Thank you for your reflection on this extremely relevant issue, and not adequately dealt with in the Nutrition and Human rights field. This food for thought has sparked some comments in this snowy morning in Heidelberg.

I think you missed out on a very important protection dimension that has enormous implications for women’s dignity, health and nutrition.

Women throughout the world are daily forced to get married and/or to have sex, most of the time against their will, without the assurance that contraceptive measures are taken, and much before they are physically, physiologically and emotionally ready to bear a baby and have decided to become mothers. The combination of these impositions has huge consequences for their health, nutrition and dignity and may mean an issue of life or death for them and for their babies.

In reality women are left out from being recognized as an equal human being, and “seen” as a baby bearer and care taker alone. When in reality she is and she has been much more than that throughout human history, and even today. “ The true blind are those who don´t want to see” .She is as well left out from the realm of the rule of law. She has no access to justice to protect her from abuses such as above, and in some cases she is “officially” imposed upon by discretionary traditional or common law that see women only as a “reproductive tool” or “sexual provider” to be used by men.

These are crucial issues prior to the security ones you mention in your message below.

Flavio Valente, FIAN.

Heidelberg