27 May 1988

16th plenary meeting

The right to food

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its decision 1983/140 of 27 May 1983, in which it authorized the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities to entrust Mr. Asbjorn Eide with the preparation of a study on the right to adequate food as a human right and recommended that he give special attention to the normative content of the right to food and its significance in relation to the establishment of the new international economic order,

Noting with satisfaction that a comprehensive final study on this subject was presented by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Asbjorn Eide, to the Sub-Commission at its thirty-ninth session,

Recalling Sub-Commission resolution 1987/27 of 3 September 1987 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1988/29 of 7 March 1988,

1. Decides that the study should be published by the United Nations and given the widest possible circulation;

2. Decides to take steps to ensure better co-ordination between specialized agencies and organs dealing with food-related matters and human rights bodies of the United Nations, if possible through inter-agency co-operative arrangements;

3. Draws the attention of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to the study prepared by Mr. Eide, and invites it to submit its observations thereon to the Economic and Social Council at an appropriate time.