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The Right to Adequate Nutrition: The Role and obligation of States in Ensuring the Right to Food for Children
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Zahra Haghvaysi *1    , Mostafa Fazaeli1 , Ali Akbar Haghvaysi2 |
1- Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.
2- Food and Beverage Supervision Administration, Vice Chancellor for Food and Drug, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. |
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Abstract: (47 Views) |
Background and Aim: The right to adequate food and nutrition entails freedom from hunger and sustainable access to sufficient, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. This right is of particular importance for children, who are highly vulnerable due to their developmental needs and their inability to secure food independently. Deprivation from proper nutrition can cause irreversible harm to their physical and mental health and significantly affect their future. The right to food is enshrined in international instruments such as Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. As a socio-economic right, its realization is progressive and requires appropriate measures based on each state’s capacities and international cooperation.
Methods: This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach and uses library-based data, along with reports from international organizations such as the United Nations, FAO and UNICEF. It evaluates the human rights obligations of states regarding the right to food for children and comparatively analyzes their policies and governance frameworks.
Ethical Considerations: In this study, ethical considerations regarding the authenticity of texts, scientific honesty, and trustworthiness in citing sources have been observed.
Results: Efforts to reduce global poverty by half by 2024 have not fully achieved their goals. Measures such as developing national strategies, enacting relevant legislation, enabling legal claims related to the right to food and acceding to optional protocols that provide complaint mechanisms are essential steps toward realizing this right at both national and international levels.
Conclusion: Ensuring children’s right to food requires specific protective measures, effective implementation mechanisms, and a multidimensional, human rights-based approach. States are obligated to adopt and implement policies such as sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction and the strengthening of social protection systems to ensure equitable and lasting access to adequate food, particularly for children. |
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| Keywords: Right to Food of Children, Sustainable Food Security, Human Rights Obligations, Enforcement Mechanisms |
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Full-Text [PDF 456 kb]
(26 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Original Article |
Received: 2025/08/3 | Accepted: 2025/09/27 | Published: 2025/11/22
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