STATEMENT
Human Rights Council 52nd Session.
ITEM 3 – Interactive Dialogue on the report of Special Rapporteur
on the Right to Food – Michael Fakhri
Statement delivered by Ambassador Tine Mørch Smith,
Permanent Representative of Norway on behalf of the Nordic Baltic countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
Check against delivery
9 March 2023
President,
The Nordic-Baltic countries thank the Special Rapporteur for an enlightening report on conflict and right to food.
Conflict remains a key driver for food insecurity and thus represents a main hindrance for fulfillment of the right to food.
[Keeping in mind that today is 8 March,] we express our appreciation for Mr. Fakhri’s focus on discrimination and equality in the food systems.
Women and girls are food producers, traders, consumers, care-takers, decision-makers and negotiators. Protecting women and girls from violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, is crucial to eliminating hunger. In many households, food insecurity and poverty prevail when women are hurt.
We need targeted measures to strengthen women, including rural and Indigenous women and girls and other vulnerable groups’ position in the food systems.
Special Rapporteur,
The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has caused disruption in global food markets and aggravated food insecurity and hunger, also in other regions of the world.
In your view, what are the most serious consequences facing women in particular? And what would be the most pertinent measures?
Special Rapporteur, your role and voice is more important than ever.
Thank you.