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PATHWAYS to Sustainable Development
Introduction:
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) is pleased to announce its Seventeenth
Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) titled “Pathways to Sustainable Development” to be held from 9—11 December 2014 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
About the overarching theme:
At the previous Sustainable Development Conference in 2013, scholars, researchers, parliamentarians, practitioners, professionals and experts debated over the missed opportunities and lost chances; of being off track; of not achieving the goals; and not investing in the present to nurture a positive future for the generations to come. They debated whether governments in the region were able to deliver what they had promised; whether they were able to bring about a long lasting peace within the countries and between borders; and were they able to improve upon the poverty score, health, education, and, human rights. The proactive role of civil society and media was appreciated which keeps on reminding us of promises made and goals to be achieved.
The thrust of the policy recommendation that came out of the SDC in 2013 was that South Asian countries need urgent reforms and a meaningful role by the civil society to look at their own declaration and seek solutions. Stress was made on reciprocity and maturity to resolve all outstanding issues among South Asian neighbours, especially between India and Pakistan. It was further emphasized that gender balance is necessary to achieve sustainable development and inclusive growth in South Asia.
Building on from where we left off last year, we need to see the role of emerging leadership. At the Seventeenth SDC, we would like to see what the changing and developing political scenario will bring to the region.
Leadership change in China (March 2013), Pakistan (May 2013), Iran (December 2013), Bangladesh (January 2014), India (May 2014), and Afghanistan would prove to be significant in shaping the pathways to sustainable development in this region. What posture does this new leadership adopt, and how will it affect development outcomes in the region, has to be predicted. We also need to review how the developed world would be engaging with the new governments and how this would in turn shape development in South Asia.
The region needs political and executive leadership that has a commitment to strategize for peace and human security and raise tangible safeguards for the political economy of the region while engaging with the primary stakeholders, the people. Year 2014 also marks the completion of 20 years of the concept of ‘human security’. Dr. Mahbub-ul Haq formally conceptualized the approach in UNDP’s Human Development Report 1994. With the MDGs deadlines fast approaching in
2015, the United Nations Secretary General recommended human security to be used as an overarching theme in Post 2015 Development Framework (January 2014). It is important to critically evaluate the implications of this recommendation.
Some of the questions that may be debated during the Seventeenth SDC include but are not limited to:
1. How can different stakeholders, especially the governments, civil society and private sector, engage differently to define new pathways to sustainable
development?
2. Can the new governments follow the pathways to sustainable development and bring about a positive change?
3. Will the emerging leadership improve mutual trust and confidence within South
Asia?
4. Will they be able to take on the daunting challenges and deliver where our previous governments failed to do so?
5. How external factors will support / bar them from delivering on their
mandates?
6. Will there be sustainable economic growth; and, sharing of energy resources across the region/s? How will the new leadership address the environmental
challenges; and, ensure food security?
7. Will there be good governance, long lasting peace, growth and development?
8. Will the nation states be in a position to address issues pertaining to terrorism and insecurity; human rights; speedy justice; threats of nuclear weapons;
ecological disasters; negative impact of climate change; etc.?
9. How will the emerging leadership address challenges pertaining to gender inequality and rights of the marginalised?
10. Can human security be a panacea to our development woes?
11. Will this region rise up to be a force to reckon with?
12. And finally, are we, the broader civil society, policy think tanks and academicians ready to be part of the solution?
In this Conference, researchers, academicians, scientists, policy makers, legislators and experts from different fields will be able to recommend policy interventions, share best practices, and present workable solutions to the emerging challenges discussed above; and, under the sub-themes of the panels. The focus is South Asia and its neighbouring regions, but we welcome contributions from other regions, highlighting the success and/or failure stories, which may serve as lessons learnt for South Asian countries. Within the above overarching theme, a number of panels based on sub- themes will be organized.
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