U.N. Rights Council urged to address food crisis

By Claudia Parsons

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The new U.N. food envoy on Friday sought a special meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council this month to address a global food crisis he said was a "massive violation" of human rights.

Protests, strikes and riots have erupted in developing countries around the world after dramatic rises in the prices of wheat, rice, corn, oils and other essential foods that have made it difficult for poor people to make ends meet.

One day after taking up his new job as U.N. special reporter on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter likened the crisis to a "silent tsunami" affecting 100 million people.

"If we had 100 million persons arrested in a dictatorial regime, if we had 100 million persons beaten up by police, of course we'd be marching in the streets and we'd be convening special sessions," De Schutter said at a news conference.

He said he wanted the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to hold a special session around May 22 or 23 to complement efforts by other international agencies to tackle the crisis and to establish it as a human rights issue.

One third of the 47 members of the council, or 16 countries, would need to request a special session.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday he was launching a task force to ensure a solid, coordinated international response to the food crisis.

Economists have linked food supply strains to factors including high fuel and fertilizer costs, the use of crops for biofuels and market speculation.