Brussels, 06/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - Whether they criticise a lack of ambition or certain areas that have been omitted, it is with disappointment that development NGOs greeted the European Commission's position on Thursday 5 February on the future world programme for post-2105 sustainable development and eradicating poverty (see EUROPE 11247).
Oxfam criticises the lack of ambition shown for financing sustainable development. “It's unacceptable that the European Commission passes the buck on how to fund the new sustainable development goals, when Europe as a whole is not even reaching their current commitment to provide 0.7% of national income to help combat global poverty”, says Hilary Jeune, Oxfam's policy advisor. Oxfam believes that Europe should set the example and refrain from making its aid commitments conditional upon the engagement of middle income countries increasing their contribution.
Oxfam recognises that the private sector has the potential to stimulate the growth that could help people out of poverty, but it blames the Commission for only seeing the positives. “The EU needs to define clear guidelines that would ensure companies will genuinely place fighting poverty above making profits, and do not harm the local communities they are supposed to help”, Oxfam states. Similarly, it welcomes the Commission's intention to take action on tax in order to mobilise public money to fight against poverty, but believes it is disappointing that no new initiative has been put on the table - while corporate tax dodging costs developing countries $100 billion every year.
Save the Children criticises the Commission for not addressing inequality in the various countries, when - according to a new report by Save the Children published on 5 February - the most disadvantaged children are left on the sidelines in the global race to improve the survival of under-5-year old children. The report shows that: - global efforts to prevent child mortality have saved tens of millions of lives since the Millennium Development Goals were set in 2000, but this progress masks major inequalities within countries; - structurally disadvantaged groups of children are being left behind their peers in more than three quarters of developing countries; - policies which achieve equitable reductions in child mortality across all groups are associated with 6% faster progress in improving overall national child survival rates in the different countries. (AN)