50th session of the Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council held its 50th Session from 13 June to 8 July 2022 in Geneva, with several topics being discussed very relevant to FAO. The FAO in Geneva team made several interventions in coordination with technical units, and highlighted the relevance of agrifood system to promote Human Rights and achieve agenda 2030.
Speaking on the High-level commemorative event on the occasion of the 50th session of the Human Rights Council on 15 June, FAO reaffirmed its commitment to Human Rights, presenting the Organization’s policies, especially towards the right to food and vulnerable populations, and saluting the cooperation with the Human Rights council.
During the interactive discussions with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, on 20 June, which focused on indigenous women and girls, FAO made a statement calling for the integration of a food, agriculture, and nutrition approach to support the emancipation of women, while presenting its own policies and good practices.
FAO also intervened during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on health, reaffirming its commitment to addressing and eliminating the root causes of the barriers to gender equitable eradication of food insecurity, malnutrition, and rural poverty.
In the course of the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, on 24 June, the report on “non-take-up” of rights in the context of social protection was presented. FAO’s intervention highlighted the need to extend social protection legislation to agricultural workers, who are not covered by national legislation and vowed to continue working with Member States to expand the fiscal space for social protection and strengthen country capacities.
Speaking at the Panel on the adverse effects of climate change on the Human Rights of people in vulnerable situation, on 28 June, FAO highlighted the new Strategy on Climate Change, a FAO people-centred approach, and also spoke on the impact of climate change on global food security and nutrition.
During the Council, FAO also stressed the necessity of ensuring equal decision-making power to women in organizations of the public and private sector at all levels to achieve Zero Hunger.
FAO also spoke at the side-event “Urgent action needed to address the severe drought and food insecurity in the Horn of Africa and in the Sahel, organized by Caritas, stressingthe importance of a rights-based approach to emergency interventions, and the transformation of agrifood systems towards crisis-resilience.
The 51st session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 12 September to 7 October 2022.