[cid:image001.png@01CF4A73.E716A870] [cid:image002.png@01CF4A73.E716A870] Spaces for dialogue on food security at the municipal level Until 14 April 2014 [cid:image002.png@01CF4A73.E716A870] [cid:image003.png@01CF4A73.E716A870]How to participate Send your contribution to [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> or post it on the Right to Food Forum website <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood> Sujet disponible en français<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/sites/west-africa/files/files/TOPIC_RTFforum-1_FR.pdf> Tema disponible en español<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/sites/west-africa/files/files/TOPIC_RTFforum-1_ES.pdf> Dear Right to Food Supporters, The new Right to Food Forum is inviting you the its first online discussion: Spaces for dialogue on food security at the municipal level<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/>. Ciro Kopp from Bolivia is currently studying municipal councils, committees, commissions and working groups that function as spaces for dialogue promoting participation in the definition of local food and nutrition security policies. From a right to food perspective these spaces are interesting as they can help to advocate right to food principles such as accountability, transparency and non-discrimination. Against this background. Ciro invites you to share your views and inputs on three questions: · What should be the features and role of spaces for dialogue? · How can spaces for dialogue implement the right to food? · Can you share some lessons learned about the dynamics of spaces for dialogue at the municipal level? You can read the full invitation letter below and in French<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/fr> and Spanish<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/es> on the Forum's webpage<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood>. To take part in the discussion simply visit the Forum<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood> and share your comments online. Alternatively you can also send us your contributions via mail to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Wishing you all an enjoyable exchange! Your Right to Food Team In several Latin American countries, recognition of the Human Right to Adequate Food has made significant advances, mainly at the level of legislations, having been integrated explicitly in constitutions, laws and other regulations. But progress at the municipal level is still at an early stage and there are very few documented experiences that can serve as reference for achieving more noticeable results. We believe that in the case of Latin America there are conditions that could facilitate the integration of the right to food at the municipal level, including two that stand out: · The first condition is that since the mid 80s the region has been experiencing an ongoing process of decentralization, in which increasing responsibilities, mandates and competences on issues closely related to food and nutrition security -like health, education, food production and infrastructure-, are being transferred to municipalities. · The second condition is that several countries have enacted regulations on food and nutrition security and/or food sovereignty that institutionally establish municipal Councils, Committees, Commissions or working groups on food security, entities that can be understood as spaces for dialogue and coordination between municipal governments and civil society and its organizations. These spaces for dialogue are very important, because it is expected they will promote discussion and definition of local food and nutrition security policies that consider the participation of the most vulnerable groups. In some municipalities, this space for dialogue has served to develop the municipal food safety plan by consensus, which has enabled better resource allocation. Hence, spaces for dialogue, besides promoting participation and empowerment, can be used to integrate other right to food principles like accountability, transparency and non-discrimination. Nevertheless, its creation has not still occurred widely, and is not a guarantee of achieving functionality and results. The probable causes of this would be the lack of clarity about the role of spaces for dialogue, lack of knowledge of the regulations, or lack of political will to support them. Thus, the aim of this forum is to reflect on issues that allow providing guidelines to develop strategies and tools for the practical implementation of the right to food at the municipal level based on the following guiding questions: · What should be the features and role of spaces for dialogue? · How can spaces for dialogue implement the right to food? · Can you share some lessons learned about the dynamics of spaces for dialogue at the municipal level? Ciro Kopp, Bolivia Read more about the facilitator<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/ciro-kopp> www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood> CONTACT US<mailto:[log in to unmask];[log in to unmask]> • DISCLAIMER<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/righttofood/disclaimer> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the RTF-News-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(RTF-News-L,SIGNOFF);