The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today during the Interactive Dialogue on the right to food, in the framework of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council.
The Permanent Representative reiterated Italy’s concerns about the “impact of climate change and conflicts on the right to food and food security, especially in developing countries”, noting that “increasing inequalities in food distribution particularly affect Indigenous peoples in coastal communities and poor and vulnerable people”.
He recalled that the G20 Matera Declaration recognized for the first time that food security is a priority of the international agenda and underlined that “Italy attaches great importance to the right of every person to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food”.
“Building on previous G7 Presidencies, and the outcomes of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 held in Rome in July 2023, the current Italian G7 Presidency will continue to address the food-climate nexus and promote initiatives on food security, healthy diets and food systems transformation”, stated Ambassador Grassi.
He also underlined that all States should implement measures to protect the marine environment and biodiversity as well as workers, in particular fishers, against adverse climate change’s impact. Furthermore, he stated that in order to address the risks presented by overfishing in general, that harm small-scale fishers and their communities, States should invest in promoting sustainable diets and locally sourced food.
“Also in collaboration with FAO, IFAD and World Food Program, Italy will continue actively contributing to the international efforts to reduce poverty and hunger in the world’s most disadvantaged areas”, said in conclusion the Permanente Representative of Italy.
Read the full statement.
