Food First Information and Action Network

FIAN International, formally the Food First Information and Action Network, is an international human rights organization dedicated to ensuring that all people can live free from hunger and realize their right to adequate food. Founded in 1986 in Heidelberg, Germany, it grew out of discussions among human rights activists, some of whom had been active in Amnesty International and sought to expand that organization's mandate to include the right to adequate food and other rights under the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. When it became clear that Amnesty International would not adopt such an expansion, the idea of creating an independent organization with this broader focus emerged in 1981, leading to the creation of a loose network called the Food First Information and Action Network in 1983. FIAN International was formally established in 1986, claiming to be the first human rights organization focused on the right to food. FIAN operates in over 50 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. It has national sections in fourteen countries: Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Zambia in Africa; Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, and Paraguay in the Americas; India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in Asia; and Austria, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland in Europe. The international secretariat has offices in Heidelberg and Geneva. The highest governing body is the International Council, composed of delegates from the national sections. FIAN holds consultative status with the United Nations. The organization's goal is to contribute worldwide to the implementation of the International Bill of Human Rights, particularly the right to adequate food. Its methods include research, analysis, and documentation of concrete cases of violations of the right to adequate food. FIAN responds to requests from individuals and groups whose right to adequate food is threatened or violated, publicizes abuses, and demands investigation and punishment within the UN system and other legal frameworks. For example, it filed a complaint with the OECD alleging that investor Oikocredit and others expanded their microcredit business in Cambodia despite high indebtedness. FIAN also promotes human rights education, including information materials on food sovereignty, food security, and food councils. FIAN declares itself in its statutes to be independent of governments, parties, corporate interests, ideologies, and religions. It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with no commercial products or services; its "offerings" are advocacy, research, documentation, and education focused on the right to food.

FIAN International was founded in 1986 in Heidelberg, Germany. Its origins trace back to discussions among human rights activists, some of whom had been active in Amnesty International and participated in debates about expanding that organization's mandate to include the right to adequate food and other rights under the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. When it became clear that such an expansion would not occur at Amnesty International, the idea of creating an independent organization with this broader focus emerged in 1981. In 1983, the Food First Information and Action Network was created as a loose network of groups from church circles and Amnesty International. In 1986, FIAN International was formally founded with the aim of being the first human rights organization focused on the right to food. FIAN declares itself in its statutes to be independent of governments, parties, corporate interests, ideologies, and religions. It has sections in fourteen countries: Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Zambia in Africa; Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, and Paraguay in the Americas; India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka in Asia; and Austria, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland in Europe. The international secretariat has offices in Heidelberg and Geneva. The highest governing body is the International Council, composed of delegates from the national sections. FIAN holds consultative status with the United Nations. The organization's goal is to contribute worldwide to the implementation of the International Bill of Human Rights, particularly the right to adequate food. Its methods include research, analysis, and documentation of concrete cases of violations of the right to adequate food. FIAN responds to requests from individuals and groups whose right to adequate food is threatened or violated, publicizes abuses, and demands investigation and punishment within the UN system and other legal frameworks. An example is the complaint filed with the OECD because investor Oikocredit and others expanded their microcredit business in Cambodia despite high indebtedness. FIAN also promotes human rights education, including information materials on food sovereignty, food security, and food councils.

• 1986

  FIAN International formally founded in Heidelberg, Germany, as the first human rights organization focused on the right to food.

• 1983

  Food First Information and Action Network created as a loose network of groups from church circles and Amnesty International.

• 1981

  Idea emerged to create an independent organization focused on the right to adequate food.

International human rights organization focused on the right to adequate food, independent of governments, parties, corporate interests, ideologies, and religions.

Product categories. Human rights advocacy · Research and documentation · Legal complaints · Human rights education

1. 1FIAN International official websitefian.org
2. 2Wikidata entry for Food First Information and Action Networkwikidata.org
3. 3German Wikipedia article on FIANde.wikipedia.org