Gender in the Nepal’s Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act

Despite their key role as caretakers, housekeepers and farmers feeding the world and ensuring food for their communities, 70% of the world’s hungry are women and girls. FIAN International and FIAN Nepal are publishing a study that examines the underlying reasons for such discrepancy and proposes some ways forward.  Written by researcher Arianna Porrone,  the study takes a look at the Nepal Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, 2075, approved on 25 September in 2018.

The first part of the study makes an introduction abouts feminist critical theories of international human rights law. Next, the study questions whether the current legal framework on women’s rights is an efficient and adequate body  to answer to rural women’s marginality and whether another configuration against feminist theories is possible. Finally, Porrone’s analysis underlines that whilst Nepal’s legal framework on the right to food is cutting-edge, a number of recommendations based on feminist stances may help develop a more thriving, thoughtful national plan: One able to ensure a societal shift in thinking of gender roles and of gender dynamics, as well as to acknowledge rural women’s agency and capabilities. 

You can download the study here.