Linking the Rights of Peasants to the Right to Food in the United Nations. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Edelman, Marc
• Is Part Of: Law, culture and the humanities. Volume 10:Number 2(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 196
• Page End: 211
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: Peasants -- human rights -- United Nations -- right to food -- social movements; Culture and law -- Periodicals; Sociological jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Law and the social sciences -- Periodicals; 340.11505
• DOI: 10.1177/1743872112456669
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-8721

Abstract

This article analyzes two convergent processes: (1) the increasing specification of the right to food in international law; and (2) the efforts of transnational agrarian social movements, notably Vía Campesina, to have the United Nations adopt an instrument on the rights of peasants. Because one-seventh of humanity suffers from hunger and because the right to food has wide support among UN member states and is essential for the enjoyment of all other rights, it has become a magnet for diverse kinds of rights claims. Vía Campesina has elaborated a draft instrument that has received growing attention in the UN Human Rights Council. Several of the claimed rights, however, are contentious and have generated opposition from powerful UN member states.