"The suffering of children around the world serves as a constant reminder. Children's rights are continuously under risk and frequently abused." This takes place "not only in war zones, where we are facing a genuine humanitarian emergency, which particularly affects children". Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic, spoke at the award ceremony for the Burgio Prize, which honors Roberto Burgio, an internationally recognized pediatrician who died in 2014 and whose studies were published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics. The Head of State recalled many examples: "We are burdened by the heartbreaking memory of children who have long been in desperate conditions of malnutrition and medical neglect, as in Sudan; of children who have been kidnapped and taken from their families, as in Ukraine; of children, even newborns, who have been killed or abducted by terrorism, as on the infamous day of October 7th two years ago; children dying of hunger, even when hospitalized for malnutrition in facilities meant to save them but often destroyed by bombings, as in the inhuman, relentless situation of Gaza. This state of affairs represents a burden of incivility that is unsustainable for the international community". Mattarella maintained that these are "tragic consequences—truly tragic, as we all sense—of the brutal violence of war. These conditions are similar to what occurs in less fortunate places of the world. Malnutrition, hunger, and their effects on children’s growth must raise our conscience, the conscience of peoples". Mattarella recalls that "across the world, in many parts of it—as reported by international agencies, from UNICEF to the WHO—more than 200 million boys and girls suffer from malnutrition or chronic undernutrition. There has been progress in recent years, particularly in the last twelve—but also due to the effects of the current global situation, with rising conflicts and tensions—we are witnessing a serious, reprehensible decline in international aid destined for crisis zones, worsening the situation".  To the extent that "we are still far from achieving the development goals established by the UN for 2030". The Head of State inquires, "What future is humanity creating for itself? This is not a rhetorical question, nor is it out of place — in a time of rapid scientific advancement that provides increasingly sophisticated tools—if we measure it against the faces and emaciated bodies of so many children".  Consequently, the message left by Roberto Burgio, a pediatrician of international repute who passed away in 2014, "reinforces the need and expectation that the international community rediscovers within itself the reasons for solidarity that have enabled it to endure other trials".