One year before the end of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, Westminster has held the World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2024 in collaboration with the World Public Health Nutrition Association.

The four-day congress provided a forum to discuss local, national and global nutrition and health issues and explore new research on potential solutions to the hunger crisis. Over 600 delegates from 66 countries attended, including experts from the fields of nutrition, health, human rights, agriculture, trade, climate change and governance. The participants included community leaders, members from civil society organisations and NGOs, as well as government ministers, public sector bodies, academics and researchers.

The congress marked one year before the end of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition – a commitment by UN member states to implement policies, programmes and investment over ten years to eliminate malnutrition across the globe. With this period coming to a close, the congress aimed to ensure that nutrition targets become political priorities and that marginalised groups are given a voice to find solutions.

During the congress that took place between 10-13 June, an array of experts and activists spoke about the work they have done to strive to meet nutrition targets. They challenged corporate actors in planning and policy making and exposed the lack of voice and influence from populations most affected by increasing food insecurity. Dedicated sessions explored the lived experiences of youth, low-income families, refugees, infant feeding families, the homeless, men living with addiction, senior citizens, faith-based community supporters, tertiary students and foodbanks users.

(University of Westminster – 24 June 2024)