1. Food and nutrition are among my top priorities. In a world of plenty, no-one -- not a single
person -- should go hungry. When I was a child in war-time Korea, many families faced
starvation and shortages. Many countries, including my own, took bold steps to end
hunger. But almost one billion people still do not have enough to eat. I want to see an
end to hunger everywhere, within my lifetime. I invite all of you to join me in working for a
future without hunger. My "Zero Hunger Challenge" has five objectives. First, a world
where everyone has access to enough nutritious food all year round. Second, no more
malnutrition in pregnancy and early childhood: an end to the tragedy of childhood
stunting. Third, all food systems sustainable -- everywhere; Fourth, greater opportunity for
smallholder farmers -- especially women - who produce most of the world's food -- so
that they are empowered to double their productivity and income. And fifth, cut losses of
food after production, stop wasting food and consume responsibly. I am not proposing a
new goal -- but I am sharing my vision for the future. A future where food systems are
resilient. Where everyone enjoys their right to food. This would boost economic growth,
reduce poverty and safeguard the environment. It would foster peace and stability. Now is
the time to work together and honour our promises. Governments, business, farmers,
scientists, civil society and consumers -- we all have an important role to play. An end to
Hunger in our lifetime. Please -- join me: respond to the challenge and make it happen.
Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
2. Our nutrition education activities in countries aim to:
• Influence public policies and promote access to a variety of nutritious foods;
• Increase knowledge of the nutritional value of foods;
• Change behaviours, attitudes and beliefs;
• Develop personal skills and motivation to adopt healthy eating practices.
Key Points
Nutrition education gives people the knowledge and skills to:
• feed themselves and their families well
• get the right foods at the right prices
• prepare healthy foods and meals which they enjoy
• recognize poor food choices and resist them
• teach their children and others about healthy eating
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3. UNICEF views nutrition as a basic human right, articulated in numerous human rights instruments from
the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UNICEF
encourages communities and governments to use the Triple A approach to tackling the problem of
malnutrition: assess the problem, analyze its causes and take action.
"Wherever women are in control of resources at family level, in general there is far
less malnutrition. Wherever women are oppressed, wherever women are not
treated as equals, then you tend to get more malnutrition.” – Roger Shrimpton,
Senior Nutritionist with UNICEF partner Helen Keller International.
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