This is the time to ensure that meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, is what measures success in building back better, asserted Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.
The foreign minister made this remark in a video message at the Biennial panel discussion on the right to development held under the theme ‘Covid-19 and the right to development: we are all in this together’ at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.
Highlighting his belief that the panel discussion is both timely and relevant, FM Shahid noted that this is the time to “rethink our development models and ensure that meeting the needs of the most vulnerable is the common yardstick used to measure our success in building back better”.
Stressing that the globe is facing a challenge that is rare in its impact and its reach, the minister stated that Maldives had mobilized a national response by declaring a state of public health emergency nationwide, days after the pandemic surfaced in the island nation.
Over the last few decades, the Maldives has seen rapid and sustained development. This enabled the Maldives to join the ranks of upper middle-income countries. While our development success is noteworthy, we also faced numerous challenges. A difficult decision was to close our borders for over three months, which brought our tourism industry to a halt. Tourism accounts for two-thirds of our GDP. So, this move affected thousands of people, and their livelihoods. But, the Government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is committed to the promotion and protection of all rights including the right to development.”Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives
It is of utmost importance to work together to embark on a global effort to develop new and innovative ways to meet the challenges of debt relief, promote investment and unleash the creative potential of our economic as the globe plans for the post-pandemic recovery in the “new normal”, said Shahid.
Further, FM Shahid shed light on the importance of coming out of this pandemic, much stronger, “ like the Japanese practice ‘Kintsugi’, which is a ‘golden joinery’ that rebuilds something more beautiful than what was lost”.
Let this pandemic be a reminder of human vulnerability and a moment that the globe comes together to rebuild the common future, confident in the knowledge that the human spirit will always triumph adversity.
We have come a long way since Judge Kéba Mbaye argued that development should be viewed as a right. And he was right to argue for it. We have made many strides, since the adoption of the Declaration of the Right to Development in 1986. We cannot let any pandemic or virus push us back another decade. Together we can overcome, and build a better and a more resilient world for all.”Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives
The council was also addressed by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The panel discussion revolved around ways to boost international cooperation and solidarity against the coronavirus pandemic.
