State Obligations in the Context of Unhealthy Diets: Paving the Way Within the Inter-American Human Rights System

• Author: Isabel Barbosa, Belén Ríos, Ariadna Tovar Ramírez
• Position: Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center and an Associate at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, working at the Global Center for Legal Innovation on Food Environments/Consultant at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, working at the Global Center for Legal Innovation on Food Environments/...
• Pages: 43-72

Revista Int ernacional de D erechos Humanos / E -ISSN 2422-7188 / 2021 Vol. 11, No. 1

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State Obligations in the Context of Unhealthy

Diets: Paving the Way within the Inter-

American Human Rights System

1

Obligaciones estatales en el contexto de dietas no saludables:

allanando el camino dentro del sistema interamericano de

derechos humanos

ISABEL BARBOSA,

2

BELÉN RÍOS,

3

AND ARIADNA TOVAR RAMÍREZ

4

Abstract:

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading

cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas. NCDs

are largely preventable because of the modifiable nature of their risk

factors, including the elevated consumption of processed and ultra-

processed products that can be traced to the recurrent practices of the

food and beverage industry. This article explores diet-related risk

factors to NCDs as a human rights issue that can and should be

addressed within the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS).

In particular, we argue that States can potentially be held responsible

for their failure to comply with the obligation to guarantee human

rights; specifically, by not acting with due diligence through the

1

The authors are grateful for the insightful and valuable guidance pr ovided by Oscar A.

Cabrera and Silvia Serrano Guzmán, as well as the research support provided by

Francesca Nardi.

2

Isabel Barbosa is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center and an

Associate at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, working at the

Global Center fo r Legal Innovation on Food Environme nts.

3

Belén Ríos is a Consultant a t the O’Neill In stitute for Nati onal and Globa l Health Law,

working at t he Global Center for Legal Innovation on Food Environments.

4

Ariadna Tovar Ramírez is a Consultant at the O’Neill Insti tute for National and Global

Health Law, working at the Global Center f or Legal Innova tion on Food E nvironments.

Barbosa, Ríos and Tovar Ramírez / State Obligations in the Context of ... / 43-72

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regulation of the food and beverage industry. Moreover, we argue that

States can also potentially be held responsible for failing to comply

with the obligation to respect human rights, considering its

complicity with the food and beverage industry.

Keywords:

Inter-American Human Rights System;

noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); food and beverage industry; due

diligence; prevention; complicity; corporate capture.

Resumen:

Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ENT)

son la principal causa de morbilidad, mortalidad y discapacidad en las

Américas. Las ENT son en gran medida prevenibles dada la naturaleza

modificable de sus factores de riesgo, incluyendo el consumo elevado

de p roductos procesados y ultra-procesados, asociado con las

prácticas de la industria de productos comestibles y de bebidas. Este

artículo explora los factores de riesgo de las ENT relacionados con la

dieta como un asunto de derechos humanos que puede y debe ser

abordado en el ámbito del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos

Humanos. S e argumenta que los Estados podrían ser responsable s

por incumplir la obligación de garantizar los derechos humanos;

específicamente, al no actuar con la diligencia debida y regular la

conducta de la industria de productos comestibles y bebidas. Además,

se argumenta que los Estados también podrían resultar responsables

por el incumplimiento de la obligación de respetar los derechos

humanos, considerando su complicidad con la industria de

productos comestibles y bebidas.

Palabras claves

: Sistema interamericano de derechos humanos

(SIDH); enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ENT); industria de

productos comestibles y bebidas; debida diligencia; prevención;

complicidad; captura corporativa.

Recibido: 9.10.2020 Aceptado: 11.12.2020