UN report on human development launched
Manama : The United Nations (UN) yesterday officially launched its report on Global Human Development Report 2016 at an event held at its house premises here.
Bahrain was ranked 47th in human development index (HDI) which was part of the report launched by the United Nations. Along with the other GCC states with the exception of Oman, Bahrain retained its ranking in the ‘very high human index’ category of the Global Human Development Report 2016. Life expectancy at birth, education and income are the three variables covered in the HDI.
“Life expectancy at birth reflects the ability to lead a long and healthy life. Mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling reflect the ability to acquire knowledge. And gross national income per-capita reflects the ability to achieve a decent standard of living,” researchers explained.
The launch event featured a key-note address by the Director and lead author of the report Selim Jahan. “Bahrain has been in the very high human development category since 2010, making phenomenal progress in health, education, and women’s empowerment. For example, its under-5 mortality rate at 6.2 per 1,000 live births is lower than the OECD average at 6.9 per 1,000 live births,” he noted.
“Universalism is at the core of the human development concept and is the driving force behind the 2016 Human Development Report. Upholding that universal perspective and resonating the 2030 Development Agenda, the 2016 Human Development Report asserts that no one should be left behind in the human development journey. Human development is not for the few, not even for the most, but for everyone,” he said.
“We place too much attention on national averages, which often mask enormous variations in people’s lives. In order to advance, we need to examine more closely not just what has been achieved, but also who has been excluded and why. Despite progress gaps, universal human development is attainable,” said Selim Jahan.
“Over the last decades, we have witnessed achievements in human development that were once thought impossible,” he added.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Amin El Sharkawi. “To view development through a multi-faceted lens that incorporates health and education provides us with a more balanced picture of progress than simply relying on economic indicators alone” he stated, adding “the Kingdom of Bahrain achieved a high HDI this year while focusing on education and health, while other countries simply focused on income.”
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Undersecretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave a keynote speech.“‘Development that does not have the citizen as its target is futile and undesirable’ those were the words of His Majesty the King during the launch of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, clearly affirming the wellbeing,of all.”
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