Gender and Food Security
Women and the right to food international law and state practice
The right to food from a gender perspective: a consideration of international law and state practice
Authors:
I. Rae
Publisher:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , 2008
This paper provides a cross-cutting analysis of the right to food from a gender perspective, examining relevant international instruments as well as state practice. The discussion is placed in the context of the Millennium Development Goals No.1 and 3 – to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and to promote gender equality and empower women.
The study explores the international instruments protecting the right to food in general, and the rights of women in particular. The author looks at the level of incorporation of such instruments into national legislation with regards to the effects this has on the implimentation process. Other related rights are also examined, particluarly in relation to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), largely considered the main instrument for protecting women's rights.
Specifically, the paper considers the following questions:
- How much of women’s hunger and food insecurity is a matter of health alone and not one of life, survival and development?
- How much is denial of food for women a matter of violation of ‘mothers’ rights’, or of ‘children’s rights’ rather than one of ‘women’s rights’?
- How much of food insecurity and eating disorders is a matter of health and disease, or of violation of human rights?
In examining these questions, the author aims to highlight the prevailing legal opinion with regard to women's right to food, in parallel with the reality of violations of such a right. It is emphasised that, even in cases where the law is comprehensive, women continue to suffer from discrimination.
Conclusions drawn include:
- since the adoption of CEDAW in 1979 there has been significant progress in the recognition and implementation of the human rights of women. However, a lack of clarity remains with regard to the understanding of women’s rights and especially women’s right to food
- since CEDAW is the main instrument protecting women’s rights, the absence in its text of a specific article on the right to food is an important omission which needs to be dealt with
- there is a need to put in place, or to strengthen if already existing, institutional mechanisms that act as catalysts for the promotion and protection of the human right to food in its gender dimension
- civil society, and especially women’s groups and organisations, have become essential actors in awareness-raising and lobbying efforts concerning the human rights of women
- action is needed in both the public and private sphere as, the author asserts, the gender dimension of the right to food is key to development
