As global consultations to shape the world future development vision gain momentum, a forum on conflict and fragility with a focus on Africa kicked off yesterday at the Golden Gate Hotel outside Monrovia.
Drawn from all continents, the participants are from governments, civil society, youth organizations, traditional leaders, women and faith-based organizations, among others.
The Monrovia consultation is designed to mobilize global consensus on the importance of accounting for peace and security in the successor development framework by addressing the inter-relationship between armed conflicts, fragility, organized violence, disaster and sustainable development.
The two-day Monrovia meeting which climaxed today is exploring possible goals, targets and indicators that will help to account for peace, security and fragility. It strives to also strengthen a global coalition of partners to advocate for a deeper understanding of the impact of conflict, violence and fragility in the post-2015 development agenda.
Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is one of three co-chairs of the High-level panel, alongside Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.
The United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), the UN Peace-building Support Office (PBSO), the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are leading the call for input on issues related to conflict and fragility, supported by the Government of Finland.
The event is the latest UN-led thematic consultation calling for input from a wide cross-section of society on how issues concerning disasters, conflict and citizens' security can be integrated into a new universal development framework.
Speaking during yesterday's opening ceremony, a representative of the Government of Finland, Anne Sipilainen, said the meeting is one of the cornerstones of the global thematic consultation process on conflict and fragility that the government of Finland supports. “It is a privilege to be part of a historic process of formulating future development goals for the world.”
According to her, the focus of the meeting is on fragility. She said over 1.5million people live in countries that suffer from violence conflicts or constant political and criminal violence.
This causes immense human suffering, distress and insecurity. Weak institutions that lack legitimacy are unable to generate security, justice and economic development, she said.
Mrs. Anne Sipilaimen also promised that UN Secretary General 236-member high level panel of eminent persons on the 2015 development agenda will play a critical role in the process of formulating future development goals.
Meanwhile on behalf of Ambassador Harrison O. Solaja, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission [SRCC], Mrs. Prosper Aidoo, said the dialogue aims to help member states, civil society, the private sector, and inter – governmental organizations generate discussions on how best to integrate issue related to conflict, fragility and violence.
She said in order to reach decisions about a succeeding development Agenda on the way forward, the indentified major obstacles of conflict, violence and disaster must be carefully analyzed, properly understood and underlying structural causes identified towards proffering realistic solutions in enhancing the security and development nexus.
The African Union has taken major steps in the area of peace and security in addressing challenges related to conflict, violence and disasters. This is demonstrated in the establishment and security Architecture [APSA] and its post- conflict Reconstruction and Development [PCRD] policy framework, she added.
The UN Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] established in 2000 had the overall objective of improving lives of people, particularly the poor, in respective UN member states across the world in areas of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women as well as reducing child mortality rates, among others.
Conflict, violence and disaster risks are widely recognized as significant obstacles to achieving the MDGs in many developing countries, a release from the UNDP said.
UNICEF, the UN Peace-building Support Office, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are leading the call for input on issues related to conflict and fragility, supported by the Government of Finland.
Ahead of the 2015 target date for the MDGs, global consultations on 11 themes – including governance, inequalities, health, education, and conflict and fragility – are part of an unprecedented open and inclusive process. Global thematic consultations will be complemented by national dialogues with governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders staged in at least 50 developing countries. Writes As global consultations to shape the world future development vision gain momentum, a forum on conflict and fragility with a focus on Africa kicked off yesterday at the Golden Gate Hotel outside Monrovia.
Drawn from all continents, the participants are from governments, civil society, youth organizations, traditional leaders, women and faith-based organizations, among others.
The Monrovia consultation is designed to mobilize global consensus on the importance of accounting for peace and security in the successor development framework by addressing the inter-relationship between armed conflicts, fragility, organized violence, disaster and sustainable development.
The two-day Monrovia meeting which climaxed today is exploring possible goals, targets and indicators that will help to account for peace, security and fragility. It strives to also strengthen a global coalition of partners to advocate for a deeper understanding of the impact of conflict, violence and fragility in the post-2015 development agenda.
Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is one of three co-chairs of the High-level panel, alongside Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.
The United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF), the UN Peace-building Support Office (PBSO), the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are leading the call for input on issues related to conflict and fragility, supported by the Government of Finland.
The event is the latest UN-led thematic consultation calling for input from a wide cross-section of society on how issues concerning disasters, conflict and citizens' security can be integrated into a new universal development framework.
Speaking during yesterday's opening ceremony, a representative of the Government of Finland, Anne Sipilainen, said the meeting is one of the cornerstones of the global thematic consultation process on conflict and fragility that the government of Finland supports. “It is a privilege to be part of a historic process of formulating future development goals for the world.”
According to her, the focus of the meeting is on fragility. She said over 1.5million people live in countries that suffer from violence conflicts or constant political and criminal violence.
This causes immense human suffering, distress and insecurity. Weak institutions that lack legitimacy are unable to generate security, justice and economic development, she said.
Mrs. Anne Sipilaimen also promised that UN Secretary General 236-member high level panel of eminent persons on the 2015 development agenda will play a critical role in the process of formulating future development goals.
Meanwhile on behalf of Ambassador Harrison O. Solaja, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission [SRCC], Mrs. Prosper Aidoo, said the dialogue aims to help member states, civil society, the private sector, and inter – governmental organizations generate discussions on how best to integrate issue related to conflict, fragility and violence.
She said in order to reach decisions about a succeeding development Agenda on the way forward, the indentified major obstacles of conflict, violence and disaster must be carefully analyzed, properly understood and underlying structural causes identified towards proffering realistic solutions in enhancing the security and development nexus.
The African Union has taken major steps in the area of peace and security in addressing challenges related to conflict, violence and disasters. This is demonstrated in the establishment and security Architecture [APSA] and its post- conflict Reconstruction and Development [PCRD] policy framework, she added.
The UN Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] established in 2000 had the overall objective of improving lives of people, particularly the poor, in respective UN member states across the world in areas of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women as well as reducing child mortality rates, among others.
Conflict, violence and disaster risks are widely recognized as significant obstacles to achieving the MDGs in many developing countries, a release from the UNDP said.
UNICEF, the UN Peace-building Support Office, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are leading the call for input on issues related to conflict and fragility, supported by the Government of Finland.
Ahead of the 2015 target date for the MDGs, global consultations on 11 themes – including governance, inequalities, health, education, and conflict and fragility – are part of an unprecedented open and inclusive process. Global thematic consultations will be complemented by national dialogues with governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders staged in at least 50 developing countries.
