"...a five year research initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: Community-University Research Alliance involving eight university and community partners"

Right to Food and Governance

 

Governance and Policies Impacting on the Right to Food: Social and Economic Rights Compliance

A Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schuter

7 May 2012, 5:30 – 8:30pm
251 Bank Street, 2nd Floor (Under One Roof)
Ottawa, Canada

(4:30 p.m. Presentation by local Ottawa Food Security and Anti-poverty Organizations)
(Open to Media)

Closed Civil Society Consultation Commences at 5:30 p.m

Locally produced and healthy food will be provided

 

In preparation to the Special Rapporteur's Mission civil society prepared a brief identifying key issues.

 Brief to UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

 

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Agenda

 
5:30                 Welcome: Chair, Alex Neve (Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada)

5:35                 Introduction by UN Special Rapporteur, Olivier De Schutter

5:45                 Theme 1: Food Security: “The Peoples’ Food Policy for Canada”

Excerpt from Nova Scotia Food Security Brief:; What Would it Take?

6:10                 Theme 2: Available Resources, Budgetary Decisions and Impacts of Budget Cuts

  • Resources Available in Comparison to Other Countries; Federal Taxation and Expenditures Linked to the Right to Food, Budget Cuts: Bruce Campbell, Canadian Centre for Policy  Alternatives

CCPA Brief to Special Rapporteur on Budget

  • Cuts to Aboriginal health and food security: Sarah McGregor

Cuts to NAO - Sarah McGregor

  • Attack on human rights organizations and funding: Leilani Farha

Attacks on Organizations the Speak Up for Human Rights

 

6:35                 Theme 3: Policies That Impact on the Right to Food for Marginalized Groups
2 minute snapshots

  • People Living in Poverty: Joe Gunn Citizens for Public Justice
  • Children:  Kathy Vandergrift , Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children

Children and the Right to Food in Canada

  • People with Disabilities: Vangelis Nikias, Canadian Council on Disability

DAWN-RAFH remarks

  • Immigrants and newcomers: Chantal Tai, Canadian Council for Refugees
  • Women: Kate McInturff, AI Women’s Program
  • Aboriginal Women: Erin Corston, Native Women’s Association of Canada.

7:10                 B R E A K

7:30                 Theme 4:  Effective Remedies to Violations of the Right to Food

  • State of the law in Canada on protection of the right to food domestically and what needs to be done: Vince Calderhead, Charter Committee on Poverty Issues, Nova Scotia Food Security Network

Excerpts from Nova Scotia Briefing Notes: Legal Framework for the Right to Food in Canada

  • The Canadian Charter and the right to food – Unrealized rights.  Martha Jackman, University of Ottawa

Social Rights Advocaccy Centre: Justice and the Right to Food in Canada - Key Recommendations.

 
7:55                 Theme 5:        The Implementation Gap

  • Critical UN Human Rights Treaty Body and Special Rapporteur recommendations and the lack of follow up: Bruce Porter, Social Rights Advocacy Centre

Concerns and Recommendations of UN Human Rights Bodies - Ignored by Canadian Governments

  • The Implementation Gap and How to Fix it: Alex Neve, AI Canada.

NGO Joint Submission on the Implementation Gap

8:20                 Final Remarks from Special Rapporteur, Olivier De Schutter