FAO issues book on right to food

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization unveiled on Monday a book which would help to raise the awareness about hunger and the right to food among children and young people around the world.

As part of the ongoing "Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger" initiative, the FAO and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) produced the cartoon-style story book entitled "The Right to Food: A Window on the World," and a companion "Resource and Activity Guide" educating young people and motivating them to join in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Speaking at a news conference, Alexander Muller, FAO assistant director-general for Sustainable Development, said, "The right to food is, in principle, the right to feed oneself, and one's family, adequately and with dignity. Raising the awareness of young people about the inseparable nature of human rights, food security and good nutrition, and about how each of us can play a part in helping secure everyone's right to nutritionally adequate food is essential to this end."

According to the FAO, the materials present the right to food issues in a simple, understandable and attractive style that captures the attention of young people. The materials will help young people understand that each individual has the right to adequate food and that governments, consumer organizations, the private sector, communities and families have an obligation to help protect, promote and support that right.

The book consists of an introductory section providing an overview of selected right to food issues, and eight individual stories dedicated to illustrating aspects of food security and right to food issues in Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

A unique feature of the publication is that the illustrations were planned and drawn by young artists and art students from the eight countries. The cartoon-style drawings convey national differences in culture, lifestyles, food habits, environments and living conditions. In each of the selected countries, a national contest was organized among art schools and institutes for illustrating the chapter set in that country.

Source: Xinhua