Manama, Oct 24 (BNA): Bahrain became the first country in the Arab world to launch the My World Global Survey, the focus of the 2013 United Nations (UN) Day, with the Minister of State for Information Affairs, Samira Rajab, voting on her priorities.
The survey, according to the UN, is a tool that enables every citizen in the world to vote on six of 16 developmental issues that most impact their lives. It helps people engage in a global conversation and debate on their own future as well as those of their future generations. This would make global leaders listen to the different voices and concerns. The voting could be done both physically as well as online
Addressing the gathering at the UN House, the minister said, “The United Nations Global Survey for a better world – the MyWorld Survey — launched on UN Day 2013, comes as part of the awareness raised by the organisation for an even more significant role in mitigating the developmental issues confronting some people in various parts of the globe.”
The regional conflicts witnessed in many parts of the world, including the Middle East, she said, have resulted in increased poverty, decline in development and education, destruction of natural assets and the environment. “This could be attributed to the limitation or inability of the UN in playing an increased and more effective role in dealing with these crises,” the minister said. Thus, the serious issues the UN organizations and agencies confront today, have become even more urgent than ever before, she added.
Turning to the progress made by the Kingdom of Bahrain, in the themes contained in the survey, Rajab pointed out that Bahrain has indeed exerted great effort to provide, protect and defend the social requirements – including better healthcare, making available nutritious food at affordable prices, gender equality, better penetration of telecommunication aids and the internet, political freedom and the progress on climate change agenda.
Bahrain, she said, provides highly subsidized educational, healthcare and residential services to both citizens and residents. In its unique way, the Kingdom is also adopting the path of reform and democracy, the minister said.
“Global diversity and plurality,” she said, “is what contributes to the spice of its existence. Accepting this plurality, it is evident that ready-made solutions cannot be imposed on cultures and peoples.”
Steady, continuous progress and not overnight solutions result in sustainable development processes and growth of both countries and peoples. She urged people of all opinions to show respect to every cultural, social and psychological characteristic. She asked everyone in Bahrain to help find home grown solutions, instead of imposing formula and rules coined by others for their purpose.
The minister expressed her appreciation of the sincere efforts of the UN in supporting cooperation between its various organizations and the Kingdom.
Delivering the inaugural address, the UN Resident Coordinator of Bahrain, Peter Grohmann, said the world is embarking on a discussion centred around the vision of the new post-2015 global development framework. This, he said, was necessitated with the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals of 2015 fast approaching.
In its efforts to define the new agenda, the UN Development Group – comprising the 27 members of the Secretary General’s high level panel – is facilitating a process of open, inclusive consultations to ensure every voice is heard. In Bahrain, he added, the UN aims to raise awareness of the survey among all segments of society, over the next few months. He urged the people of Bahrain to speak out their priorities in the new Post-2015 development agenda.
“Bahrain was strongly engaged in the MDG process. With your support we can gather a significant number of votes that reflect the needs and interests of the people here,” he said.
AAM