10 days of action on hunger

The Big IF G8 Rally on 8 June is the start of 10 days of action on hunger. Key meetings of world leaders over the following 10 days have the potential to deliver important commitments on hunger which CAFOD has been campaigning for both with the Enough Food for Everyone IF Campaign and Hungry for Change.

Here’s what’s happening, and what we are hoping for:

8 June: Nutrition for Growth Event, London
We hope this conference will bring break-through funding for child and maternal nutrition, saving more than a million children’s lives in the future, and that any commitments to tackle malnutrition include pledges for targeted aid that empowers small-holder farmers.

12 June: EU Transparency Directive, Brussels
Although not specifically linked to food, this is a commitment CAFOD has been calling for for over 10 years, including with our Open Up the Books and Unearth Justice campaigns. This day could prove an important step forward in the drive to stamp out corruption and ensure that people in developing communities benefit from the natural resources in their countries.

15 June: Open for Growth Event, London
Specific commitments from governments and big business could be made at this meeting, marking progress toward a world where transparency, participation and accountability are the norm and more resources benefit the poorest communities.

17-18 June: G8 Summit
Over in Northern Ireland, G8 leaders will meet to make concrete commitments and build on the growth events of the previous week. We hope to see more progress made on tax and transparency, as well strong political leadership on important issues such as climate change.

Throughout the 10 days of action CAFOD, as part of the Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign also urges world leaders to:                             

• Help poor countries make sure that people have enough nourishing food and support poor families to grow their own food, particularly championing the call for aid that empowers small-holder farmers.
• Tackle tax havens and launch a Convention on Tax Transparency to stop the billions of pounds that flow out of developing countries and could be used to end hunger.
• Give people in developing countries more control over their land by protecting poor farmers from land grabs and using land to grow food not biofuels.
• The 10 days of action could result in lasting change for the one in eight that do not have enough food. But it won’t end hunger overnight. CAFOD will continue to demand action on hunger from the UK government into 2014, and we hope you will stay with us on this important journey.

Help kick off the 10 days of action with CAFOD and others on 8 June at the Big IF G8 rally. You could also join us in a minute’s silence and reflection at 4:30pm.