President Danilo Turk: Conditions that are imposed for development aid must not affect children

Ljubljana, 26.3.2009  |  press release

Slovenian President Danilo Türk today participated in the international conference on development co-operation entitled »Unite for Global Development – Strengthening Civil Dialogue on Development Co-operation«. The conference, which is being held under the patronage of the Slovenian president, is part of the Global Economy – Global Solidarity: Promotion of Millennium Development Goals project implemented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Slovenia in collaboration with UNICEF Slovakia.

In his address, President Türk stressed that the situation of children within the context of global development problems and tasks concerning global development aid is an essential issue which, in this period of economic crisis and various other political priorities is, unfortunately, often pushed into the background. He emphasized that the care for children is a fundamental human need and a fundamental human duty expressed at all levels: those of the individual, the family, the state and the international community. President Danilo Türk pointed out that UNICEF, which is one of the most efficient UN organisations, has succeeded, through numerous operative programmes, in mobilising world public opinion and in setting up a system of concrete assistance for the benefit of children. The need for such a system is not surprising, he said, as children are the most exposed and vulnerable part of society, and any slowing of development hurts children the most. »For this reason children must be our priority when we consider tasks to be carried out to address development issues and provide development aid«, he said. These are also Millenium Development Goal priorities, yet their attainment, said President Türk, is jeopardised for reasons linked to the current economic crisis. He continued by saying that if humankind does not meet the Millenium Development Goals there will be no global development, no global political stability and also no global peace. »The economic crisis originated in developed counties, yet its consequences will be most profoundly felt in the less-developed parts of the world and might well end in a humanitarian catastrophe«, he continued.

President Türk stressed that the global economy and the world's financial system need to be thoroughly overhauled if we want to ensure development and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. As the main task, he singled out the increase in funding of the operations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and assisting with its loans to developing countries. However, this measure would probably not be sufficient President Türk said, and he pointed out the need to change the quota system and voting weights in the IMF and the increase in Special Drawing Rights. »Today, we must no longer postpone these reforms if we want the world to develop and to avoid a global humanitarian crisis«, the President emphasised.

He went on to say that the second fundamental task is an increase in international development aid. Even though the European Union contributes more than one half of the total global development aid, many countries, including Slovenia, do not reach the goal of earmarking 0.7% of their gross domestic product for development aid. »At present, we should give more consideration in Slovenia to our global responsibility and solidarity and to increasing our share of development aid«, President Türk said. As to the European Union, more attention should be devoted to the issue of conditionality of development aid. »The world is entering a period when development aid will be needed for the prevention of a global humanitarian catastrophe; therefore certain forms of conditionality must no longer be acceptable«, he explained. He went on to stress that all development aid which is of benefit to children should be unconditional.

President Türk reiterated that aid for children is a fundamental human need and duty and expressed his support for the UNICEF's efforts to increase awareness of this in all countries.