Our SI UN Rep in Rome reports back on the end of phase 1 of the 1 Billion Hungry Campaign

Our Representative to the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation), Cinzia Palmi, reports back on the 140th Session of the FAO council and the closing of Phase 1 of the 1 Billion Hungry Campaign:

"The Session was chaired by Mr Luc Guyan, independent Chairperson of the Council, and it was attended by many representatives of the Member States and UN Agencies, International NGOs which have a formal status with FAO as well as a number of private sector agencies. The items in agenda were mainly of a technical, legal and financial character. I participated in item 7, particularly in the analysis of the Report of the 36th Session of the Committee on Food Security and the Report of the 22nd Session of the COAG, both endorsed; and the ceremony concluding the 1BH Project.

Wilma Malucelli, President of the Italian Union, and I held meetings with the following FAO Officials: Mr Thomas Price, Senior Programme Officer and Coordinator for NGOs/CSOs; Ms Marcela Villareal, Director, and Mrs Nora Ourabh Haddad of the Gender Equity and Rural employment Division. We also met Mr Zohrab Malek, Ambassador of Armenia, and Ms Cristina Gorajski, Coordinator of the AHG/INGOs. This was a great opportunity to learn more about the issues and share SI's perspective.

The ceremony concluding the 1BH project was very moving and interesting. The signatures were delivered - thank you to all Soroptimists who have contributed to the success of this campaign! Over 3 million people have signed the petition so far!

The success of the campaign has confirmed how strongly people react when they are acquainted with the dimension of the hunger problem. The campaign has now entered its second phase which will suggest various ways to contribute to the solution of the problem and publicise the single initiatives. The General Director Mr Diouf concluded “hunger is a complex problem. But it is not hopeless. Below this petition lies a global movement".

When we get more information on the second phase of the campaign we will post the information on the blog so watch this space!

To visit the 1 Billion Hungry website click HERE.