Food Justice: The Transformative Potential of Human Rights

The course explores food justice through the lens of human rights. We will unpack multiple meanings of human rights at various levels and from the perspectives of different actors -- from local civil society groups to the United Nations. The course (offered jointly by LAW and PAP) combines legal, anthropological and social movement perspectives to discuss the promise and perils of the right to food and different strategies and approaches adopted by various actors. This includes various forms of social mobilization, welfare schemes, litigation, engagement with UN mechanisms and other approaches. The course offers ample opportunities to engage with the material and discuss strategic choices in the human rights movement for advancing the human right to food for all.

• Analyse situations of hunger, malnutrition, food insecurity and related injustices from a human rights perspective

• Identify how food-related social issues connect to the international human rights framework

• Explain how different disciplines approach food justice and the right to food

• Design research on human rights issues, particularly on the right to food using insights from law and legal anthropology

• Assess different rights-based strategies and approaches to advance food justice

• Reflect critically on the opportunities and limitations of using a human rights framework to advance food justice

• ? (40%) Research proposal.
• ? (20%) Presentations during role plays, simulations, debates, or other activities in class.
• ? (40%) Opinion Editorial on topic related to the course.

Assumed knowledge gained in one of the following courses:

• Introduction to Law for the Life and Social Sciences (period 1)
• Essential Law (offered every period on-line)
• Food Crises: The Big Picture (SDC24306, period 1)
• Humanitarian Aid and Reconstruction (SDC34806, period 1)

• Course guide. Various articles, reports and cases posted in Brightspace.