HON. MARK BOTOMANI

Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology,
Republic of Malawi

Honorable Mr. Mark Botomani is the Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology of the Republic of Malawi. Hon. Mark Botomani also acts as the official spokesperson for the Malawi Government.Before appointed as the Minister in June 2019, Hon. Botomani was the Member of Parliament for Zomba-Chisi region from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Zomba-Chisi constituency has never had someone holding a ministerial position before him. Hon. Botomani is dedicated to bring about diversity to the government agendas that the Ministry of Information empowers all citizens with social and economic development and prosperity. The Ministry of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology has a mandate to provide policy direction and guidance in the production and dissemination of public information; coordinate and manage ICT development and services. The main objective of the Ministry is to provide an enabling environment for the development and usage of information, civic, education and communication technologies.

In addition to his accomplishments behind the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the draft of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, Mr. Dieng has lectured on international law and human rights and acted as a consultant for many organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ford
Foundation and the African Union.

Event Title: Inclusive Social Development in Achieving the Global Goals 2030 Date: September 25, 2019

KEYNOTE SPEECH

 

 

Video Link:

H.E. ADAMA DIENG

UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide

Adama Dieng is the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. As a legal and human rights expert, Mr. Dieng has a distinguished career in contributing to the strengthening of rule of law, fighting impunity and promoting capacity-building in the area of judicial and democratic institutions. Further, he contributed to the establishment of several non-governmental organizations in Africa. Mr. Dieng began his career as Registrar of the Regional and Labour Courts in Senegal, and served as Registrar of the Supreme Court of Senegal for six years. He joined the International Commission of Jurists in 1982, serving the organization in different capacities, including as Legal Officer for Africa and Executive Secretary till 1990. He served a further 10 years as its Secretary-General, a period during which he was appointed as the United Nations Independent Expert for Haiti (1995-2000).

In addition to his accomplishments behind the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well as the draft of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, Mr. Dieng has lectured on international law and human rights and acted as a consultant for many organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Ford
Foundation and the African Union.

Event Title: Inclusive Social Development in Achieving the Global Goals 2030    Date: September 25, 2019
 

KEYNOTE SPEECH

In 2015, the international community adopted an ambitious, comprehensive global development agenda that promised to leave no one behind. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was not only a well-developed document, but it also reflects what humanity can achieve whenever they decide to collectively tackle most pressing challenges. Through this declaration, member states, solemnly agreed that Sustainable Development Goals should become the basis for international development cooperation.

This framework provides the international community with the golden opportunity to position social justice and economic development for all at the center of global agenda. -both as an important end in itself and as an essential means to achieve peace and prosperity for all. SDGs offers a real opportunity to drive lasting change and to bring universal, comprehensive and transformative change in people’s lives. The new agenda is based on 17 goals which are interrelated but also complementary. From SDG 1 on the eradication poverty to SDG 17 on alliances to achieve the goals, each one of them is closely linked to inequality and inclusion.

However, it is equally true that, our commitment to build an inclusive society, raises the question of inclusion in what? in what type of society are people to be included? It requires us to ask in what type of society we want to live and more importantly, how we achieve that society. We need to consider what the values of an inclusive society are and what the institutional arrangements that would embody these would be. Social inclusion is a process that aims to create a ‘society for all’, a society in which everyone is an integral part and at the center of what is to be achieved.  

Social inclusion focused development, is about guaranteeing human rights and promoting social justice for all, increasing the quality of life of citizens and improving individual wellbeing. An inclusive society is one that rises above differences of race, gender, class, generation and geography to ensure equality of opportunity regardless of origin. In an inclusive society, social interaction is governed by an agreed set of social institutions. The capability of all citizens to determine how those institutions function and relate to their day to day lives, is indeed a hallmark of an inclusive society.

Inclusion requires five dimensions to be effective and indeed meaningful to a society concerned. Roughly it would include; Visibility – to be recognized as a member of the society; consideration – that the needs and concerns of all individuals and groups in society are taken into account by policy planners; access to social interactions – that everyone has the same rights to participate; equal rights – that the human rights set out in wide range of international and regional instruments are domesticated and all members of society are able to claim them; and access for all to resources necessary to participate fully in society. Yet we all agree that these five goals are indeed aspirational, as no country can claim to have achieved them all. However, despite this reality, it is always useful to aspire to something positive whose realization can always enhance the future and wellbeing of humanity.

It is true that a nation’s most valuable resource, far greater than anything in its possession, is its people – its human capital – and how well it performs in productivity and raising living standards depends critically on how available legal and institutions framework responds to their needs and wellbeing. Inclusive development requires people to be at the center of development. Unfortunately, we continue to witness how extreme poverty and inequality continue to be a badge of shame and hopelessness to millions of our fellow citizens. Despite this reality, we must be candid enough to admit that this situation is not and should not be the way it is. It can and should change.

Most people in this room will agree with me that, many people around the world don’t die because of lack of hospitals or clinics. They die because of lack of access and coverage of health care system. FAO has shown that while hunger is claiming millions of victims annually, the truth is a third of all the food produced worldwide is wasted. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow, leaving a trail of exclusion, injustice and undermining the social fabric. What is evident from this sad revelation is that, inequality, violence, and injustice threaten both short and long-term social and economic development and harms not just those who are excluded but also has the potential to undermine the fabric of the society. To reduce inequality, we must broaden access to services, to opportunities and to resources.

Kofi Annan, an indisputable champion of people centered development, once noted, “It is not realistic to think that some people can go on deriving great benefits from globalization while billions of their fellow human beings are left in abject poverty. We have to give at least a chance to share in our prosperity to our fellow citizens, not only within each nation but in the global community”. I sincerely believe that, injustice thrive when human rights are violated, rule of law is considered an inconvenient barrier to those in power, political space is shrunk, legitimate aspirations of citizens are ignored or crushed altogether and many people especially youths lack positive prospects and meaning for their lives.

In many countries I have visited throughout the world, one of the most common explanation given by those who have taken up arms against their respective governments is exclusion and marginalization. The perception of or actual exclusion of certain communities or groups of people is a key driver to armed conflicts. It is important that governments distribute resources and provide social and economic opportunities to ensure equitable participation of all citizens in the development agenda.

As I conclude, let me reiterate my conviction that, if we are to achieve inclusive development and sustainable peace, we must reaffirm our commitment to the primacy of human dignity and agency of human in development itself. We must put humanity at the center of development. The central objective of any development pursuit should be to uplift humanity from the misery of poverty and injustice. As underscored by the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.” It is our fundamental duty that we continue to solemnly honour and apply these words. But also use the very words as standard to hold accountable those who violate them. Irrespective of who they are.

 

Video Link:

UNGA Conference 2019: Awards Ceremony

 

 

UNGA CONFERENCE 2019
Transforming Our World: Inclusive Social Development for All
25 September 2019, Wednesday

 

The UNGA Conference pays tribute to outstanding individuals and organizations that contributed to sustainable peace and development while promoting as well as protecting the culture of peace, diversity, inclusive society, human rights, empowerment of women and youth at local, national, and global levels. In 2019, the Journalists and Writers Foundation and its 36 Global Partners recognized three exceptional individuals (foundations) who have promoted and contributed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by inspiring millions of people and organizations around the world. The altruism, philanthropy, dedication, and commitment of the winners are worth it to make our world a better place for everyone.

Ken Egbas
Chief Responsibility Officer, TruContact CSR Nigeria

 

 

 

 

The Culture of Peace Award was presented to Mr. Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in recognition of his commitment to human rights and for working tirelessly to keep the legacy of Nelson Mandela alive and further Madiba’s vision of freedom and equality for all, in a spirit of solidarity, remembrance, tolerance and reconciliation. The award is presented by José Igreja Matos, President of the European Association of Judges.

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The Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Award was presented to Mr. Tushar Gandhi, Founder and President of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, in recognition of his contribution to the defense and promotion of Gandhian values ​​and principles (nonviolence, democracy, tolerance and pluralism ) to address the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. The UNGA Conference 2019 also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, who inspired millions of people in India and around the world to defend peace and justice for all. The award is presented by Hon. Mark Botomani, Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology.

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The Youth Empowerment Award was presented to Enes Kanter, NBA player for Boston Celtics, human rights defender and founder of the Enes Kanter Foundation, for his remarkable contribution to promoting the advancement of young people through the establishment of 50 Summer basketball camps in 50 states in the US, which traditionally empowered marginalized and overlooked youth to succeed in life and become productive citizens. The award is presented by Craig Foster, Football broadcaster; Author; Ambassador for Human Rights.

PANEL 3: Protection of Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights

 

UNGA CONFERENCE 2019
Transforming Our World: Inclusive Social Development for All
25 September 2019, Wednesday

PANEL 3: Protection of Social, Economic, and Cultural Rights

This session deliberated on the commitment to the protection of human rights and access to social services so as not to leave anyone behind. The speakers offered multiple perspectives and practices on how human rights could reduce inequalities, eliminate the causes of poverty and prevent internal and global conflicts. This session highlighted how the realization of economic, social and cultural rights plays an integral role in sustainable peace and conflict prevention.

The specific issues that emerged from the panel discussion were on the promotion of cultural rights in the construction of peaceful societies; creating a human rights-based approach to the United Nations Development Agenda; being aware of the violation of human rights that leads to social upheaval. Countries were identified where the violation of human rights is rampant. It meant that the country-based analysis mechanism on the abuse and violation of human rights should be included in the next policies to transform our world: inclusive social development for all.

 

 

Craig Foster

Football broadcaster; Author; Ambassador for Human Rights, AUSTRALIA

In recent years, after a series of human rights crises particularly related to Mega Sporting Events (MSE), several global sports organizations have implemented human rights policies that oblige all official bodies to audit their impacts on human rights and adhere to the ‘Protection’ Respect, remedy ‘framework of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This is a growing trend that is of extraordinary social importance to the world since the traditional call of sport to be independent of the impacts it creates is no longer relevant.

Sport has become the 21st century, a universal vehicle for universal rights and, while the United Nations can urge, collaborate and perhaps coerce, to “push”, sport is one of the biggest “attraction” factors ever known to humankind and can impose, oblige and educate a common human standard. However, as the world realizes these obligations and becomes increasingly aware of its rights, it is essential that the sport fulfills its duty. It cannot become hostage to political commitment and, as we look towards social progress through sport and rights, we must recognize that the breach of these obligations has a real human impact.

It is essential that UN Member States everywhere understand that by respecting the social contract of sport and the responsibility to provide opportunities, a safe space, equality, health and well-being for all, we bring the world closer to a community of interaction human, a greater understanding of humanitarian values, high profile role models for the next generation and respect for economic, social and cultural rights and peace and security for all.

 

 

Jose Igreja Matos

President, European Association of Judges, PORTUGAL

I believe, working intensely in recent years in different regions of the world, that the solutions to the problems facing the judiciary today are closely related to Goal # 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development and should be built in cooperation and partnership with civil society. Working together on field projects, we can address our mutual concerns. Obeying a lesson in practical behavior, which is enshrined in our European culture, developed many centuries ago by the words of Aristotle: “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, for example, men become builders by building and reproducing lyre playing the lyre; so we also become simply doing just acts.” An alliance of goodwill between men and women to protect democratic values ​​is now the only remedy for the emergence of populism and radicalism.

 


Isaque Chande

Ombudsman, MOZAMBIQUE

Early warning mechanisms of human rights to prevent conflicts: severe inequalities in access to social services

In Mozambique, the State has the primary responsibility to promote human rights and, simultaneously, guarantee their effectiveness. In fact, in article 11 of the Constitution of Mozambique, where the main objectives of the State of Mozambique have been established, it is established that the construction of a society of social justice and the creation of material, spiritual well-being and quality of life of citizens. The defense and promotion of human rights and the equality of citizens before the law. The strengthening of democracy, freedom, social stability and social and individual harmony. There are many challenges to effectively achieve inclusive social development. Much must be done to ensure inclusive social, cultural and economic rights. Partnerships are needed to provide enough support to transform our world. It should be the primary responsibility of each state to take all necessary measures to meet basic needs. There is no country in the world that can effectively address inclusive social development alone. We have to act collectively so that no one is left behind.

 

 

James C. Harrington

Founder & Director Emeritus, Texas Civil Rights Project, USA

Promotion of social, economic and cultural rights in building peaceful societies

 

 

 

 

Antonio Alberto do Vale Cerqueira

Court of Ethics and Disciplinary at the Brazilian Bar Association – District Federal Section, BRAZIL

Violation of human rights leading to social unrest: Country-based Analysis

Although poverty is one of the main factors contributing to the increase in crime, this movement is shown in areas where poverty is related to the lack of human rights. A person who is subject to the social contract allows, to some extent, the omission of the state to provide basic human rights, such as education, health, safety, right to leisure, work, housing, food, etc. However, when this fault is large enough to violate their dignity, the individual falls below this level of dignity and there is a concrete tendency towards greater social unrest, which eventually becomes a crime-generating event.

 

 

Ekaterina Shebalina

Executive Assistant to the Vice-Rector, Institute for International Studies, Research Fellow, RUSSIA

Protection of Social, Economic and Cultural Rights

 

 

Oral Statement

 

Seda Pumpyanskaya

Director for Strategic Communications Division, UN Department of Global Communications

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 Early warning mechanisms for human rights to prevent conflicts must be identified well in advance and support the reduction of inequalities in access to social services, challenge the lack of democratic space of an active civil society and the lack of freedom of the media. To this end, the participants of the UNGA Conference join the international community to ensure that Transforming Our World: Inclusive Social Development for All is a concerted effort of all citizens of the world, people we call brothers and sisters who strive for the greatest call to universal values ​​reflected in different UN letters. The participants in the UNGA Conference reached the following resolutions.

 

 

PANEL 2: Advancing Youth through Social and Economic Empowerment

 

UNGA CONFERENCE 2019
Transforming Our World: Inclusive Social Development for All
25 September 2019, Wednesday

 

PANEL 2: Advancing Youth through Social and Economic Empowerment

This session focused on current policies and practices in the advancement of young people through social and economic empowerment, and how multiple stakeholders can work collaboratively to support youth-led initiatives and organizations. As a fundamental right recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, young people can play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development through active and inclusive participation.

Youth empowerment means helping young people to attain 21st century knowledge, develop competency skills, become responsible global citizens of people and the planet through communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. It is the responsibility of state and non-state actors to create opportunities for young people to obtain the information, skills and tools necessary to become independent, responsible and productive citizens. Specific issues that will be addressed in this sub-theme include: youth empowerment, youth participation, volunteering, education and girls and young women. It was pointed out that key priorities and challenges in accessing quality education should be addressed. Young people must be prepared to develop, improve life and acquire business skills to face the rapidly evolving labor market.

 

Emmanuel N.B. Flomo

Founder & Executive Director, Inspire Liberia Project, LIBERIA

Young people are a significant segment of the global population index and critical to the social and economic development of any country. Today, there are over 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years; indicating that Young people are key. We can play a significant role in enhancing global social and economic development and change if we are given the opportunity. Some progress has been made in many Countries in advancing Youth Development, but the challenges in the process are still overwhelming in many parts of our globe.
 
Many of the progress so far in youth development is overwhelmingly credited to developed nations, while developing nations are far from near giving serious attention to these issues. For example, the European Commission considers that “Europe’s future prosperity depends on its young people and thus deserve particular support and consideration as well as seeks to strengthen people’s current and future capacities and improve their opportunities to participate in society” (EC European Policy brief, 2014). Such a policy like this is vital for Youth Social Advancement and Empowerment, but the step taken by the EU is yet acknowledged or cheer in the entire continent of Africa.

Johnnie Lee Fielder

Director of Operations, International Youth Leadership Institute

Youth as stakeholders in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals: Advocacy, awareness-raising, and capacity building

The mission of the International Youth Leadership is to nurture a new generation of visionary leaders from the African diaspora who, inspired by their rich African heritage, are committed to leaving a legacy in the world. It is important for youth to be given the opportunity to express and flex their leadership capabilities and the International Youth Leadership Institute does this cultivation of leadership by introducing the concept of being a global citizen to youth who are rising ninth graders to 12th grade. The vision of the International Youth Leadership Institute is Every day, youth of African descent are assuming leadership roles in making the world a better place, wherever they are.
 
 Leaders of the IYLI will be in multiple places simultaneously creating and generating innovative ideas and solutions to some of today’s most nuanced issues. International Youth Leadership Institute was founded in 1989 by two African American men by the name of Keith Brown, who worked in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and Dr. Micheal Webb, who worked on education development in Africa. When the two men returned to their home city of New York, they asked themselves how can more brown and black youth experience travel as an educational and leadership tool. By encouraging young Brown and Black youth to actively engage with their communities, both local and global they are furthering the mission of some of the SDGS. Through CSDPs, or Community Service Development Projects, youth are able to identify issues in their communities and then tackle them throughout the school year. Some past projects have been focused on eliminating violence, mental health awareness, urban farming, fundraising initiatives, and gender equity. 

 

Sasha E. Butler

Executive Director, Changing Destinations: Journey to Excellence, Inc., USA

Key priorities and challenges in access to quality education

Support for youth-led initiatives is an essential component to achieve learning objectives and prepare young people for success inside and outside the classroom. School districts, higher education institutions, local, state and federal governments, small businesses and large corporations must share the responsibility of equipping young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to become global citizens and leaders through the creation of grassroots and multi-stakeholder platforms where young people have opportunities to lead. Shared power is an important core value that motivates young people and teaches them to think critically about the world around them. They bring new perspectives to address challenges and generate innovative ideas. Young people are key to achieving the SDGs when they are trained to lead and develop the confidence to act and mobilize others towards a more equitable and sustainable future.

 

Alyson Neel

Policy and Advocacy Strategist, UN Foundation, USA

UNA-USA Youth member participation in human rights mechanisms and UN Summits

Empowerment may be the first piece, and we are seeing more of this, but those in power actually release some of their power to allow young people at the table to be another. In the implementation and reporting of the Sustainable Development Goals, we know that multi-stakeholder participation remains a challenge. The good practices of VNR, VLR and 2019 opportunities will also be useful for implementing change. The United Nations Fund works specifically to empower young people through the Girl Up campaign and the UNA-USA grassroots network.

 

 

Nick Hatzoglou

Head of Community Projects, Football Victoria, AUSTRALIA

The role of sports for the social and personal development of youth

Sports play a crucial role in the social and personal development of youth. I would like to explain it through my personal and professional life experiences. There are six key areas: promotion of well-being and confidence, the importance of mentoring, sports can be a level playing field, youth-led projects, promotion of a growth mindset, and more indigenous engagement and respect.

Sport helps with self-confidence, especially early on in life that helps youth integrate into new environments using sport as the common interest. Sport improves relationships and makes people happier. Everyone should have a mentor(s). In a world where people hang out in virtual communities or are less engaged in a person to person sense, it is even more vital to have that important mentor you can share ideas with, ask questions and explore life skills.

Inequality is increasing worldwide considering the disparity in the distribution of income, sport can lift the poor and humble the rich. Youth can make a stand as they are on climate change. In Melbourne, young people were leading a march to bring more attention to climate change. Let’s encourage youth-lead campaigns, invest in them and guide them in their journey. A growth mindset should be promoted where youth can embrace challenges, build resilience, have pathways to mastery, learn and apply criticism and find lessons from others that lead to their success. Finally, it’s time to connect with Indigenous communities that the collectivists’ societies hold the key to a more wholesome and resilient lifestyle. Sport can allow them to take risks and boost our cultural intelligence and meaningful engagement of Indigenous People. Youth can lead to this engagement and break the cycle of despair and welfare.

 

Kit Miller

Director, M.K. Gandhi Institute, USA

Importance of non-violence education and culture of peace for social empowerment of youth

The community is the native climate of the human spirit and face to face uses our whole brain to understand, empathize and learn from each other. Learning, connection, grieving, problem-solving and mourning are things we do in circles with children, youth and adults. Urgent need for training in conflict transformation to support the challenges that will arise regarding population change and resource use. Systemic thinking tools can be taught to people of all ages to understand how systems work and learn how the best people and groups can interact and impact systemic change. Understanding events through the lens of systemic thinking offers opportunities for perspective and intelligent action, rather than reactivity, fear or despair.

 

 

Maria Cruz Rodriguez Del Cerro

Former Vice President, UNESCO Center of Getafe-Madrid, SPAIN
Education as a tool to create peaceful and inclusive societies

My goal is to alert multi-stakeholders and representatives of different institutions involved in the Peace Education Programs about the ways in which pregnancy, the perinatal period and the first years of life play a crucial role in the structural development of the brain and the subsequent development of the behavior of individuals. The main message that we must convey to our young people is to appreciate the effects of internal and external environmental stimuli on the plasticity of the brain, which profoundly affects subsequent behavior. I want to emphasize that, as a priority, we need to introduce, in the UNGA agenda, the following statement: good care during pregnancy and the early postnatal period can promote the healthy development of relationships and social behavior and help reduce antisocial behavior. Through simple and economic educational programs, we can contribute to sustainable peace by demonstrating to children and young people the importance of their early period of brain development.

Oral Statement 

 

Vincent Tucci

Student, Changing Destinations: Journey to Excellence, Inc.

Youth Empowerment is very close to my heart. A lot of youth are addicted to their phones that when I’m at lunch in my school, people sitting across from one another—instead of talking—are texting each other. Social Action is important to tackle this problem. When I return to my community, I’m going to start a campaign called “Put Down the Phone, Pick Up a Friend™.” Everyone is so attached to their phones—worried about what’s going on and who’s doing this and that—that it’s time we put it down and look for people to connect and engage with. I’d be increasing the number of social interactions within my community.

Co-op Living is one of the greatest resources at risk for my generation. Hope has been fading away since technology has become more prevalent. Everyone’s worried about updates; who’s going to Snap them next and who’s on Instagram. Social media is enjoyable but leads to social isolation that leads youth to antisocial behaviors, suicides, and separation from the community. The solution to this issue is co-op collaboration and just becoming a part of the community. Community is what sets people up for greatness!

Conclusion

The panelists agreed that Youth represents one third (1/3) of the world’s population and cannot talk about social and economic development without significant participation of the youth who are most affected by the results of the Global Agenda 2030. The youth has always been considered as an important human resource for sustainable development by the United Nations. Young people are agents of social change, economic growth, and social development. Consequently, the participation of young people in the decision-making and implementation processes is essential for sustainable development. Resolution 58/133 of the UN General Assembly also reiterates the “importance of the full and effective participation of youth and youth organizations at local, national, regional and international levels in the promotion and implementation of the Global Program of Action and in the evaluation of the progress achieved and the obstacles encountered in its implementation ”.

The importance of quality education in the empowerment of youth must be recognized by all stakeholders, especially the public and private sectors. However, panelists recognized a gap between policies and practices when it comes to the implementation of sustainable development goals. Public funds and investment in the education of young people are not enough to obtain successful results. Recalling Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Youth, repeatedly stressed the importance of meaningful youth participation throughout the United Nations Development Agenda.