HRC58: Dialogue on Food as a Human Right 

The 58th Session of the Human Rights Council 

24 February – 4 April 2025 

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur Food 

11 March 2025

By Dilinna Nwabueze / GICJ

Executive Summary

“How can countries use the right to food to transform their national food system?” asked Mr. Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food during the 24th Meeting of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2025. The solution is to have food systems designed to serve the people because the right to food is a human right. He warned small countries, island countries, and developing countries to change their food systems now to minimise the risk of hunger, famine, and starvation. 

According to Mr. Fakhri, most food systems do not serve the people but instead produce violence, violate human rights, and serve the interests of corporations, financiers, and the wealthy. Countries should not have to decide between servicing their debt or feeding their people. Human rights need to play an essential role in transforming global food systems, not corporations and international financial institutions. There must also be accountability from powerful countries that directly or indirectly support starvation as a weapon of war. Such cases of food weaponisation can be seen in Palestine and Sudan.

During the Interactive Dialogue, many delegates spoke of a dire need to address food security and nutrition. There were many calls for the end of starvation as a weapon of war, international cooperation for the transformation of global food systems, and the establishment of the right to food as a fundamental human right. The Special Rapporteur called for governments to optimize current spending by reducing high borrowing costs to transform their existing food systems. He also proposed a clear methodology on how to assess current spending on food and how to transform existing budgets into serving the needs of the people’s right to food.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) supports transforming global food systems to reduce and prevent hunger, famine, and starvation. The right to food is a human right. It should not be used as a weapon, and it should not serve the interests of corporations and the wealthy. GICJ joins the call to direct funding toward strengthening national food systems and programs. Food systems must be more socially equitable, sustainable, and climate-friendly.  

Background

Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Michael Fakhri, provided in his report a way to develop national right-to-food action plans within existing budgets that can transform food systems and progressively realize the right to food. In light of the global debt crisis, high inflation, and high food prices, many countries are faced with the impossible choice of either feeding people or servicing debt. Using public funds to ensure that people have access to adequate food can cause a government to fall into arrears, worsening financial shocks; servicing debt instead leads to more hunger and malnutrition. This means that the current international system of finance resolutely impedes the ability of governments to meet their obligations regarding the right to food.

The Special Rapporteur explained that a “food system” is usually described as a network of consumers, distributors, and producers interconnected through value chains and across multiple economic sectors. The right to food within the context of human rights is a specific framework to identify who needs to do what to transform a food system and how it should be done. Since a right-to-food framework describes a food system in terms of rights and obligations, it is action-oriented and driven by people’s sense of agency. 

Moreover, he emphasised that international cooperation should be understood as a means of increasing international solidarity and food sovereignty. Solidarity means developing a national food policy that is not only generous and fair to people and ecosystems within a country but also generous and fair to other communities as a matter of reciprocity. An economy built on solidarity relies on organising commerce through democratically governed enterprises designed to meet human needs instead of pursuing profit.

Mr. Fakhri proposed the following transformations: 

(a) from industrial agriculture to agroecology; 

(b) from giving priority to global markets to supporting territorial markets; 

(c) from reliance on corporations to more support for social and solidarity economy entities; and

 (d) from a multilateralism based on multi-stakeholders to one based on solidarity and food sovereignty.

 Summary of the Report by Special Rapporteur

Special Rapporteur, Mr. Michael Fakhri, reported that most food systems do not serve the people but instead produce violence, violate human rights, and serve the interests of corporations, financiers, and the wealthy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments implemented temporary measures to alleviate the hunger crisis, such as giving people direct cash payments, supporting territorial markets and local producers, and focusing on women and others who take care of people in their communities. However, these efforts did not become permanent policy, and thus the hunger crisis worsened after the pandemic. The rate of violence, starvation, and famine increased because food systems were not designed to serve the people. Powerful countries, including permanent members of the Security Council, directly or indirectly support starvation as a weapon of war. Such weaponry can be seen in Palestine and Sudan. He warned small countries, island countries, and developing countries to change their food systems now to minimize the risk of hunger, famine, and starvation. 

Moreover, Mr. Fakhri reported that many countries reduced public spending on social service programs to make loan payments. Low-income, climate-vulnerable countries face higher debt because financial institutions and private lenders charge higher interest rates. Current food systems contribute to sovereign, farmer, and food producer debt because they are dominated by corporations and governed by international financial institutions. Trade-dependent nations are vulnerable to the political economy of the United States and have food systems specially designed to draw in foreign currency because the U.S. dollar dominates the market. Present price volatilities solely benefit multinational corporations at the expense of farmers and governments. 

The right to food is a human right. Mr. Fakhri called for governments to optimise current spending by reducing high borrowing costs to transform their existing food systems. He proposed a clear methodology on how to assess current spending on food and how to transform existing budgets into serving the needs of the people’s right to food. He encouraged countries and international organizations to join the Collaborative Governance Dialogue, hosted by the United Nations Committee on World Food Security in Rome on 5 April 2025, to discuss financing for food security and nutrition as well as debt.

Interactive Dialogue

Opening Statements

Special Rapporteur, Mr. Michael Fakhri, opened with his country visit to Venezuela. He praised Venezuela’s Constitution and tradition of social movement and consultation for producing innovative food programs based on the right to food and food sovereignty. However, he observed input and participation from civil society shrank. Mr. Fakhri encouraged Venezuela to maintain and widen the space for civil society as directed by its Constitution. 

Country Statements

The representative of Venezuela reported that the country produces 90% of foods consumed by their population and there is a growing export of food by small producers and large businesses. He called attention to the unilateral coercive measures by the United States and European Union, whose use of economic sanctions limits the government’s fiscal authority to provide basic public services and social protection programs. The imposed sanctions create obstacles to Venezuela’s economic recovery and negatively impact food production and resources. The representative cited from Mr. Fakhri’s report that between 2014 and 2020 the country’s GDP reduced by 78%, which became the greatest collapse registered by a country not at war.

Venezuela asserted, as previously petitioned before the International Criminal Court, that sanctions are a type of war. The representative maintained that the right to food is a human right and should not be used as a nonconventional weapon of war to punish a nation and bring about a regime change. Venezuela called for the immediate review and withdrawal of all sectoral sanctions, including secondary sanctions against third parties. 

The representative of Jordan, on behalf of a group of Arab States, agreed the debt crisis restricts the ability to fulfill obligations with respect to the right to food. He also highlighted that Israel’s occupying forces use hunger as a weapon of war. The Arab group condemned Israel’s suspension of food supplies to Gaza and the restriction of UNRWA to act in the occupied Palestinian territories. He requested the Special Rapporteur to examine the impact of such Israeli decisions. The Arab group also rejected the killing and injuring of Palestinian fishermen as well as the destruction of their boats by Israel’s maritime forces. The areas available for fishing have been reduced and other agricultural lands are destroyed. He called on the international community to implement measures that would pressure Israel to cease subjecting Palestinians to hunger, a weapon of war.

Furthermore, the group wished to consolidate its status as a hub for food security and humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected zones like Gaza. They will continue to provide food and medical assistance in cooperation with regional partners and international organizations. The group will also continue to provide logistical support to ensure the delivery of such assistance. The representative spoke of international and regional solidarity, and that it is only possible through international partnerships and sustainable financing. He called for the adoption of a comprehensive approach that includes promoting local production, improving supply chains, and improving social protections for the most vulnerable. 

The representative of the European Union agreed that food insecurity stems from the global debt crisis, high inflation, and food prices. The current unprecedented food insecurity is the result of conflicts, economic shock, and climate change. He highlighted that many countries choose between servicing debt or adequately feeding their people. The representative pushed for the continued implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the promotion of the right to food globally. The European Union committed to strengthening multilateral institutions as well as inclusive and participatory governance structures. He stated it is important for the international financial system to help countries and for members of the European Union to continue to globally support food security through multilateral initiatives such as the School Meals Coalition.

The representative of Ghana, on behalf of a group of African States, praised the Special Rapporteur’s report for calling on governments to develop a national plan to improve food resilience within existing budgets. She agreed that many countries face challenges in ensuring the right to food such as the debt crisis, Covid-19 pandemic effects, and insecurity. The African group presented concerns about rising inflation making food inaccessible to low-income households. The representative emphasized the importance of States establishing national plans to assess the food crisis and adopt a coordinated, structural, multilateral approach. She also brought attention to industrial food systems, which produce about a third of greenhouse gases impacting climate change and reducing biodiversity. Agroecology is an approach that must be promoted. The African group advocated for paradigm shifts to ensure States fulfill their obligations, such as supporting territorial markets over global markets.

The representative of Jamaica, on behalf of the Caribbean Community, highlighted the lack of progress on SDG 2, which pertains to ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030. The Caribbean Community established its continued commitment to reaching food, nutrition, and livelihood security within the region. The Special Ministerial Taskforce on food production and security as well as the formulation of a regional agrifood security framework are evidence of this commitment. The representative asserted that food insecurity is impacted by exogenous factors such as geopolitical conflict, high debt-to-GDP ratios, and rising inflation. Due to concerns about natural disaster threats and uncertainties in the multilateral trading system, heads of government in the Caribbean Community extended their 25 by 2025 initiative to 2030. This initiative aims to reduce the region’s 6-million-dollar food import bill by 25%, focusing on a holistic framework for a resilient, sustainable, and competitive food system. The initiative will be supported by an investment of 40 million dollars in a regional food hub in Guyana. 

The representative of Iran, on behalf of a group of countries, fully supported the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and resolution. He remarked that low-income countries face a greater impact of long-term, irreversible consequences, including the loss of livelihood, dignity, and well-being that may not be visible or quantifiable. The group agreed rising food insecurity requires a concerted effort from the international community, particularly those most involved in the global supply chain. He highlighted root causes of food insecurity such as uneven resource distribution, poverty inequality and conflict. To overcome global food challenges, the policies must promote economic development, social inclusion, peacebuilding efforts, international cooperation, capacity-building, and technical assistance. The representative also raised concerns about the millions of civilians in Gaza facing starvation. They condemned all actions that led to the expansion of food insecurity and malnutrition.

The delegate of China, on behalf of a group of countries, expressed concern over the high volatility in global food prices. He addressed the importance of guaranteeing the elimination of all market distortion measures. The group called for the immediate cease of all unilateral, coercive actions that are against the United Nations Charter and international law. They also appreciated the attention given to the unilateral coercive measures taken against Venezuela and its negative impact on the right to food. The representative commended the Venezuelan government on its great efforts to ensure access to food for Venezuelans despite the high number of sanctions. They reaffirmed support for the resolution on the right to food and called for States to actively engage in the promotion and protection of the right to food in all countries.

The representative of the State of Palestine addressed starvation not just as an economic consequence but as a deliberate and systematic war tactic that is aimed at the destruction of an entire people. She expressed concern over Israel’s growing use of starvation as a tool of war and genocide. For ten days, Israeli occupying forces have blocked humanitarian aid and deprived Palestinians of food, water, and medical supplies. With electricity in Gaza shut off, the humanitarian catastrophe compounds, and many civilians are without clean water. Although the United Nations spoke of an imminent collapse, the blockade continues unabated. 

The representative described Israel’s actions as a long-standing policy of collective punishment, designed to dismantle Palestinian food sovereignty and undermine self-determination. The occupying forces systematically eroded control over land, water, and food systems. This has crippled much-needed agriculture and fisheries. She asserted that the actions of the Israeli occupying forces are undeniable violations of international law and are war crimes that must not be tolerated. The failure of the international community to act serves to embolden Israeli impunity and undermine the global legal system. She called on the international community to take action that ensures the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid. 

The representative of Samoa stated the Special Rapporteur’s report compliments the goals and plans of the Samoa Food Systems Pathway 2030. She expressed that food and nutritional security remain a priority for Samoa and the Pacific. The highest levels of obesity in the world are consistently found in small island developing States, particularly the Pacific region. Root causes include vulnerability to food shortages, weather extremes, globalisation, trade, and rapid social change. She highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge and culture in transforming food systems as well as finance to ensure technological innovations pave access to nutritious food. The representative encouraged partnerships through investment in agriculture and fisheries as the backbone of food and nutritional security.

The representative of Cuba stated no country should engage in policies that cause hunger in other nations. He expressed that the United States deprives Cubans of their right to food. For four months, the United States blockade caused Cuba losses that amounted to 1.6 billion dollars. Such money would have ensured a year's supply of basic food rations for Cubans. The blockade also impacted food production, limiting the availability of food, seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed. The representative noted that the government of Cuba works to find solutions to these adverse challenges and is committed to leaving no Cuban behind or excluded. He also commended the Special Rapporteur’s visit to Venezuela and his efforts to implement policies that ensure access to food despite the impact of unilateral, coercive measures. The representative spoke of presenting a drafted resolution on the right to food. 

The representative of Ukraine stated as a reminder that Ukraine is a significant world exporter of several agricultural products. About 400 million people in more than 100 countries depend on Ukraine for uninterrupted food exports and supplies. She discussed Russia’s attack on civilian infrastructures and agriculture, including missile strikes that damaged over 300 port facilities and food storage, and over 20 civilian vessels. The representative asserted that Russia’s attacks are not just an assault on Ukraine but on global food security that puts millions at risk of hunger. She spoke of Ukraine seeking new logistical solutions to ensure uninterrupted agricultural exports and highlighted a new global food program that promotes a Ukrainian grain initiative. This initiative successfully delivered essential supplies of food to the people of Syria. The representative called for the international community to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s weaponization of food because it is crucial to maintain Ukraine’s agricultural lifeline to prevent famine and to ensure the right to food.

The representative of Sudan agreed that the global debt crisis exacerbated issues concerning access to food. He highlighted the effects of the increasing wealth gap, climate change, and lack of security in Sudan, all of which impact food security. The systematic campaigns by the Rapid Support Forces against Sudanese farmers in the Gezira region led to looted stocks and the pillaging of the World Food Programme storage sites. The representative condemned the criminal and terrorist actors.

Civil Society Organisation Statements

Many nongovernmental organizations raised concerns regarding certain challenges to the implementation of the Special Rapporteur’s resolution. Such challenges include climate change, the degradation of land, as well as food prices and volatility. There were recommendations for strengthening the support to agriculture communities and providing them with new technologies. The focus was also placed on the need for a social and solidarity economy that promotes food social mechanisms designed to serve the people. Robust financing also needs to play an essential role in transforming global food systems. The change must be systemic, transparent, and transdisciplinary change to have equitable and sustainable food systems.

Position of Geneva International Centre for Justice

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) supports transforming global food systems to reduce and prevent hunger, famine, and starvation. The right to food is a fundamental human right and human rights should play an essential role in the transformation. The current use of hunger as a weapon of war in Palestine and Sudan requires immediate international condemnation and intervention. To effectively address inadequate food systems, the global community must also address the global debt crisis, climate change, ongoing conflicts, and volatile trading markets.

The proposed methodology which aims to transform food systems within existing budgets and design them to serve the people - not corporations or financial institutions - should be implemented. GICJ advocates for a multilateral, sustainable, and comprehensive approach to transforming food systems. The international community must call on governments to reevaluate their current food systems and to condemn any use of starvation as a weapon of war. GICJ stands for promoting food security, nutrition, and sustainability.

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