FIIAPP accompanies the launch of the Ibero-American and Caribbean Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security

On 6 June, Madrid became the epicentre of the fight against hunger and malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean. With the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) office for Latin America and the Caribbean and the international cooperation agencies of Spain and Mexico, representatives from more than 10 countries met at the headquarters of the Ibero-American Secretariat (SEGIB) to officially present the Ibero-American and Caribbean Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security for All.

The Alliance is a collaboration between the Parliamentary Front against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean (FPH-ALC), the Spanish Parliamentary Alliance for the Right to Food and the Portuguese Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security with a Gender Approach.

This new coordination body has the support and backing of FAO; Spanish Cooperation, through AECID and FIIAPP; the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID); SEGIB; the European Union; and other international organisations that join forces to support this initiative. This collaboration is part of the programmes Support to the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative, Mesoamerica without Hunger AMEXCID-FAO and EU4SUN, led by FIIAPP.

“At FAO, we recognise that parliaments are fundamental to pass laws, allocate budgets and promote intersectoral dialogue. Their work strengthens human rights agendas and common solutions,’ said FAO Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin.

This tripartite alliance contributes to articulating efforts and experiences to respond to shared regional and international challenges, such as the implementation of the CELAC Food Security Plan and global agreements such as the Parliamentary Pact against Hunger, approved at the last 2nd Parliamentary Global Summit against Hunger.

In addition to the participation of the FAO Director-General, the event was attended by the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, Afshan Khan; delegations from the Parliamentary Front against Hunger of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Spanish Senate and the Portuguese Parliament; directors of the international cooperation agencies of Spain and Mexico; among other authorities.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the eradication of hunger and malnutrition. Our goal is to ensure that no one suffers from hunger and that everyone has access to adequate food, regardless of gender and always aiming for comprehensive sustainable development,’ said AECID Director Antón Leis.

“The partnership highlights the need to address the agri-food sector, together and from parliaments, and to propose concrete and effective actions that promote this desired transformation, in alignment with SDG2: Zero Hunger and gender equality”, said the executive director of AMEXCID, Gloria Sandoval, who was part of the Mexican delegation along with the president of the Mexican Senate and head of the FPH of Mexico, Ana Lilia Rivera.

“All political will needs to be translated into law to become a reality. We are committed to improving public policies that prioritise food and nutrition security, include climate change and allocate adequate budgets. International cooperation is key to guaranteeing healthy, sustainable and affordable food for all“, said FIIAPP manager, María González.

The creation of this new alliance marks a renewed commitment by FAO, the Ibero-American Parliaments, AECID, AMEXCID, FIIAPP, SEGIB and the European Union to move towards better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. This effort underlines the role of Ibero-American and Caribbean international cooperation in this process.

Appearance in the Spanish Senate

The event to present the alliance was preceded by the appearance of Mario Lubetkin and the Costa Rican deputy and general coordinator of the FPH-LAC, Sonia Rojas, before the Spanish Senate.

The session of the Commission of International Cooperation for Development of the Spanish Senate was moderated by Senator Gonzalo Robles, president of the Commission of International Cooperation, who highlighted the importance of strengthening political and budgetary efforts, incorporating gender and climate change perspectives in the fight against hunger and malnutrition in Ibero-America and the Caribbean.

Lubetkin highlighted the legislative work to end hunger and malnutrition, recalling that: ‘With more than 400 parliamentarians from more than 20 countries, the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean has contributed to the approval of more than 100 laws in favour of food security and sustainable agriculture’.

“It is essential that parliaments strengthen their commitment to state public policies that guarantee food security in each of our countries. This partnership represents an important step towards that goal,’ stressed Sonia Rojas.

‘International cooperation must be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, and this partnership is an example of how we can work together to eradicate hunger,’ added Gonzalo Robles.

‘With this new partnership, a precedent is set for parliamentary cooperation and international collaboration, marking a path towards a future without hunger and with sustainable food systems in Ibero-America and the Caribbean,’ concluded the Spain-FAO Programme Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luis Lobo.