Together with over 30 organisations of Swiss civil society, terre des hommes schweiz is calling on the national and state parliaments not to make savings on the backs of the poorest people, but to devote 0.7 percent of our national income to public development cooperation. The "wake-up call against hunger and poverty" is supported by more than three dozen prominent first signatories from the worlds of politics, business, science, the church, sport, culture and entertainment.
On 22 March 2016, the Finance Committee of the National Council decided to reduce public development funds (ODA, aide public au développement) to 0.4 percent of gross national income. At least a quarter of the long-term Swiss development cooperation (DC) would thus have to be cut and successful reconstruction work would be destroyed. As recently as autumn 2015, the Federal Council reiterated that Switzerland, too, wanted to achieve the internationally targeted figure of 0.7 percent.
Maintain commitment to a life of security, freedom and dignity
To counter the threat of clear-cutting by development cooperation, 30 NGOs today launched the "wake-up call against hunger and poverty". The wake-up call is addressed to the members of the National Council and the Council of States who will decide on the future of Swiss development cooperation in the coming weeks. The NGOs are calling on Switzerland not only to be present in acute emergencies but also, in accordance with our humanitarian tradition, to commit itself to the building of just societies and the rule of law and to promote worldwide efforts to live in security, freedom and dignity. The wake-up call is supported by more than three dozen prominent first signatories, whose statements underline the urgency of the wake-up call.
You too can sign the wake-up call against hunger and poverty here. Share this video with your family and friends by clicking on the curved arrow in the upper right corner of the video.
Further information:
Daniel Hitzig, Media and Communication Alliance Sud, Tel. 079 238 39 31
Isolda Agazzi, Alliance Sud, Bureau Lausanne, Tel. 079 434 45 60
Lavinia Sommaruga, Alliance Sud, Ufficio Lugano, Tel. 079 659 67 77
Detailed written information on development cooperation as well as a list of all first signatories and all organisations supporting the wake-up call can be found on the "wake-up call website".
