Africa: Top UN Official to Assess Food Situation

By George Okore

PRETORIA---The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter, will conduct an inaugural official mission to two African countries to assess the food situation

Mr. De Schutter ‘s nine–day African tour starts in South Africa from July 7-15, 2011, followed by Madagascar. In South Africa, he will try to understand the steps taken by the authorities to implement the right to food. According to recent data, about 14 per cent of South Africans are still vulnerable to food insecurity in the country and 25 per cent of children under the age of six have had their development stunted by malnutrition.

 South Africa has been a pioneer in demonstrating the justifiability of the right to food by enshrining this right in its constitution as well as national legislative frameworks. The country faces immense challenges in feeding her citizens and the visit will assess how the country protects the right to food, and its efforts aimed at addressing the remaining challenges in making the right to food a reality for all.

 “I will also examine food policies and programmes that impact on the right to food, for example in the areas of social protection and support to agriculture. The experience of South Africa in agrarian reform, the role of the agribusiness sector and of international trade agreements also will be particularly interesting to study,” the UN independent expert remarked.

 The Special Rapporteur will also meet with Government officials and experts as well as with representatives of United Nations system and civil society organizations. Besides meetings in the capital, Pretoria, he will visit Alexandra and Diepsloot townships and KwaZulu-Natal province.

His findings and recommendations will be presented in a report to the Human Rights Council. He will present his preliminary observations on the mission on July 15, 2011 at United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Library at the Metro Park Building in Pretoria. From South Africa, he will undertake an official visit to Madagascar from July 18–22, 2011 at the invitation of the Government.