The Right To Food Under International Human Rights Law: Legal Frameworks, State Obligations, And Implementation Challenges
- IJLLR Journal
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Dr. Bushra Khan, Assistant Professor at Starex University, Gurugram
Ms. Gagandeep Kaur Sandhu, Assistant Professor at Starex University, Gurugram
“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food”
– Article 25(1), UDHR
ABSTRACT
The right to food is a fundamental human right recognized under international human rights law and is essential to the realization of human dignity and the right to life. This paper examines the right to food within the framework of international human rights law and analyzes its incorporation and enforcement within the Indian legal system. It explores the normative foundations of the right to food under key international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with particular reference to General Comment No. 12 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The study further examines how Indian constitutional jurisprudence has interpreted Article 21 of the Constitution to include the right to food, supported by the Directive Principles of State Policy. Through an analysis of landmark judicial decisions, especially People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India, and legislative measures such as the National Food Security Act, 2013, the paper critically evaluates the extent to which India’s domestic framework fulfills its international obligations concerning the right to food. it concludes that while India has made significant progress in recognizing the right to food, effective enforcement and accountability remain critical challenges.
Keywords: Right to Food, International Human Rights Law, State Obligations, Article 21, Human Dignity
