Latest news with #UnitedNationsCommitteeonEconomic
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
The UK is failing on hunger — Labour must put the right to food into law
Today's new figures from Trussell on food bank use should shake every one of us — particularly those in positions of power — out of any complacency. Almost 3 million emergency food parcels were provided by food banks to people facing hunger in the past year – equivalent to one parcel every 11 seconds. This is a 51 per cent increase compared to five years ago. Every 11 seconds, a food parcel. Every 11 seconds, a failure of government. Behind each of these parcels is a person or family facing hunger in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. We are living through a national emergency where hunger is the daily reality for millions, including working families, children, and disabled people. This is not just a social crisis. It is a profound human rights failure. Food banks, once a short-term emergency response, have become embedded into the UK's social fabric. At the heart of this crisis is a fundamental failure to treat access to food as a basic right. That's why we believe the Labour movement must take bold, rights-based action to end food poverty — starting with recognising the right to food in domestic law. In March, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) issued a damning set of recommendations to the UK Government. It found that the UK is falling far short of its international human rights obligations — with food insecurity and hunger among the most urgent concerns. Crucially, the Committee called on the UK ensure that the economic, social and cultural rights — including the right to food — are given full legal effect, and to adopt a comprehensive food strategy that prioritises dignity and equity. These recommendations didn't come out of nowhere. They are grounded in evidence from communities, campaigners and legal experts who are witnessing daily, the ways in which hunger is not just widespread but systemic. That is why we are joining forces — as a Labour MP leading the Right to Food campaign in Parliament, and as a domestic human rights organisation working to embed economic, social and cultural rights in UK law — to call on the Labour Party to act decisively on poverty and hunger. The Right to Food campaign, backed by city councils, faith groups, trade unions and supporters across the country, is built on a simple truth: food is not a commodity or a reward for hard work. It is a fundamental human right. In one of the richest countries in the world, no one should be going hungry. And when they do, it reflects political choices — not individual failure. We are calling for three concrete steps: This would ensure public bodies have a duty to uphold access to adequate, nutritious and culturally appropriate food — and that individuals have recourse if their rights are denied. It would also create a vital accountability mechanism for government decisions that impact food access. A joined-up strategy must go beyond agriculture and markets. It must address the drivers of food poverty: low incomes, inadequate social security, insecure housing, and cuts to local services. Any credible plan must be shaped by the lived experience of those most affected. Labour must champion a framework that recognises rights to food, but also housing, education, health, social security, and decent work. Without this foundation, efforts to tackle poverty and inequality will remain piecemeal and vulnerable to rollback. There is a growing movement across Parliament that recognises this. MPs from across the party have raised questions on the UN CESCR's findings. In the communities we serve, the appetite for change is clear. The task now is to match that with political will. The Labour government must rise to this challenge. It was elected on the with the pledge 'to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels, which is a moral scar on our society,' so now is the time to act. That means rejecting the normalisation of hunger. It means ending the indignity of food banks. And it means recognising that access to food — like healthcare or education — is not optional. It is a fundamental human right. Labour has a chance to turn compassion into law — and it must seize it. We know this won't be easy. But it's what justice demands — and it's what our communities deserve. The UK was once a global leader in building a welfare state that protected people from the worst of hardship. We can be that country again. Let this year's food bank figures be the turning point in tackling hunger. Ian Byrne is the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby and Alex Firth is an advocacy officer at Just Fair.
Malay Mail
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Urban renewal isn't a threat — it's the help our cities desperately need — Syerleena Abdul Rashid
'The right to housing means the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity — not in overcrowded, crumbling flats or flood-prone slums.' — United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights MAY 5 — Malaysia is at a crossroads. For too long, our urban centres — once proud symbols of growth and diversity — have been allowed to crumble under the weight of neglect, outdated infrastructure, and poor planning. If we continue to ignore this, many of our neighbourhoods will slip further into decay, dragging down the quality of life for millions. The Urban Renewal Act (URA) is our opportunity to reverse that decline. It is not about luxury condos or gentrification — it is about ensuring that ordinary Malaysians have access to safe, decent, and liveable homes. It is about fixing what's broken — and doing it right. The Act proposes what we've long needed: proper legal frameworks, transparent compensation, public consultation, and a people-first approach to redevelopment. It moves us away from an era of shady backdoor deals and unchecked development — and toward a system that's fair, transparent, and sustainable. Unfortunately, instead of working together to fix what's broken, some quarters of the opposition are once again resorting to an all-too-familiar playbook — using race to stoke fear. This brand of lazy politics is not only reckless but it does nothing to address the real struggles faced by everyday Malaysians. Just last week, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming invited opposition MPs to visit run-down flats in the Klang Valley to see for themselves the urgency of urban renewal. Not a single one showed up. Instead of showing leadership, they stayed silent — content to criticise from afar. Meanwhile, the problems continue to mount. In places like Rifle Range in Penang — once a pioneering model of public housing — the buildings are now falling apart. Residents face outdated wiring, pest infestations, poor ventilation, and lifts that break down regularly. Many have asked for help for years, but efforts have been stalled by bureaucracy and the absence of a national legal mechanism. In places like Rifle Range in Penang, once a pioneering model of public housing, the buildings are now falling apart. Residents face outdated wiring, pest infestations, poor ventilation, and lifts that break down regularly. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin Penang has tried to act on its own, but without federal support, even the best intentions get tangled in red tape. The URA can change that — giving states the power and resources to act decisively, while ensuring that no community is left behind. So when certain politicians claim that the URA is a threat to Malay land or heritage, let's call it what it is, and that is, misinformation. Malay rights are protected under our Federal Constitution — and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated this fact time and again. The URA is a tool for progress that upholds fairness and presents hope. It is about making sure our children grow up with access to parks and clean walkways, not rat-infested corridors. While making sure our seniors live in comfort and not in fear of building collapse. Rifle Range, like so many communities across the country, is multiracial. Malays, Chinese, Indians — all struggling with the same issues: failing infrastructure, unsafe buildings, and a lack of basic services. Supporting the URA means choosing a Malaysia that works for everyone — not just for those lucky enough to live behind security guards and gated fences. In the end, the choice is simple: fix what's broken — or leave it to crumble. And we choose to fix it. * Syerleena Abdul Rashid is the Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera ** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
