Report on the reality of German development policy demands more commitment to maintaining human rights and overcoming hunger
Impending cuts in the budget in 2024 by the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Development would be devastating signal
Berlin, June 15, 2023. Welthungerhilfe and terre des hommes see the Federal Government in its 30th report on the reality of German development policy for huge challenges. In the face of the dramatic increase in wars, violent conflicts, hunger at aast, weather extremes as a result of climate change and the economic consequences of Corona pandemic are no less, but more financial means to support people in the poorest countries. In addition to reliable financing to support the most affected, the Federal Government primarily needs a determined policy to overcome hunger, preserve human rights, democracy and the rule of law and to support civil society organizations.
»In 2022, German ODA reached the highest proportion of gross national income with 0.83 percent. This is gratifying, however, according to the valid medium -term financial planning from 2024, there are drastic budget cuts in the budget of the Federal Ministry of Development and the Federal Foreign Office, «explained Joshua Hofert, board spokesman for terre des hommes . »This decline would be fatal, for example, the situation in Afghanistan shows, where not even ten percent of the need for emergency aid quantified by the United Nations. The funds for development cooperation must not decrease again, only in this way Germany can meet its role as a reliable partner. «
In terms of quality, Joshua Hofert expects the Federal Government to ensure that German development policy serves across departments to promote democracy and the rule of law. »Human rights must not be subordinate to economic interests. Many children and adolescents are committed to maintaining human rights in authoritarian countries and thereby experience intimidation, detention and displacement. We expect local protective mechanisms and help that you protect against violence and exploitation for you as an active and particularly endangered group, ”says Hofert.
In 2023, the half -time of the Agenda 2030 adopted in 2015 marked. But on half of the way, the agenda sustainability goals hardly seem to be reached. »The federal government reacted well to the current crises with a new increase in funds to a record high of 33.3 billion euros. Nevertheless, up to 828 million people still suffer from chronic hunger and the number of acute malnourished people has increased for the fourth time in a row in 2022, «emphasized Mathias Mogge, CEO of Welthungerhilfe. »Not only the number of armed conflicts has more than doubled since 2010, the number of weather extremes has also increased dramatically as a result of the climate crisis. It must therefore be invested more in the poorest countries, in particular their rural areas, the structure of social security systems supports and expanded both climate protection and adaptation. Human rights in agricultural delivery chains must be observed and women can finally contribute to the planning and implementation of development strategies at eye level. For many of these demands, the federal government has already developed strategies and target brands. Now the political will is needed to implement these goals at all levels. The words must finally follow acts! «, Mathias Mogge demanded.
The "compass 2023" is the further development of the annual report on the "reality of development policy", which terre des hommes and Welthungerhilfe have published since 1993. He continues to subject the German development policy of a critical analysis, but takes into account the requirements of the UN agenda decided in 2015 for sustainable development to German politics.