Robinson in plea over global food crisis
Former President Mary Robinson today warned world leaders that they have an obligation to tackle the global food crisis.
The human rights activist told a seminar marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that food is a human right to which every woman, man and child is entitled.
As the Government slashed €45m in overseas aid from its books, Mrs Robinson said the right to food will remain out of the grasp of millions of people for years to come unless developed countries act now.
The event, being held in Dublin, highlighted the plight of millions of people across the Horn of Africa who are on the brink of starving to death.
“The food crisis has many causes, most of them long-term and structural but exacerbated by factors beyond our control such as natural disasters,” said Mrs Robinson.
“Everyone from political and business leaders to the world’s hundreds of millions of small farmers must join together to solve this crisis.”
The former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said investing more in agricultural production, reducing support for biofuel production that competes with food production, and improving trade and food aid policies to stimulate and support local production are just some of the ways that we can address this problem now.
“Otherwise the Right to Food will remain out of the grasp of millions of people for years to come,” she added.
The seminar, staged by Concern Worldwide and ActionAid Ireland, coincides with the G8 summit which provoked an outcry as world leaders enjoyed a six-course lunch and eight-course dinner after discussing the food shortage.
The aid agencies, which are leading campaigns to eradicate hunger, said the current crisis can only be solved with long-term political decisions and practical policies.
Tom Arnold, Chief Executive of Concern Worldwide, said: “The governments of developing countries must change their long neglect of their agricultural sectors and put more resources into developing their own food production and their rural enterprises.
“The world’s richest countries, the G8, meet in Japan this week. They must demonstrate that they understand the gravity of the food crisis by scaling up aid.”
ActionAid’s Chris Kinyanjui said the current food crisis is a man-made calamity affecting up to 100 million poor and hungry people right now.
“Women are bearing the brunt of the burden,” he said.
“Protection of the right to food has never been more urgent.
“The Irish government, and Mary Robinson, have been leading lights in the struggle to end hunger, but we must work together to deepen our resolve and increase the investment in long term solutions like support for women farmers.”
