PHM-Exch> [PHM NEWS] PHM in meetings in Rome

[Claudio Schuftan]

>From June 10 -15, the PHM Food and Nutrition Thematic Group recently
participated in Rome in two events where PHM Global is represented, namely
the Nyeleni Global Forum Preparation Meeting and the High Level Panel of
Experts (HLPE) of the Committee on Food Security (CFS) of FAO.



The first 2 days meeting was called by a coalition of organizations united
around the issues of food sovereignty, agroecology, climate justice and the
right to food (IPC). The group met to prepare an 18 months process towards
a Global Forum to be held in mid-2025. The purpose was to get sister
organizations not yet members of the IPC to join forces with it so that a
highly participatory preparatory process can include the vastest possible
assembly of progressive forces to struggle for the four issues above. Each
of +/- 10 organizations were asked to briefly explain what they do. PHM did
so to much interest of the participants. Then, the objectives of the forum
were explained followed by asking each organization how they could
contribute to the process towards 2025. A discussion followed to agree on
guiding principles, main axes and priority actions, as well as on how to
set up a representative steering group. The idea of holding regional
consultations was raised as part of the roadmap to follow. Unfortunately,
towards the end, no final decision was made about the composition of the
steering council and most immediate actions to be taken. It was said that
this would be settled via emails.

I think PHM’s participation is important and our steering committee should
give our thematic group a green light to continue in the process.



The second meeting (2 ½ hrs) was in the FAO building. The HLPE presented
its report on Food Systems and Inequality. The HLPE is a non-partisan
ad-hoc scientific body that gives the scientific bases for how the CFS
ought to set policy on this matter. It is later this year for member states
of FAO to decide what to take up and what to reject from the scientists’
recommendations, i.e., the report goes through a political vetting at the
CFS. Past experience shows that rich countries are more reluctant to accept
HLPE reports’ recommendations.  PHM participated as a member of the Civil
Society and Indigenous People Mechanism (CSIPM) of the Committee on Food
Security (CFS). As PHM, during the open discussion, we made three
interventions on the matter.  In general, the scientists’ position in the
report is progressive and zeros-in on the social determination of
inequalities. It will now be a challenge for member states to accept their
recommendations. The CSIPM will fight for it.

Claudio
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