2011-02-19 18:08:13

Invest in children, Vatican delegate tells UN


(February 19,2011) The Holy See delegate to the United Nations, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt has called on nations to “invest in children” as part of the solution to poverty eradication. In a speech recently at the United Nations, Archbishop Chullikatt stated that “the deepest needs of the human person” go far beyond food, water and shelter. Authentic social development hinges on respect for the dignity of each human person. Speaking before the U.N. Commission on Social Development, he drew attention to declining population growth in the West as a factor in nations struggling to provide social services. In contrast, “human history teaches us that if there is sufficient investment in children they will grow up to contribute far in excess of what they have consumed, thereby raising the standard of living for all.” He criticized measuring development only in economic terms, insisting that the “eradication of poverty cannot be based only on measurable economic outcome. Rather, authentic development requires fostering the development of each human being and of the whole human being”. He reminded delegates that the Copenhagen Summit of 1995 agreed by consensus that people are at the center of development.








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