Right to Food: An Emerging Human Rights Jurisprudence?

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate that the effectiveness of the right to food is strictly dependent on the adoption of appropriate public policies, capable of guaranteeing conditions of transparency and information, and granting individuals and groups the possibility to participate in the taking of decisions. Next, the focus is on the role played by the courts to address the issue of legal consideration of this right. Methodology: The study methodology included the analysis of jurisprudence on the right to food, as well as the constitutional recognition of the right to food. Likewise, the position of the courts and the political aspect of the right to food were challenged. Results: It has often been discovered that people are not even aware of the possibility of using litigation as a tool to promote the realization of the right to food. As well as the lack of knowledge on the part of politicians to implement public policies to realize this essential right to food. Contributions: The main contribution lies in realizing that it is not at stake or in the recognition of this right by the courts. While it is true that the role of the courts is essential because it facilitates the creation of a cultural climate sensitive to human rights, it is also true that the implementation of rights through jurisprudence means that the problem of access to justice is resolved. KEYWORDS: Fundamental rights; right to food; food sovereignty; legal consideration (justiciability); comparative law. RESUMENObjetivo: El objetivo de este ensayo es demostrar que la efectividad del derecho a la alimentación es estrictamente dependiente de la adopción de políticas públicas apropiadas, capaces de garantizar condiciones de transparencia y información, y otorgar a individuos y grupos la posibilidad de participar en la toma de decisiones. A continuación, la atención se centra en el papel desempeñado por los tribunales para abordar el problema de la justiciabilidad de este derecho. Metodología: La metodología del estudio comprendió el análisis de la jurisprudencia sobre el derecho a la alimentación, así como el reconocimiento constitucional del derecho a la alimentación. Asimismo, se cuestionó la posición de los tribunales y el aspecto político del derecho a la alimentación. Resultados: A menudo se ha descubierto que las personas ni siquiera son conscientes de la posibilidad de utilizar el litigio como herramienta para promover la realización del derecho a la alimentación. Así como a la falta de conocimiento por parte de los políticos para implementar políticas públicas para hacer realidad de este derecho esencial a la alimentación. Contribuciones: La contribución principal radica en darse cuenta de que no está en juego ni en el reconocimiento de este derecho por parte de los tribunales. Si bien es cierto que el papel de los tribunales es fundamental porque facilita la creación de un clima cultural sensible a los derechos humanos, también es cierto que la implementación de los derechos a través de la jurisprudencia supone que se resuelva el problema del acceso a la justicia. PALABRAS-CLAVE: Derechos fundamentales; derecho a la alimentación; soberanía alimentaria; justiciabilidad; derecho comparado.

Any Chance for the Enforceability of the Human Right to Subsistence?

“…At the European level, the right to food is absent from every constitution; only Lombardía has passed a Law on the right to food, although it has not been able to achieve an acceptable level of enforceability. We found also some examples (Zambrano, 2019) at the judicial level (domestic, regional or international ones), with cases defended in courts all around the world (Argentina, Canadá, Sudáfrica, India, Turkey …). For example, the decision of the Supreme Court of India in both Kishen Pattmayak and another State of Orissa and People´s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India and others, has recognized the right to food under the right to life stipulated in article 21 of the Indian Constitution, with reference also to the Directive Principle of State Policy concerning nutrition, contained in article 47.…”