Poverty eradication: EU’s commitment to dignity for all

This drive towards inclusiveness is vital when it comes to eradicating poverty

This joint Opinion-Editorial is by H.E. Ms Rita Giuliana Mannella, Italian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Holger Seubert, German Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Ms Bonnie Horbach, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, H.E. Mr Victor Chiujdea, Ambassador/Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of Romania, Mr. Aurélien Maillet, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of France.

The world marked ‘International Day for the Eradication of Poverty’ yesterday (October 17). This is why we wish to call attention to the theme for this year: “Dignity For All in Practice – The commitments we make together for social justice, peace and the planet”. It could be called the day of dignity, as the millions of people suffering from poverty show how courage and dignity are essential for humanity to progress. As Nelson Mandela once said: “No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity”. The way in which the poorest people are treated is a key measure of our civilisation and how we promote inclusion in society. Poverty and inequality are not inevitable; they can be overcome with peaceful and inclusive societies taking deliberate decisions to empower citizens and to ensure that their fundamental rights are safeguarded.

The exclusion of disadvantaged groups can be costly both for the individual and for society as a whole as it does not mobilise the full resources, and worse, it hampers social cohesion, which is the precondition for any nation to lift all its people. For the European Union, inclusion, solidarity and human dignity are fundamental values, because they serve peace, our ultimate goal. As mentioned in Article 1 of the European Charter for Fundamental Rights “Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected”. This was written because Europe’s history is strewn with conflicts and poverty. The EU was built on the ashes of the Second World War that ended in 1945. In 1957, when hardship and grievances in our nations were still deep, the visionary founders of the European Union (then European Economic Community) took the brave steps to bring old enemies together. This peace project is built on a foundation of respect for human rights, democracy and inclusion, bringing prosperity to our citizens in the 27 Member States. These fundamental values are not only part of the EU’s “social contract”, but also at the core of foreign policy. This drive towards inclusiveness has now been translated into a joint effort of the Member States and the EU, called “Team Europe”, which is the provider of the world’s largest amount of grants for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, with a strong focus on poverty eradication.

Our collective Official Development Assistance (ODA) for partner countries around the world amounted to €70.2 billion in 2021 providing 43% of global ODA. A large part of this funding is being devoted to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. The latter has a particularly negative and increasing impact on the people living in poverty, as these vulnerable communities are less prepared when hit by natural disasters and environmental degradation, and suffering disproportionally more from the destruction of their homes, crops and livelihoods. Addressing climate change and fostering green development is a key element of EU and Member States’ actions through the promotion of sustainable energy, circular economy, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable land use, green agriculture, cleaner transport and industry. The Team Europe focus on “green recovery”, as a way forward to exit the ongoing multifaceted crisis, is one of the most recent iterations of the EU’s long-standing humanitarian and development partnership with Sri Lanka.

Over the last decades, the EU has stood shoulder to shoulder with Sri Lanka to help the country recover from its civil war, the 2004 Tsunami, the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the economic crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed social protection gaps as well as structural inequalities. Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine put an additional burden on global food prices and supply, which especially affect those already poor and vulnerable. The EU’s grants-based development cooperation has been adjusted to help people cope with economic hardship, to fight against gender inequalities, and to avoid social exclusion and resulting tensions. Hence, the EU has made an inclusive and peaceful society one of its priorities for its cooperation with Sri Lanka from 2021-2027, and as Team Europe, the EU and its Members States will work together with government, civil society and the private sector to address needs in this field. In this regard, an effective and fair justice system is the bedrock of any functioning democracy and it is one of the EU’s core values. With more conflicts and disputes generated by the loss of income and increased cost of living in today’s economic crisis, the impact is also felt on the legal system, where the efficient functioning of courts and mediation boards is being challenged. We hope that with the EU’s substantial support to the justice sector and direct support to the mediation boards, we can contribute to continued access to justice, particularly for the most vulnerable groups of the population, including women and children. For the EU, social justice, gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth are prerequisites for development, peace and inclusion, and it makes economic sense.

Through programmes that create an enabling business environment for women and youth in rural communities in Sri Lanka, we are increasing their income through climate-resilient employment opportunities and investments that ensures that no one is left behind in the journey towards poverty eradication. Recognising also that a healthy population is needed for development and helps to lift people out of poverty, the EU is working with its partners to improve the health and nutritional status of marginalised and underserved communities in more than 100 villages by providing kitchen gardens and increasing access to safe drinking water and sanitation. A significant part of EU’s cooperation in Sri Lanka is implemented through local and international civil society organisations. A vibrant civil society is important and provides a unique contribution in various sectors.

The 2030 Agenda aims to leave no one behind and international and national NGOs are essential for the achievement of these objectives, in particular by their activities in remote areas, usually poorly served by basic public services. The EU also sees an important role for civil society to act as a partner in policy dialogue with both development partners and the Government and as watchdogs and advocates for people’s interests and rights. NGOs and civil society play a role in eradicating poverty. On this 30th anniversary of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let’s put solidarity and shared responsibility at the centre of society. Results do not happen overnight. As the writer and diplomat Romain Gary once wrote “The paths that lead to freedom and human dignity go through many abysses and cannot therefore lead in one go to the summits”. Yet, the people of Sri Lanka can count on the EU as a friend and partner on this difficult but rewarding journey