October 24th is the 42nd World Development Information Day, a celebration established in 1972, by The General Assembly of United Nations. The date coincides with the institution of United Nations, in 1945, and with the adoption, in 1970, of the International Development Strategy.
This Day is an opportunity to draw the attention of world public opinion on development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them.
For this reason, it is useful to quote the first article of the Declaration on the Right to Development, adopted in 1986, which says: “The right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized”.
The challenge brought about by the Declaration has unimaginable proportion and implies a concrete commitment by everyone.
Europe also makes an effort to support Development through the Decision of European Parliament and Council, 16th April of 2014, Decision (UE) n. 472/2014, establishing the European Year for Development (2015), with the following objectives:
- to inform Union citizens about the Union’s and the Member States’ development cooperation, highlighting the results that the Union, acting together with the Member States, has achieved as a global actor and that it will continue to do so in line with the latest discussions on the overarching post-2015 framework;
- to foster direct involvement, critical thinking and active interest of Union citizens and stakeholders in development cooperation including in policy formulation and implementation; and
- to raise awareness of the benefits of the Union’s development cooperation not only for beneficiaries of the Union’s development assistance but also for Union citizens and to achieve a broader understanding of policy coherence for development, as well as to foster among citizens in Europe and developing countries a sense of joint responsibility, solidarity and opportunity in a changing and increasingly interdependent world.
The aim of the European year for development 2015 is therefore perfectly in line with the world development Information day, as it intends to allow EU citizens to gain a deeper knowledge of EU development cooperation, highlighting what the European Union can already do and what could be achieved if Member States, peoples and institutions combine their efforts.
We cannot stay indifferent in the face of great suffering and violations of human rights and dignity, still happening in a number of communities.
For further information please visit the following links:
- World Development Information Day un.org/en/events/devinfoday
- European Economic and Social Committee eesc.europa.eu
