LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Article 11: The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
Article 12: The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for...The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases.
Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights: General Comment 12 on the Right to Food
General Comment Number 4, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
"...An adequate house must contain certain facilities essential for health, security, comfort and nutrition, all beneficiaries of the right to adequate housing should have sustainable access to natural and common resources, safe drinking water..."
Committee on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights: General Comment 15: The right to water (Articles 11 and 12, Twenty-ninth session, 2002)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Articles 24 & 27: "States Parties shall... combat disease and malnutrition... through the provision of... nutritious foods... States Parties... shall... in case of need provide... nutrition, clothing and housing."
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Article 5: In compliance with the fundamental obligations laid down in article 2 of this Convention, States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, colour, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights: Economic, social and cultural rights, in particular: The right to public health, medical care, social security and social services.
POLITICAL COMMITMENTS
Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition
Article 1: "Every man, woman and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition in order to develop their physical and mental facilities."
Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2003/25
"The Commission on Human Rights??? reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger so as to be able fully to develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities"
General Assembly Resolution 155 (2001)
"The General Assembly... reaffirms the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger so as to be able fully to develop and maintain their physical and mental capacities"
1996 Rome Declaration of the World Food Summit
"We pledge our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food security for all... Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Ethiopia (Constitution, 1995)
Article 90
To the extent the country's resources permit, policies shall aim to provide all Ethiopian access to public health and education, clean water, housing, food and social security.
Gambia (Constitution, 1996)
Article 216
(4) The State shall endeavour to facilitate equal access to clean and safe water
Guatemala (Constitution, 1985)
Articulo 127
R??gimen de aguas. Todas las aguas son bienes de dominio p??blico, inalienables e imprescriptibles. Su aprovechamiento, uso y goce, se otorgan en la forma establecida por la ley, de acuerdo con el inter??s social. Una ley espec??fica regular?? esta materia.
Articulo 128
Aprovechamiento de aguas, lagos y r??os. El aprovechamiento de las aguas de los lagos y de los r??os, para fines agr??colas, agropecuarios, tur??sticos o de cualquier otra naturaleza, que contribuya al desarrollo de la econom??a naci??n al, est?? a los servicios de la comunidad y no de persona particular alguna, pero los usuarios est??n obligados a reforestar las riberas y los cauces correspondientes, as?? como a facilitar las v??as de acceso.
Article 127
Water regime. All sources of water are public properties, inalienable and without limit of time. Their exploitation, use and enjoyment, are granted in the form established by law, in agreement with the social interest. A specific law will regulate this matter
Article 128
Lakes and rivers' water exploitation. The exploitation of waters of lakes and rivers, for agricultural aims, farming, tourist or of any other nature, that may contribute to the nation economy development, is available to the enjoyment by the community and not by specific particular persons, but the users are forced to reforest the corresponding shores and channels, as well as to facilitate the access paths.
Panama (Constitution, amended in 1994)
Articulo 114
Es deber fundamental del Estado garantizar que la poblaci??n viva en un ambiente sano y libre de contaminaci??n, en donde el aire, el agua y los alimentos satisfagan los requerimientos del desarrollo adecuado de la vida humana.
Articulo 256
Las concesiones para la explotaci??n del suelo, del subsuelo, de los bosques y para la utilizaci??n de agua, de medios de comunicaci??n o transporte y de otras empresas de servicio p??blico, se inspirar??n en el bienestar social y el inter??s p??blico.
Article 114
It is a fundamental duty of the State to guarantee that the population live in a healthy and free of contamination in atmosphere, where the air, the water and the foods satisfy the requirements of the proper human life development.
Article 256
Concessions for the exploitation of the ground, the subsoil, the forests and for the use of water ???, will be inspired by the social welfare and the public interest.
South Africa (Constitution, 1996)
Section 27
Everyone has the right to have access to
1. health care services, including reproductive health care;
2. sufficient food and water; and
3. social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance.
The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights???"
Uganda (Constitution, 1995)
Preamble
The State shall protect important natural resources, including land, water, wetlands, minerals, oil, fauna and flora on behalf of the people of Uganda.
Article 14
The State shall endeavour to fulfil the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and shall, in particular, ensure that???
all Ugandans enjoy rights and opportunities and access to education, health services, clean and safe water, decent shelter, adequate clothing, food, security and pension and retirements benefits.
Venezuela (Constitution, 1999)
Art??culo 127 (2do. parrafo)
Es una obligaci??n fundamental del Estado, con la activa participaci??n de la sociedad, garantizar que la poblaci??n se desenvuelva en un ambiente libre de contaminaci??n, en donde el aire, el agua, los suelos, las costas, el clima, la capa de ozono, las especies vivas, sean especialmente protegidos, de conformidad con la ley
Art??culo 304
Todas las aguas son bienes de dominio p??blico de la Naci??n, insustituibles para la vida y el desarrollo. La ley establecer?? las disposiciones necesarias a fin de garantizar su protecci??n, aprovechamiento y recuperaci??n, respetando las fases del ciclo hidrol??gico y los criterios de ordenaci??n del territorio.
Art??culo 305
El Estado promover?? la agricultura sustentable como base estrat??gica del desarrollo rural integral, y en consecuencia garantiza la seguridad alimentaria de la poblaci??n;???
El Estado proteger?? los asentamientos y comunidades de pescadores o pescadoras artesanales, as?? como sus caladeros de pesca en aguas continentales y los pr??ximos a la l??nea de costa definidos en la ley.
Zambia (Constitution, as amended in 1996)
Article 112
The State shall endeavour to provide clean and safe water.