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Root Causes of Migration: Food Insecurity and the Right to Food in Central America

Date:
Location:
Virtual via WebEx

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on responses to hunger and food insecurity in Central America, a driver of migration from the region.

Millions of people in the countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua suffer from food insecurity, meaning they are do not have access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Last February the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that hunger had increased almost fourfold, from 2.2 million in 2018 to close to 8 million in 2021, due to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and years of extreme climate events, including drought and two major hurricanes. The destruction of farms and low food stocks were among the reasons that 15% of people surveyed by WFP said they were making concrete plans to migrate.

Art. 25 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food …” According to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, states should ensure that food is available, satisfies dietary needs, is safe and free from adverse substances, is culturally acceptable, and is economically and physically accessible. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua have formally recognized the right to food by ratifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the San Salvador Protocol.

Witnesses will discuss humanitarian and development programs currently being implemented to assist Central American civil society and governments in ending hunger and food insecurity, and offer recommendations for complementing those efforts.

This hearing will be virtual. Pursuant to H. Res. 965,  Members of Congress and witnesses will participate remotely via Cisco WebEx. Members of the public and the media may view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website. The hearing will also be available for viewing on the House Digital Channel Service. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Piero Tozzi (for Co-Chair Smith).

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Christopher H. Smith
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Opening Remarks

Witnesses

Panel I

Panel II

Panel III

Bios

Submitted for the Record

Meeting Documents

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

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