Commonwealth has a distinct approach to MDGs

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has emphasised the need for democratic processes at all levels of society, as part of the Commonwealth’s distinct approach to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Addressing a High Level Event at the United Nations on Thursday, he stressed the fundamental and symbiotic link between Democracy and Development: “The two are interdependent, and both are improved and strengthened by each other. We therefore stress the need for democratic processes at all levels of society.”

The Round Table Event in New York was an opportunity for leaders, senior officials and NGOs to contribute to the dialogue on the Millennium Development Goals, which this year reached the halfway point towards the date set for achieving them.

Mr Sharma relayed what leaders had said at a Special Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Wednesday, to identify how the Commonwealth can add value to the pursuit and achievement of the Goals.

Members of the Commonwealth are geographically and economically diverse – “we are something of a microcosm of the international community, and I am pleased to say that we found common views and common cause on achieving the MDGs”, he told the meeting.

“With 750 million of our people in poverty (over 20 small and vulnerable states in the Commonwealth, many in the Caribbean and Pacific, and 18 members in Africa), we are committed to inclusive globalisation. A failure for one country is a failure for all.”

In his address, the Secretary-General highlighted the importance of employment, saying that jobs were at the core of economic development, and especially young people’s jobs. Promoting youth entrepreneurship is a pivotal element in realising the MDGs. "So, too, is giving due prominence to women and their needs,” he added

The Commonwealth had identified a gap in the MDGs on the issue of social protection, he told the Event. 400 million of the world’s chronically poor have no social safety net. “We would like to see consideration of how social protection can be incorporated into the MDG process”.

He then called for a greater effort by both developed and developing countries to honour commitments made at the Monterrey and Gleneagles summits on debt relief: “If aid, trade and debt relief are the developed world’s part of the Monterrey/Gleneagles bargain, then governance is the developing world’s side of the bargain. Both sides have done much. The Commonwealth’s developing countries have done a great deal to get their house in order, especially on governance.

“All have more to do to reach their commitments, especially in terms of increasing and delivering on Official Development Assistance.”

Mr Sharma drew attention to the stalled Doha Round at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), stressing that a multilateral rules-based order, and an outcome in the WTO negotiations that promotes a strong development dividend, still remains one of the best and most sustainable growth paths open to all states, especially the most vulnerable and small.

And he highlighted the critical importance of reforming key international institutions, which are not responding adequately to today’s needs. “The requirement for reform of international financial institutions, and for reform of global governance of the environment and development is pressing” he said.

The Secretary-General concluded his address by raising the need to fully exploit Information and Communications Technology to bridge the digital divide in order to overcome the development divide. “They have successfully promoted growth and prosperity in developed countries, and need to be used to similar effect in developing countries,” he said.

Key Links:

• Millennium Development Goals
• Secretary-General

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• WTO