Launch of the 2005 Report
MADAME NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, MINISTER DE FINANCE OF NIGERIA
MR. KEMAL DERVIS, ADMINISTRATOR OF UNDP
MR. KEVIN WATKINS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF THE HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT REPORT,
DR. GRACE KODINDO, PRESIDENT OF THE GYNECOLOGICAL AND
OBSTETRICIAL SOCIETY OF CHAD,
MR. SALIL SHETTY, DIRECTOR OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT
GOALS CAMPAIGN,
YOUR EXCELLENCIES,
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATIONFUND, I HAVE THE HONOUR OF BEING HERE WITH YOU TO LAUNCH THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT, "INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AT A CROSSROADS: AID, TRADE AND SECURITY IN AN UNEQUAL WORLD".
THE PUBLICATION OF THIS REPORT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO GENERATING A DEMAND FOR MORE SPECIFIC DATA THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE POLITICAL DABATE, AS WELL AS A WORK WHOSE EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE GIVES IT GREAT CREDIBILITY AMONG THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
IN PREPARING THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2005, FIVE INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD WITH MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WHO HAVE, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS EXPRESSED, THEIR BELIEF IN THE USEFULNESS OF THE EXERCISE AS WELL AS THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPORT.
THIS POSITIVE EVALUATION ON THE PART OF THE BOARD MEMBERS CONTRIBUTES TO REINFORCING SUPPORT FOR THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT OFFICE.
THIS YEAR, THE THEME OF THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT IS ESPECIALLY PERTINENT, SINCE IT IS BEING LAUNCHED IN A GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE OF EROSION OF THE COMMITMENTS MADE AT THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT, AND THE NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS BY 2015.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE REPORT UNDERLINES THE COST, IN TERMS OF HUMAN WELL-BEING, OF LOST OPPORTUNITIES AND UNFULFILLED PROMISES ABOUT THE MDGs, AS WELL AS THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE THREE PILLARS OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: AID, TRADE AND SECURITY.
WE HOPE THAT THIS REPORT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEBATE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AMONG HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT DURING THE HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGE GREATER PARTICIPATION AMONG ALL THE INTERNATIONAL ACTORS DEALING WITH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT TASKS THAT LIE AHEAD.
FINALLY, I WISH TO THANK KEVIN WATKINS AND HIS TEAM FOR THEIR WORK IN PREPARING THE REPORT, AND UNDP ADMINISTRATOR KEMAL DERVIS FOR HIS ENDORSEMENT OF INITIATIVES, SUCH AS THIS ONE, IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
Return to the list <<<<<
