Sharjah
Sustainable development must be clearly defined and be a lifetime commitment, the International Government Communication Forum (IGCF) heard on Wednesday in Sharjah.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah made the observation during the opening ceremony of the sixth annual IGCF, held at Expo Centre Sharjah.
This year’s IGCF focus is on UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More than 2,500 participants, including government leaders and communications experts, are discussing ways to enhance dialogue on key issues, including development and climate change.
Dr Shaikh Sultan said although people talk about sustainable development, hardly anyone truly understands what it means. Drawing examples from the Sharjah model, Dr Shaikh Sultan said human beings must be at the core of development. He said attention should be paid at the individual level, and the journey should begin with children.
In 1997, Sharjah established a ‘Parliament of Children’ for five to 12-year-olds. Their participation in ‘elections’ and discussions from an early stage has emboldened and empowered them, with some of the participants now ranking as among the organisers of IGCF, Dr Shaikh Sultan added.
He said the establishment of the University City, a cluster of higher education establishments, was another milestone in education. Also, to ease graduates into the job market, Sharjah established a transition centre where graduates can overcome their anxiety and perceived inability of entering the workforce immediately after graduation.
“I would like to say that development of the human being must be at the core of sustainability … We in Sharjah are focusing all our work on the human being, starting with children, until death comes,” Dr Shaikh Sultan said.
He added Sharjah ensures the elderly are not discriminated against on the basis of their age or health in medical centres. He said the elderly have access to mobile clinics, apart from regular health care facilities. They also have social support in care homes.
The Sharjah Ruler stressed that care was a lifelong commitment. “This is why I can say that those who want to develop society, they have to concentrate on the human being, starting from childhood to death.”
Also speaking during the opening session was Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC). He announced a new initiative called the International Government Communication Centre, which has an initial five-year mandate of launching 15 programmes for enhancing government communications and serving as a local and global reference centre in this field. One of its academic department programmes will be an accredited diploma in government communications, he added.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad said communication was key to raise awareness on the magnitude of world crises.
The challenges were also discussed by Ali Ahmadov, deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan, who delivered greetings and remarks from Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan. Ahamdov outlined how his country is committed to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
