Brasília (df), January 2, 2019.
The civil society representative members of the National Council for Food and Nutrition Security (Consea) became aware on this day, 2nd of January 2019th, with surprise and great grief, of the decision taken by the newly-elected federal government to revoke, by means of the Provisional Measure Nº. 870, dated January 1st, 2019th, some articles of the Organic Law of Food and Nutritional Security (Losan), which aims to ensure the human right to adequate food.
The measure seeks to defuse the responsibilities of the National Council for Food and Nutrition Security (Consea), a direct advisory body of the Presidency of the Republic and a member of the National System of Food and Nutrition Security (Sisan).
Consea, as a forum for social control and construction of proposals for food policies, has two thirds of its members composed by representatives of social organizations, selected amongst the most vulnerable sectors of the Brazilian society, working as voluntary personnel. The other third of Consea’s members are appointed by the government, as determined by Article 11º of the Organic Law 11.346 of September 15th, 2006.
The institutionalization of the participation of representatives of different sectors of civil society in a direct advisory body of the Presidency of the Republic, such as Consea, has been an important instrument for listening to civil society in order to improve public policies and strengthen the Brazilian State.
The inclusion of the right to food in the Constitution, the approval of the Organic Law, of the Policy and of the National Plan for Food and Nutrition Security, of the Family Agriculture Safra Plan, of the National Agroecology and Organic Production Policy and of the institutional purchases of food from family farms for schools and other public agencies (Food Acquisition Program) are some of the proposals that have emerged in debates at Consea and have become public policies to guarantee a healthy diet for the whole population.
The format of social participation adopted by Brazil in the area of food and nutrition security has been cited as an example for many countries. In recent years, Consea has received visits from national delegations and international organizations to learn about its organization and activities.
Thus, it is necessary to strengthen and consolidate the role of the National Council on Food and Nutrition Security as a democratic forum of the Brazilian State – and not only as a strict governments forum – in order to give voice to representative social organizations so that public policies can respond to the problems of the most vulnerable sectors of Brazilian society.
SIGNED BY THE COUNSELORS REPRESENTING CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FOOD AND NUTRITION
Tradução: Ivana Diniz