One human family, food for all

“A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.” Pope Francis to the Food and Agriculture Organization (June 2013).

 
What is the Caritas Internationalis ‘Right to Food’ campaign?

Caritas believes that it is a scandal that nearly a billion people are hungry today in a world that has the resources to feed everyone. We look to the parable of the feeding of the multitude where there is abundance of food which it is our duty to share. The 164 national organisations that make up Caritas Internationalis are joining together in their first ever global campaign to call for an end to hunger by 2025.

We believe the best way to achieve this is for governments to guarantee food for all in their national laws by implementing the right to food.

Why the ‘Right to Food’

The right to food is a human, legal and clearly defined right which gives rise to obligations of governments to reduce both chronic undernourishment and malnutrition.

The right to food protects the right of all human beings to live in dignity, free from hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. The right to food is not about charity, but about ensuring that all people have the capacity to feed themselves in dignity.

Key dates for ‘Right to Food’ campaign

Caritas Internationalis will launch the campaign on 10 December 2013 (World Human Rights day).

A global week of action in October 2014 uniting Caritas member organisations and parishes around with different events and actions around the world urging national governments to adopt a right to food.

In May 2015, Caritas Internationalis will host its quadrennial ‘General Assembly’ in Rome and meeting will have a special focus on eliminating hunger. Immediately after this Caritas will participate in the Milan Expo 2015: Feeding the planet, energy for life.

For national key dates, contact your country’s Caritas organisation.

What can you do?

Open your eyes, ears and hearts to understand the impact of hunger on the world. Look at your own attitude to food and waste – what could change?

Join the “wave of prayer” that Caritas is planning for the campaign’s launch.

National Caritas organisations will be organising campaign actions at a local level. Get in touch with them and take part in their work. Join them on facebook and twitter. We hope that the multiplication of all this actions around the world will create a tidal wave of support for the right to food.

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