An effective and equal participation by all people in decisions affecting their food security. Human rights and respect for democracy must not be seen as luxuries to be enjoyed only by those who can afford them, but as providing the foundation for legitimate government action. With regard to combating terrorism, whether nationally or internationally, the European Union recalls that this cannot call into question the universality, and the protection of, all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Human rights and democracy are essential elements in the creation of a genuinely enabling environment which provides the basis for development, the eradication of poverty and for food security. Appropriate population policies, consistent with the conclusions of the International Conference on Population and Development, are also an important part of the equation, as are the provision of education, sanitation and primary health care and other necessary services.
Women play a crucial role both in food production and in household food management.
The commitments entered into at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing are particularly relevant in this regard. Promoting the full and equal participation of women in society and in the economy, and appropriately focusing policies on their needs, will contribute significantly to food security objectives. Sustainable and participatory food, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development policies are essential to adequate and reliable food supplies, as are trade policies which are fair and market-oriented. Significant progress has been made in recent years in encouraging food production. As a result, world per capita dietary energy supply has increased over the past 20 years despite the very high population growth in that period.