World leaders sign declaration for action against hunger

Upon the invitation of the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and the heads of state of Chile, France and Spain, as well as UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, state leaders met in New York on 20 September 2004, to discuss further international action to fight against hunger, overcome poverty and increase financing for development.

The discussions during the "Summit of World Leaders for the Action against Hunger and Poverty" were based on the findings of the technical group in charge of exploring innovative mechanisms of financing agreed upon in the January 2004 Geneva Declaration (read more in the March 2004 update). Among the wide array of options to increase aid flow, the report included: taxation of financial transactions, taxation of the arms trade, creation of an International Financial Facility, increasing the benefits of remittances, establishing a mechanism for voluntary contributions through credit cards and the creation of "ethical funds" providing opportunities for socially responsible investing.

The main outcome of the meeting, held prior to the opening of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, was synthesized in a Declaration reaffirming important aspects such as:

• the need for increased levels of development aid and for improved efficiency in the use of resources;
• the necessity, according to UN estimates, for and additional yearly sum of $50 billion in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015;
• innovative mechanisms of financing not only to meet the MDGs but to ensure long-term stability;
• a political call to governments, organizations, the private sector and the civil society to create a global partnership to ensure sustained progress.

The ultimate objective of the meeting was to galvanize political support for the implementation of viable financing mechanisms, in an attempt to reach a consensus on possible avenues for effectively reaching the MDGs by 2015.

Download the New York Declaration by clicking here.

To read the press release published by the UN press service please click here.

To read the statement made by FAO Director General Jacques Diouf please click here.

Visit the Action Against Hunger website.