Remarks by Joan Holmes, President of The Hunger Project
On the occasion of the 9th annual award ceremony of the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger, 24 October 1995, New York.
On behalf of The Hunger Project, may I welcome you. Tonight we celebrate the 9th annual award ceremony for the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger.
This evening we honor two great leaders: President Sam Nujoma of Namibia and Mrs. Joyce Mungherera of Uganda. Each of these leaders has worked for more than thirty years to empower the men and women of their nations to build lives of self-reliance and dignity.
President Sam Nujoma embodies integrity, vision and commitment to the well-being of people. Qualities that are essential to lead a nation in the new, democratic Africa.
Joyce Mungherera is a living example of the courage, endurance, and commitment of women across Africa to break free from oppression and stand as full partners in creating Africa's future.
This evening's ceremony takes place on a great day in history - the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.
As the human family marks this anniversary, we look not to the past. We look to the future.
The current century that gave birth to the United Nations was a century dominated by war, the threat of war, and by struggles for political liberation. It could be said that the agenda for this century was achieving freedom from tyranny, freedom of self-determination, and freedom for people to have real voice in how they live their lives.
Today, the world has set a new agenda - an agenda for sustainable human development.
This agenda has been forged in an unprecedented process of World Summits. From the World Summit for Children, through the Summits in Rio, Cairo, Copenhagen and most recently the Women's Conference in Beijing, leaders of virtually every nation have committed to a comprehensive set of goals for all humanity. Never before has such a universal consensus emerged. This represents a turning point in history.
We call this comprehensive set of goals the New Human Agenda.
This agenda includes targets for progress in health, education, the empowerment of women, the eradication of hunger and poverty, preservation of the environment and stabilization of population growth.
The world has come to understand that these are not distinct issues, but are one, inextricably linked nexus of priorities that must be achieved for humanity to have a sustainable future.
These are the challenges that will shape the next century. History will judge us by how well we meet these challenges.
The front line of the struggle for the New Human Agenda is Africa. Here, 1/8 of the human family face almost unimaginable challenges in food production, extreme poverty, environmental degradation and health. In addition, these issues are being confronted in a global economic environment that handicaps Africa's best efforts.
In spite of these daunting circumstances and tragedies such as those in Rwanda and Somalia, there is a new spirit of leadership emerging in Africa today -- leadership that is committed to the well-being of the African people. This leadership recognizes that the political, social and economic empowerment of women and men is the key to Africa's future.
Courageous steps are being taken in this direction:
- Democracy is sweeping the continent. Some 36 nations have held democratic elections since 1990.
- African nations are restructuring their fragile economies, providing more and diverse opportunities for Africa's people to be productive.
- And people-centered approaches to development are being adopted.
- Visionary leaders recognize that governments must decentralize. Decision making powers must be extended from the capital to the countryside, giving people true voice in decisions that affect their lives.
- Courageous leaders know: that governments in Africa must increase expenditures in health, education and training; that women must be empowered; and that NGOs and other peoples' institutions must be strengthened.
It is clear that committed and effective leadership is the key to Africa's future.
Just as leadership is key, so too is global partnership. No country, no continent, makes it on its own. Every nation that has progressed has benefited from the partnership of its neighbors - their trade, their investment, and their direct assistance.
The world must have an authentic partnership with Africa for two reasons.
First, it is the right thing to do. We must not underestimate how important our moral choices are in shaping who we become as individuals, nations and a world community.
Second: it is in our self interest.
In this increasingly mobile and interdependent world, borders are meaningless in the face of poverty, disease, population growth, environmental degradation and political strife.
Humanity will not have a peaceful and secure future unless the people of Africa have a better future.
It is beyond question that the health and vitality of every nation is rooted in global interdependence. It is therefore ironic, short-sighted and morally wrong for powerful voices in developed nations to call for a retreat from global participation and partnership.
The Hunger Project stands for global partnership. We are committed that the world community take the following urgent, concrete actions:
- Africa's debt burden must be eased.
- Trade barriers must be lowered.
- Aid must be redirected. Grassroots organizations and particularly women's organizations must have increased funding.
On behalf of The Hunger Project, I am proud to announce that we will expand our work on the ground in Africa. Proceeds from tonight's dinner will help enable us to establish programs in four additional countries in Africa. Working with the leadership of Africa Prize laureates, we will enable people to make solid advances in health, education, nutrition and family incomes.
This expansion in Africa is The Hunger Project's highest priority, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
We embark on this new expansion with firm commitment and deep respect.
We stand with Africa not as an act of charity.
We stand with Africa out of respect for the richness of Africa's heritage and for the depths of Africa's spirit.
We stand with Africa because of the courageous and determined people who are striving for a better future.
We stand with Africa because unleashing the human potential of Africa will lead to a safer and more prosperous world.
We stand with Africa because we have a passionate belief in the common bond of humanity.
We in The Hunger Project have answered President Mandela's call. As he said: "there is no better time and place to play a pioneering role. For many, many generations, praise will be unto those who rose to the challenge as Africa set on a new and great beginning."