Written by Kent Buse, David Patterson, Roger Magnusson, and Brigit Toebes, first published on BMJ, October 30, 2019. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/10/30/urgent-call-for-human-rights-guidance-on-diets-and-food-systems/

Earlier this year, the Lancet Commission on Obesity called for “a radical rethink of business models, food systems, civil society involvement, and national and international governance” to address the interlinked crises of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change. We agree, and suggest that international human rights law, institutions and mechanisms provide important opportunities for norm setting, advocacy and accountability which are currently underutilised.

We welcome calls for exploration of international agreements on global health—including to promote healthy diets and regulate harmful products, including alcohol. However, opportunities already exist to transform food systems and create healthier food environments by clarifying existing international obligations to progressively realize the right to food and the right to health. Authoritative and evidence-based guidance is available on effective measures to tackle these challenges. For example, in this UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025), a UN Panel of Experts recommended State actions to address malnutrition in all its forms. Yet these recommendations are often resisted by industry, and governments remain insufficiently accountable for their implementation.

The global AIDS response demonstrated the power of a human rights approach. The United Nations “International Guidelines on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights” have been highly influential in developing a global consensus on the need for human rights and evidence-based approaches to the HIV epidemic. The Guidelines informed the language of resolutions of the UN General Assembly and its Human Rights Council. The Guidelines’ impact continues to be visible through initiatives such as the reports of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law and strengthened health systems far beyond HIV. Human rights norms can drive action: with HIV they contributed to more affordable medicines, an unprecedented increase in people on treatment, less stigmatizing health services, the empowerment of marginalized groups, and the institutionalization of norms, including “no one left behind.” We acknowledge differences between the obesity and food systems communities and the more cohesive AIDS movement. We recognise the impact of human rights on other global responses, such as tobacco control and reproductive health.

For further reading: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/10/30/urgent-call-for-human-rights-guidance-on-diets-and-food-systems/