VOICE EU

👏Congratulations Hadja Lahbib on your nomination as Commissioner for Preparedness Crisis Management and Equality! As the leading network of 90 European NGOs delivering principled #humanitarian action worldwide, we stand ready to collaborate with you! While we acknowledge the priorities outlined in the mission letter, we would like to highlight a few key areas that need further attention: 🔴Expanding space for principled humanitarian action 🔴Closing the funding gap to reach more communities in need 🔴Addressing the rising number of conflicts and climate-related disasters 🔽Find more in our Policy Resolution where we call on the #EU and Member States to take a stand and pledge for humanitarian action! https://lnkd.in/eDQ4Y8cV

🚨 New data reveals that 83% of food aid is being blocked from reaching #Gaza, pushing nearly half a million people to the brink of starvation. 15 aid organisations, including several VOICE members, are urgently calling for international action to address the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The blockade, which has now lasted almost a year, has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies, leaving the entire population facing hunger, disease, and extreme vulnerability. Key findings: 🔴83% of food aid is being blocked from entering Gaza. 🔴Over 50,000 children are at risk of severe malnutrition by the end of the year. 🔴Only 17 of 36 hospitals in Gaza are still partially operational. 🔴1.87 million people are in desperate need of shelter, with 60% of homes damaged or destroyed. As attacks intensify and aid remains systematically obstructed, #humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to provide critical support. Aid must never be politicised, and immediate international pressure is needed to ensure a #ceasefire, an end to aid obstruction, and compliance with international humanitarian law. 🔽Read the full joint press release here: https://lnkd.in/dtJdVUph CARE Save the Children International Save the Children Europe ActionAid Christian Aid War Child War Child Nederland Islamic Relief Worldwide Oxfam Oxfam EU office Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (DanChurchAid) Norwegian Church Aid / Kirkens Nødhjelp Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp Norwegian Refugee Council

📢 This #InternationalDemocracyDay, civil society calls on #EU leaders to take decisive actions to foster a vibrant civic space, uphold democracy and safeguard fundamental rights. The open letter #EUCivicSpaceNow, co-signed by VOICE and initiated by Civil Society Europe convenes 416 civil society organisations —from 26 Member States and 4 EU candidate countries— and is addressed to the upcoming Polish, Danish, and Cypriot Presidencies of the Council of the European Union, as well as the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The letter outlines concrete actions to promote democracy, enable, support and protect civil society, strengthen civil dialogue and protect human rights amid growing concerns over the erosion of democracy in the EU. Specifically, it calls for prioritising: 1️⃣ A European Civil Society Strategy 2️⃣ A strong mandate for a Commission Vice President responsible for democracy, civic space and civil dialogue 3️⃣ The adoption of a Civil Dialogue Agreement 4️⃣ Empowering funding policies 5️⃣ A European Democracy Semester 6️⃣ A stronger role of the Fundamental Rights Agency 🔽Read the letter, share, and support the cause!

🙏 Yesterday, together with CONCORD and the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) we organised the Meet and Sip reception at the European Parliament! It was an evening full of discussions that reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between civil society and the #EU in tackling humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding challenges worldwide. Special thanks to Udo Bullman for hosting us, to Barry Andrews MEP for his intervention and support, as well as to all MEPs, parliamentary assistants, and participants who joined us at the Meet and Sip reception yesterday! We look forward to working closely with all of you in this new EU term to continue advancing and promoting principled humanitarian aid and ensuring that needs-based, impartial support reaches those affected by crises around the world. #MEPsMeetCSOs #HumanitarianAid #Development #Peacebuilding

✳️Meet and Sip with key voices of European Civil Society! If you are an MEP or a Parliamentary assistant, join VOICE EU, CONCORD and European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) on 11 September to discuss humanitarian ,development and peace building matters! Click here to register ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZAz_CJg

📢 As the European Parliament prepares to vote on the 2025 EU budget, it is crucial that MEPs listen to the overwhelming support from European citizens for continued humanitarian aid, as recent surveys show that over 9 in 10 Europeans believe it is essential for the EU to fund #humanitarian aid globally. Despite this clear mandate, we face a critical moment where significant cuts to the aid budget are being considered. These cuts could have devastating impacts on vulnerable communities worldwide, particularly in regions like Myanmar, Mali, and Burkina Faso, where long-term development #funding is essential to prevent deeper crises. VOICE, alongside 12 humanitarian #NGOs, urges the European Parliament to uphold the EU's commitment to humanitarian action. Investing in aid today not only addresses immediate needs but also helps prevent the escalation of crises tomorrow. 📰 Read the full opinion here: https://lnkd.in/eGEAq7VZ Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam EU office, International Rescue Committee EU, World Vision EU Representation, CARE, ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM, ACT Alliance, Caritas Europa, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL, Save the Children Europe, HIAS Europe

✳️Meet and Sip with key voices of European Civil Society! If you are an MEP or a Parliamentary assistant, join VOICE EU, CONCORD and European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) on 11 September to discuss humanitarian ,development and peace building matters! Click here to register ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZAz_CJg

🔉"VOICE and its 90 members are calling on the EU and Member States to respect IHL and do more to safeguard and protect aid workers especially those on the front lines, local and national actors" 🔴VOICE President, Pauline Chetcuti, on #WordHumanitarianDay2024! Do you want to know more? Please click on the VOICE Policy Resolution 2024 below https://lnkd.in/eDQ4Y8cV

📢We are pleased to announce the launch of the #VOICE Policy Resolution 2024 “Take a Stand: Pledge for Humanitarian Action!”. As conflicts escalate and the #climate crisis intensifies, millions are suffering from acute food insecurity and displacement. This document serves as a crucial call to action for the EU and its Member States to strengthen their commitments to #humanitarian aid, especially in the context of the 2024 European elections. The Policy Resolution highlights the urgent need for political actors to focus on three priority areas: 1.    Close the funding gap 2.    Increase the space for humanitarian action 3.    Address the growing number of climate disasters This resolution urges the #EU to maintain its role as a global leader in humanitarian action and to use all relevant #political tools to create an environment conducive to addressing these growing needs. We encourage you to engage with these recommendations and support principled humanitarian action.

🔴The dedicated interview in the latest VOICE Out Loud features Dr Michael Koehler, Grand Bargain Ambassador, who provides an insightful analysis on the transformative potential of #AnticipatoryAction (AA) in humanitarian aid. Michael Koehler discusses the vision behind launching the Caucus on Scaling up Anticipatory Action and how it aims to reshape the landscape of #humanitarian response. Koehler elaborates on the importance of securing funding commitments to enhance coordinated AA and the specific challenges involved in achieving this goal. He emphasises the need for a #paradigm shift towards a proactive humanitarian approach that includes diverse forms of aid funding, reliance on #local knowledge, and improved cooperation with development, #climate action, and peacebuilding efforts. The interview highlights the critical role of localisation and leadership by local actors in AA. Koehler advocates for a more inclusive approach, ensuring that local organisations are integral to AA planning and implementation. He underscores the necessity of engaging a broad range of #stakeholders to foster a unified approach towards anticipatory measures. Read the full interview to gain valuable insights into the future of humanitarian aid and the strategic priorities for scaling up Anticipatory Action. 🔽🔽🔽