UNDP News Bulletins :: UNDP Launches second Arab Human Development Report in Amman
...Amman, Jordan, 20 October 2003:The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched its groundbreaking new Arab Human Development Report in a ceremony attended by leading Arab intellectuals and opinion leaders and hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The new report - titled Arab Human Development Report 200- Building A Knowledge Society focuses on the current state of learning and intellectual inquiry in the Arab world. "In today's world, knowledge has become the key to progress and growth," said Dr. Rima Khalaf, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States in UNDP. "Knowledge increasingly defines the line between wealth and poverty, between capability and powerlessness and between human fulfilment and frustration."
Dr. Khalaf, who supervised the writing of the report, made her remarks at an event this morning attended by senior Jordanian officials, Arab and international diplomatic missions, distinguished Arab personalities, the report's advisory board, and the media.
Dr. Khalaf was joined by H.E. Dr. Marwan Muasher, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan and Dr. Clovis Maksoud, Vice President of the Report's Advisory Board. Minister Muasher in his speech added: "Jordan is convinced that the Report provides an effective basis for addressing contemporary challenges to the Arab world. Our faith is reflected in the adoption of its core messages by His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania."
Muasher said that Jordan is committed to working in the framework of the Report's recommendation to pursue its own human development plans, and believes that Arab countries should not respond defensively to the report's findings or deny that some aspects of the status quo called for action. "We have to work courageously and with commitment to put right what is clearly wrong and build on our positive achievements," he said.
The Report, which is published by UNDP and co-sponsored by the Arab Fund for Social Development is written by Arabs for Arabs and outlines a vision of self-determined change, based on internal social reform and scrupulous self-criticism. The team concluded that successful reform of the region can only be initiated from within.
In order for the Arab region to achieve a knowledge society, the team of writers concluded the report by offering the region five strategic steps, dubbed the "five pillars":
* Guaranteeing the key freedoms of opinion, speech and assembly through democratic governance, supported by a legal framework
* Universal access to high quality education
* Making science an integral part of Arab societies, encouraging research and development and joining the information revolution
* Shifting rapidly towards knowledge-based and value-added production
* Developing an authentic, broadminded and enlightened Arab knowledge model
The landmark ceremony was followed by a press conference with the AHDR 2003 team and a presentation by Dr. Nader Fergany, the lead author of the Report. ...
For more information visit the Arab Human Development Report 2003.
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