Accounting For Hunger: The Right To Food In The Era Of Globalisation (36) (studies In International Law)

The challenge of global hunger is now high on the agenda of governments and international policy-makers. This new work contributes to addressing that challenge, by looking at the obstacles which stand in the way of implementing a right to food in the era of globalisation. The book describes the current situation of global hunger; it considers how it relates both to the development of food systems and to the merger of the food and energy markets; and it explains how the right to food contributes to identifying solutions at the domestic and international levels. The right to food, it argues, can only be realised if governance improves at the domestic level, and if the international environment enables governments to adopt appropriate policies, for which they require a certain policy space. The essays in this book demonstrate that the current regimes of trade, investment and food aid, as well as the development of biofuels production - all of which contribute to define the international context in which states implement such reforms - should be reshaped if national efforts are to be successful. The implication is that extraterritorial human rights obligations of states (their obligations to respect the right to food beyond their national territories, for instance in their food aid, investment or trade policies), as well as the strengthening of global governance of food security (as is currently being attempted with the reform of the Committee on World Food Security in Rome), have a key role to fulfill: domestic reforms will not achieve sustainable results unless the international environment is more enabling of the efforts of governments acting individually. In this reform process, accountability both at the domestic and international level is essential if sustainable progress is to be achieved in combating global hunger. The Challenge Of Global Hunger Is Now High On The Agenda Of Governments And International Policy-makers. This New Work Contributes To Addressing That Challenge, By Looking At The Obstacles Which Stand In The Way Of Implementing A Right To Food In The Era Of Globalisation. The Book Describes The Current Situation Of Global Hunger; It Considers How It Relates Both To The Development Of Food Systems And To The Merger Of The Food And Energy Markets; And It Explains How The Right To Food Contributes To Identifying Solutions At The Domestic And International Levels. The Right To Food, It Argues, Can Only Be Realised If Governance Improves At The Domestic Level, And If The International Environment Enables Governments To Adopt Appropriate Policies, For Which They Require A Certain Policy Space. The Essays In This Book Demonstrate That The Current Regimes Of Trade, Investment And Food Aid, As Well As The Development Of Biofuels Production--all Of Which Contribute To Define The International Context In Which States Implement Such Reforms--should Be Reshaped If National Efforts Are To Be Successful. The Implication Is That Extraterritorial Human Rights Obligations Of States (their Obligations To Respect The Right To Food Beyond Their National Territories, For Instance In Their Food Aid, Investment Or Trade Policies), As Well As The Strengthening Of Global Governance Of Food Security (as Is Currently Being Attempted With The Reform Of The Committee On World Food Security In Rome), Have A Key Role To Fulfill: Domestic Reforms Will Not Achieve Sustainable Results Unless The International Environment Is More Enabling Of The Efforts Of Governments Acting Individually. In This Reform Process, Accountability Both At The Domestic And International Level Is Essential If Sustainable Progress Is To Be Achieved In Combating Global Hunger--provided By Publisher. Accounting For Hunger : An Introduction To The Issues / Olivier De Schutter And Kaitlin Cordes -- Part I : Addressing Power Imbalances In The Food Systems. -- The Impact Of Agribusiness Transnational Corporations On The Right To Food / Kaitlin Y. Cordes -- The Transformation Of Food Retail And Marginalisation Of Smallholder Farmers / Margaret Cowan Schmidt -- Biofuels And The Right To Food : An Uneasy Partnership / Ann Sofi E Cloots -- Part Ii : Trade And Aid : An Enabling International Environment -- International Trade In Agriculture And The Right To Food / Olivier De Schutter -- How To Phase Out Rich Country Agricultural Subsidies Without Increasing Hunger In The Developing World / Jennifer Mersing -- Invoking The Right To Food In The Wto Dispute Settlement Process : The Relevance Of The Right To Food To The Law Of The Wto / Boyan Konstantinov -- Food Aid : How It Should Be Done / Loreto Ferrer Moreu. Edited By Olivier De Schutter And Kaitlin Y. Cordes. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The challenge of global hunger is now high on the agenda of governments and international policy-makers. The contributors in this study address that challenge by looking at the obstacles which stand in the way of implementing a right to food in the era of globalization. The right to food, the book argues, can only be realized if governance improves at the domestic level and if the international environment enables governments to adopt appropriate policies. The book's essays demonstrate how improved accountability at the national level and reform of the international economic environment - in the areas of trade, food aid, and investment - go hand-in-hand in the move towards full realization of the right to food, while reforms at domestic level are key in effectively tackling hunger, including reforms that improve accountability of government officials. The current regimes of trade, investment, and food aid, as well as the development of biofuels production - all of which contribute to define the international context in which States implement such reforms - should be reshaped if these national efforts are to be successful. The title - Accounting for Hunger - emphasizes the point that accountability both at domestic and international level must be improved if sustainable progress is to be achieved in combating global hunger. The implication is that the extraterritorial human rights obligations of States - beyond their national territories in their food aid, investment, or trade policies - as well as the strengthening of global governance of food security - as is currently being attempted with the reform of the Committee on World Food Security in Rome - have a key role to fulfill. Domestic reforms will not achieve sustainable results unless the international environment is more enabling of the efforts of governments acting individually. (Series: Studies in International Law - Vol. 36) This new work contributes to addressing the challenge of eradicating global hunger, by looking at the obstacles which prevent the implementation of a right to food in the era of globalisation.