Viva Salud condemns the budget cuts imposed by Bart De Wever's new Arizona government. Development cooperation, which we prefer to call international solidarity, is essential for the fair and healthy development of all countries. It is not a variable that can be sacrificed. Arizona wants to impose 25% budget cuts, forcing us to increase fundraising from Belgian citizens while reducing their tax interest from 45% to 30%. This is unacceptable, and we call on everyone to participate in the demonstration on 13 February.
The 0.71% target: a necessary and achievable goal
Decided in the wake of decolonisation, the financing of 0.71% of GDP for development cooperation for countries deemed most advanced by the United Nations was intended to reduce the gap between the South and the North and thus reduce poverty. For Viva Salud, this responsibility is not linked to a wishful thinking that is over 50 years old or to making our world safer, as we have heard in recent weeks. For us, this responsibility is linked to the uncontrolled colonisation that plundered the riches and the structures of these countries, leaving them in a state of agony. This responsibility is linked to the disastrous consequences of the structural adjustment policies imposed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the 1990s and continuing today. This responsibility is linked to the fact that we are all human beings and that international solidarity is a key issue in the 21st century, to which we must contribute as best we can.
An essential pillar for a fairer world
International solidarity is an essential lever for ensuring a more balanced and sustainable world. Far from being limited to one-off aid, it is based on structural actions which help to combat inequality and bring about lasting improvements in people's living conditions. However, many countries struggle to invest in these areas due to economic and political constraints, including unfair trade rules, crippling debt and tax evasion. International solidarity plays a key role here as a tool for rebalancing these unfair dynamics. It promotes the equitable sharing of resources, the strengthening of essential public services and the transformation of systems that perpetuate poverty and exclusion. This is neither assistance nor charity; it is a collective commitment to a world where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity. By supporting approaches focused on social justice, sovereignty and fundamental rights, international solidarity contributes to building more resilient societies, where health and well-being are no longer a privilege, but a universal right.
Call to action: let's take to the streets on 13 February!
Join Viva Salud in the International Solidarity block this Thursday, 13 February, to call on the Belgian government to:
- maintain or increase the development cooperation budget in order to meet international commitments to ensure a fairer and more sustainable world; ;
- Maintain the 45% tax deduction for donations of €40 or more per year so as not to diminish this encouraging measure of support for civil society here and elsewhere.
By continuing to invest in international solidarity, Belgium will contribute to a future where social justice and solidarity prevail.
