FAO RIGHT TO FOOD WORKING GROUP: INTERSESSIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 001890

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
STATE FOR IO/EDA KOTOK AND L/HRR ANDRE SURENA
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS
USDA/FAS FOR HUGHES AND REICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR KUNR KUNR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO RIGHT TO FOOD WORKING GROUP: INTERSESSIONAL
BUREAU MEETING


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REF: ROME 1380


1. SUMMARY: THE BUREAU OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING
GROUP (IGWG) FOR THE ELABORATION OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES
TO SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO
ADEQUATE FOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY
MET APRIL 28, 2003. THE BUREAU PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO THE
SECRETARIAT ON PROPOSED INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES,

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STRESSING THE NEED TO KEEP WITHIN THE IGWG'S MANDATE, AND
TO AVOID TOPICS (SUCH AS "THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION"),
WHICH LAY OUTSIDE THE MANDATE. THE BUREAU AGREED THAT A
BRIEFING BY UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD,
JEAN ZIEGLER, WAS NOT NECESSARY. USDEL AND OTHER OECD
BUREAU MEMBERS WERE SURPRISED BY THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE
FAO LEGAL OFFICER SUPPORTING THE BUREAU'S WORK ARGUED FOR
BROADENING THE SCOPE OF THE VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES BEYOND
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY. WITHIN THE BUREAU THERE IS
GENERAL AGREEMENT NOT TO RE-OPEN THE DEBATE ON THIS
QUESTION. END SUMMARY.


2. THE BUREAU OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP
(IGWG) FOR THE ELABORATION OF VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES TO
SUPPORT THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF THE RIGHT TO
ADEQUATE FOOD (R2F) IN THE CONTEXT OF NATIONAL FOOD
SECURITY MET APRIL 28, 2003. BUREAU MEMBERS IRAN (CHAIR),
U.S., BELGIUM, NEW ZEALAND AND MALI PARTICIPATED. THE
PHILIPPINES AND BRAZIL WERE ABSENT.


3. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GENERAL (ADG) HARTWIG DE HAEN
OPENED THE MEETING BY ASKING BUREAU VIEWS ON WHETHER THE
IGWG SHOULD BE "A SEPARATE SUB-ITEM" FOR THE 124TH FAO
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COUNCIL SESSION IN JUNE. THE BUREAU AGREED THAT THIS WAS
NOT A NECESSARY; MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE
IGWG COULD DO SO IN THE ITEM "REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
WORLD FOOD SECURITY" (TO WHICH THE IGWG ITSELF REPORTS).
COMMENT: IT TURNS OUT THAT THE AGENDA HAD ALREADY BEEN
PRINTED UP WITH THE IGWG AS A SUB-ITEM, SO THE ADG'S
"CONSULTATION" WAS MOOT (AND PROBABLY AN AFTER THOUGHT).
END COMMENT.


4. THE BUREAU APPROVED THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
HELD ON THE LAST DAY OF THE IGWG. THE FINAL VERSION
REFLECTED U.S.-PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE DRAFT MINUTES.


5. THE BUREAU DISCUSSED A LIST OF PROPOSED
INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES DRAWN UP BY THE IGWG SECRETARY
BASED ON INPUTS FROM THE BUREAU AT ITS LAST SESSION AND
MEMBER COMMENTS AT THE IGWG SESSION. THE SECRETARY
INFORMED THE GROUP THAT DONORS WERE READY TO PROVIDE
EXTRA-BUDGETARY FUNDING. THE ACTIVITIES WERE PRICED AS
FOLLOWS:

-- USD 160,000 FOR 8 TECHNICAL PAPERS (R2F IN PRACTICE;
R2F AND THE COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
(ESC) RIGHTS; MONITORING THE RIGHT TO FOOD, TARGETING
VULNERABLE GROUPS; THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF R2F,
SOCIAL SAFETY NETS; JUSTICIABILITY OF THE R2F AND FOOD
SOVEREIGNTY;
-- USD 180,000 FOR 6 CASE STUDIES (MALI, BRAZIL, INDIA,
NEPAL, SOUTH AFRICA AND UGANDA);
-- USD 300,000 FOR A REGIONAL MEETING OR EXPERT
CONSULTATION; AND
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-- USD 1,200 FOR A PRESENTATION BY UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR
JEAN ZIEGLER.


6. BRAZIL (BY CORRESPONDENCE) EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR
INTERSESSIONAL PAPERS ON "SOCIAL SAFETY NETS," "CASE
STUDIES" AND "TARGETING AND REACHING DISADVANTAGED AND
VULNERABLE GROUPS." THE U.S. AND BELGIUM ALSO SUPPORTED
THESE TOPICS. MALI EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THE
PROPOSALS, BUT STATED THAT GETTING DOWN TO DRAFTING THE
GUIDELINES WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN COMMISSIONING A LOT OF
PAPERS.

THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION
--------------

7. THE U.S., BELGIUM AND NEW ZEALAND ARGUED STRONGLY THAT
THE PROPOSED PAPER ON "THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION (WHICH
INCLUDED, INTER ALIA, SUB-TOPICS ON "EXTRANATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS OF STATES" AND "R2F PRINCIPLES VIS A VIS
RULES GOVERNING INTERNATIONAL TRADE") WAS NOT WITHIN THE
MANDATE OF THE IGWG. SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, THE
STRONGEST ADVOCATE FOR INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL
DIMENSION ALONG THESE LINES WAS THE FAO LEGAL OFFICER WHO

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ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SAS-00
/003W
-------------- 5F7994 050507Z /38
R 050505Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9637
USDA FAS WASHDC 2656
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY MEXICO

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 ROME 001890

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
STATE FOR IO/EDA KOTOK AND L/HRR ANDRE SURENA
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS
USDA/FAS FOR HUGHES AND REICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR KUNR KUNR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO RIGHT TO FOOD WORKING GROUP: INTERSESSIONAL
BUREAU MEETING

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01890 02 OF 03 050507Z
ARGUED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS CONSISTENT WITH AND
NECESSARY BECAUSE OF COMMENT 12 OF THE COVENANT ON
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (WHICH COVERS THE
INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION). USDEL RESPONDED THAT THE IGWG
HAD NO MANDATE TO COVER ALL OF COMMENT 12 AND NEEDED TO
BE LIMITED TO THE NATIONAL CONTEXT. THE U.S. AND NEW
ZEALAND ALSO STATED THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SCOPE OF
THE IGWG HAD CONCLUDED AT THE WORLD FOOD SUMMIT FIVE
YEARS LATER MEETING AND SHOULD NOT BE REOPENED.


8. THE BUREAU DID AGREE THAT THE NATIONAL POLICIES TAKE
PLACE IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT, AND AGREED THAT THE
"INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION" MIGHT BETTER BE COVERED WITH
DISCUSSION OF TOPICS SUCH AS "AT WHAT POINT DO COUNTRIES
REQUIRE OR REQUEST INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FULFILL
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY NEEDS;" AND "WHAT WAS THE ROLE AND
RESPONSIBILITY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND STATES
AS MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO RESPOND TO
COUNTRY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE."


9. THE U.S. NOTED THAT THE U.S. SIDE EVENT ON FOOD
SAFETY NETS TO BE HELD DURING THE UPCOMING COMMITTEE ON
WORLD FOOD SECURITY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTION
TO THE DISCUSSION OF "SOCIAL SAFETY NETS" AND "TARGETING
DISADVANTAGED GROUPS."


10. UNDER DISCUSSION OF COUNTRY CASE STUDIES, USDEL
NOTED THAT THE SECRETARIAT'S PROPOSAL FOCUSED ON
"PROGRESS MADE...FROM A POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL
POINT OF VIEW." USDEL ASKED THAT THE COUNTRY CASE
STUDIES (PROPOSED FOR BRAZIL, INDIA, MALI, NEPAL, SOUTH
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PAGE 03 ROME 01890 02 OF 03 050507Z
AFRICA AND UGANDA) ALSO COVER THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE
RIGHT TO FOOD POLICY HAD ACTUALLY AFFECTED NATIONAL FOOD
SECURITY.

SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD
--------------


11. THE BUREAU DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE THE
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHT TO FOOD RETURN TO ROME TO
ADDRESS THE BUREAU. NO BUREAU MEMBER SUPPORTED THE
PROPOSAL. MALI NOTED THAT THAT "THE AFRICAN GROUP WAS
CONFUSED BY (ZIEGLER'S) PRESENTATION" AT THE IGWG.


12. THE BUREAU CONSIDERED THE FINAL "SYNTHESIS" REPORT
(WHICH INCLUDED SUBMISSIONS MADE AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE
IGWG) AND WORKING DOCUMENT 2 "ISSUES OF CONVERGENCE AND
DIVERGENCE" (WHICH ATTEMPTED TO INCORPORATE CORRECTIONS
TO THE DOCUMENT REQUESTED DURING THE IGWG). USDEL STATED
THAT THE "CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE" DOCUMENT STILL
CONTAINED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS AND NOTED THAT IT WAS AN
INTERNAL DOCUMENT ONLY, INTENDED TO ASSIST THE BUREAU AND
SHOULD NOT BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE ON WORLD FOOD
SECURITY AS PART OF THE REPORT OF THE IGWG.

NEXT MEETINGS
--------------

13. THE BUREAU WILL MEET THURSDAY JUNE 12 AT 10:00
DURING THE CFS SESSION. THE BUREAU WILL MEET JULY 9-11,
2003 TO CONSIDER A FIRST DRAFT OF THE GUIDELINES.

QUESTION OF A RAPPORTEUR
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PAGE 04 ROME 01890 02 OF 03 050507Z
--------------

14. THE EUROPEAN REGIONAL GROUP HAS QUERIED THE U.S.
AGAIN CONCERNING THE PROPOSAL TO ADD A RAPPORTEUR TO THE
BUREAU. USDEL HAS CONSISTENTLY RESPONDED THAT THERE IS
NO NEED FOR A RAPPORTEUR (SEE REFTEL FOR ADDITIONAL
DISCUSSION). WE EXPECT THE ISSUE TO BE RAISED AGAIN AT
THE NEXT IGWG SESSION.

BUREAU SUBSTITUTION
--------------

15. REFTEL FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE IGWG AGREED THAT,
IN THE EVENT THAT A BUREAU MEMBER WAS ABSENT, A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE REGION COULD SUBSTITUTE HIM OR
HER.

COMMENT
--------------

16. USDEL AND OTHER OECD BUREAU MEMBERS WERE SURPRISED BY
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE FAO LEGAL OFFICER SUPPORTING THE
BUREAU'S WORK ARGUED FOR BROADENING THE IGWG'S MANDATE
BEYOND NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY INTO ALL THE ISSUES COVERED
BY COMMENT 12 OF THE COVENANT ON ESC RIGHTS. WE ARE

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UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1047

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ACTION IO-00

INFO LOG-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 INL-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 UTED-00 FDRE-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
NSAE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 SAS-00
/003W
-------------- 5F7997 050507Z /38
R 050505Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9638
USDA FAS WASHDC 2657
INFO USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
AMEMBASSY MEXICO

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 ROME 001890

SIPDIS

FROM FODAG

MEXICO CITY FOR BRAKEL
STATE FOR IO/EDA KOTOK AND L/HRR ANDRE SURENA
USAID FOR RALPH CUMMINGS
USDA/FAS FOR HUGHES AND REICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR KUNR KUNR FAO AORC FAO AORC FAO
SUBJECT: FAO RIGHT TO FOOD WORKING GROUP: INTERSESSIONAL
BUREAU MEETING

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 ROME 01890 03 OF 03 050507Z
FORTUNATE THAT THE POWERS OF THE BUREAU ARE BROAD, AND
THAT WITHIN THE BUREAU THERE APPEARS TO BE GENERAL
AGREEMENT NOT TO RE-OPEN THE DEBATE LEADING UP TO THE
DECISION TO CREATE THE IGWG. HALL

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2003ROME01890 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED