All Press Releases
| Government should show stronger efforts to stop poverty |
| Friday, 06 April 2007 00:00 |
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Friends of the Earth Malta together with 40 other local NGOs that form the The Stop Poverty Malta Campaign Group, is calling on the Maltese Government to show stronger commitment to the world’s poor in terms of Overseas Development Aid (ODA).
 As part of the ‘Stop Poverty! Day’ to be held around the world on 7 July, the group is asking the Maltese government to improve transparency in reporting ODA figures, providing detailed reports of expenditure and of aid beneficiaries, issue an Official Development Policy as promised, and stop imposing conditions regarding repatriation of migrants when giving aid. The group also announced that to commemorate 7 July, Zizza Ensemble in collaboration with The Stopoverty Malta, is organising a concert next Saturday 7 July at the Sliema Surfside from 2030 hrs onwards. Zizza Ensamble, Access-To, The Deep Blue Project Band and DJ Bob will perform on the night. “According to Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD), a European NGO made up of over 1,600 NGOs, several European governments shall not keep their aid promises to poor countries by 2010 unless they radically increase their provision of genuine aid resources. The EU target for 2010, is to have each member state spending 0.17 per cent of its gross national income in aid†the group said in a statement this week.  According to the European Commission’s April 2007 figures, Malta spent EUR7 million or 0.15 per cent of gross national income on ODA in 2006 – less than what it contributed in 2004, when it spent 0.18 per cent in ODAâ€.  Apparently, what is reported under Malta’s ODA seems to be primarily spent on migrants during their first year in Malta, and on repatriating migrants. While we recognise that this is a cost on Maltese resources and that supporting refugees is vital, we agree with CONCORD that this cannot be considered to be Overseas Development Aid, unlike development assistance which is used directly to help alleviate poverty in poor countries.  “The Government of Malta should improve its transparency in reporting ODA figures, by providing detailed reports of expenditure and of aid beneficiaries. Stop Poverty is also appealing to the Maltese Government to withdraw its insistence that Maltese aid should to be conditional on the acceptance of the repatriation of migrants. Repatriation of migrants is not related to alleviation of povertyâ€.  “Stop Poverty appeals to the Maltese Government to move towards dialogue with poor countries and NGOs and to call for global structural changes towards more global equality. Though a small country, Malta can surely have a better say in the quest for the attainment of the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals, namely: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; Achieve universal primary education; Promote gender equality and empower women; Reduce Child Mortality; Improve maternal health; Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Ensure Environmental Sustainability; Build a global partnership for developmentâ€.  STOPOVERTY! Malta is made up of the following NGOs: Moviment Graffitti, Zminijietna, Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Kopin (Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali), National Platform of Maltese NGDOs, Kunsill Studenti Universitarji, Moviment Kattoliku Studenti Universitarji, Amnesty International Malta Group, Ananda Marga Yoga Society, Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarju, Dar Nazareth,Diocesan Peace and Justice Commission, EAPN Malta, Fondazzjoni Ceratonia, Friends of the Earth, General Workers Union, Grupp Katina, I.D.E.A.L. International (Malta), Inizjamed, Integra Foundation, Jesuit Community – Birkirkara, Justice and Peace Group (Augustinian Malta Province), Kare4Kenya, Mission Fund, Moviment Era Gdida, Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, Malta Union of Teachers, PULSE , Salesian Youth Centre – Sliema, SHARE Foundation, St Aloysius' College, Suret il-Bniedem, Third World Group, University Chaplaincy, University Student Teachers' Association (Malta), YMCA, Youth for Palermo, Zaghzagh Azzjoni Kattolika, Zghazagh Haddiema Nsara.  More information can be obtained from www.stopovertymalta.org. |
