"All human beings are born free and
equal in dignity and rights", states the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This mantra must be at the heart of
foreign policy, not only in diplomacy but in development too. While all are born
equal, not all have equal opportunities, and we must do all we can to make
equality of 'dignity and rights' a reality, and work hardest for those who are
most vulnerable.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This mantra must be at the heart of
foreign policy, not only in diplomacy but in development too. While all are born
equal, not all have equal opportunities, and we must do all we can to make
equality of 'dignity and rights' a reality, and work hardest for those who are
most vulnerable.
Save the Children's new report, Every
Last Child, is a reminder that this is a
significant task. While the progress made since the establishment of the
Millennium Development Goals in 2000 has been enormous, millions are not
seeing the benefits because they are discriminated against. Children with
disabilities are up to four times more likely to experience physical and sexual
violence than their able-bodied peers. Indigenous groups make up five
percent of the global population but fifteen percent of those living in poverty.
400 million children from minority ethnic and religious groups are being
discriminated against worldwide.
significant task. While the progress made since the establishment of the
Millennium Development Goals in 2000 has been enormous, millions are not
seeing the benefits because they are discriminated against. Children with
disabilities are up to four times more likely to experience physical and sexual
violence than their able-bodied peers. Indigenous groups make up five
percent of the global population but fifteen percent of those living in poverty.
400 million children from minority ethnic and religious groups are being
discriminated against worldwide.
Discrimination is a major cause of
poverty, and a childhood of exclusion can
be the difference between a lifetime of prosperity or destitution. However, it is
not addressed as a cause of poverty. This is a hurdle in thinking that we need
to overcome; we now need to be bold about making aid challenge injustice.
be the difference between a lifetime of prosperity or destitution. However, it is
not addressed as a cause of poverty. This is a hurdle in thinking that we need
to overcome; we now need to be bold about making aid challenge injustice.
Our aid budget saves lives, but it must
also combat exclusion. In the era of
the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 'leaving no-one behind'promise,
international development must put the hardest to reach first. Save the
Children's report launches a three year campaign aiming to do just this. One
of their key recommendations is to make sure that aid spending is focussed
on the children who are forgotten about because of who they are, where they
are from or what they believe.
the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 'leaving no-one behind'promise,
international development must put the hardest to reach first. Save the
Children's report launches a three year campaign aiming to do just this. One
of their key recommendations is to make sure that aid spending is focussed
on the children who are forgotten about because of who they are, where they
are from or what they believe.
To focus aid in this way, we
need the right data. We need to know who the
most vulnerable children are, where they live, what they need - and we need
proof that aid is reaching them. We also need to bolster civil society and work
with partner governments to ensure that excluded children and their
communities are represented, and able to hold their governments to account.
And we need to reform tax systems to ensure that developing countries can
invest in the public services that level the playing field and ensure every child
has access to healthcare and learning.
most vulnerable children are, where they live, what they need - and we need
proof that aid is reaching them. We also need to bolster civil society and work
with partner governments to ensure that excluded children and their
communities are represented, and able to hold their governments to account.
And we need to reform tax systems to ensure that developing countries can
invest in the public services that level the playing field and ensure every child
has access to healthcare and learning.
The development sector must change, at
donor, agency and recipient level, to
fight for human rights, rather than regarding it as a subsidiary issue. We
cannot stand by while discrimination holds people back from the progress of
development, and I'm pleased that Save the Children's new campaign takes
up this challenge, and look forward to supporting it over the next three years.
fight for human rights, rather than regarding it as a subsidiary issue. We
cannot stand by while discrimination holds people back from the progress of
development, and I'm pleased that Save the Children's new campaign takes
up this challenge, and look forward to supporting it over the next three years.
At the United Nations Convention in New York supporting Aid to women and girls in developing countries
