(May 31, 2012) Caritas will host an International Congress on World Hunger and
Food Security in Vienna, Austria on June 1-2. The purpose of the meeting is to find
global solutions to why 925 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. "Every 12
seconds a child dies of hunger. Hunger is not inevitable; the causes are social, economic
and political," said President of Caritas Internationalis - Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez
Maradiaga, one of the keynote speakers. Delegates from around the world will discuss
the structural causes of hunger, how aid agencies can intervene effectively and the
fundamental right to food. The Vienna congress will bring together public authorities,
policy makers, academics, journalists and representatives of civil society worldwide.
"Finding solutions to hunger is at the heart of the work of Caritas," a press release
from the organization explained. "Caritas wants to unite the international community
around the world in the fight for the eradication of hunger and malnutrition." Several
speakers will address the conference. Tesfai Tecle, an adviser to Kofi Annan, will
deliver the speech of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, on the effects
of global injustice on hunger and malnutrition and on the steps to achieve real change.
Other speakers will discuss the role and responsibilities of the European Union in
the fight against hunger.