Hasina's peace model goes to next UN session
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's peace model will be presented at the next UN General Assembly session for endorsement in October this year, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said yesterday.
The model that speaks not only of economic development, but also of people's empowerment and "social inclusion of all segments of people" has been widely appreciated, she said.
Once adopted by the UN, it would be used as a global model for peace and sustainable development, Dipu Moni said at a press briefing on conclusion of a two-day international conference in Dhaka on “People's Empowerment and Development”.
Representatives from the UN and 62 member-countries, and civil society members attended conference organised by the foreign ministry, and held at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel.
Hasina had put forward the model at the UN General Assembly session last year. It addresses seven issues -- eradicating poverty and hunger; reducing inequality; mitigating deprivation; creating jobs for all; inclusion of excluded people; accelerating human development and fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Lauding the model at the global meet in Dhaka, Indian Minister for Rural Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation Jairam Ramesh said it is something that speaks of sustainable development.
It is "inclusive and applicable to all countries" whereas Millennium Development Goals that originated in the West is meant only for the developing countries, he said.
Ramesh called for distribution of economic benefits and incorporating all segments of people in the mainstream.
“Otherwise, highly educated people including doctors and engineers could become terrorists. Ending terrorism is not possible only by cutting poverty…sense of inclusion should be there.”
He emphasised withdrawing restrictions on movement of people as there is an imbalance due to an increase of ageing population in the developed countries and young population in the developing ones.
The Indian minister asked all to make accountable those responsible for climate change affecting the developing countries.
UN-Habitat Under Secretary General Joan Clos said "inclusive and sustainable development model is a need of the day for social cohesion." He asked all to think of the huge population and urbanisation problems, and ways of addressing those.
The Maldives Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Hameed suggested modifying the UN system to include the countries still excluded from its membership as a shift in global development paradigm.
G-77 Chair and Algeria's Permanent Representative to the UN Murad Benhehdi said the international community must put people at the centre of all development policies.
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister GI Peiris said the governments should keep vigilance on smuggling, piracy for terrorism funding and proliferation of small arms.
“Saarc countries can share intelligence…because no country can fight terrorism in isolation,” he said. He also emphasised cutting people's deprivation and inequalities.
Bhutan's Works and Human Settlement Minister Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes were also present at the press meet.
Comments