Higgins leads tributes to Trócaire on 50th anniversary

President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to the charity Trócaire on its 50th anniversary.

“Trócaire’s dedication to alleviating global poverty and suffering have made a significant impact on countless lives,” he said.

“The compassion and empathy it has shown over these five decades demonstrates the positive change that can be achieved through collective efforts that support long-term development, as well as educational and advocacy work about the root causes of poverty and injustice.”

He “the distinctive work of Trócaire, however, is its willingness to go beyond immediate humanitarian relief, desperately needed, and to challenge the structural sources of poverty and exclusion.”

Trócaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra said “poverty is more than the absence of basic needs, it is the absence of opportunity, voice, power, and control over one’s destiny. Over the past 50 years, Trócaire has supported millions of people to use their own power to fight injustice and poverty.”

“Trócaire’s history is owned by the people in Ireland who together for 50 years have demonstrated unyielding solidarity with people who are marginalized and discriminated against. It is also owned by our courageous partner organisations overseas, who are at the centre of positive change for their communities. ”

“Today, Trócaire works with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice – and to respond to the crises they create.”

The charity are marking its 50th anniversary with a conference titled “Local Power, Global Justice.”

Former President Mary Robinson said “I’ve long appreciated Trócaire’s commitments to and indeed understanding of, climate justice. Both themes for this conference, closing civil society space and climate justice are important and very timely.”

“I particularly welcome that the discussion will be through the lens of localisation. I know that the title, ‘Local Power, Global Justice’ is also the way Trócaire describes its organisational strategy. And I’ve seen this personally, in the way it successfully operates through local organisations.”