02 Jul 2007: ISS Today: No Poverty Reduction Without Human Rights, Democratic Governance, Peace and Security

02 July 2007: No Poverty Reduction Without Human Rights, Democratic Governance, Peace And Security

In light of the enormous challenges facing global efforts to eradicate poverty, in 2000 the international development community adopted specific targets for poverty reduction: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The overarching goal is to halve income poverty worldwide by 2015.

 

Despite the commitments contained in the MDGs, poverty and hunger are on the increase resulting in an ever-growing disparity between rich and poor, between and within nations. Africa exemplifies these particular challenges: the challenge of peace, the struggle against poverty and the struggle for development. It is not enough merely to recognise the fact that there are problems and challenges; the bigger issue is what is to be done in response.

 

As many critics have noted, among the shortcomings of the MDGs, is the insufficient attention given to human rights, gender and employment issues. There is a need to address a shared commitment to promoting the interconnected goals of development, peace and security, and respect for human rights.

 

Human rights and poverty

 

Despite the international mandate for a human rights approach to poverty eradication, such an approach, though based on venerable antecedents, has tended to be neglected in public justifications for the eradication of poverty.

 

From the human rights point of view, the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his or her economic, social and cultural rights, as well as his or her civil and political rights. In this regard, article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that:

 

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, … or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

 

Therefore, the eradication of widespread poverty, including its most persistent forms, and the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural, civil and political rights remain interrelated goals. Human rights may not only be used as an approach to attaining the goods entailed in the MDGs. They are entailed in the goals set by the MDGs themselves in so far as they seek the attainment of a certain minimum standard of life for people.

 

Democratic Governance

 

Democratic governance is central to the achievement of the MDGs, as it provides the ‘enabling environment` for the realisation of the MDGs and, in particular, the elimination of poverty. The critical importance of democratic governance in the developing world was highlighted at the Millennium Summit of 2000, at which the world`s leaders made a solemn resolution – “[to] spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development." A consensus was reached recongnising that improving the quality of democratic institutions and processes, and managing the changing roles of the state and civil society in an increasingly globalised world must underpin national efforts to reduce poverty, sustain the environment, and promote human development.

Since then, more countries than ever before are working to build democratic governance. Their challenge however, is to develop institutions and processes that are more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens, including the poor. African leaders should develop a greater capacity to deliver basic services to those most in need. Civil society organisationss should assist in doing this process.

 

Links between development, peace and security

 

Peace and security are a prerequisite of poverty elimination. In fact, without peace and security there can be no lasting development and poverty reduction. The lack, or failure, of development can be seen as contributing to instability and the eruption of conflict. Experience demonstrates that poverty, hopelessness, inequity and marginalisation are often among the root causes of devastating conflict. In crisis situations, and in societies emerging from conflict, human rights are often violated. International support for governance mechanisms leading to the restoration of the rule of law is important for the protection of human rights.

 

Development and security are inextricably linked. A more secure world is possible only if poor countries are given a real chance to develop. Extreme poverty and infectious diseases threaten many people directly, but they also provide a fertile breeding-ground for other threats, including civil conflict. Even people in rich countries would be more secure if their governments were to help poor countries to defeat poverty and disease by meeting the Millennium Development Goals. If this programme is successfully completed, it will half global poverty by 2015. Consequently, the international community should not view ‘soft’ threats as only part of the development agenda, but also as an important component of the peace and security agenda.

 

Yet, as demonstrated by the “blood diamond” effect, it is possible that "war has become profitable". People who are making money out of war, have a financial interest to ensure that conflict continues. Such phenomena are not unique to Africa. Conflict prevention and resolution and people-centred development therefore demands a striving for good governance, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, promotion of transparency and accountability in government and the enhancing of administrative and institutional capacity.

 

What is needed is a holistic approach to the peace and security agenda. The root causes for conflict – poverty, human rights abuses, lack of democracy – must be tackled. There is a need to sharpen the focus on conflict prevention, which includes both sustainable social and economic development to prevent conflicts in the first place and post-conflict efforts to prevent them from reigniting. While it is often more easy to raise money for humanitarian efforts than longer-term development assistance, it could in fact be cheaper to prevent conflict than to pay later for the damage done.

 

Conflict after conflict demonstrate the importance of good governance and viable government institutions. Unequal distribution of economic and political power causes conflict, and governance deficits make conflicts unmanageable. Development cooperation should now consciously gear towards contributing to peace building and conflict prevention.

 

Conclusion

Alleviating poverty is too daunting a task to be left only to government. The effort needs an integrated and holistic approach on the part of all stakeholders to harmonise their activities at national and state levels for all the peoples of the world. In developing countries, implementation of the Millennium Goals must focus on mobilising domestic resources, prioritising budget expenditure on the MDGs, and strengthening human rights, democracy and good governance as specified in the Millennium Declaration

 

We need to link the agenda of development, human rights and fight against extreme poverty, as well as efforts to empower people living in poverty to participate in decision-making processes on policies that affect them.. We cannot have security amidst starvation; we cannot build peace without alleviating poverty; and we cannot have either without a better environment. Only a peaceful society can work its way up to creating the institutions ripe for development, and free itself from injustices and human rights abuses.

 

Suffice it to say, every year around the world millions of families` lives and livelihoods are endangered, and entire communities are displaced because of conflicts - over resources such as land, water or oil, between ethnic or religious groups, or over political and social control. In many places, addressing issues of hunger, poverty, and suffering cannot begin until conflicts are resolved and peace established. At the same time, peace building efforts must be tied to the very causes of conflict itself – inequities – and must result in improvements in people`s everyday needs.

Dr Joseph Yav, ISS, Addis Ababa