PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION First Global Parliamentary Summit. Madrid, October 2018 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

URUGUAY October 2017. Members of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger in and the Caribbean during the Eighth CONTENTS Annual Forum that took place in the General Assembly of . ©Department of Photography of the Parliament of Uruguay

PAGES 4–5 INTRODUCTION

PAGES 6–9 THE CHALLENGES

PAGES 10–17 STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

PAGES 18–21 FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

PAGES 22–27 THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

PAGES 28–31 A LONG JOURNEY

2 FOOD SECURITY IS THE RESULT OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES EMBEDDED IN LEGISLATION.

3 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

INTRODUCTION

"EVERYONE HAS Parliamentary A RIGHT TO alliances are key to positioning the ADEQUATE, SAFE, fight against hunger SUFFICIENT, AND and malnutrition at NUTRITIOUS the highest level of FOOD AND political agendas. TO FREEDOM FROM HUNGER, NEPAL AND WE Farmer Field School female members working in the fields trying new agricultural adaptation techniques. Nepal is one of the ACKNOWLEDGE countries to have recently recognized the right to food in its constitution. THE NEED ©Chris Steele-Perkins/Magnum Ph/FAO FOR SPECIFIC Eliminating hunger and strengthening social protection CONSTITUTIONAL malnutrition requires policy mechanisms that take nutrition measures with a broad focus into account, investing in AND LEGISLATIVE that encompass all areas of education, health care, water the economy and society. and sanitation, or a combination PROVISIONS TO Depending on each country’s of some of these initiatives. ENSURE THE specific context, the conditions In all cases, gender inequalities for engaging successfully in this must be addressed and the ENJOYMENT OF fight may include increasing mechanisms for coordinating agricultural productivity and and monitoring food security THOSE RIGHTS." access to markets, investing in and nutrition must be improved. family farming and small-scale Extract from the Statement by fisheries and forest holdings, However, for all of this to work, Parliamentarians on the occasion of the Second International Conference on promoting governance of land we need to stimulate collective Nutrition, November 2014 tenure and natural resources, action to lead us towards public

4 policy changes that improve in Madrid in October 2018. political discussion, approving the impact wherever advances Other organizations, such as the budgets and guaranteeing against hunger have come to a Latin American and Caribbean adequate processes for halt and contribute to improving Parliament, the Spanish Agency accountability, as well as for the current diet of a large part of for International Development monitoring, evaluating and the population. FAO is aware of Cooperation (AECID), the implementing programmes. this need and has promoted and Spanish Parliament, the That is why it is necessary to supported several discussion Pan-African Parliament and build a global parliamentary fora on the issue, from the the European Union, also alliance aligned with a Parliamentary Front against participate in these types new way of doing politics, Hunger in Latin America of dialogues. where communities, regions and the Caribbean, created and countries can together in 2009, to the First Global Parliaments are essential for generate strategies that truly Parliamentary Summit against enforcing global commitments guarantee the Human Hunger and Malnutrition held by enacting laws, directing Right to Food.

5 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

THE CHALLENGES

For the third year in a row the number of undernourished people has increased, reaching 821 million. In addition, one in three people on the planet either does not eat enough or eats poorly: they suffer from malnutrition.

ELIMINATING HUNGER AND by structural problems, such as MALNUTRITION: AN URGENT inequality and marginalization, CHALLENGE together with temporary causes, “There is no other way to say such as the rise in conflicts. it; there are no extenuating circumstances. In a world that As if that were not bad enough, produces enough food to feed all one in three people on the its inhabitants, hunger is a crime.” planet suffers from malnutrition, José Graziano da Silva, FAO meaning they either do not Director-General, and Adolfo eat enough or they eat poorly. Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Put simply, one-third of the global Prize laureate, put it in these population has an unbalanced unequivocal terms in June 2018, diet and that can be damaging to when the numbers, which never health in varying degrees. lie, catapulted us back to the past. For several years, the joint efforts Malnutrition ranges from of countries and international undernutrition in all its organizations had managed forms (wasting, stunting or to bring global hunger figures underweight) to micronutrient 1.9 billion adults, of which under control, reducing them deficiency or excess, and 672.3 million were obese. In the year after year. However, 2016 overweight and obesity. The most same year, 41 million children witnessed a setback – the number recent data tell us that there under the age of five were obese. of undernourished people in the are still 46 million underweight world increased to 804 million people and that over 2 billion A person is overweight or obese (compared to 784 million in 2015). lack vital micronutrients (for when they weigh more than they In 2017, this number increased example, iron, zinc or vitamin should in relation to their height, once again, reaching 821 million A). However, the most worrying and an abnormal accumulation people, according to data from the figures, for numerous reasons, are of fat can affect a person’s health. recent FAO report The State of Food those relating to the amount of People become overweight or Security and Nutrition in the World people who are overweight and obese when there is an imbalance 2018. This increase is explained obese, which in 2016 stood at between the calories they

6 KENYA Farmer Lucy Kathegu Kigunda winnows beans in her farm near Meru. Kenya explicitly guarantees the right to adequate food in its constitution. ©FAO/Luis Tato

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ZERO HUNGER WE NEED TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, MALNUTRITION AND OVERWEIGHT AT THE SAME TIME.

consume (too many) and the poorest. Rising consumption of worry – 50 years ago it was a calories they burn (not enough), high-calorie foods and drinks marginal issue – the speed at increasing their risk of suffering (with a high and fat which it is developing is also a from many non-communicable content) combined with waning major concern. Obesity more diseases, such as heart disease, levels of physical activity, has than doubled between 1984 strokes, diabetes, degenerative rendered excess weight and and 2014. Experts suggest that if joint diseases and some forms of obesity a global problem, and there is no change in policy, cancer, which are difficult to treat one that can be found both in by 2030, the number of and financially costly for society. developing countries and in the overweight and obese people most developed. will have increased from Obesity affects all regions of the 1.33 billion in 2005 to world and all socio-economic However, the spread of this 3.28 billion. In other words, classes, particularly the pandemic is not the only the issue will affect almost

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THE CHALLENGES

one-third of the global women. In China, forecasts population projected for that suggest that the combined year, according to estimates percentage of overweight and from the 2016 Foresight obese adults will exceed report by the Global Panel on 50 percent by 2030. This does Agriculture and Food Systems and will have negative for Nutrition. consequences for all countries, especially less developed ones, Whether a result of deficiency where the health costs, economic or excess, malnutrition impact and loss of productivity causes different diseases that this causes exacerbate that affect both people’s lives their poverty. Aside from the and countries’ economies. social cost, the cost that all forms Forty-five percent of deaths of malnutrition generate for the among under-fives global economy, as a result of the (2.6 million children) are linked loss of productivity and PHILIPPINES to undernutrition, while the direct costs in health care, Children eating on 3.4 million adults die each year could represent up to plantain leaves in a place near Altavas. as a result of diseases related to 5 percent of global gross In January 2018, FAO obesity and excess weight. domestic product (GDP), and the Government of the Philippines which would be equivalent to launched a pilot Over-nourishment is almost USD 3.5 trillion per year or parliamentary alliance for food security as serious a phenomenon USD 500 per person. It is and nutrition. as undernourishment, with estimated that the costs of ©FAO/Jake Salvador many developing countries undernutrition and micronutrient simultaneously registering deficiencies represent high rates of undernutrition, 2–3 percent of global GDP, SDG2: ZERO HUNGER anaemia (especially among or between USD 1.4 trillion In 2015, the 193 Member States women), obesity and overweight. and USD 2.1 trillion per year. of the adopted Among sub-Saharan African Although there are no global the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable men, the rate at which the data available on the economic Development, which includes number of overweight and obese costs of people being overweight the 17 Sustainable Development people is growing currently and obese, it is estimated Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, outpaces the rate of growth for that the cumulative cost of all with their 169 targets and the number of underweight non-communicable diseases 250 indicators, are the people. For women in South Asia, – for which being overweight and framework in which the national the prevalence of overweight and obese are among the main risk development plans of each obese women is almost the same factors – reached approximately country should converge in order as the prevalence of underweight USD 1.4 billion in 2010. to eliminate poverty and hunger,

8 are caused and where they are seen. Nevertheless, we are doing something wrong. Why are they on the rise again? Why have the number of overweight and obese people shot up? And, most importantly, what should we do to quickly reverse this trend and eliminate hunger and malnutrition?

FAO reminds us that through food – that is, how it is cultivated, produced, consumed, exchanged, transported, stored and marketed – we find the fundamental connection between people and the planet and the path towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Today, we know what policies have worked to counter hunger, but we need to invest more economic resources to further reduce the figures. And for that, we need political combat climate change, protect to SDG1: “to end poverty in will and commitment over and our natural resources, food all its forms everywhere”. above party interests. and agriculture and guarantee However, the figures on hunger that all people enjoy peace and malnutrition tell us that if With regard to excess weight and and prosperity. we do not take decisive steps obesity, as yet no formula has to change the current trend, enabled us to curb or begin to SDG2, also known as the we will not achieve SDG2 and, reverse the rise in these forms of Zero Hunger Goal, aims as such, will jeopardize the malnutrition. However, there are “to end hunger, achieve success of all the SDGs, which countries that have introduced food security and improved are closely interrelated. legislative measures geared nutrition and promote towards combatting them and sustainable agriculture.” We know about hunger and we also know what a healthy diet This goal is closely linked malnutrition; we know why they consists of.

9 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

Inequality, conflicts, climate change, food waste and lack of social protection slow down progress towards Zero Hunger.

The right to food covers This is not a new problem: the problem of hunger and historically, asymmetries have malnutrition, including existed in relation to access to inadequate nutrition and resources and the operation unhealthy eating habits. of markets, asymmetries While interrelated, these issues which – in recent decades – do not always have the same have been exacerbated by the causes, with temporary problems transformation of food systems. often converging with structural New realities have been created, problems. Let us start with the primarily affecting agricultural oldest and the most pressing. communities in poor countries. Land use is no longer dedicated INEQUALITY AND to satisfying the needs of the MARGINALIZATION local population and is now about Today, the problem of hunger feeding the insatiable demand is not related to quantity and of far-off markets. This creates production, but to limited paradoxes whereby many of the access to food due to lack of farmers in Ghana that produce or major companies, driven income or lack of resources to mangoes and papayas for by policies that favour large produce it. The majority of those consumption in Europe, continue investments in contexts of weak experiencing food insecurity to suffer from food insecurity. governance and that contribute suffer from some type of to the impoverishment and food marginalization that makes it The lack of adequate policies insecurity of rural communities. difficult or impossible for them to promote capacity-building to have a decent job or access among family farmers, address In many cases, the effects credit, markets, land or water. their needs and allow them to of climate change and poor This situation hits women twice join markets in a fair way has environmental management as hard, with the burden of been compounded in many compound this neglect of the gender inequality being added to countries by other phenomena; most vulnerable rural populations, socio-economic, ethnic and other for example, land grabbing for the heightening competition for land types of discrimination. exclusive use of other countries and water, and in turn feeding

10 MOZAMBIQUE A fisher carries the daily catch from shore to market. Mozambique is one of the 55 signatories to the Agreement on Port State Measures to eliminate IUU fishing. ©FAO/Filipe Branquinho

the vicious cycle of poverty and at a biologically unsustainable ILLEGAL hunger, and increasing the risk level and were the victim of of conflicts. overfishing, often linked to FISHING AND illegal fishing. Illegal fishing is ILLEGAL FISHING estimated to handle some DEFORESTATION AND DEFORESTATION 26 million tonnes per year There are other phenomena that (15 percent of total global PUT PRESSURE also contribute to perpetuating production) and is worth hunger. Illegal fishing, known between USD 10 billion and ON DEVELOPING officially as “illegal, unreported USD 23 billion. It has economic and unregulated fishing” (IUU), consequences (losses for honest COUNTRIES’ is another contributing factor. fishers, black market, money NATURAL In 2015, FAO estimated that laundering, tax evasion and 33.1 percent of fish stocks were corruption), environmental RESOURCES.

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STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

consequences (major threats to biodiversity and the environment) and human consequences (threats to food security and labour abuses). Developing countries are especially vulnerable to illegal fishing because it depletes the resources of often landless coastal communities found in remote and developing rural areas. As a result, IUU fishing is a threat to subsistence, it exacerbates poverty and increases food insecurity.

The same applies to the depletion of forest resources. Forests and trees on farms are a direct source of food and income for over 1 billion poor people across the world. They provide both basic food and supplementary food, such as fruit, nuts and edible leaves. In India alone, over 50 million people directly depend on forests for subsistence, while CONFLICTS in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, wild foods are CAUSE PEOPLE consumed daily by 80 percent of the population. Zambia, for example, rural TO FLEE THEIR families obtain 30 percent of Food insecurity is closely their income from non-wood HOMES, DISRUPT linked to poverty and to limited forest products, such as opportunities for generating fruit, mushrooms, insects, MARKETS AND employment and income. honey and medicinal plants. The income from forests and Therefore, deforestation not AGGRAVATE from the trees found on farms only exacerbates climate change FOOD can contribute to the food and has dramatic effects on security of rural families. biodiversity, it also contributes to INSECURITY. In Ghana, Mozambique or food insecurity on our planet.

12 SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC More than six years of conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic have triggered food insecurity. In 2017, FAO launched an animal health campaign to help displaced farmers who depend on livestock production. ©FAO/Louai Beshara

food security for a large portion of the population.

Conflicts are the main factor driving population displacement and displaced people are among the most vulnerable in the world, suffering from a high degree of food insecurity and undernutrition. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons has increased with the growing number of conflicts, doubling between 2007 and 2015 to a total of approximately 64 million people. Furthermore, one in every 113 people is a refugee or an internally displaced person, or is seeking asylum.

Conflicts and violence are also causing and protracting food insecurity in many host communities. For instance, the civil war in the Syrian Arab Republic has forced over 6 million people to flee their homes and move to other WARS BEHIND UPSURGE IN affected by conflicts lives in parts of the country, while a HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY rural areas, where livelihoods further 5 million have left for According to the FAO report The largely depend on agriculture. neighbouring states. In Lebanon State of Food Security and Nutrition Conflicts negatively affect almost alone, a country with 6 million in the World 2017, one of the all aspects of agriculture and inhabitants, there are over a causes of the upsurge in hunger food systems, from production, million Syrian refugees. is the increase in conflicts during harvesting, processing and the last ten years, particularly transport to input supply, The situation has also worsened insofar as rural communities financing and marketing. In many in war-free countries, especially are concerned. Fifty-six percent of those countries, subsistence those affected by economic of the population in countries farming remains essential for downturns. In recent years,

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STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

states that depend on exporting to improving child nutrition. commodities have suffered a In situations of economic growth, sharp decrease in their revenue these instruments also support and exports, and this has affected the success of other development access to food because either it policies and can help to mitigate can no longer be imported or the risks, for example, when a there are no policies protecting family invests in new agricultural poor households against technologies to help improve their price increases. economic situation in the medium and long term. LACK OF SOCIAL PROTECTION Another factor perpetuating However, there are other factors hunger is the lack of social influencing food security, protection for the poorest people. including women’s level of In the face of any type of crisis education; the resources – economic, military or climate – allocated to national policies and a lack of social protection programmes on nutrition for exacerbates the situation of the pregnant and lactating women most vulnerable part of society. and infants; access to clean water, Even during periods of economic basic sanitation and quality growth, the most disadvantaged health services; way of life; the groups are hit by diseases and food environment; and culture. other eventualities that they In particular, in high- and FEEDING THE cannot overcome if they lack upper-middle-income countries, ENTIRE GLOBAL social protection. food insecurity and obesity often coexist, even in the same POPULATION That is why, in the short term, household. When resources for programmes involving income acquiring food are in short supply REQUIRES THAT transfer (cash or in kind) or and access to truly nutritious subsidies to facilitate access to food diminishes, people opt to ALL ACTORS IN health care, education, housing consume less healthy and more and public services can help energy-dense options that can SOCIETY MAKE the most vulnerable to reduce cause them to become overweight hunger and undernutrition and obese. As such, eating just EFFORTS TO and are particularly important anything is not enough; people REDUCE FOOD for traditionally marginalized need to eat well, with this idea groups, such as indigenous people of a healthy diet having very LOSS AND or women. Moreover, when important implications for the well designed, they contribute international agenda. WASTE.

14 EGYPT Wasted tomatoes at Bilbeis wholesale market. ©FAO/Heba Khamis

FOOD WASTE another, waste food in similar its nutritional needs. If we For a long time, whenever proportions. However, depending fail to change current trends the fight against hunger was on each country’s income, and meat and animal protein discussed, emphasis was placed food loss and waste occur at consumption continue to grow on the need to increase food different points along the food indiscriminately, if unhealthy production. The idea was that chain: in developed countries, energy-dense diets continue it was necessary to produce the consumer contributes most spreading, if we fail to reduce enough food to supply the to waste, while in low-income food waste and loss or to ensure greatest number of people countries, food loss happens at the entire population’s access possible. But today we know that all points along the food chain, to adequate nutrition, we will the problem does not lie with from production to storage be heading towards a dead end. production, at least not for the or transport. That is why transforming this time being. In fact, one-third of socially and environmentally what we produce is wasted every One of the greatest challenges unsustainable food system, year along the food chain – that of this century is how to ensure and getting all actors involved, is, some 1.3 billion tonnes of that a growing global population, from producers right through food. There is more than enough expected to reach 10 billion to consumers – including food, but not everyone can access inhabitants by 2050, can access governments and economic it. All countries, in one way or enough healthy food to satisfy actors – is indispensable.

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STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY operate based on single crops What has changed to make that provide raw materials our diet a danger to our for ultra-processed food health? There is no one single production, or food for cause: the problem must be intensive animal rearing. approached from multiple These also pollute far more perspectives because a lot than traditional systems. has changed regarding the Due to the widespread use food we eat. The way we eat of agrochemicals, including has changed because the way antibiotics to boost growth we live has changed. In 2008 in livestock farming, their the world's urban population residues often appear in our exceeded the rural population food and water. In addition for the first time in history, to causing a growing problem and by 2030, it is estimated of antibiotic resistance, this that 60 percent of the world’s overuse affects the diversity population will live in cities, of the beneficial microbes where more people will have found in our intestines, to be fed. leading to negative health consequences, including the We have moved away possibility of developing from the vegetable garden obesity, diabetes and other THE FORMER and local grocer towards non-communicable diseases. YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF supermarkets, and away MACEDONIA from fresh produce towards With supermarkets becoming Fast food and processed foods. We are increasingly dominated by over-processed foods are also seeing increasingly less large companies, it has become high in fat, and sugar, and tend to have low food systems that are easier to get hold of processed nutritional content. focused on family farming, foods, at the expense of fresh ©FAO/Robert Atanasovski traditional and effective foods and traditional dietary farming and soil management habits. Depending on the techniques, crop grouping country, it can be cheaper to for different foodstuffs, buy processed baked goods low in vitamin and mineral minimal processing, and and pre-cooked products than content”. However, processed distribution networks to buy fresh fruit and products food is everywhere, it tends to linked to local economies to cook at home. FAO warns be cheaper, and people often via markets, fairs and small that often processed food “is lack the information or the merchants. Instead, food high in saturated fats, salt necessary means to make the systems are emerging that and sugar and tends to be healthiest food choices.

16 AROUND 672 MILLION ADULTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE OBESE. IT IS CRUCIAL TO TRANSFORM FOOD SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE A SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS DIET FOR EVERYONE.

In this context, it seems to date. For countries to clear that achieving the be successful, they need to goal of a world free from turn political commitment hunger and malnutrition into specific measures, and by 2030 will be a very achieving this will require difficult challenge if we do addressing the issue from a no more than we have done multisectoral perspective.

17 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

FAO supports 1. POLICIES, PROGRAMMES AND The process of developing parlamentarians LEGAL FRAMEWORKS effective laws against hunger and Eliminating hunger and malnutrition should be based on in their efforts malnutrition requires policies, multiple elements. Together with to promote strategies, laws and investment the political will to propose plans that guide the action of legislation aimed at containing laws on food all sectors. Within each sector, the problem, it is often necessary security. it is also important to take into to consolidate parliamentary account how these policies can action through multisector contribute to or affect food cooperation and collaboration and security and nutrition. by strengthening the knowledge of legislators. In order to be Improvements in food One of the keys to implementing able to address such broad and security and nutrition are these programmes and policies complex issues, it is important the result of numerous coherently is to adopt framework for parliaments to collaborate policies and the contribution laws, something which more with national and international of multiple actors operating and more countries are doing. knowledge hubs and for there to on a long-term basis. The term “framework law” refers be mechanisms for dialogue with They therefore require lasting to a legislative mechanism used the different stakeholders. consensus and adequate to address multisectoral issues. resources; in other words, Framework legislation lays Raising the awareness of the they need solid political down the general principles and general public as well as of the commitment that translates obligations that guide action in executive and judicial branches into effective action. the different sectors, delegating is also important in preparing specific details to the sectoral for legitimate and lasting To achieve lasting results, we rules and regulations. legislative change. need to consider the four key dimensions identified by FAO: Following this general approach to Through the Hunger-Free Latin ensure coherence, sectoral policies America and the Caribbean 1. policies, programmes and and laws must also consider food Initiative (HFLACI), the legal frameworks; security and nutrition from within region’s countries committed to their specific areas; for example, permanently eliminating hunger 2. governance and shaping production policies on the continent by 2025 and, in coordination; that take into account needs the framework of the Community and capacity-building among of Latin American and Caribbean 3. evidence-based family farmers, pastoralists and States (CELAC), they are working decision-making; and artisanal fishers, as well as their together to create the conditions contribution to food security and to achieve this. FAO supports 4. implementation. nutrition in their communities. these efforts and, in the legislative

18 September 2018. Event on the occasion of the creation of the Spanish Parliamentary Alliance for the Right to Food. The alliance is made up of more than 169 deputies and senators from all political groups. ©FAO/Patricia Pascau

THE PROCESS OF field, has been collaborating precepts – in September 2018 with the Latin American the Nepalese parliament passed DEVELOPING and Caribbean Parliament 11 laws on fundamental rights, (PARLATINO) since 2009, as prominent among which, the EFFECTIVE LAWS well as with over 20 national right to food and the right to parliaments, in the development land access. IS BASED ON of framework and sectoral laws MULTIPLE that contribute to strengthening In 2014, African countries food security, nutrition and adopted the Malabo Declaration, ELEMENTS, sustainable agriculture policies. also aimed at achieving Zero Hunger. FAO has supported INCLUDING DATA In Nepal, FAO assisted in the African countries through the process of drafting the new African Union and subregional ANALYSIS AND constitution, which was adopted bodies such as ECOWAS and in 2015 and explicitly recognizes IGAD to improve the National RAISING the right to food. Since then, it Agricultural Investment Plans. has continued providing technical Since 2016, it has also worked AWARENESS OF assistance and facilitating with the Pan-African Parliament THE EXECUTIVE experience exchanges and to strengthen legislative processes discussions to prepare laws to in matters of food security and POWER. implement the constitutional nutrition at national level.

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FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

2. GOVERNANCE AND COORDINATION For the efforts of different actors to be truly effective, they must be coordinated, involve collective action and be based on consensus around what to do and how to do it. That is why it is important to set up mechanisms that facilitate constant dialogue between stakeholders, from consumers to producers – including governments, civil society organizations, universities and the private sector – so that the decision-making process reflects the interests and needs of everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

A second challenge involves FAO FACILITATES improving coordination and developing more effective and DIALOGUE efficient actions. There can be no nutrition because: BETWEEN PAR- progress without an environment 1) through legislation, they can that creates incentives for all develop governance structures LIAMENTARIANS stakeholders, allowing them to and mechanisms; 2) through participate in decision-making, budget allocation, they can AND PROVIDES policy formation and ensure that the former have implementation. In this regard, adequate resources to operate; TECHNICAL FAO works with stakeholders and 3) by monitoring government at the national, regional and action, they can encourage ASSISTANCE TO international level to improve greater coordination. their governance mechanisms. STRENGTHEN 3. EVIDENCE-BASED THEIR Parliaments play an essential role DECISION-MAKING in improving coordination and Without data, it is impossible to CAPACITIES. governance in food security and know the extent of a problem

20 ITALY

Debate on the role of parliamentarians in the fight against hunger, during the Fortieth Session of the FAO Conference. ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto

to support the work of statistics and evaluation agencies and to have solid and reliable reports on the situation of food security and nutrition and on policy and programme performance. Without these efforts, it is impossible to analyse whether there has been progress.

4. IMPLEMENTATION For countries to translate their policies and investment plans into specific measures, they need to efficiently mobilize and allocate financial and human resources in support of food security and nutrition. There are multiple ways to achieve this, but, without doubt, improving the capacity to determine the costs of each intervention or programme and to evaluate the funding they might need or to evaluate whether a evaluating their real impact is essential for implementing specific programme has had an on reducing a country’s rates policies and plans. impact. Good decision-making of hunger, food insecurity and comes from analysing data malnutrition. In other words, In addition, effective based on reliable statistics and identifying whether a law implementation requires information and making the is really having the desired strengthening the human analyses and information reach impact requires monitoring it, and organizational capacities members of government and the assessing whether it has served of institutions working on parliament in an understandable to bring about progress and, if nutrition and food security and timely manner. necessary, correcting any errors, issues. Without well-prepared in all cases basing our efforts on professionals with the ability At the same time, understanding reliable data. to deliver and the knowledge current policies, programmes, to act, it is impossible for any legislation and investments is That is why it is also essential for legislative measure to have essential for overseeing and governments and parliaments an impact.

21 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

Parliamentarians play a key role in approving laws, supervising budgets and driving change.

“Parliamentarians can play a legal framework that establishes central role in rethinking the the principles and guidelines HAITI way policies are produced and required to govern the In July 2017, Haiti carried out. You can help to coordination of policies against created its own orient national programmes hunger and malnutrition. parliamentary front towards sustainable development Therefore, legislative initiatives with 69 deputy signatures. The front goals. You can bring the are a fundamental part of that has received key views and aspirations of approach, in fact it is with support from your citizens into the global this in mind that during the Guadalupe Valdez (to the right), founder arena.” (Ban Ki-moon, UN last decade countries such as of the PFH in Latin Secretary-General, 2007–2016) Bolivia (Plurinational State America and the of), , , Egypt, Caribbean and FAO Zero Hunger However, what exactly are the Fiji, Kenya, Maldives, , Ambassador. instruments that members of Nepal and Niger have enhanced ©FAO parliament can use today to recognition of the right to food tackle the problem of hunger in their constitutions. and malnutrition? For almost a decade, the In particular, in Latin Parliamentary Front against Legislation is the way a society America and the Caribbean Hunger (PFH) in Latin makes organized decisions, sets there has been significant America and the Caribbean priorities and creates basic ground parliamentary action aimed at has focused on these goals. rules. That is the essential role guaranteeing or promoting full This is a multinational group of parliamentarians, but it is not realization of the right to food. of parliamentarians seeking the only one. They also have a Bolivia (Plurinational State of), to eliminate hunger and voice when it comes to approving Brazil, Ecuador, , malnutrition in the region budgets and a crucial role in , and through the formulation overseeing other state powers, have adopted framework of effective legislation such as the executive branch, laws and other countries such and public policies, which they can criticize, question as Costa Rica, , awareness-raising and or authorize to act. Mexico and Uruguay alliances with civil society, currently have legislative academia, international There is no longer any doubt processes under way for that organizations and other regarding the need to adopt a same purpose. key actors.

22 Since its formation in 2009, the knowledge and experiences so PFH has directly or indirectly as to make the most of technical supported the adoption of more assistance, good practices and SINCE ITS than 20 laws related to the right to lessons learned in diverse food, contributing towards efforts political arenas. Climate change, FOUNDATION, to achieve food and nutrition nutrition, gender and participative security in the region. The PFH’s governance are also key THE PFH HAS goals include developing issues due to their impact on effective legal and institutional food security. APPROVED instruments to guarantee the right to food; bringing together Through partnerships with MORE THAN and coordinating legislative specialized agencies such as representatives seeking alliances FAO, parliamentarians and their 20 LAWS with civil society; opening up advisors participate in training RELATED TO THE consultation, discussion and workshops, analytical processes, awareness-raising opportunities; experience exchanges and RIGHT TO FOOD. and generating and exchanging public information and media

23 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

campaigns. They also receive nutrition security. It also provided important technical support in for the creation of the National developing laws with a focus on Food and Nutrition Security human rights. System (SISAN) to promote the Human Right to Adequate All of this work has been reflected Food (HRAF). in specific measures that can be grouped into three fields: The SISAN is governed by six legislative frameworks, budgets principles: universality, equity, and monitoring executive action. respect, autonomy, social GUATEMALA Below, we analyse specific cases participation and transparency. The food that within these fields in order to It comprises a series of bodies and students receive at this school in understand their scope. organizations that are striving to El Horizonte is formulate and implement policies prepared with fresh LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN BRAZIL and plans for food and nutrition local ingredients. Last year, Guatemala The best example of how to security, integrate the efforts of approved a new law build an effective legal system government and civil society, and to ensure school in the fight against hunger promote follow-up, monitoring meals throughout the whole country. and malnutrition can be found and evaluation. ©Pep Bonet/NOOR in Brazil. At the start of the for FAO millennium, the then president, The School Feeding Law Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, adopted in 2009 establishes the prioritized reducing hunger right to food for all students, and Lastly, in 2010, Brazil passed figures through an ambitious as such promotes the provision an amendment to include the programme of political and social of school meals. School feeding Human Right to Food in its measures whose ultimate aim has gained increasing recognition constitution. Clearly and explicitly was to guarantee the right to as a social protection instrument incorporating the right to adequate food for the entire population. for the most vulnerable and as a food into the constitution affords guarantee of access to adequate it the highest level of protection In 2006, a food security food for minors. and aids coherent interpretation of framework law was adopted: the related laws. the Organic Law for Food and The law also provides that at Nutrition Security. This is the least 30 percent of school food GUATEMALA: BUDGETS TO key instrument used to legislate must come from family farming. FEED A COUNTRY on food matters in the country This way, economic growth In 2017, Guatemala and it requires the government reaches the poorest part of the institutionalized and formalized to adopt the policies and actions population, thereby contributing its School Feeding programme, needed to promote and guarantee to the elimination of both hunger defining a clear framework of the population’s food and and poverty. powers, responsibilities, guiding

24 COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA principles and priorities through from the Ministry of Education AND THE Decree 16-2017. The law also – therefore forming part of addresses the issue of funding, its budgetary allocation and CARIBBEAN increasing the amount allocated guaranteeing continuity. PROMOTE to each student and doubling it for rural students. Furthermore, it provides for SCHOOL FEEDING healthy and locally-adapted Before it was adopted, menus that respect the cultural AND FAMILY Guatemala’s 2.2 million characteristics of each community. school-age children had the It also pushes to improve the FARMING AS right to a small daily snack. infrastructure and facilities However, the new law recognizes of kitchens and dining halls KEY TOOLS IN the state’s duty to offer consistent in the country’s schools and daily food to all school-age to instil healthy eating habits, THE FIGHT students in public and free promoting the consumption of AGAINST private centres and also specifies fresh produce and the creation of that the money must come school gardens. HUNGER.

25 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS

In addition, the law takes a crucial consumption of local family six years of age suffered from step with regard to purchasing farming products through the obesity, making the problem of food produced via family farming public sector. malnutrition due to excess the and stipulates that more resources country’s main public health must be provided to create Hospitals and schools are concern. Faced with this issue, programmes to evaluate the supplied this way and family a group of parliamentarians impact of school meals, so that farming is also used to deal with led by Senator Guido Girardi over time they can be improved emergencies, as was the case in asked itself the question: What or possible shortcomings can the aftermath of the floods that determines people’s food habits be remedied. hit Uruguay in 2017. and nutritional status?

URUGUAY: PROTECTING FAMILY When the law came into There is no simple answer. FARMING AND ARTISANAL force, it was estimated that at They are determined by FISHERIES least 30 000 families would multiple factors and one of Uruguay took a crucial step benefit. The key idea was that the most influential is the in 2014 by introducing Law by strengthening short supply food environment, including 19292 on Family Farming chains and increasing local marketing and advertisement, Production and Artisanal purchases, family businesses the information available Fisheries. With it, both sectors could gain improved market and nutrition labelling. were declared “of general access. A cooperative approach That is where wanted to national interest”, and legal, could also be encouraged and a make a difference. budgetary and executive shorter and more efficient value oversight mechanisms were chain would improve prices for This led to the adoption of Law put in place to favour their consumers. In collaboration with 20.606 on the Nutritional economic growth, with all that the Right to Food Observatory Composition of Food and Food this entails for improving food at the University of the Republic, Advertising in 2012, though it and nutrition security and for Uruguay’s Parliamentary Front did not come into force until 2016. the economic development of against Hunger has promoted a The law provides for the creation sectors which the laws of supply study to monitor and evaluate of mandatory front warning labels and demand have traditionally the law’s implementation in for products that exceed the limits worked against. order to be able to introduce set by the Ministry of Health improvements in future. in relation to the recommended The law affects all public bodies intake of sugar, saturated fats, salt and provides that a minimum of CHILE: PIONEER IN and calories. 30 percent of centralized state RESPONSIBLE LABELLING purchases and 100 percent of In 2010, Chile discovered that The law improves the nutritional non-centralized purchases must 60 percent of its population information available, be covered by family production, was overweight and that encouraging healthy food thereby helping to boost the 25 percent of children under choices through the mandatory

26 CHILE Senator Guido Girardi, main author of the Chilean food labelling law, speaking at the international conference “Towards a healthier world: promoting alliances for the regulation of food environments”. ©FAO/Max Valencia

addition of front warning the initial limits. The law now After a year in force, its success messages on black labels: provides that for every 100 cc, is perhaps best reflected in the “HIGH IN” followed by calories, drinks exceeding 80 calories, population’s perception of it. saturated fats, sugar or sodium. 100 mg of sodium, 5 g of sugar Ninety-four percent of the It also restricts advertising food or 3 g of saturated fats will 1 067 people surveyed thought with black labels to children have to carry a warning label. it was “good or very good” to under 14 years of age and For solid food, the limit is set require labels for products that provides that healthy food must for every 100 g and any food are “high in”; 91 percent also be offered in schools, prohibiting exceeding 300 calories, approved of prohibiting their the sale, promotion and free 500 mg of sodium, 15 g of sale in schools; and 74 percent delivery of black-labelled sugar or 5 g of fat will require a approved of prohibiting their products in schools. warning label. advertisement to children. The products that have most The Implementing In 2017, the Chilean felt the impact of the labelling Regulations for Law 20.606 government published the first law are biscuits, followed by consisted of two phases. evaluation report on the drinks and crisps: these are the In June 2018, the second phase law, finding that compliance things Chileans claim to be entered into effect, reducing stood at 72 percent. consuming less of now.

27 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

A LONG JOURNEY

THE RIGHT TO FOOD The right to During the 1990s, there was a significant increase in global adequate food awareness of the fundamental has been a causes of food and nutrition insecurity, leading to the adoption legally binding of a common definition of human right in food security by FAO Member Countries at the World Food international PARLIAMENTARY FRONTS Summit (WFS) in 1996. Social and law for more AGAINST HUNGER, AND civil movements such as La Via LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES FOR Campesina, which represents than 35 years. THE RIGHT TO ADEQUATE small-scale farmers and their FOOD AND NUTRITION organizations around the world, The experience of helped broaden the debate, Latin America and the providing concepts such as Caribbean, 2009–2016 “food sovereignty”. This publication details the experience of In 1999, the United Nations the Parliamentary Front against Hunger Committee on Economic, Social in Latin America and the Caribbean and Cultural Rights provided in promoting legislation aimed at a precise legal definition for Realization of the Right to Adequate achieving the right to adequate food. exercising and guaranteeing Food, which were adopted by It presents some of the lessons learned the right to food in its General consensus at the FAO Council on how the associated parliamentary Comment No. 12: “The right meeting in 2004. fronts work and the mechanisms that to adequate food is realized have proved useful to them. There is when every man, woman and PARLIAMENTARY FRONT also a summary of the most significant child, alone or in community AGAINST HUNGER legislative results achieved on food with others, has physical and In the new millennium, several security and nutrition; school meals and economic access at all times policy initiatives have contributed to adequate food or the means to placing the fight against healthy eating; and family farming. This for its procurement.” In order hunger and food insecurity on information will be of use to members to guide its implementation, national and regional agendas, of parliament and other interested and in the framework of the sending a clear message that, parties looking to strengthen legal Committee on World Food today, suffering from hunger frameworks on food and nutrition. Security, representatives from is unacceptable. In 2005, the governments, civil society and Hunger-Free Latin America Available at: academia drew up the Voluntary and the Caribbean Initiative http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7872e.pdf Guidelines to Support Progressive (HFLACI) was launched by Brazil

28 GUATEMALA

July 2018. Legislators during the Sixth Planning Meeting of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger. ©FAO

and Guatemala. All countries in capable of overcoming changes in on Food and Nutrition Security in the region subsequently joined government and global economic . A declaration explicitly the initiative, making it the first fluctuations to confront hunger committing to combat hunger was regional commitment to eliminate and malnutrition in a definitive signed by 65 parliamentarians hunger. The goal was to create the and sustainable way. from 19 countries. means to permanently eliminate it by 2025. During the first Parliamentary This Front sought to forge Forum on the Right to Food, held connections with other The idea of setting up a Latin in the Dominican Republic in committed actors, strengthening American and Caribbean September 2008, the Declaration multisector coordination and network of parliamentarians to of Santo Domingo was drawn policy collaboration in alliance coordinate and drive the various up and it was agreed to create with existing fronts or social national initiatives emerged the Parliamentary Front against movements in the struggle from this commitment among Hunger (PFH). The regional against hunger. This coordinated the region’s countries. It was PFH for Latin America and effort to eliminate hunger has considered essential to boost the the Caribbean was formally involved the Latin American formulation of public policies and launched in 2009, during the and Caribbean Parliament effective and lasting legislation Inter-Parliamentary Conference (PARLATINO), the Forum of

29 PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES AGAINST HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

A LONG JOURNEY

Presidents of Legislative Powers poverty, rising above political [LEFT] of Central America and the trends. Their shared objective EQUATORIAL GUINEA Caribbean Basin (FOPREL), the affords them greater continuity, During the Twenty-third Ordinary Central American Parliament enabling them to transcend Session of the Assembly of the African Union, member countries approved (PARLACEN), the Andean political parties. As a result, the Malabo Declaration to end Parliament (PARLANDINO) they have the capacity to bring hunger in Africa by 2025. and the South American together different positions from ©FAO/Melchor Mba Ada Parliament (PARLASUR). all sides of the political and social spectrum. The participation of FAO and the Spanish Agency for Reaffirming this commitment, [TOP RIGHT] International Development in 2015, the members of the COSTA RICA Cooperation (AECID) has also Community of Latin American The CELAC Plan for Food Security, Nutrition been key. From the outset, both and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Hunger Eradication 2025 was presented at the Third CELAC Summit agencies have been instrumental adopted the Plan for Food Meeting in January 2015. in carrying out the PFH’s work Security, Nutrition and Hunger ©FAO at national and regional level, Eradication 2025 (CELAC FNS providing technical and logistical Plan), placing the issue of the assistance, and playing an fight against hunger at the top of important role in training and political agendas in the region’s [BOTTOM RIGHT] planning. The technical and countries. The PFH is crucial for MONGOLIA financial support structure has implementing the plan. Presentation of the Zero Hunger been crucial for the sustainability Challenge in Asia and the Pacific during the Thirty-second FAO Regional and impact of the PFH. Currently, under the PFH Conference in the region. umbrella, there are 19 national, ©FAO/Chinbold Dugermaa Since its creation in 2009 and after four departmental and two the first PFH Forum was held in regional parliamentary fronts Brazil in 2010, the PFH movement against hunger (PARLATINO feeding, family farming, food has grown significantly, with and PARLANDINO). These labelling and artisanal fisheries. the 300-plus parliamentarians parliamentary fronts are Both South-South cooperation currently involved in 2018 recognized by and collaborate and the interregional exchange establishing themselves as key with the Community of Latin of information and legislative actors in the fight against hunger American and Caribbean States experiences have gained in the region. The composition (CELAC) and other regional increasing importance in the work of the PFH is based on diversity integration fora. Their legislative of the PFH. and inclusion and sustained by initiatives have given rise to the common interest and will the adoption of over 20 laws Likewise, in other regions, of parliamentarians working to relating to food sovereignty and there is a growing movement end hunger, malnutrition and security, the right to food, school of parliamentarians committed

30 to continued and coordinated Against Hunger in 2016, while Italy place between African, efforts to eliminate hunger and and Spain set up national alliances European and Latin American malnutrition. In October 2016, the with the same commitment and Caribbean parliamentarians Pan-African Parliament launched in 2016 and 2018, respectively. with the common aim of its Alliance for Food Security Japan and the United States of achieving Zero Hunger. and Nutrition, which countries America also have a tradition of Following the First Global such as Benin, the Congo, parliamentarians working through Parliamentary Summit against Madagascar and Uganda have leagues and caucuses to create a Hunger and Malnutrition held joined. These countries are also hunger-free world. in Madrid in October 2018, the establishing their own national focus of parliamentarians on the alliances. The European Parliament In recent years, regular fight against hunger has entered launched the Alliance on the Fight exchanges have been taking the global arena.

31 America and the Caribbean, which has approved has which Caribbean, the and America Latin in Hunger Front against Parliamentary The actors. non-governmental and agencies specialized development partners, representatives, legislative between action collective to support initiatives FAO need, promoted different has this Realizing context. specific country’s people’s to each improve and according diets hunger to reducing contribute for everyone, food to adequate right the guarantee that programmes and laws national policies, public strategies, requires 2030 by malnutrition and hunger Eradicating diet. unbalanced an have they words, other –in malnutrition from people suffers Moreover, three one in people. 2017, in year 821 million reaching consecutive third for the World risen has hunger ALLIANCES ALLIANCES PARLIAMENTARY MALNUTRITION Parliamentary Summit. Madrid, October2018 HUNGER First Global AGAINST AND AND www.fao.org realization of the right to adequate food. right of the realization the play role akey in alliances parliamentary shows how publication the programmes, farming family and laws feeding school amendments, constitutional including countries, different in successes of legislative examples Providing 2. Goal Development of Sustainable favour in measures long-lasting design and will political strong FAO’s introduces to achieve for action framework and malnutrition and hunger behind causes structural of the overview an gives publication This Hunger. Against Fight on the Nutrition and the European Parliamentary Alliance and Security for Food Alliance Parliamentary Pan-African the including regions, other in started movements have parliamentary similar then, Since 2009. in formed was region, the in nutrition and security food regarding 20 laws more than

©FAO, 2018 CA1681EN/1/10/18