SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has shown his support for the world’s forgotten children at the Westminster launch of Save the Children’s new global campaign – Every Last Child.
Mr Durkan is also encouraging people in Derry to sign the charity’s new petition aimed at preventing the deaths of 16,000 children who needlessly die every day from preventable causes – and which calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to do everything in his power to help reach ‘every last child’.
The organisation reports that while progress has been made in reaching the world’s poorest children, those from discriminated groups are consistently overlooked, despite being the most at risk.
Save the Children says these children are forgotten because they live on the streets, in camps or remote villages – and discriminated against because of their gender, ethnicity or a disability.
Mr Durkan said: “I am delighted to support this important campaign which aims to end preventable child deaths and have every child learning by 2030.
“The world’s forgotten children are being pushed further into poverty and denied the life-saving healthcare and education they need to survive and thrive.
“The new Sustainable Development Goals include a promise to ‘leave no one behind’. It is therefore vital we take concrete steps to deliver upon that promise and ensure all children have access to education and healthcare.”
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