For the constitutional right to food for Chilean cities: healthy, sustainable and local.

Abstract

In May 2021, Chile democratically elected the people who will be part of the Constituent Assembly, whose mission is to write a new constitution. Over recent months, several issues have emerged as proposals from the candidates to be debated and introduced into the future Chilean Constitution. Among these, is the right to food, which is a human right found in article 12 of the  Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in matters of economic, social, and cultural rights, the “San Salvador Protocol”, that indicates that not only does everyone have a right to suitable nutrition, but that the States “commit to perfecting the food production, supply and distribution methods, so that they commit to promote a greater international cooperation in support of the national policies on the matter”. Chile signed up to the agreement, although it has still not been ratified in Congress. Its ratification or inclusion in the future constitution would make this right into an obligation of the State, one that is demandable, and thus, can be tried in court.