Aid needs to double to $100 billion a year and be more efficient, effective and fair
about Caritas voices against Poverty
In 2000, the world came together to make its biggest promise ever – to build a better world for humanity by 2015. The Millennium Declaration was a milestone in cooperation, committing the 189 member states of the United Nations to ambitious but achievable targets.
The lives of millions of people around the world have already improved – millions more children are in school, fewer people are dying of AIDS, more have access to clean water.
But the pace of change has not been fast enough – the gains we have made are at risk of slipping through our fingers. We cannot allow what we have achieved to be eroded by the changes in our climate, the crisis in our global economic system, by feeling that it is just too difficult. This may be our only chance, so rather than retreat, now is the time to accelerate our efforts.
More than just 5 rich countries need to meet the long-promised target of giving 0.7 percent of national income in development aid. Aid needs to double to $100 billion a year and be more efficient, effective and fair. It must not be tied, so as to benefit the giver, and the receiver must be allowed to choose and plan more what is best to do. More debt needs to be cancelled. A poor country cannot spend money on health and education if it all goes on servicing debt.
Caritas believes the Millennium Development Goals must be met because we made a promise and a deep moral commitment. We cannot turn our backs on the poor and vulnerable because it’s inconvenient or hard-going. Nothing less than our collective future security and the future of our plan is at stake – falling short isn’t really an option.
Meeting the Millennium Development Goals – living up to our responsibilities, keeping our promises.