Social Sustainability
Right to Food
Definition
The right to food is the right of every person to have regular, permanent and unrestricted access — directly or through purchases — to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate food corresponding to cultural traditions and ensuring a fulfilling, dignified life free from fear. It is codified in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) and elaborated in the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' General Comment 12.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Right to Food” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The framework structures the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, national food security laws, land and seed policy advocacy, and corporate accountability for land grabs and supply chain impacts.
Why it matters
Framing food as a right changes who is answerable for hunger — the foundation of food security governance from the FAO Voluntary Guidelines onward.