Calay News
Parliamentarians from 64 countries came together in Chile on Friday to sign a global pact aimed at combating hunger, which affects 828 million people worldwide. The call was made by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and 150 parliamentarians met for two days at the headquarters of the Chilean Parliament in Valparaiso, 120 kilometers west of Santiago. In addition, several members of Congress participated remotely in the event.
At the end of the meeting, the parliamentarians signed a global pact to promote legislation to combat hunger and malnutrition in their respective countries. They also agreed to strengthen and establish additional parliamentary partnerships to promote the exchange of experiences in this area and ensure initiatives to ensure the right to food and nutrition.
Mario Lubetkin, FAO assistant director general, stressed the importance of this phase of interaction between parliaments and highlighted the growing responsibility they must assume in this area.
According to the United Nations, in 2021, the number of people suffering from hunger increased to 828 million, which is 46 million more than in 2020 and 150 million more than in 2019. This increase is attributed to armed conflicts, the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carolina Marzán, a Chilean MP and president of the Parliamentary Front against Hunger in Chile, highlighted the urgency of the situation, mentioning that 8,500 children die every day in the world due to malnutrition.
According to FAO, women are particularly affected by hunger. In 2021, 31.9% of women were moderately or severely food insecure, compared to 27.6% of men.
The opening of the meeting was attended by Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who lamented the alarming number of people currently suffering from hunger. Boric stressed that, while one single person going hungry would already be a cause for scandal, the figure of 828 million is even more worrying.
The parliamentarians are expected to meet again in 2026 in Africa to assess the progress made after this second summit.
