Congressional Hearing: "Facing Global Hunger: Food as a Right" to be held Thursday, March 11

2:30-4:30, 2255 Rayburn House Office Building, DC

According to the 2009 UN Food and Agricultural Organization’s annual report, over one billion people are undernourished worldwide.  In addition to the onset of the global economic crisis, other factors such as rising food prices, lower income, and an increase in unemployment have contributed to the rise in hunger.

 

The concept of the right to food, as an enforceable human right, was reaffirmed in 1996 at the World Food Summit with the adoption of the Rome Declaration on World Food Security, which states “the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger.”

To discuss these issues, we will welcome the following witnesses:***

Ambassador Tony Hall, director, Alliance to End Hunger
Rick Leach, senior adviser for public policy, Friends of the World Food Program
Heather Hanson, director of public affairs, Mercy Corps
Robert Zachritz, director of advocacy and government relations, World Vision

***Witness list subject to change.

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Hoffman (Rep. Wolf) or Hans Hogrefe (Rep. McGovern) at 202-225-3599.