16 October 2006, Rome – A new global education project was launched today to raise awareness about hunger and the right to food among children and young people around the world.

As part of the ongoing “Feeding Minds, Fighting Hunger” initiative, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) produced a cartoon-style story book entitled “The Right to Food: A Window on the World,” and a companion “Resource and Activity Guide” educating young people and motivating them to join in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

Human rights, food security and good nutrition linked together

Speaking at a news conference, Alexander Müller, FAO Assistant Director-General for Sustainable Development, said, “The right to food is, in principle, the right to feed oneself, and one’s family, adequately and with dignity. Raising the awareness of young people about the inseparable nature of human rights, food security and good nutrition, and about how each of us can play a part in helping secure everyone’s right to nutritionally adequate food is essential to this end.”

Elspeth Henderson, Chairman of WAGGGS World Board, said: "We at WAGGGS have a responsibility to make sure that the messages about the right to food and giving everyone access to nutritionally adequate and safe food get to all of our members, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 144 countries and that they and other young people around them are inspired to take action."

Keeping it simple

According to FAO, the materials present right to food issues in a simple, understandable and attractive style that captures the attention of young people. The materials will help young people understand that each individual has the right to adequate food and that governments, consumer organizations, the private sector, communities and families have an obligation to help protect, promote and support that right.

The book consists of an introductory section providing an overview of selected right to food issues, and eight individual stories dedicated to illustrating aspects of food security and right to food issues in Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

Illustrating cultural food differences

A unique feature of the publications is that the illustrations were planned and drawn by young artists and art students from the eight countries. The cartoon-style drawings convey national differences in culture, lifestyles, food habits, environments and living conditions. In each of the selected countries, a national contest was organized among art schools and institutes for illustrating the chapter set in that country.

The book and the Resource and Activity Guide are available in six languages in both hard copy and electronic formats, including as a CD-ROM and as web-based HTML and PDF files.