Freedom from Hunger Campaign

MAC/WFY

Page-83

0230_553559_12_cha08

contained in Man's Right to Freedom from Hunger Manifesto of the previous month
(FAO, 1965a). Among other things, it declared that

the persistence of hunger and malnutrition is unacceptable morally and
socially, is incompatible with the dignity of human beings and the equality of
opportunity to which they are entitled, and is a threat to social and interna-
tional peace.

It urged that `there be more equitable and rational sharing of world abundance,
including an expanded and improved utilization of food surpluses for the purpose
of economic and social development'. And it called for consideration to be given
`to the formulation of a world plan in quantitative terms on nutritional and
economic development needs which would indicate the type and magnitude of
external assistance needed. The aim would be to eliminate hunger within a specific
period'.

The Congress laid responsibility for freeing the world of the scourge of hunger

jointly with: the developing countries; developed nations (`realizing that freedom
from hunger cannot long be secure in any part of this interdependent world unless
it is secure in all the world'); the United Nations and its specialized agencies (`who
must intensify and coordinate their efforts'); and with other international organ-
izations and non-governmental organizations. The Congress urged that the task of
eliminating hunger should be conceived within a framework of worldwide devel-
opment dedicated to the fullest and most effective use of all human and natural
resources, to ensure a faster rate of economic and social growth. The participants
pledged themselves `to take up the challenge of eliminating hunger and malnutri-
tion as a primary task of this generation, thus creating basic conditions for peace
and progress for all mankind'.

The resolution of the Congress recommended that a World Food Congress

should be held periodically to review a world survey, presented by the director-
general of FAO, of the world food situation together with a proposed programme
for future action. Sen followed up the Congress meeting with a Young World
Assembly in October 1965. From the beginning, he considered ways of engaging
young people in the FFHC. He called together youth leaders from all parts of the
world for a dialogue as to do this in meaningful ways. Sen also committed FAO
to preparing an Indicative World Plan for Agricultural Development, which was
completed by his successor, Addeke Boerma, in 1969 in response to the call by the
Congress for the formulation of a world plan to reach a world free from hunger
`within the foreseeable future'. (see below).

In the meantime, an attempt was made to, what Sen described as, `jump on the

FFHC bandwagon' (Sen, 1982, pp. 1702). Shortly after the World Food Congress,
the UK delegation tabled a resolution (1943, XVIII) at the UN General Assembly,
which was adopted by its Second Committee, proposing a `World Campaign
against Hunger, Disease and Ignorance' for the second half of the UN Development
Decade of the 1960s. One of the objectives of the resolution was to enable the UN
secretary-general to consider, in consultation with the heads of the UN specialized

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Useful links	Freedom from Hunger Campaign MAC/WFY Page-83 0230_553559_12_cha08 Freedom from Hunger Campaign 83 contained in Man's Right to Freedom from Hunger Manifesto of the previous month (FAO, 1965a). Among other things, it declared that the persistence of hunger and malnutrition is unacceptable morally and socially, is incompatible with the dignity of human beings and the equality of opportunity to which they are entitled, and is a threat to social and interna- tional peace. It urged that `there be more equitable and rational sharing of world abundance, including an expanded and improved utilization of food surpluses for the purpose of economic and social development'. And it called for consideration to be given `to the formulation of a world plan in quantitative terms on nutritional and economic development needs which would indicate the type and magnitude of external assistance needed. The aim would be to eliminate hunger within a specific period'. The Congress laid responsibility for freeing the world of the scourge of hunger jointly with: the developing countries; developed nations (`realizing that freedom from hunger cannot long be secure in any part of this interdependent world unless it is secure in all the world'); the United Nations and its specialized agencies (`who must intensify and coordinate their efforts'); and with other international organ- izations and non-governmental organizations. The Congress urged that the task of eliminating hunger should be conceived within a framework of worldwide devel- opment dedicated to the fullest and most effective use of all human and natural resources, to ensure a faster rate of economic and social growth. The participants pledged themselves `to take up the challenge of eliminating hunger and malnutri- tion as a primary task of this generation, thus creating basic conditions for peace and progress for all mankind'. The resolution of the Congress recommended that a World Food Congress should be held periodically to review a world survey, presented by the director- general of FAO, of the world food situation together with a proposed programme for future action. Sen followed up the Congress meeting with a Young World Assembly in October 1965. From the beginning, he considered ways of engaging young people in the FFHC. He called together youth leaders from all parts of the world for a dialogue as to do this in meaningful ways. Sen also committed FAO to preparing an Indicative World Plan for Agricultural Development, which was completed by his successor, Addeke Boerma, in 1969 in response to the call by the Congress for the formulation of a world plan to reach a world free from hunger `within the foreseeable future'. (see below). In the meantime, an attempt was made to, what Sen described as, `jump on the FFHC bandwagon' (Sen, 1982, pp. 1702). Shortly after the World Food Congress, the UK delegation tabled a resolution (1943, XVIII) at the UN General Assembly, which was adopted by its Second Committee, proposing a `World Campaign against Hunger, Disease and Ignorance' for the second half of the UN Development Decade of the 1960s. One of the objectives of the resolution was to enable the UN secretary-general to consider, in consultation with the heads of the UN specialized back to top Next page
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