As guardians of food security for the family and principal care-givers of young children, women are key partners in efforts to improve child nutrition. By acknowledging the role of women in nutrition, the Summit can address the vital link between food security and strengthening of family nutrition, health and care. Ms. Bellamy stressed that improved child nutrition depends on improved child health and child care practice as well as the availability of food.
Malnutrition remains an impediment to development for women and children.
While there have been improvements in many regions during the last five years, the number of malnourished children is actually rising in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. I hope that one of the results of this summit will be a recognition of the importance of the empowerment of women to the effort to ensure sustainable improvements in child nutrition and a commitment to ensure that the right to food moves from rhetoric to reality.