Right to Food

The right to adequate food as described in Article 11 of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights adopted in 1966 signifies a human rights approach in the context of development policy and cooperation and represents a fundamental qualification to create decent living conditions for all and to combat poverty. For the Justice and Peace Commission, this right forms the basis of its work concerning food security, energy supply, market fairness and sustainable life. The right to food makes it possible to build bridges between rural structures and consumption patterns in the North and South. The concepts of “rural development” in the South and of “multifunctional agriculture” or “sustainable consumption” in the North are compatible if both put an end to one-sided export orientation, increase awareness of local and regional features and thus take into account ecological demands and the need to promote employment.
The discussion is based, among other things, on the joint position paper of the Justice and Peace Commission, the Catholic rural people’s movement and the Catholic rural youth movement issued in 2005. Another step into this direction is described in the publication “Food Security and Energy Supply between Self-Interest and Global Justice” which presents the results of an international expert conference following an Exposure and Dialogue Programme organized in Uganda and Zambia in March/April 2009.

Publication “Agricultural trade as a test case for fair world trade conditions”

Publication “Ernährungssicherung und Energieversorgung zwischen Eigeninteressen und globaler Gerechtigkeit”

Publication „Food Security and Energy Supply between Self-Interest and Global Justice”