Caritas Ethiopia has represented on the European congress on Poverty and Social Exclusion held in Madrid, 4-5 June 2010.

By Zemede Abebe, Addis Ababa

Caritas supports people living in poverty throughout the world. The day to day experience reinforces it social analysis and proposals for policies that are more cohesive, entail greater solidarity and fairer policies on human scale.  The year 2010 was been marked as European year for Combating poverty and social excluding. The Caritas Spain and Caritas Europe used this opportunity to advocate for the right to dignified life, the participation of all society, greater social cohesion and the collaboration of all stakeholders.

Thus caritas contributed by holding a European Congress on poverty and Social exclusion, to which the main political and international decision makers of Spain and the European Union are invited. The debate and sharing was made on poverty today and proposal was made for a future that affects all.

Caritas European members set out a series of anti-poverty targets for European politicians to turn into policies to reduce poverty on the continent by 25 million people over the next ten years from 85 million.

• Reduce the number of people living below the national poverty lines by 30%

o   Eradicate child poverty in Europe

o   Decisively improve education and training

o   Focus on specific groups at risk of exclusion

o   Ensure Policy Coherence for Development

o   Achieve a substantial impact on climate change

o   Strongly improve the governance aspect of Europe 2020

Caritas Ethiopia was presented on the meeting which looked beyond Europe with a session chaired by Caritas Internationalis Secretary General Lesley-Anne Knight along with other three panel discussions.

Zemede Abebe Zewdie of Caritas Ethiopia has presented the poverty in Ethiopia and the coordinated effort of Caritas Ethiopia in Emergency, development and Rehabilitation. The presentation was made along with George Lim of Caritas Singapore, Candy Hill of Catholic Charities USA (a Caritas member), and Cristina dos Anjos of Caritas Brazil who presented the poverty context in their country.

The level, diversity and indicators of poverty were so diverse. It is hoped that this initiative is an opportunity for the strengthening solidarity to Africa through the existing and any new initiative. The bilateral discussion with all caritas partners were so inspiring and the communication will continue.

Zero Poverty