Development Policies - How sincere are we?

Development policies

We expect fair representation of various religious groups and Kurds in Iraq Constitution and true democracy; we pursue traditions in Afghanistan to respect women’s human rights, and establishment of healthy economy where men and women equally take part, we seek for Islamic countries to deal with terrorists while maintaining peace and democracy, we pursue fair trade and equitable trade rules and regulations for developing countries, we are craving to end the war in Darfur and end violence against women and children. Our technologies have advanced in an unprecedented degree but has we became wiser in our decisions and pursue of human rights. Is the world ruling a just and fair governance that provides basic needs to allow us to remain human? These are questions that should be raised and responded. You can’t expect people living under absolute poverty to abide by elite approach of tolerance and fair play. The central challenge is to have serious attitude toward eradication of poverty as initial step to prove to our selves and our children our respect for humanity in creating a better world.

People of various genders, ethnicity, religious, racial and cultural diversities demanding recognition of their identities, their representation in decision making, they demand to be heard in discussions and dialogues by wider society. Women are also demanding social justice, while suffering discrimination and marginalization from social, economic and political opportunities. In the era of globalization, preserving local cultures and diversity has been raised. These are historic questions of social changes, of struggles for freedom, of new understandings of human freedom and democracy. Democracy as a rare commodity is indeed in need of policies for mass production worldwide.

Human development is to be extended to remote areas if we are going to claim that we were sincere in our defending the less fortunate and in our values for human rights.

A sense of identity and belonging to a group with shared values and other bonds of culture are important for individuals. However we shall all enhance our understanding of human rights by accepting the existence of the “others”. Deprivation often works through processes of exclusion, from livelihood, from free thinking, free speech, exclusion from access to knowledge, exclusion from basic health and security are the process of institutionalized poverty and deprivation. Religious intolerance and fundamentalism generating widespread exclusion, is about to intimidate our civilization. As we are getting closer through globalization, are we going to learn to live with each other, to tolerate, to provide space for others as well as our own?

Evidences are not encouraging, with many countries experience increase of poverty under programmes of so called economic reform, unfair income distribution and institutionalized monopoly and greed. These concerns have led to changes in our thinking about how realistic we are in pursuing poverty alleviation programs. This includes social sector spending, budget allocation and the funding of social programmes.

There has also been considerable research into poverty and data collection to implement local friendly programs which incorporates the solutions of poor women and men to tackle their issues. It is unclear, however, whether these changes have yet had a significant impact or whether concerns for poverty outcomes, have much influence over macroeconomic policies. Especial attention is needed toward strategies to reduce poverty to come along with economic reform policies, fair trade, transparency, breaking monopolies, and equitable approach to social values.

In spite of mounting evidence, the mainstream literature on poverty still pays little attention to gender aspects of poverty and vulnerability. Where the poor are disaggregated, it is not usually in terms of gender difference, although female-headed households are often singled out as a vulnerable group. Poor women are particularly vulnerable under top down formulated adjustment policies. Poverty projects do not reach women directly, due to their lack of access to productive resources and control over output, as well as lack of mobility, awareness, knowledge, information, self esteem and assets. Constraints on women’s ability to increase production, and uproot gender bias in financial markets must be addressed in solid and systematic protocols in development projects.

As we are living at a time that powerful forces are changing the world history there is no other solution but to respond by creating drastic changes in economy, changes in social arrangements. Measures should be taken by the World Bank and donor agencies triggered by external pressures from NGOs as well as, policy makers, researchers, and women activists to give a higher profile to the gender differentiated impacts of economic policy reform and to modify policies on this basis.

New areas of income generating projects to alleviate poverty such as ICT training, life skills, and knowledge management should be introduced and funded for wide population to increase income. The struggle to come out of vicious circle of poverty has high potential to be directed toward new areas of income generation activities. ICTs had enhanced ongoing development activities, the ICT activity could be replicated without sizeable investment, and evidences show that there is a measure of sustainability that involves a combination of factors, including among others financial return, local capacity and development benefits. Increasing the level of understanding of Information Technology and its role in society is what will give us real face of modern approach to men and women’s issues in developing countries.

For all the rhetoric we are hearing, unless women have higher representation in economic, politics, legal, judiciary, policy making, decision making and auditing processes, talking about gender equity, human rights, fair play and democracy will be just some empty words. From a human development perspective all legal systems must conform to international standards of human rights, including gender equality. The courts applying the prevailing customary law should respect basic universal human rights and there should be legal measures to guarantee social justice if we are moving toward more equitable world.

Globalization by incorporating innovative ways to include women and gender equity in development policies can bring recognition to local people through expansion of investments and knowledge. Respecting cultural identity and promoting socio-economic equity through participation and benefit sharing, that are possible as long as decisions are made democratically— by people, by states, and by local as well as international institutions.

Nasrin azadeh
December 17, 2004