This ebook explores how the right to adequate food is a human right within the international human rights framework. It provides a general overview on the right to adequate food, an in-depth explanation of the international human rights systems, and various national case studies and concrete topical examples, including relate issues of water, feeding infants, trade, refugees, and humanitarian assistance. It emphasizes that simply “feeding people” does not address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition. Instead, it argues for the need to ensure that national governments and international institutions have that obligation for the “right of adequate food” for all people.
This ebook is published by Georgetown University Press in 2005 as part of its series on Advancing Human Rights.
Type of Material:
Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:
This text could be used in a seminar type course focused on social policy and social action. He focuses on the development of a human rights approach to tackling world hunger. How can this approach be adopted for other human rights issues - women rights, justice, etc. It could also be used or self-pace individual reading.
Technical Requirements:
Access to the internet.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
By completing this, students will be able:
Demonstrate how to advance economic, social, and cultural rights as related to food and society, in the context of the international human rights system
Formulate policy recommendations that conform to international human rights framework and conventions
Target Student Population:
College Upper Division, Professional
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
None.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This text is a indepth examination of a serious issue - food security. It provides a solid historical foundation for understanding the issue by examining the political, economic, and ideological differences. He suggests that a right-based approach to this issue is needed. The ebook serves as a good resource and reference for specialists and consultants to international agencies and national programs related to food, health, nutrition, and agriculture.
Concerns:
There could be a deeper discussion on varying notions of freedom (such as “freedom from” vs “freedom to,” “freedom for,” and “freedom of” as well as positive freedom vs. negative freedom). In addition, there could be a critical examination between individual human rights compared to collective people’s rights. In particular, the book needs to incorporate recent debates on the term “food security” (within the human rights framework) and “food sovereignty” (within the people’s rights framework).
Also, the ebook needs updated examples, particularly the worsening crisis of the international food system since the early 2000s. Issues of neoliberalism and the problem with newer international trade agreements should also be addressed more directly.
Social movement organizations and local community members would need to find other resources beyond this ebook in relations to:
Multinational corporations that negatively impact the global food system
The need to develop innovative political endeavors beyond the existing flawed international human rights system.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This could be used as a resource for a seminar that is aimed at understanding social policy and social action. It demonstrates the complexity of social issues and the need to understand the "system" to develop realistic solutions.
Concerns:
The copyright date is 2005. It needs to be updated. For example, what is the current status of food security? It lacks specific learning goals for students.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
It is organized in a logical fashion. The chapter titles are sufficiently descriptive. Part 1 and 2 provide a solid foundation on how to study a social issue.
Concerns:
It would be more digitally accessible and interactive if the ebook was available as webpages or as an ePUB-formatted document, which would allow greater layout flexibility for students and readers.
Creative Commons:
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