A Conversation with the UN about the Right to Food

For immediate release.

MONTREAL, 28 February 2013 – As the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Olivier De Schutter prepares to deliver his report on Canada to the UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva on March 4, Food Secure Canada members and friends are organizing communities events in every single province and territory! Food Secure Canada has called upon the government to take the rapporteur’s recommendations seriously.

“Food is a human right that belongs to every one of us,” said Diana Bronson, Executive Director of Food Secure Canada. “Yet millions of Canadians are hungry, we have escalating rates of diet-induced chronic diseases and we are losing thousands of farmers every year . This is an urgent, national problem that can and must be addressed.”

The national web-based Conversation between the Special rapporteur and organizations across the country will take place at noon (EST) on March 4 in English and March 5 in French.  Communities are gathering in food banks, universities, offices, town halls and other places to participate in the event.  The rapporteur will present his report, followed by a period of questions and comments from the audience, and most community events will then host a local discussion around what can be done to improve respect for food in their communities.

Follow us on Twitter @foodsecureCAN and join the conversation by using #Right2FoodCAN.

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To contact Food Secure Canada:  Diana Bronson, Executive Director, at 514 271-7352 or cell 514 629 9236 or director@foodsecurecanada.org.

To find out about local events, please consult this list. Most events are open to the media and the public but please check precise arrangements with local organizers.

Food Secure Canada is a national membership-based organization concerned with zero hunger, safe and healthy food and sustainable food systems. Its basic platform is explained in Resetting the Table: A People’s Food Policy for Canada.