Human Rights, Health and Nutrition (ACC/SCN, 1999, 32 p.): Foreword

Human Rights, Health and Nutrition (ACC/SCN, 1999, 32 p.)

		(introduction...)
		The UN System’s Forum for Nutrition Sub-Committee on Nutrition (ACC/SCN)
		Foreword
		The 3rd Annual Abraham Horwitz Annual Lecture
		Appendix A - Human Rights Matrices
		Appendix B - The General Comment on the Right to Food
		Acronyms
		Back cover

Foreword

Dr Abraham Horwitz was Assistant Director of the National Health Service in Chile from 1953 to 1959, Director of the Pan American Health Organization from 1959 to 1975, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Nutrition 1986-1995, and is currently Director Emeritus, Pan American Health Organization. The Abraham Horwitz Lecture was introduced to the Sub-Committee on Nutrition’s agenda in March 1997 at its 24^th Annual Session, in recognition of Dr Abraham Horwitz’ outstanding contribution to nutrition, and his exemplary leadership as Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

In an interview in SCN News No. 13, 1995, just after his retirement as Chairman of the SCN, Dr Horwitz sent a message to those working in nutrition “Keep the faith that you are committed to a most noble cause, the well-being of people whom you do not know but whose needs you feel intensely. Redouble your efforts in whatever you do in nutrition while being bold and imaginative.” The intention of the annual Lecture is to continue to promote Dr Horwitz’ heartfelt, highly valued and extremely generous tradition of mentoring young talent from developing countries. Each year a guest lecturer who possesses the knowledge and commitment to prepare a “bold and imaginative” paper is invited to make a presentation at the SCN Session.

The Third Abraham Horwitz Lecture was given in April 1999, at the SCN’s 26^thSession Symposium on “The Substance and Politics of a Human Rights Approach to Food and Nutrition Policies and Programmes” by Dr Brigit C A Toebes. Dr Toebes spoke on the subject of “Human Rights, Health and Nutrition”. Dr Toebes is Senior Researcher and Research Coordinator at the TMC Asser Institute for International Law, The Hague, The Netherlands. She holds a PhD in international human rights law from the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) of Utrecht University, and is the author of The Right to Health as a Human Right in International Law. Dr Toebes co-founded the International Anti-Poverty Law Center (IAPLC), a New York-based NGO. For this lecture, she is indebted to Maria Green, Director of IAPLC.

Keep the faith that you are committed to a most noble cause, the well-being of people whom you do not know but whose needs you feel intensely.

Redouble your efforts in whatever you do in nutrition while being bold and imaginative.

Abraham Horwitz