the "inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition", as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition, adopted by the
World Food Conference
in 1974, and the need to achieve food security for all, as included in the Fiftieth Anniversary Declaration on Food and Agriculture,
Cognizant
of the fact that hunger and malnutrition, can constitute a threat to the security of nations, regions and the global community,
Aware
that 800 million people still do not have access to enough food to meet their basic daily needs for nutritional well-being, that 199 million children under the age of five suffer from protein and energy deficiencies, and that despite progress in reducing the incidence of undernutrition, hunger may continue to afflict some 730 million by the year 2010 unless action is taken,
Recalling
the contributions made by governments to international consensus achieved by the World Food Conference in 1974, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, the International Conference on Nutrition in 1992, the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, the World Summit for Social Development in 1995 and the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 as well as the agreements made in other international conferences and summits in recent years,
Recalling
also the constructive contribution made by non-governmental organizations, representatives of the private sector, the academic and research communities, the media and other groups to the successful preparation of such conferences, to their deliberations and to effective subsequent follow-up action,
Conscious
of the fact that many policies in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, industry, commerce, transport, labour, gender issues, health, and finance have important impacts on national food security, and that ultimate responsibility for establishing the environment necessary for the achievement of national and household food security belongs to the highest level of political leadership,
Aware
of the importance of the world's leaders coming together to assess the state of global food security and focus attention specifically on securing the most basic of human needs - food,
Recognizing
that activities to ensure food security at all levels, in particular at the household level, should be carried out within the framework of sustainable development as defined in Agenda 21,
Welcoming
the expressions of support from numerous high-level intergovernmental fore for the convening of a world food summit,
Expressing
its appreciation of the Director-General 's efforts in carrying out a comprehensive series of consultations on the matter, and in ensuring that preparations at the technical level are of high quality, while keeping costs to a minimum,
Taking note
of the recommendations of the Hundred and Eighth Session of the Council that the Conference approve the convening of the World Food Summit in
Rome
in November 1996 and make the necessary provisions in the Programme of Work and Budget for 1996-97 to permit its success,
Expressing
its gratitude for the early contribution to the Summit process made by the
Government of Canada
in hosting the Ministerial Meeting on World Food Security and the commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of FAO :
to act as host to the Summit and to provide political, material and diplomatic support to FAO for its organization;
3.
Decides
that in considering all aspects of food security and in addressing the root causes of hunger and malnutrition in all parts of the world, the Summit shall have as its objectives:
a)
to serve as a forum at the highest political level to marshal the global consensus and commitment needed to redress a most basic problem of humankind - food insecurity;
b)
to raise global awareness of the food security problem and promote the search for solutions;
c)
to take stock of recent developments and prospects for the world food situation including consideration of regional variations and trade in agricultural products;
d)
to establish a policy framework and to adopt a Plan of Action for implementation by governments, international institutions and all sectors of civil society to achieve sustained progress towards universal food security;
e)
to reinforce international cooperation in combating hunger and undernutrition; and
f)
to contribute, through the achievement of greater food security, to global stability and peace;
4.
Decides
further that the Plan of Action will translate these objectives into concrete activities and will aim at constantly improving global food security at all levels, in particular at household level, from both a quantitative and nutritional point of view, within the framework of sustainable development;
5.
Approves
the preparations made by the
Director-General
for the World Food Summit;
6.
Approves
the proposal of the
Director-General
to invite to the Summit and to preparatory meetings, as appropriate:
a)
representatives of all Members and Associate Members of FAO or of the United Nations, of its Specialized Agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency;
b)
observer(s) from the
Holy See
;
c)
observer(s) from the
Sovereign Order of Malta
;
d)
observer(s) from the
Palestine Liberation Organization
;
e)
representatives of the United Nations, its Specialized Agencies and of the
International Atomic Energy Agency
;
f)
observers from other relevant intergovernmental organizations;
g)
observers from relevant non-governmental organizations and private-sector associations;
7.
Invites
governments to be represented at the level of Heads of State or Government;
8.
Decides
that the format of the Summit will allow for sequential statements by observers and government delegations, culminating in its second half with the delivery of statements by Heads of State or Government;
9.
Decides
that the
Committee on World Food Security
shall serve as the focal point for all aspects concerning the preparation of the Summit;
10.
Calls upon
the Regional Conferences in 1996 to address food security issues especially those concerns which are region-specific in nature, and through their contributions to lend the needed regional dimension to the draft Summit documents;
11.
Invites
countries to participate actively in the preparations and follow-up activities at all appropriate levels, and to encourage the participation of non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academic institutions in the preparatory process, follow-up actions and, as appropriate, at the Summit;
12.
Invites
intergovernmental organizations within and outside the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to cooperate actively in preparations for the World Food Summit, at national, sub-regional and regional levels, and in supporting follow-up action;
13.
Welcomes
the Director-General's decision to open a special Trust Fund and to mobilize voluntary contributions from public and private sources to facilitate the preparations for and holding of the World Food Summit;
14.
Requests
further that the
Committee on World Food Security
report through the
Council
to the Twenty-ninth Session of the Conference in 1997, on all aspects of the World Food Summit and its follow-up.
