First visit to Mexico by UN Special Rapporteur on right to food

GENEVA (9 June 2011) – UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter will conduct an official mission to Mexico from 13 to 20 June 2011, to assess the realization of the right to food and engage in a dialogue with the Government and civil society on appropriate measures to further promote the right to food in Mexico.

“The mission takes place in the context of the adoption of a comprehensive constitutional reform on human rights and the recent approval by the Federal Congress of the recognition of the right to food in the Mexican Constitution,” said Mr. De Schutter announcing the first visit to the country by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the right to food.

“I will endeavour to assess measures to enhance legal protection and accountability in the realization of the right to food, giving particular attention to the rights of those in society who remain vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition,” explained the Special Rapporteur, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government. “I will also focus on identifying lessons learned from policies and programmes which aim to overcome remaining challenges.”

During his eight-day mission, Mr. De Schutter will meet with Government officials and experts as well as with representatives of the United Nations System and civil society organizations in Mexico City and in the States of Chiapas and Jalisco.

The Special Rapporteur will present his preliminary observations on the mission at a press conference at 13:00 hours on Monday 20 June 2011 at Centro de Cultura Casa Lamm, Álvaro Obregón, No. 99, Col. Roma, Mexico City.

Olivier De Schutter was appointed the Special Rapporteur on the right to food in May 2008 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. He is independent from any government or organization.

Learn more about the mandate and work of the Special Rapporteur: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/food/index.htm and http://www.srfood.org

OHCHR Country Page – Mexico: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/LACRegion/Pages/MXIndex.aspx

For more information and press inquiries, please contact:
Mr. Ulrik Halsteen (Tel: +41 79 752 0485 / +52 1 5525148711 / email: srfood@ohchr.org)
Ms. María José Cortes (Tel: +52 1 5061 6352 / email: mcortes@ohchr.org)