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URU Alm.del Bilag 249
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Ending hunger
and malnutrition
FAO COLLABORATION WITH PARLIAMENTARIANS ON FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY
INTRODUCTION
Foremost amongst the 17
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) are the eradication of
poverty, achieving zero hunger,
good health and well-being. The
Rome Declaration on Nutrition
and Framework for Action also
prioritizes the eradication and
prevention of hunger and poverty
in all its forms. These global
commitments are necessary, since
despite the progress made, over
790 million people still suffer
from hunger and high levels of
malnutrition continue to persist.
Eradicating hunger and
malnutrition is therefore at the
center of FAO’s efforts. In order
to achieve this, all stakeholders
must be involved. This includes
Parliamentarians and non-State
actors such as Civil Society and the
Private Sector.
Parliamentarians are
fundamental custodians
of political commitments on
food security and nutrition;
therefore critical partners
in achieving food and
nutrition security.
FAO, through its Partnerships,
Advocacy and Capacity
Development Division
(OPC), seeks partnerships
and closer collaboration with
Parliamentarians, as we work
towards meeting our mutual
commitments on food and
nutrition security, including
the right to adequate food.
Parliamentarians’ efforts are key
to placing these issues at the
highest level of the policy and
legislative agendas.
‘‘
THE IMPORTANCE OF
PARLIAMENTARIAN
ALLIANCES IN ENDING
HUNGER AND
MALNUTRITION
Evidence has shown that
the improvement in food
and nutrition security
is principally due to
policies, programs and
frameworks that are
anchored in legislation.
We reaffirm that
everyone has a
right to adequate,
safe, sufficient, and
nutritious food and
to freedom from
hunger, and we
acknowledge the
need for specific
constitutional
and legislative
provisions to ensure
the enjoyment of
those rights.
(Extract from the Statement
by Parliamentarians
who met on the occasion
of the 2nd International
Conference on Nutrition,
Nov. 2014)
©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti
 URU, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 249: Invitation til Global Parliamentary Summit Against Hunger and Malnutrition, Madrid, Spanien den 29.-30. oktober 2018
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EXAMPLES OF ONGOING
COLLABORATION WITH
PARLIAMENTARIANS
Parliamentary Front Against Hunger
in Latin America and the Caribbean
(PFH LAC)
Established in 2009, the
Parliamentary Front against Hunger
in Latin America and the Caribbean
(PFH LAC) is a multi-partisan
platform that brings together
legislators from Parliaments in
the LAC region, principally aimed
at strengthening the legislative
and institutional frameworks in
the Parliaments of the region to
facilitate the effective realization of
the right to adequate food.
Since the establishment of the PFH
LAC, 4 framework laws have been
produced as guides to countries and
more than 20 laws relating to food
and nutrition security have been
enacted nationally. These measures
have contributed, in part, to the
LAC region leading the world in
poverty reduction.
Members of
the European Parliament
Engagement between FAO
and Members of the European
Parliament has resulted in the
decision of several MEPs to
establish an alliance to discuss
issues related to the fight against
hunger, food insecurity and
malnutrition. Their first meeting
was held on April 26
th
, 2016.
The Pan African Parliament
Parliamentarians from the
250-member Pan African
Parliament (PAP) has decided to
establish the Pan African Alliance
for Food and Nutrition Security
by the end of 2016. At the request
of the PAP, FAO will facilitate
this process, including through
South-South cooperation with
Parliamentarians from the PFH
LAC sharing their experiences with
their African counterparts. FAO
will also work with the PAP at the
sub-regional and national levels.
THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION
Parliamentarians are best placed to position the issue of food and nutrition
security at the highest level of the political and legislative agenda, given
their legislative, budgetary and oversight responsibilities, among others. For
instance, Parliamentarians can:
}
Promote and/or enact as appropriate,
legislative and other measures,
to address specific issues relating to food and nutrition security
}
Raise awareness
on the aforementioned issues, including with their
constituencies.
}
Provide a dedicated space
for dialogue, discussion and exchange of
views on issues relating to food security amongst themselves.
}
Dialogue and share experiences
with other Parliamentarians and
Parliamentary bodies around the world.
They can do so using nationally appropriate mechanisms, including
existing ones such as Standing Parliamentary Committees, Special Select
Committees or the establishment of a Parliamentary Alliance/Front/
Network. The selected mechanism can serve as the Parliamentary focal point
on food and nutrition security.
‘‘
Improving nutrition requires a collective effort.
It requires well-designed laws that improve food
systems, ensure healthy diets and strengthen school
meals. It also requires adequate public budgets
and it calls for strong legal frameworks that
consolidate advances and allow us to press ahead.
José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General
(Source: FAO, 2014)
FAO’S CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH
PARLIAMENTARIANS
FAO will continue to widen and deepen its collaboration with
Parliamentarians to end hunger and malnutrition. This will be done using
the Parliamentary mechanisms identified at the regional and national levels
and according to the priorities identified by the respective region/country.
FAO will continue to:
}
Facilitate the sharing
of information such as good practices on legal
frameworks and public policies, among others;
}
Provide support
to Members of Parliament on the development of
legislation and public policies.
}
Provide technical information,
including statistics, on relevant
issues of food security to support the measures taken by the respective
Parliamentary body;
}
Provide capacity building
for Parliamentarians on key issues of food
and nutrition security
}
Facilitate linkages
amongst Parliamentarians and Parliamentary bodies
through exchanges (e.g. South-South cooperation) as required.
n
© FAO, 2016
I6089E/1/09.16
For more information please contact:
SPECIAL COORDINATION FOR PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCES PARTNERSHIPS, ADVOCACY AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
DIVISION (OPC) - FAO. [email protected]