The poor must be at the heart of the future of development

Caritas is calling for the world to put the poor first and ensure the safe future of the planet by uniting behind the United Nations’ new Sustainable Development Goals which promise to end extreme poverty, tackle inequality and take action on climate change by 2030.

A Caritas Internationalis delegation will be in New York next week to show the commitment of the confederation to the successful adoption and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the last 2 years, the 165 members of Caritas confederation have worked to ensure the voice of the poor and the Church is present in the 17 goals which will be adopted at the United Nations Summit between 25 – 27 September 2015 in New York.

Students line up in the Caritas-supported St. Daniel Comboni School in Agok, South Sudan. Photo by Paul Jeffrey/Caritas

Students line up in the Caritas-supported St. Daniel Comboni School in Agok, South Sudan. Photo by Paul Jeffrey/Caritas

“The SDGs should be a powerful tool in the fight against poverty, climate change and injustice” said Michel Roy, Caritas International Secretary General, “but we must ensure that those living in poverty are the driving force behind this epochal opportunity. These goals will only be achieved if we make a long-term commitment to the poor and we are held accountable for the plans we make to beat poverty and injustice.”

Pope Francis will address the General Assembly on 25th September. He released the ground-breaking encyclical ‘Laudato Si’, On Care for our Common Home’ in June which calls for the whole human family to seek sustainable and integral development.

2015 is a crucial year for humanity with the adoption of the SDGs and the forthcoming climate agreement later this year. Caritas is calling on world leaders to renew their commitment to combatting climate change ahead of the UN Climate Conference in December.  Caritas will co-host a high-level event on climate change at the UN at 6.30pm on 26th September together with CIDSE, an international alliance of 17 Catholic development agencies and the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, President of Caritas Internationalis, will be keynote speaker at the event.

This is an agenda for the people, by the people and for the people and we urge member states to ensure that no-one is left behind and the participation of people living in poverty, of which civil society is the organized expression, will continue to be respected throughout implementation, measurement and review of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

For more information contact Michelle Hough: +39 06 6987 9752 or +39 334 234 4136
hough@caritas.va

Donate


Please give to Caritas generously. Your support makes our work possible.

Pray

Caritas brought together a collection of prayers and reflections for you to use.

Volunteer


Volunteers make a crucial contribution. Find out how you can be one.