OBLIGATIONS OF STATES REGARDING THE RIGHT TO FOOD, ACCORDING TO ARTICLE XI OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Academic Member of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, Shiraz University

2 M.A. in International Law Shiraz University

Abstract

In the framework of international law, the right to food is a fundamental
right of person towards having sustainable access to food with the quality
which responds to his/her food needs. With due respect to the special
position of States in international law, it is importance to examine their
obligations regarding the right to food. The principal question is that what
constitutes the legal basis of such obligations. In this paper, it is
demonstrated that the legal basis of these obligations originates from the
international documents on human rights, particularly, the UN Covenant on
Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. In addition, this paper examines the
most important mechanisms for realization the right to food, including
designing national strategies, legislating and providing legal ways to
guarantee the right to food. This paper concludes that if the right to food is to
be fulfilled, States should observe their obligations nationally and
internationally.

Keywords