
3.
Encourages States to mainstream the human rights perspective in building and
reviewing their national strategies for the realization of the right to adequate food for all, which
could include, inter alia, the mapping of the food insecure, the adoption of relevant legislation
and policies with a right to food framework, the establishment of mechanisms to ensure
accountability so that rights-holders are able to claim their right to food, and the establishment of
mechanisms and processes that ensure the participation of rights-holders, particularly the most
vulnerable, in the design and monitoring of such legislation and policies;
4.
Also encourages all States to invest or promote investment in agriculture and rural
infrastructure in a manner that empowers the most vulnerable and affected by the current crisis in
order to ensure their realization of the right to food;
5.
Calls upon States, individually and through international cooperation and assistance,
relevant multilateral institutions and other relevant stakeholders, to take all necessary measures
to ensure the realization of the right to food as an essential human rights objective, and to
consider reviewing any policy or measure that could have a negative impact on the realization of
the right to food, particularly the right of everyone to be free from hunger, before instituting such
a policy or measure;
6.
Stresses that States have a primary obligation to make their best efforts to meet the
vital food needs of their own populations, especially of vulnerable groups and households, such
as by enhancing programmes to combat mother-child malnutrition, and to increase local