Makhopotso Mothusi
The United Nations (UN) in Lesotho, together with government and various stakeholders, on Friday celebrated the UN’s 70th anniversary through a special ceremony held in Maseru.
UN Resident Coordinator Karla Hershey and Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister Tlohang Sekhamane told guests to Friday’s ceremony they were renewing longstanding collaboration between government and the United Nations.
Ms Hershey further noted while a lot was achieved since UN member-states committed themselves to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, much still needed to be done to improve the lives of communities hence the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).“It is important to note that 2015 is a historic year that brought UN member-states and citizens of the world together to decide and embark on new paths to improve the lives of people everywhere. These decisions will determine the global course of action to end poverty, promote prosperity and well-being for all, protect the environment and address climate change,” Ms Hershey said.
Under the MDGs, all 189 UN members committed to help nations achieve the following by the year 2015: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; universal primary education; gender equality; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; environmental sustainability, and develop a global partnership for development.
With the MDGs 15-year lifespan ending this year, nations have since agreed to build on their achievements through SDGs, which include ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, making cities more sustainable, combating climate change, and protecting oceans and forests.
Ms Hershey told guests to Friday’s commemoration: “Lesotho recorded considerable progress in MDGs that relate to universal primary education, gender equality and women empowerment. However, there is still need to improve efforts in transforming lives and reducing vulnerabilities among Basotho, especially women and children, in order to tackle persisting inequalities and poverty.”
The Resident Coordinator stressed Lesotho is off-target on eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and also health, with more work needed to reduce maternal and child mortality, improve maternal health as well as combat HIV, AIDS and Tuberculosis.
“To address this, a multi-sectoral approach is critical, especially as we increase efforts towards ending the epidemic. The post-2015 2015 Strategic Development Goals therefore provide a holistic approach to Sustainable Development Goal 3, aiming to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all.”
Ms Hershey further pointed out that climate change was threatening to reduce resilience in Lesotho, adding the projected El Niño conditions between October 2015 and March 2016 would negatively affect agricultural production, causing food and nutrition insecurity in the country.
“In this area, the United Nations is working with the government and communities to integrate climate change into their development plans and strategies that will establish or maintain livelihoods under a disaster preparedness and early warning system,” Hershey said.
“Allow me to thank the Government of Lesotho for its continued support and close partnership with the United Nations globally and in the country. We would also want to thank Friends of the UN and other key development partners. It is through your support that the UN remains a close and relevant partner to Lesotho,” Ms Hershey said.