Advancing the right to adequate food in Europe and Central Asia: from normative commitments to country-level action

Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right recognized under international law. 

In Europe and Central Asia, realizing the right to food is increasingly critical – not only to addressing hunger but also to ensuring access to adequate, nutritious and diversified diets while responding to growing diet-related health challenges and supporting sustainable food systems. Despite the overall availability of food in the region, access to healthy and affordable food is becoming more fragile for many population groups, driven by rising food prices, income pressures, inequalities and changing dietary patterns.

Enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the right to food was further clarified through General Comment No. 12 (1999) and operationalized with the adoption of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Voluntary guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security, endorsed by the FAO Council in 2004.

On 28 January 2026, held under the framework of the United Nations Issue-Based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems, a regional technical session provided practical approaches for United Nations Country Teams in Europe and Central Asia on realizing the right to food.

The regional event, convened online at the request of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, reflected a growing demand for practical guidance on how to translate the right to food from normative commitment into concrete, country-level action.

“The right to adequate food requires systemic action across food systems, policies and institutions,” said Elisabeth Türk, Director of Economic Cooperation and Trade at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and Co-Chair of the Issue-Based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems, in opening the session.

Understanding the right to food: legal foundations and regional context

A presentation by Claire Mason, FAO Right to Food Expert, drew on FAO’s work in this area to outline the legal framework, principles and core obligations underpinning the right to adequate food. Mason’s talk addressed common challenges and misconceptions; clarified States’ obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the right to food; and situated these responsibilities within the specific social, economic and dietary realities of Europe and Central Asia.

Participants reflected on a central paradox facing the region: While food availability is not a structural challenge, access to adequate and nutritious food is becoming increasingly fragile for a growing number of people. Rising food prices, stagnant incomes, increasing energy and housing costs, widening inequalities and a deterioration in diet quality (linked to changing dietary patterns, the expansion of ultraprocessed foods, and increasing corporate concentration) are reshaping the nature of food insecurity. As emphasized during the session, this is not a production issue but one of access, affordability and governance.

From norms to practice: integrating the right to food in policies and programmes

Building on this foundation, Juan Echanove, the lead of FAO’s Right to Food Team, presented practical approaches and tools for integrating the right into national policies, strategies and projects. Drawing on country experiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil and Spain, the presentation illustrated how a rights-based approach can support policy coherence, strengthen accountability and guide food systems transformation across such sectors as agriculture, health, social protection and trade.

The session highlighted how the right to adequate food provides a practical and operational framework for addressing the structural drivers of food insecurity by shifting from assistance to obligation, from fragmented interventions to coordinated action, and from crisis response to prevention.

Linking the right to food and the right to health

The discussion was further enriched by perspectives from the World Health Organization (WHO). Stephen Whiting, Technical Officer for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity at WHO Europe, highlighted the links between the right to food and the right to health, with a particular focus on reducing diet-related non-communicable diseases. The presentation underscored how rights-based food policies can contribute to healthier diets and improved public health outcomes across the region.

Strengthening interagency collaboration

The strong engagement throughout the session confirmed a clear demand for continued technical support and capacity development. Participants highlighted the importance of strengthened collaboration within the Issue-Based Coalition on Sustainable Food Systems to support Members in the progressive realization of the right to adequate food.

The discussion marked an important step in positioning the right to adequate food not only as a legal obligation but also as a practical tool for better governance, social justice and human dignity, contributing to more equitable, resilient and sustainable food systems across Europe and Central Asia.