Inclusion of Right to Food and Nutrition Security as a Fundamental Right in the Constitution of Pakistan

Nutrition and Food Security is recognized as a human right in multiple International Declarations and

Treaties, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); the International Covenant on

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR); the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); and the

Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the

Context of National Food Security.

The constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan only recognizes Food security as a directive principle of state policy under article 381, and not as a Fundamental Right of the People of Pakistan. Over the course of the last two decades, considerable constitutional reforms have been focused by the respective Governments of Pakistan. Where the focus of the amendments and reforms has been on improving the overall governance, management of resources, improving the status of women, and reforming other areas that effect human development, legislators have not addressed the issue of nutrition and food security within the legal framework in Pakistan.

The SUNCSA Pakistan under the leadership of the Government of Pakistan has been instrumental in strengthening the overall legislative environment of food and nutrition related laws; development of national and provincial policy frameworks, networking and linkages between academics, civil society, media, and business fraternities; formation of district malnutrition addressing committees (DMACs), amongst others.

SUNCSA Pakistan has already been advocating at multiple levels; policy & decision makers, media & public, to move the FNS right from directive principle of policy to fundamental right in the Constitution of Pakistan and made notice worthy achievements in this regard. SUNCSA has successfully mobilized more than 30 parliamentarians from all political parties who are committed to provide legislative support for constitutional amendment.

SUNCSA will closely follow and advocate with national policy makers to form a special committee on Nutrition be formed in National Assembly of Pakistan. SUNCSA will provide technical support to the committee for finalizing operational definition of food and nutrition security, that will be included in the constitutional amendment.The committee will focus to raise awareness and capacity of parliamentarians for multisectoral nutrition sensitive policy and legislation, ensuring implementation of nutrition related policies and programs and take lead for an amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan to make food and nutrition security a fundamental right.