TABLE 2.

Examples of US Governmental Obligations Within the Human Rights Framework

Domain of Responsibility	Respect	Protect	Facilitate	Provide
Definition	Noninterference	Protect people from others doing harm	Develop policy environment that enables economic and food security	When fulfillment of other obligations have failed, or in circumstances beyond people's control—i.e., emergency situations, vulnerable children, the destitute
Individual: protect against individual vulnerability	Do not deny qualifying citizens and legal immigrants access to nutrition assistance.	Ensure all public assistance staff are properly trained about all programs.	Increase minimum wage.	For very low-income children, grant free school breakfasts and lunches, and meals during the summer months.a
			Promote access of all children to quality education, health care, and housing. Consider “comprehensive eligibility.” For instance, if a mother is eligible for WIC, then she could be entitled to other assistance programs without having to apply for each program separately.
		Reduce vulnerability by ensuring access to all supports available.
	Do not deny food assistance to felons who have served their prison term.
		Ensure that food quality is monitored and considered just as important as accessibility.
Household: ensure supportive environment for families, especially women and children	Do not enforce a “family cap” limit on number of childrenwhen calculating food stamp allotment amounts.b	Protect against predatory lenders.	Consider comprehensive eligibility (i.e., if a child qualifies for health insurance through Medicaid, the family should automatically qualify for food stamps).	Provide nutritious food or adequate food stamps on a temporary basis to families who experience personal emergency, ie, household fire or broad-scale natural disaster.a
		Improve targeting for nutrition programs so those eligible receive them.a
			Promote job training and job placement services.a
Community: protect against community vulnerability	Do not change food insecurity definitions without public debate and participation.	Investigate or revise zoning laws that ensure nutritious food retail options.	Provide tax breaks for supermarkets and food retailers to locate in low-income neighborhoods.	Directly provide opportunities to purchase nutritious foods in communities that otherwise have limited access to nutritious foods.
		Reassess measures of poverty to account for housing and child care costs.	Legislate for safe neighborhoods (safe housing, places for exercise and play, generous lighting).	Have rapid, organized, and sustained response in disaster situations.a
		Establish national monitoring or leadership role on nutrition.
			Fund research in food insecurity interventions.
		Hold agencies accountable for actively addressing disparities in food insecurity.
			Provide meaningful venues for participation in dialogue, policies, and programs regarding food security and right to food.

Notes. WIC = Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Not a comprehensive list. For related strategies, see US Action Plan on Food Security: Solutions to Hunger.⁸⁵

^aThe US Government is already engaged in these approaches.

^bSome states do not enforce the family cap.