Maravi

Protection of the poor is state’s obligation – UN expert

Protection of the poor is state’s obligation – UN expert
By Florence Bupe
Tue 22 June 2010, 13:50 CAT

A UNITED Nations (UN) independent expert on Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Magdalena Sepulveda, has advised government not to view investing in the protection of the poor as choice but a human rights obligation of the state.

In her report following a study on the situation of Zambians living in extreme poverty, Sepulveda stated that government’s investment in the protection of the poor was not simply a gesture of compassion.

“I must stress that investing in the protection of the poor is not a choice, it is not a gesture of compassion. It is a human rights obligation of the state,” Sepulveda stated.

“If we want to see economic growth changing the extreme inequalities of the Zambian social structure, if we want to see sustainable development, then investments in adequate social protection and social services must be made.”

And Sepulveda has advised government to ensure a more consistent and coordinated implementation of the national development agenda.

In the same report Sepulveda has warned that lack of coordination between government ministries and donors could greatly affect the implementation of development programmes.

She advised government to ensure a more consistent and coordinated implementation of the national development agenda.

“Lack of coordination between government ministries and various donors and the lack of decentralisation of public services can seriously affect the implementation of national plans,” Sepulveda stated. “I hope all partners will use the lessons learnt over the last number of years to ensure a more consistent and coordinated implementation of the Sixth National Development Plan.”

Sepulveda observed that public policies that lacked a participatory approach were usually ineffective and urged government to engage civil society more conclusively in the implementation of welfare policies.

“The civil society in Zambia should not only participate actively in the design of public policies but it should also be able to closely monitor and evaluate what is being done to realise human rights,” she stated.

Sepulveda has further stressed the need for government to invest in the social protection of the ageing, taking into account the likely demographic changes over the next few decades.

“In developing countries, it is predicted that the population at or above 60 years of age will triple, growing from 473 million in 2009 to 1.6 billion in 2050. These tremendous demographic shifts pose innumerable questions related to human rights as well as challenges to development,” stated Sepulveda.

Labels: MAGDALENA SEPULVEDA, POVERTY

posted by MrK @ 3:03 PM