Opinion Pieces Address SDGs’ Commitment To Ending Hunger

Huffington Post: Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime
Greg Barrow, World Food Programme’s global media coordinator

“…[T]he new Sustainable Development Goals demonstrate that addressing global hunger is everyone’s problem, and if we are really going to banish it, then everyone needs to play a role. … [I]f we really believe in building a better, more sustainable future, it is in developing countries that we need to be addressing the root causes of hunger to ensure that the next generation has a future that is defined by zero hunger. The Sustainable Development Goals give us genuine grounds for optimism that this can be achieved. They are time-bound, measurable, and everyone who is involved in delivering them will be held to account…” (9/2).

Huffington Post: Can We End Hunger in the Next 15 Years?
Åsa Skogström Feldt, president and CEO of The Hunger Project

“…[W]hat will it take to [end hunger by 2030]? It will take global commitment. It will take political will. But most critically, it will take a strong, responsive, inclusive development process, starting at the community level. … Ending hunger requires us to grapple with the very human issues — patriarchy, disempowerment, lack of opportunity, resignation, powerlessness — that hold hunger in place. Ending hunger is possible technically, but hunger is not fundamentally a technical issue. It is a human one” (9/2).

Huffington Post: Ending Hunger, from Dadaab Refugee Camp to the USA
Ambassador Tony Hall, executive director emeritus of the Alliance to End Hunger

“…Sustainable development is no longer a goal exclusively for the world’s poorest countries — it is now a universal responsibility for all of us. … We can end hunger by 2030, but it won’t happen on its own. We need to be diligent and proactive in forming strategic partnerships that are sensitive to both universal and context-specific needs, and are inclusive of historically marginalized groups. This rings true as we tackle hunger at home and around the world” (9/2).

Huffington Post: To Achieve Food Security, We Must Prioritize Women’s Rights as Human Rights
Tarja Halonen, former president of the Republic of Finland

“…Global and national leaders must acknowledge the critical need to link action in addressing food security to national strategies across sectors. This must include realizing the human rights of women and girls, investing in gender equality — including in girls’ education, eliminating violence and harmful practices, and upholding sexual and reproductive health rights. Given the strong correlation between food security and maternal and infant mortality rates, agricultural and food security programs must expand their horizons to be successful. Let us commit to a renewed emphasis on providing for dietary diversity, nutritional fortification, and health services for women, adolescent girls, and children as part of our goal of ending hunger. By taking a holistic approach to ending hunger, women and girls can be empowered to reach their full potential” (9/2).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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