Brussels, 04/06/2014 (Agence Europe) -One, an organisation which campaigns to put an end to extreme poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa, believes that ending extreme poverty by 2030 is possible if the G7 makes this a priority. This is the message it sent out to the leaders of the richest countries at the opening of their summit in Brussels.
Eloise Todd, ONE's International Advocacy Director, stated: “With the clock ticking on the Millennium Development Goals' 2015 deadline, the G7 must call out all the stops and put development at the top of the political agenda for the G7. Leaders should state clearly their commitment to increase transparency, to an ambitious global post-2015 agenda and to rebooting development finance to ensure that the world puts an end to extreme poverty by 2030”.
She said that transparency can help uncover corruption, help citizens hold their governments to account and has the potential to unlock funding that can be invested in life-saving vaccines, growth-boosting agriculture and other development priorities. She pointed out that “Yanukovich's private Palace in Ukraine - a symbol of corruption in a poor country - is not owned by the former president of the Ukraine himself, but by a UK-based anonymous shell company”. She underlined the urgency of shining a light on the beneficiaries of corruption, be they company owners or trusts. (AN)