Ombudsman met with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Elmira Suleymanova received the delegation headed by Hilal Elver, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

The meeting was aimed at evaluation of the efforts made for ensuring the right to food in Azerbaijan, also analysis and assessment of safeguards of that right and other rights set out in the IESCR, opportunities for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, issues of food supply and food security in close and special type facilities, discussing future cooperation deals.

The Commissioner provided information about the activities and reforms carried out in the country with regard to ensuring the right to food and the respective activity of the Ombudsman institution. She noted close relations with the UN Working Group on Business Rights that resulted in establishment of such a group under the Ombudsman and, one of the directions of its activity is related to food security issues.

This field covers the wide spectrum of national, economic, social, demographic, ecological factors conditioned by mobilization of available resources, developing strategy and application of effective legal norms. It was told that SDGs 2030 hereby included food security, promotion of agricultural sustainability, provision of clean water and sanitation as different goals and targets.

E. Suleymanova mentioned the importance of strengthening public control, enhanced cooperation among state bodies, NGOs and civil society, as well as operative coordination. It was also deemed necessary to organize joint monitoring in regions by using the available opportunities of the Ombudsman’s regional centers.

Within the speech the delegation also was informed about the Council of Experts comprised of independent specialists and NGO representatives with knowledge and experience in this field.

The Commissioner informed the guests about representation of staff members within the WGs of National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development and their active participation in drafting voluntary reviews.

She also noted the necessity of promoting breastfeeding and restoring “breast milk kitchen” for protecting national gene pool and health future generations, strengthening control over artificial nutrition for children, enhancing attention for food security and food ratio in pre-schools, schools and universities, conducting planned and ad hoc monitoring in pre-school facilities, monitoring the quality of meat, oil and cereals, taking measures against waste of food products in catering facilities and conducting awareness raising work in this regard.

Questions of the guests were answered and further cooperation perspectives were discussed during the meeting.