Paris, France – Parliamentarians, experts and civil society actors met at the French National Assembly to explore the adoption of a framework law on the right to food, aimed at anchoring this human right in France’s legal system and aligning national food policies with international obligations.
The debate at the French National Assembly, titled “Transforming food systems through the right to food – the challenges of adopting a framework law on the right to food in France”, was organized by Action contre la Faim, together with members of parliament Boris Tavernier, Richard Ramos, Guillaume Garot and Éléonore Caroit, and Magali Ramel of the University of Tours.
A daylong session at the French National Assembly focused on how the right to food can drive the transformation of food systems in France and beyond. Divided into thematic panels, the gathering explored legal, political and institutional pathways to embed the right to food into national frameworks. Speakers emphasized that legal recognition of this right is key to building more equitable, sustainable and accountable food systems, while reinforcing France’s human rights commitments at both domestic and international levels.
Legal recognition of the right to food: global perspectives and national strategies
Drawing on Resolution 2577 (2024) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe —developed with technical support from FAO’s Right to Food team— participants stressed the urgent need for constitutional recognition of the right to food and the adoption of national framework laws across member states. The resolution promotes a shift from charity-based food aid to rights-based models that support small-scale producers and ensure access to nutritious, affordable and culturally appropriate food for all.
“Food is not a commodity like any other. The right to food is not a privilege. It’s a human right,” said Eloisa Caixeta Cunha, right to food specialist at FAO, reinforcing the resolution’s message during a panel on how the right to food can guide food systems transformation.
Panelists shared experiences from countries such as Brazil and Switzerland, highlighting how rights-based approaches are already influencing national and local food policies. Valéria Burity, Brazil’s Special Secretary for Combating Hunger and Poverty, and Christophe Golay from the Geneva Academy, emphasized the role of legal frameworks in reinforcing accountability and policy coherence across sectors. Examples like the Canton of Geneva, the Montpellier Common Food Fund and Nutrition and Climate (SNANC) were presented as concrete steps toward integrating the right to food into policy and practice.
Commitment to action
A major outcome of the event was the announcement that over 100 members of parliament from eight political groups had signed a resolution proposal in support of constitutional recognition of the right to food and the adoption of a framework law. The next step will be to table the proposal in the French National Assembly.
Civil society organizations also issued a manifesto, calling for urgent political action to guarantee the right to food for all.
FAO participated in the event by providing technical insights and contributing to discussions on how the right to food can guide sustainable food systems transformation. The Organization will continue to provide support and follow developments related to the Council of Europe resolution, in coordination with national and local partners.
France’s potential adoption of a framework law could mark a significant step forward in building resilient, inclusive and rights-based food systems.
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