The international community must realise that poverty was rooted in political, social and economic injustices which need to be addressed urgently if it was to be eradicated, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said yesterday.
The President was addressing diplomats at the traditional event to exchange new year’s greetings at the Palace in Valletta.
“I believe policymakers need to change their approach, and be more comprehensive in their policy formulation. The poor and hungry of the world cannot wait any longer, and cannot afford our complacency or lack of action.”
Ms Coleiro Preca went on to say that another, equally important concern was the environment.
“In order to move from words to action, appropriate financial commitments have to be made, particularly to provide adequate support to developing countries and those most vulnerable to consequences of climate change.
The poor and hungry of the world cannot wait any longer, and cannot afford our complacency or lack of action
“Proper planning and pre-emptive action may be the only way we can save lives and our quality of life.”
Addressing the issue of migration, Ms Coleiro Preca said that this too must be regarded as a common concern and the dialogue initiated during the Valletta Summit, which took place in November, must not be a one-off occasion.
“It is with great satisfaction that I see this concern included in the agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and I commend everyone involved for having the courage and vision to acknowledge this, from a human rights standpoint.
“We need to view migration positively in this sense, and hence, we need to build bridges – not walls or borders,” the President said.
Women needed to be leaders taking decisions alongside their male counterparts, Ms Coleiro Preca said, adding that she believed women could make a difference in international peace and security by offering a complementary perspective, through a process of dialogue.
In her concluding remarks, the President said Malta was in an ideal position to contribute to stability in the region and could serve as “a regional catalyst to counteract terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism, by promoting a culture of peace, justice and religious tolerance”.