(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Virginia Dandan, said on Friday, that "International Human Solidarity Day, launched in 2006, celebrates humankind, its courage and its enduring capacity to prevail despite all odds.
The United Nations Development framework, as articulated in the UN world conferences and summits since the 1990s, is itself rooted in principles of international solidarity.
"UN member States are once again negotiating a new sustainable development agenda which will likely include the creation of measureable Sustainable Development Goals. World leaders have one year to seize that unique opportunity to re-imagine and create a global dynamic where people are at the centre of development in order to end poverty in all its forms," said the UN expert in a press release from her office to mark the International Human Solidarity Day, which will be marked on December 20 (tomorrow). "We, the peoples of the United Nations,' must unite as a global community, calling on our governments to ensure that the processes and outcomes of the new agenda, are consistent with international human rights standards and norms, to be enjoyed by all, and leave no one behind", she added.
"On this day, I call on Governments, civil societies and all crucial stakeholders to actively participate in creating this transformative shift in development. Solidarity, should, and must be a positive force in the lives of people and of nations, but we must be vigilant and protect the bonds that link us together", she said.
"To build a better future requires everyone to work, together and as one. Sustainable development requires international solidarity not only among the Governments of the world, but also among the peoples of the world, to actively participate in this project of building a better world. All of us have a stake in the future", she explained.
"Let us build and create the better world we want for this generation and for future generations. Let us embrace our shared responsibility to act now for our common future, and let each of us begin with ourselves. Let us move together as one because we are one." Virginia Dandan (Philippines), appointed Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, is currently an independent specialist on human rights in development, focusing on the application of the normative content of economic, social and cultural rights. Dandan was a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for twenty years (1990-2010) and served as its Chairperson for eight years (1998-2006). She continues her practise as a professional artist after retiring from the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts where she was Dean of the faculty from 2000 to 2006. Ms. Dandan is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity.
The UN General Assembly, on 22 December 2005, by resolution 60/209 identified solidarity as one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between peoples in the Twenty-first century, and in that regard decided to proclaim 20 December of each year International Human Solidarity Day.
By resolution 57/265 the UN General Assembly, on 20 December 2002, established the World Solidarity Fund, which was set up in February 2003 as a trust fund of the United Nations Development Programme. Its objective is to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries, in particular among the poorest segments of their populations
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