During a drought in Kenya in 2011, people were surviving on wild berries and bits of bark
Credits: Caritas
Caritas is hosting an International Congress on World Hunger and Food Security 1 to 2 June 2012 in Vienna, Austria to find global solutions to why 925 million people worldwide suffer from hunger.
“Every 12 seconds a child dies of hunger. Hunger is not inevitable; the causes are social, economic and political,” said President of Caritas Internationalis Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, one of the keynote speakers.
Delegates from around the world will discuss the structural causes of hunger, how aid agencies can intervene effectively and the fundamental right to food.
The congress underscores that the fight against hunger is at the heart of the work of Caritas confederation in service to the poor and must also be a priority for governments. Food security will be important issues at the upcoming Rio +20 meeting and for the post Millennium Goals agenda. Caritas wants to unite the international community around the fight for the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.
The Vienna congress will bring together public authorities, policy makers, academics, journalists and representatives of civil society worldwide.
Cardinal Maradiaga, President of Caritas Internationalis, will open the conference proceedings. Tesfai Tecle, Special Adviser to Kofi Annan, will deliver the speech of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, on the effects of global injustice on hunger and malnutrition and on the steps to achieve real change. Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, will discuss the role and responsibilities of the European Union in the fight against hunger.
Christoph Schweifer, Secretary General International Programs at Caritas Austria and coordinator of the congress, said, “Caritas is convinced that a future without hunger is not a utopian dream. It’s a vision that we have to fight for.”
The congress will be held at the Aula der Wissenschaften, Wollzeile -1010 27a, Vienna, Austria. It has been jointly organised by Caritas Austria, Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Europa.
For more information, please contact :
Ryan Worms
mobile : + 39 335 823 4233
email : [email protected]
Henrike Brandstötter
mobile: +43/664/82 66 935
email: [email protected]