•G20 leaders
The Group of 20 world leaders, yesterday, inaugurated a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, during the opening session of the 19th Heads of State and Government Summit ongoing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The alliance signed by all member countries empowers a Task Force to implement practical activities between 2025 and 2030 to accelerate the elimination of hunger and reduction of poverty.
President Luiz Lula da Silva of Brazil, said the alliance, which was pre-launched in July already had the support of more than 80 countries, in addition to dozens of governments and civil society organisations across the world.
He said the goal of the global alliance was to gather funds and knowledge towards the implementation of public policies and social technologies, which have proven effective in reducing global hunger and poverty.
He added that throughout the first half of Brazil’s G20 Presidency, discussions were held with G20 countries and other key partners to present the operation, its pillars and the general lines of governance.
He said, “It’s not just about doing justice. This is an essential condition for building more prosperous societies and a world of peace. Brazil intends to reposition itself as an international leader on the issue, showcasing the successful Brazilian experience with the Zero Hunger and Bolsa Família programmes – both launched by Lula in his first spell as president between 2003 and 2010.
“Ending hunger is also one of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations for 2030,” said the president.
He explained that UN institutions such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) also addressed these issues, but added that Brazil managed to convince its peers that a new initiative was necessary to accelerate investments.
The president highlighted that the world produced almost 6 billion tons of food each year, while spending 2.4 trillion dollars on military spending.
