July 08, 2005

Violence is obstructing in the attainment of MDGs in many South Asian countries

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

As leaders of the world meet in New York this September, they will have to renew their pledge to implement the actions in their respective countries to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Five years ago the world leaders had come together to declare that they would halve poverty, ensure universal primary education and provide access to drinking water, among others, to their people within 2015.

However, if initial reports are anything to go by, a number of poor countries including Nepal might not attain all the goals within the prescribed timeframe. And one of the major reasons for their likely failure is the raging internal conflicts.  

Therefore, to discuss the prospects of these countries, a three-day Regional Workshop on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Violent Conflict, was organized in Kathmandu last week.

The workshop organized jointly by the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV/Nepal), the UN system in Nepal and International Alert concluded that the MDGs constitute of basic freedoms for people – freedom from fear, want and freedom to live in dignity.

It stressed on the importance of attaining the targets of MDGs for countries mired in violent conflict. “The MDGs are only as good as the way they are used; especially in violent conflict, the quality of the development process is more important than reaching rapid results,” the statement issued by the organizers read.

“The workshop also concluded that the MDGs need to be adaptable and flexible and be based on local needs,” said Keshab Man Shakya, of SNV/Nepal.

Around 70 participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and from international organizations took part in the workshop where experts made several presentations on the theme of conflict and development.

“Participants also gave examples of strategies to work within conflicts. The workshop is one of a series organized by SNV in Nepal, Burkina Faso, Peru and Uganda between April and July 2005 on building local capacities to help implement the MDGs. The workshops finish with an International Conference in The Hague in September 2005 to review global progress on achieving the MDGs,” states the press release issued by the organizers.

“The MDGs constitute basic freedom and human rights of people. It is linked with people’s daily lives, their bread and butter issues. As such, they are not rhetorical at all,” said Matthew Kahane, resident coordinator of UN system in Nepal.

Dan Smith, the secretary general of International Alert, said that since “violence was holding back development in Nepal,” it is necessary to evolve new national consensus.

The workshop has concluded in the context of violent conflict, MDGs must be implemented taking care of local sensitivities and the conflict potential. “There is no single correct methodology for addressing conflict issues; the means used must always be responsive to the specific situation, which means paying close attention to the realities of the conflict. Collecting accurate data about people’s situation in areas of conflict is difficult and the results may mask as much as they reveal about the true situation,” reads the joint statement from the organizers.

Likewise, the workshop has also emphasized on the peace-building activities. “Violent conflict has multiple effects on the situation of women, who both face specific forms of violence and abuse, and can find new opportunities as a result of conflict. The adverse effects of conflict on women and their capacities as actors for peace must be recognized in any peace-building process. Peace-building has to be a sustained process and therefore requires capacity building, which as much as possible should continue even amid an eruption of violence,” they concluded.