Assessing compliance of the human right to adequate food for women and children living in Kawempe Division: a case of Katanga slum area

Abstract

This study assessed the compliance of human right to adequate food among women and children living in Kawempe division with a specific focus on urban slum of Katanga region. The specific objectives were; 1) to assess the realization of right to adequate food, 2) to identify the status quo of food adequacy, availability, accessibility, affordability and quality, and 3) to determine the extent at which the community participates in decision-making process and how this influences the enjoyment of the right to adequate food in Katanga slum. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. The study applied mixed methods research by using both primary and secondary data. The sample size for this research included 50 primary respondents (men, women and children) and 16 secondary respondents (key informants). The study findings indicated that that the right to adequate food is partially realized as the laws, conventions and policies reviewed are not self-sustaining and need to be applied in connection with others except for the General Comment 12. The factors that impeded the realization of right to adequate food were; corruption, limited political strategy and limited constitutional recognition. Court cases like Gaurav V Union of India and others and Vide Francis Coralie Mullin V Union territory of Delhi had a strong support for the study. The adequacy, availability, accessibility and affordability of food is equally not emphasized and food adequacy in Katanga is still low due to economic barriers mostly as majority earns less than one $ a day. There is community participation in decision making on the right to adequate food but their involvement is still very low. Therefore, the study concluded that the laws, conventions, policies and standards have not completely led to the realization of the right to adequate food in Katanga slum. The study recommendations are; need for mass sensitization of women and children and formulation of the national policy instrument on the right to adequate food.