The Human Right to Food in Nepal

Book excerpt: The purpose of the seminar was to disseminate the FFM's preliminary findings and to debate the use of the human rights framework for addressing hunger in Nepal. [...] In 2004, the FAO adopted the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security.3 The FAO Voluntary Guidelines offer a practical tool to assist states as they develop programs and policies designed to implement their right to food commitments pursuant to the ICESCR. [...] Only 30% of the rural population has access to all-weather roads and the poor condition of the road network ham- pers the service delivery, particularly in the remote hill and mountainous districts of the country. [...] LEGAL FRAMEWORK International Human Rights Commitments Nepal has ratified major international human rights treaties including the ICCPR, ICESCR, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimi- nation against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. [...] Positive Steps by the State Although the Government of Nepal is in political transition and lacks the capacity to fully implement programs and policies, the FFM welcomed the many positive steps taken by the state to improve implementation of its right to food obligations.