Statement by Juan Somavia on the Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security
In a recent letter addressed to Jacques Diouf, Director General of the FAO, the Director General of ILO Juan Somavia highlighted the complementary priorities of the two organizations in promoting food security and expressed ILO’s interest in supporting recent efforts by FAO on the topic. The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, together with the Voluntary Guidelines for the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, reaffirm the interdependence and indivisibility of human rights, and support a people-centred and rights-based approach to development and globalization that can bring an end to poverty and hunger around the world. The following statement was sent by the Director general of ILO in response to a request from Mr. Diouf dated 18 July 2007, regarding recent efforts by FAO in the framework of the Voluntary Guidelines.
STATEMENT OF JUAN SOMAVIA
The Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security provide a unique and innovative tool in the fight against food insecurity which is both a cause and result of poverty. For many women, men and families, decent and productive work is the principal path out of poverty and hunger. The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, together with the Voluntary Guidelines approach, reaffirm the interdependence and indivisibility of human rights, and support a people-centred and rights-based approach to development and globalization that can bring an end to poverty and hunger around the world. In so doing, the promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development, and fundamental principles and rights at work including elimination of child labour in agriculture, remains a key priority for ILO in its collaboration with FAO and other concerned organizations. The ability to produce and obtain sufficient, safe and nutritious food is critical to food security as the ILO recalled at the 1996 World Food Summit; in turn, good nutrition is essential for workplace safety and high productivity, a linkage reaffirmed in the ILO study, Food at Work (2005). Our common efforts in line with the Voluntary Guidelines will facilitate the realization of the right to adequate food, together with the other economic, social and cultural rights indispensable to decent and productive work.