The Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist, Tawakkol Karman, has been invited to take part in the upcoming Second World Parliamentary Summit aimed at tackling hunger and malnutrition.

The event is scheduled to be held in Valparaiso, Republic of Chile, on June 15th and 16th, 2023, and is being organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to a statement by the FAO, the Second World Parliamentary Summit to Combat Hunger and Malnutrition will bring together parliamentarians from various countries to share their experiences in implementing legislation on food and nutrition security. The event will also provide a platform for discussions on addressing the challenges related to hunger and malnutrition, as well as fostering relationships between parliamentarians and their counterparts from other countries.

As per the statement, the summit will facilitate deliberations on the prospect of creating formal, voluntary commitments through parliamentary networks, based on a global parliamentary agreement. This agreement would necessitate periodic evaluation and tracking of legislative outcomes and accomplishments.

The FAO has elaborated that the summit will prioritize highlighting the indispensable contribution of parliamentarians towards ensuring food security and nutrition, through the adoption of gender-sensitive approaches, aligned with the global sustainable development goals. Furthermore, the summit will underscore the urgent need to eliminate hunger and malnutrition.

Notably, the FAO has highlighted that the summit will prioritize the identification and exchange of best practices, particularly regarding innovative legislation that has been effective in eradicating or reducing hunger and malnutrition. The summit will also identify key priority areas for further parliamentary action on food security and nutrition. In addition, the summit will focus on disseminating best practices related to implementing innovative legislation that exhibits potential to address hunger and malnutrition.

Importantly, the statement highlights that the summit will aim to foster a consensus among parliamentarians on the priority areas identified, with the ultimate goal of stimulating broader political commitment and support for this work. This will entail supporting parliamentary efforts to develop strong, consistent, and comprehensive legal and policy frameworks that can promote improved food security and nutrition on a larger scale.

To watch full speech click here