Summary: 19 November 2009, New York – Explanation of Position on behalf of the European Union by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, 64th Session of the General Assembly Third Committee, draft resolution L.30/Rev.1 GA64: The Right to Food
Mr. Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union to make the following Explanation of Position on the draft resolution entitled “The right to Food”. The following countries align themselves with this Explanation of Position:
The candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
The EU would like to begin by expressing its support for the draft resolution now before us, entitled “The right to food”, as it addresses problems of serious concern to all of us. We are fully committed to the realization of the right to adequate food and are guided in our efforts by, inter alia, the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The EU continues to believe that a human rights-based approach is vital for States to ensure adequate priority for food security and eradicating poverty. Furthermore, we consider that it is the primary responsibility of States, individually and through international cooperation, to take the necessary measures to meet the vital food needs of their people. Good and accountable governance at the national level, as well as the proper enjoyment of the full range of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, are all critical in ensuring food security on a sustainable basis.
Therefore, we believe it is important that States mainstream a human rights perspective in their national strategies for the realization of the right to adequate food for all, and once again encourage the main sponsors to look at increasing the focus of the resolution on human rights principles. We particularly stress that the strengthening of women’s rights is crucial for the realization of this right.
Mr. Chairperson,
In relation to OP14, the EU once again notes the following in connection with the concept of “food sovereignty”, which is not internationally defined. Firstly, we support a rules-based international system in all fields. The EU accepts the idea of differentiated treatment in favor of developing countries, in a well-defined framework and conditions, but not the idea that States can implement any policy that conflicts with or disregards the rules-based established international system (which is agreed upon on the basis and in light of different considerations including imperatives such as food security).
Secondly, we believe that, in taking a rights-based approach the emphasis should also be on strengthening entitlements, and not only on promoting food production. An emphasis on national production and food availability over individual entitlement does not address the needs of the urban poor or of landless peasants and subsistence farmers who may not be as productive as larger-scale farmers but whose right to adequate food is just as important.
Mr. Chairperson,
The EU welcomes the fact that, for the first time, this draft resolution should be adopted by the General Assembly without a vote. As in previous occasions, we thank the main sponsor – Cuba – for engaging in a constructive dialogue with us, and for having taken on board most of our comments. Still, more negotiations on this draft resolution would have been welcomed, and we hope that in future occasions we will have the opportunity to discuss it in a more open and participative framework.
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page