Ranjan K Baruah
Peace is must and essential we want development in our society. No society progress where there is disturbances or conflicts or even violence. There might be may reason for unrest and non violence in any society and these things need to be erased through peace if we want a sustainable future for us and for coming generations. No two people are same and similarly there are different communities around us who are different and there is diversity. In this situation living together in peace is all about accepting differences and having the ability to listen to, recognize, respect and appreciate others, as well as living in a peaceful and united way.
We are going through a tough time due to COVID 19 pandemic as it has affected most of the parts of the world which is most challenging crisis since the Second World War. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to maintenance of international peace and security and this might lead to social unrest as lock down is going on. There is no doubt that it has already affected people from different perspectives. Whether rich or poor all are directly affected due to this pandemic and more crisis and challenges are being faced by poor people.
In 2017, the United Nations declared 16th May the International Day of Living Together in Peace. The UN General-Assembly, in its resolution 72/130, declared the International Day of Living Together in Peace, as a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.
We are aware that following the devastation of the Second World War, the United Nations was established to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. One of its purposes is to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
In 1997, the UN General-Assembly proclaimed – by its resolution 52/15 — the year 2000 as the “International Year for a Culture of Peace”. In 1998, it proclaimed the period 2001-2010 as the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for Children of the World.” In 1999, The General-Assembly adopted, by resolution 53/243, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which serves as the universal mandate for the international community, particularly the United Nations system, to promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits all of humanity, including future generations.
The challenges we are facing today are huge and there are many to come and all these require international solidarity. Government and UN peace keepers are in different parts to restore peace and bring development. But at the time of COVID 19 all focuses are to fight the pandemic. This day reaffirm our commitment to international cooperation as our approach to solving challenges of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
We are unaware when vaccines would be available or effective medicine shall be available against coronavirus. This international day invites countries to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure peace and sustainable development, including by working with communities, faith leaders and other relevant actors, through reconciliatory measures and acts of service and by encouraging forgiveness and compassion among individuals.
Let us all work together to eliminate all forms of discrimination and intolerance, including those based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status. When we end discrimination then we bring peace and development around us. Sustainable development is possible when there is partnership for development and when different communities work together for peace and development.
(With direct inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to [email protected])
Families in Development
Ranjan K Baruah
Family is important as it is the first association for any individual. We learn basics from our family which means a safe and strong family means safety for us in future. In recent years there are changes in families around the world. Families around the world are changing, many becoming smaller, as the number of single-parent households grows. Currently, 65% of all families are made up of either couples living with children of any age, or couples living with both children and extended family members, such as grandparents. The diminishing number of extended families and the increasing number of single-parent families put into sharp focus the issue of social protection.
Despite a rapid decline in working poverty rates over the past decades, 8 per cent of employed workers and their families worldwide still live in extreme poverty, with only 45 per cent of the world’s population effectively covered by at least one social protection cash benefit. Homeless is a serious problem in many parts of the world though things have changed for good in last decades.
Family homelessness has been consistently above 20 per cent of the total homeless population in some European countries. Similar trends can be observed in the United States of America, where 33 per cent of the homeless population is made up of families with children, and in Canada, where 37 per cent of households have difficulties maintaining housing and even more are relying on emergency accommodation.
To prevent family homelessness, some Governments offer social protection and public housing to vulnerable families. Good practices in this area include the offer of direct financial assistance to all qualified renters in the Netherlands, a voucher system in the United States and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana housing scheme in India, which provides affordable housing to the urban poor. Many other countries have other facilities or provisions for housing for families.
During the 1980’s, the United Nations began focusing attention on issues related to the family. In 1983, based on the recommendations of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development in its resolution on the Role of the family in the development process (1983/23) requested the Secretary-General to enhance awareness among decision makers and the public of the problems and needs of the family, as well as of effective ways of meeting those needs.
In its resolution 44/82 of 9 December 1989, The General Assembly proclaimed The International Year of the Family. In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.
This is the time when entire world is concerned about COVID 19. As the world struggles to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, there is an existent opportunity to rethink and transform the way our economies and societies function to foster greater equality for all. We should not forget that families are the first place which can contribute towards sustainable change. We must make sure that all families are safe and homes are available for all families. At the time of lock down let us give more time to our family and think positive and find innovation for effective life style which would contribute towards positive growth for all of us.
(With direct input from UN publication and feedback may be sent to [email protected])