CSOs Position on Right to Food Bill

After promulgation of constitution of Nepal 2015, new fundamental rights shall be enacted within 3 years through related acts. The constitution has provisioned right to food in article 36 as fundamental right, therefore Right to Food Act is a mandatory. Following the instruction of Ministerial of Cabinet, Nepal Law Commission has initiated a process of drafting Right to Food Bill. In this regards, a ‘Position Paper on Right to Food Bill’ has been developed on behalf of Civil Society which clearly defines the ‘Fundamental Points’ that should be incorporated in the Right to Food Bill. FIAN Nepal has led a team for drafting Civil Society version RtF bill which consists JURI Nepal, National Farmers Group Federation-Nepal, National Network on Right to Food, INSEC, YAC Nepal and organized delegation to Nepal Law Commission on 13 June 2016 and submitted ‘Position Paper on Right to Food Bill’ to the Chairperson & Vice-Chairperson of Nepal Law Commission on demanding to incorporate the ‘Fundamental Points’ in the draft of Bill focusing (1) concept of Right to Food, Food Security & Food Sovereignty in a package, (2) ‘Hunger Free Nepal’, & (3) Effective Implementation of Right to Food Act from National to Local Level.

Receiving the Position Paper, Chairperson & Vice-Chairperson of Nepal Law Commission thanked to the team saying that the ‘Position Paper’ will serve as a ‘Guideline’ to the ‘Nepal Law Commission’ on the process of drafting RtF Act Bill. Hence, this paper not only represents the perspective of civil society but also the concerned Stakeholders as a whole. The constitution has envisioned the concept of Right to Food, Food Security & Food Sovereignty in a package under Article 36, Nepal Law Commission will focus its concern to make such Bill that really address the Tripartite Concept’ in a package to make Hunger Free Nepal & the Act must be effective from National to Local Level.