From: Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Special
Correspondent, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro,
June 22, – The United Nations has launched “Zero Hunger Challenge” campaign
to eradicate hunger globally.
The campaign has five objectives to achieve including 100% access to
adequate food for all year round, zero stunted children less than two years,
all food systems are sustainable everywhere, 100% increase in smallholder farmers productivity
and income and zero loss or waste of food.
The UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, who launched the campaign at the on-going UN
Conference on Sustainable Development dubbed “RIO+20 Conference” in Rio de
Janeiro, said almost one billion people still did not have enough to eat.
He said: “I want
to see an end to hunger everywhere, within my lifetime.”
Mr Ban noted that
he was not proposing a new goal, but only sharing his vision for the future.
“A future where
food systems are resilient, where everyone enjoys their right to food,” the UN
Secretary added.
He explained that
when this was achieved it would boost economic growth, reduce poverty and
safeguard the environment, while fostering peace and stability.
Mr Ban called on
governments, the business community, farmers, scientists, civil society and
consumers to support the fight to end hunger.
Ms Ertharin
Cousin, Executive Director of World Food Programme (WFP), said there was no sustainable
development when billions of people lived in hunger and poverty.
She said women
were at the heart of global food and nutrition, since they grow, process, sell
and cook the bulk of food in many developing countries.
Ms Cousin called
for the scaling up of social safety nets to protect and empower the most
vulnerable in the community.
She noted that:
“Rio+20 must reaffirm the eradication of hunger and under nutrition as a
crucial global development goal in the post 2015 agenda.
Ms Cousin called
for stronger partnership to address the challenges of hunger and ensure
inclusive development.
No comments:
Post a Comment