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At the start of 1948 India became independent from Britain - and at the end of the same year (10 Dec.) the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We may call it a second generation of HR. Their main focus is on development, education, civil liberties, personal security, and welfare. In today's world no one should be left living in destitution and without medical care.
Poverty is the trigger factor by which HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other epidemic diseases are devastating developing countries.

Tackling health problems is a key element in the fight against poverty.

• Every 30 seconds an African child dies of malaria - more then one million a year.
• 6 million children a year die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday.
• Every 3,6 seconds, someone dies of starvation.
• 6,500 people will die of AIDS in Africa today; they died yesterday and will die tomorrow.
• More than 800 million people still suffer from malnutrition.
• Some 3.7 billion people are living on the breadline with one to two $ a day.

It is often difficult to find immediate solutions for improving these tragic situations. Nevertheless, we must seek the right solutions together so that we will no longer have, side by side, the starving and the very rich, those who lack the necessary means and other who lavishly waste them. Such contrasts between poverty and wealth are intolerable for humanity. "It is the task of nations, their leaders and all the people of good will to seek every opportunity for a more equitable sharing of resources, which are not lacking… It requires 'firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good' (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis). This spirit calls for a change of attitude and habits with regard to lifestyles and the relationship between resources and goods, as well as an increased awareness of one's neighbour and his legitimate needs". (Pope John Paul II)