Objective of the report

The thematic report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Michael Fakhri, to the General Assembly will focus on international trade. The report’s main objective will be to identify the limits of the current international food system, explore to what extent the WTO is still suitable, and propose principles and mechanisms for a new food system. COVID-19 highlights the pre-existing weaknesses and inequities of the current system, but also provides a way to find new paths forward.

To inform his report M. Fakhri welcomes contributions from States, local and regional governments, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, academics, UN agencies and other stakeholders, on the following issues:

1. To what extent, and how, were international and domestic food supply chains disrupted during the pandemic? What were the measures taken by national, federal, provincial or local governments? Did authorities close particular local markets or impose export restrictions on certain goods? What was the reasoning for the actions taken by the respective authorities?
2. What measures did national, federal, provincial or local governments put in place to ensure access to food for the individuals in vulnerable situations such as older persons, children, women, rural communities, LGBT persons, national or ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic minorities, and indigenous peoples?
3. What were the conditions under which food workers such as agricultural labourers, store workers, transporters, cooks, and shopkeepers had to work? What measures did national, federal, provincial or local governments put in place to ensure the safety and welfare of these workers? Were any special provisions and protections made for migrant workers?
4. Can you provide examples of any other measures taken by national, federal, provincial or local governments in your country to prevent hunger during the pandemic and in its aftermath?

Short submissions with summaries of and hyperlinks to relevant documents, statistical data, public regulations or legislation are in particular useful. Please feel free to limit responses to particular areas of interest to your organization or to provide additional information that you consider important.

Please note that several Special Procedure mandate holders will focus their forthcoming thematic reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council or the General Assembly on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the enjoyment of human rights, and a questionnaire has been developed for that purpose and is available in English, Français and Español.

How inputs will be used

All submissions received will be published on OHCHR websites, except confidentiality is explicitly requested.