Women, victims of poverty ” “

Going towards the poor, in the “existential peripheries”, with a 37 million-investment package. Manos Unidas – the Spanish Catholic Church’s association for aid, promotion and development in countries in the south of the world, published a report on activities in the financial year 2013. In a year in several countries – including Spain -have been direly hit by the economic and financial crisis, despite minor improvements, the Catholic NGO has allocated 37 million euro to poor people and families without material needs, following the invitation of Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii gaudium”. Near the last. In 2013, Manos Unidas overall revenues amounted to over 43 million euro, 89.6% of which (39 million) were given by the private sector, while the public sector contributed with only 10.4% (4 and a half million) of the total sum. In 2013 fund collections have further decreased as an effect of the crisis. A 8.9% decrease compared to the previous year is mainly due to a severe drop in public funding, with 34.1% cuts compared to 2012. “In spite of this, unconditional support of our 84.524 members, our fundamental pillar – we were told by the ONG – along with the austerity and the simplicity characterizing our actions have enabled us to devote 90% of our expenses to Manos Unidas which consist of public awareness initiatives, (5,8%), and development projects (84,8 %)”. As a result, in 2013 Manos Unidas adopted 601 projects aimed at ensuring, following the Pope’s words, that “all people become the masters of their own destiny”. Cooperation for development initiatives have been carried out across 57 African, American and Asian countries. Millions of euros were invested in initiatives aimed at decreasing the effects of poverty, exclusion and inequality affecting over 3 million people who benefit from the projects implemented by the Church’s NGO. Emergency situations. “During the year – Manos Unidas made known – we have addressed also a set of emergencies, along with the tragedy caused by famine, conflicts, natural disasters or adverse climate effects. We have done so through 27 emergency interventions, with approximately one million 300 thousand euro grants. Nearly 614thousand people, victims of conflicts (Syrian refugees in Jordan, South Sudan, Somalia, Central-African Republic…) victims of famime (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mali, Northern Kenya…) or natural disasters (Philippines, Guatemala, Northern India or Haiti) were involved in the aids program”. Among the various initiatives, the NGO offered its ongoing support to the Philippine population, seriously hit by the tragic consequences of the Haitian typhoon. Also in 2013 Manos Unidas joined the campaign: “A single human family, food for all”, and it took part in the Food Security Committee (FAO). The NGO also promoted the publication of the Report: “The Hunger challenge”, which deals with the problem of poverty, starting with the reality of the globalized world. “This wouldn’t have been possible – points out Manos Unidas – without the support of almost 5.300 volunteers, thousands of anonymous benefactors, companies, institutions, which understood that beyond our borders the crisis is a matter of survival”. Man-woman equality. In 2013, Manos Unidas promoted the campaign “No justice without equality”, with which it undertook a one year-long commitment aimed at ensuring equal rights for women and men. “Our purpose was to promote public awareness at social level. In fact, women are the most affected by world poverty – said the President of Manos Unidas, Soledad Suárez -, malnutrition, and illiteracy. Certain cultures don’t respect their freedom of movement nor their decision-making capacities, and often they’re the victims of physical, sexual and psychological violence. Manos Unidas denounced these situations of inequality and has supported activities aimed at defending the dignity of women, by implementing initiatives of prevention and support in situations of severe poverty, promoting their social presence and the integral development of women as persons”.