“Our world, our dignity, our future” is the focus of the European Year for Development in 2015. The IMVF alongside with public authorities and Portuguese civil society organizations coordinated by Camões- Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P., through the intervention in Lusophone countries and in Portugal, draw the attention to issues related to cooperation and development aid.
The official launch of the European Year for Development in Portugal took place on February 14th in Oporto at a ceremony that was attended by the former President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, the Foreign Secretary of State and Cooperation, Luis Campos Ferreira , the Mayor of Oporto, Rui Moreira, the chairwoman of Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, I.P., Ana Paula Laborinho, and the Ambassador of the European Year for Development, Cláudia Semedo. The IMVF was represented at this event by the Executive Director, Carlos Telles de Freitas.
Each year the European Union chooses a theme to raise awareness amongst European citizens and national governments on issues related to this topic. The main objective of the European Year for Development is to contribute to inform, raise awareness, and promote interest, participation, and critical thinking of Portuguese citizens regarding the cooperation policies for development of the European Union and the Member States, thus its results and benefits.
The European Year for Development occurs at the same time as the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and marks the beginning of fifteen years of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the new Global Development Agenda until 2030.
Each month is associated with a theme: January was the month of Europe in the world; February was dedicated to Education; March is the month of Women and Children; April will be dedicated to Health; May is focused on Peace and Security, June is going to be devoted to Sustainable Growth, Employment and Decent Enterprises; June will be keen on Children and Youth; August is going to be the Humanitarian Aid month; September is all about Migration and Demography; October will be dedicated to Food Safety; November will be committed to Sustainable Development; and December is going to be focused on Human Rights.
Many events linked to this year have been organized, in Portugal, among which an itinerant street exhibition of photographs about areas of development, journalism awards and academic works about national research of Cooperation and Education for Development. A major event that will be held is an international conference with the aim of contributing to the debate on the major challenges of development, and it will take place at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in April.
In the beginning of June the European Development Days will be one of the highlights of this Year’s program and it will take place in Brussels at the same time as the the High Level Forum on International Cooperation and Development in which it will be discussed solutions for member states and citizens to take an active role in the eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights worldwide.
Learn more about the European Year for Development here and on facebook.
Foto: Ano Europeu para o Desenvolvimento