Media release - The Corona crisis is exacerbating social tensions worldwide. The prospects of young people have darkened considerably. Switzerland needs a foreign policy that supports the development prospects of young people in the global south. This is what the two women at the helm of terre des hommes switzerland write in their joint foreword to the annual report 2020 of terre des hommes switzerland.
"The rebellion of young people is understandable," write Franziska Lauper and Brigitta Gerberthe managing director and the president of terre des hommes switzerland in their joint foreword to the Annual Report 2020 of the Swiss development organisation. "In one fell swoop, their prospects have once again darkened considerably." The new type of virus has unhinged the world. "For the first time, the Corona pandemic threatens to increase inequality in almost every country in the world at the same time."
A "motivating sign" for just North-South relations
According to Franziska Lauper and Brigitta Gerber, the gap between young and older people in Switzerland is widening. The strong support among the population for a YES vote on the corporate responsibility initiative is a "motivating sign that very many people want fairer North-South relations".
"terre des hommes switzerland will also work in other areas for a Swiss foreign policy that supports the development prospects of young people in the global south," they write. This includes the commitment to climate justice as well as the containment of arms exports from Switzerland to civil war countries and to countries with a problematic human rights situation.
What terre des hommes switzerland does
The Annual Report 2020 of terre des hommes Switzerland shows what the Swiss development organisation achieved last year in Latin America, southern Africa and Switzerland. It provides a compact overview of the issues on which the ZEWO-certified aid organisation has been working for over 60 years.
terre des hommes schweiz strengthens young people in Africa, Latin America and Switzerland. Together with them, we fight poverty, violence and discrimination and advocate for the rights of children and young people and just North-South relations.
Link: 2020 annual report with financial statements & detailed financial statements: https://www.terredeshommesschweiz.ch/jahresbericht
Information: Franziska Lauper, Executive Director, and Dr. Brigitta Gerber, President, via Media Office
Contact media office: Anna Wegelin, +41 76 588 30 06, anna.wegelin@terredeshommes.ch
Photo: Helder Tavares for terre des hommes switzerland. Photo from the work of our Brazilian project partner GCASC on the topic of violence prevention.
