New publications outline concrete recommendations to implement the right to food in Geneva

9 December 2024

The right to food was recognized in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which Switzerland ratified in 1992. However, this right is not recognized in the Swiss Federal Constitution. Measures taken in Switzerland to tackle food insecurity—an issue that has worsened since the Covid-19 crisis, with over 60,000 people relying on food aid in Geneva in 2023—largely depend on charities and private foundations, sometimes supported by public authorities. A shift in approach is urgently needed.

From charity and food aid to the right to food and sustainable food systems

In 2022, two years after the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, the parliament of the Canton of Geneva (Grand Conseil) proposed enshrining the right to food in the Geneva Constitution. On 18 June 2023, 67% of voters approved this proposal. To make the right to food a reality, a framework law must be passed, and several measures have already been initiated at the municipal level.

Since June 2023, the Geneva example has inspired similar initiatives in the Canton of Vaud, at the federal level in Switzerland, in France, at the Council of Europe, and at the Committee on World Food Security in Rome.

Publications with key recommendations

The Geneva Academy has released one briefing in French and four research briefs in French, English, German, and Italian on the right to food in Geneva.

‘The aim of these publications is to present the definition of the right to food and the obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill this right, without discrimination, as enshrined in the Geneva Constitution. To achieve this, we have drawn on international law definitions developed over the past 20 years within international Geneva. These publications also highlight laws, strategies, and policies at federal, cantonal, and municipal levels that either promote or hinder the right to food’s implementation. Civil society initiatives advocating for the right to food are also showcased. Finally, we put forward recommendations to ensure that the Canton and municipalities of Geneva respect, protect, and fulfill the right to food without discrimination, and promote a just transition toward sustainable food systems,’ explains Dr. Christophe Golay, Senior Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy and author of the publication.

Presentation in Geneva, Lausanne, and other Swiss cities

The publications will be presented in several Swiss cities, including Geneva and Lausanne, in partnership with Mater Fondazione and Fondation Leenaards.