Book Description

This 1994 Human Development Report focuses on human security in the daily lives of people. Discussion focuses on some potential early warning signals and prevention actions for avoiding crisis situations. A new paradigm for international cooperation is presented as well as a concrete agenda for the World Summit on Social Development that is scheduled for March 1995. It is argued that the peace agenda and the development agenda must be strengthened and integrated by the UN. The UN Development Program needs to be strengthened and restructured, in order to make a critical contribution to sustainable development. This report is the product of an analysis by a UNDP team under the direction of Mahbub ul Haq. Chapters are devoted to the issues of sustainable human development, human security, the peace dividend, development cooperation, and the Human Development Index. Numerous tables, charts, and figures accompany the text. Special brief inserts on selected topics are prepared by the following Nobel Prize winners: Rigoberta Menchu on indigenous people, Oscar Arias on global demilitarization funding, Abdus Salam on the proposed Islamic Science Foundation, and Jan Tinbergen on global governance. It is noted by the authors of this report that humanity has progressed over the past 50 years in a number of important ways. For example, most nations have achieved freedom and the UN grew from 51 countries to 184. The world is safer from nuclear holocaust. Developing countries advanced faster than developed countries in reducing mortality, increasing life expectancy, and increasing education and nutrition. Fairly satisfactory human development levels have been reached in 60% of countries. The proportion of people living in very poor human conditions has declined from 70% of world population to 32%. Nations have increased their wealth, and military spending has declined.