BonelliErede was the main sponsor of the conference “Children in Protracted Crises” in Genoa on 16 June, hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa and Enrico De Barbieri (Honorary Consul of South Africa).

The conference was aimed at raising public awareness of the difficulties faced by millions of children around the world by comparing the situation in South Africa with that of many other countries. Italian President Sergio Mattarella awarded the conference the “Medal of Representation of the President of the Republic” as a sign of his personal appreciation for what he considers a deserving initiative.

Indeed, today’s figures on child poverty are shocking: 167 million children live in extreme poverty and, between 2016 and 2030, 69 million under the age of five are expected to die and 250 million are expected to be living in countries affected by armed conflict (according to UN data).

Moreover, approx. 60 million children worldwide do not attend school, thus demonstrating how instability in countries impedes one of the UN’s main goals for its 2030 agenda: quality education.

Speakers included Bathabile Dlamini (Minister of Social Development of the Republic of South Africa), Giacomo Guerrera (founding member of UNICEF Italia), and Benyam Dawit Mezmur (Vice President of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child). Enrico Davoli (Global Health Consultant from the World Health Organization) served as moderator.

BonelliErede’s Giampiero Succi (lead partner for the firm’s growth in Ethiopia and East Africa), Giovanni Domenichini and Daniele Gambirasio attended.

BonelliErede recently expanded its international footprint by opening two new offices in Africa (Cairo and Addis Ababa) to further support African projects, including those focused on social issues. Indeed, helping underprivileged children and young people is one of the main pillars of the firm’s social responsibility charter.