Event – Food is our right: Struggles for an equitable food system
On World Food Day (16 October), academics and activists will debate and share insights on the impact of the food system on ensuring the right to food and ending hunger.
The Right to Food is enshrined in international agreements including the UN Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the African Union’s Resolution on the Right to Food and Food Insecurity in Africa. The South African constitution also guarantees the right to food. Despite these agreements, one of the biggest challenges facing millions of people across the world today is hunger. And the food system plays a role in exacerbating these challenges.
With World Food Day taking place at a time of unprecedented challenges on global health and the economy, leading academics and activists will convene a digital dialogue titled: ‘The right to food and equitable food systems’, from 12h00-14h00 (CAT) on 16 October 2020.
Jointly hosted by the PLAAS, the Centre of Excellence in Food Security and the C19 People’s Coalition Food Working Group, the online dialogue will see panellists debate and share recent and ongoing research on the devastating impacts of Covid-19; such as increased levels of hunger around the world, massive disruptions to the food system and loss of incomes to buy food.
Draft Programme
| 12h00 | Welcome & overview |
| 12h05 | Global perspectivesThis session will provide a global perspective on the right to food, the effects of Covid-19 as well as sharing international success stories |
| 12h30 | African perspectivesThis session will hear inputs by small-scale farmers, fishers and traders; on the impacts of COVID-19 responses on the political economy of African food systems |
| 13h00 | South African perspectivesThis session focuses on the situation in South Africa, featuring the voices of activists on how they have responded to the COVID-19 crisis and what kind of changes are needed to ensure the right to food for all. |
| 13h45 | Key messages, demands and next steps |
| 14h00 | Closing |
