UAE to UN: Arab Group says Israel's use of 'starvation as weapon of war is evident'

If we find a way to measure compassion, can we use it to solve global problems?

The National

10 hours ago

The National

If we find a way to measure compassion, can we use it to solve global problems?

The adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by United Nations member states in 2015 marked a bold global commitment to reimagine a future shaped by justice, equity, peace and sustainability. The agenda's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, have led to critical action on climate change, health and education. Yet progress remains uneven and fragile. Over more than forty years of working to protect children, I have seen the harsh reality and can say with certainty that no group bears the weight of injustice more than children. They are disproportionately affected by poverty and conflict, and in many parts of the world, they are pushed into exploitative labour, denied the chance to go to school, face poor health outcomes, and lack access to clean water and nutrition. These are not isolated challenges but interwoven injustices that rob children of their rights and freedom. Despite many initiatives undertaken and millions of dollars spent, last year's UN Sustainable Development Goals Report found that the world is on track to meet just 17 per cent of these SDG targets. I feel deeply ashamed that we have betrayed our children yet again by missing this year's target of achieving SDG 8.7 – a commitment to ending all forms of child labour by 2025 as part of a broader effort to end slavery, trafficking and forced labour, including child soldiers. Our promise to leave no one behind now seems hollow. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the world was off track with respect to Agenda 2030. It is appalling that in 2021, the number of child labourers worldwide increased from 152 million to 160 million. These are not mere numbers – these are children who have been denied justice, who are not free to enjoy their childhood, and who have work tools in their hands instead of books and toys. These are children who we have left behind. We have created so many borders, walls and wars. The effect of conflict on children is catastrophic and often irreversible. Children do not create wars, insurgencies or natural disasters nor are they responsible for any other humanitarian crisis. Nevertheless, they end up caught in the crossfire, often literally. More than 47 million children have been displaced by conflict and violence. Do we really want to pass on this legacy of fear, helplessness and violence to future generations? In 2021, the number of child labourers worldwide increased from 152 million to 160 million As a buzzword, the SDGs remain popular. Corporations, civil society groups and the media have embraced SDGs, often aligning their goals with them. But what real progress are we making? How can we claim to have achieved anything if we leave our children behind? For me, the yardstick of progress is that every child receives their fair share of resources under an umbrella of supportive policies and social protection. Why have we failed? The gap between those suffering from problems and those who can solve them is vast and continues to grow every day. We lack the moral accountability and the responsibility to bridge this gap. As global connectivity grows, we are seeing a paradox emerge in the global political environment between aggressive politics, aggressive faith, and aggressive capitalism that is fostering a hyper-competitive and commercial society. Our behaviours have increasingly become transactional; often, we do only what will benefit us, even if it is at someone else's cost. The real, long-term solution is for us to remind ourselves, constantly, of our capacity for compassion. Based on this philosophy, I founded the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion (SMGC) last year, which calls for action in a world plagued by inequality, conflict and injustice. We need to 'globalise' compassion. What do I mean by this? The quality of compassion is traditionally perceived – and has been preached for ages – as a soft, gentle emotion. It is, in reality, a powerful force with transformative power. It is like the air we breathe. Without it, humanity will fail. Compassion is the only force that will unite us and allow us to look beyond our differences. A definition of compassion based on my humble experience of almost half a century's struggle for liberty, dignity and justice for every child is that it is the force born from feeling the suffering of others as one's own, a force that drives mindful and selfless action to end that suffering. We need more of this in the world if we are to achieve the SDGs. To increase the capacity of something, you need to be able to measure it in the first place. We are in the process of developing Compassion Quotient (CQ), which aims to measure individuals' compassion in a similar way to measuring their Intelligence Quotient (IQ) or Emotional Quotient (EQ). Using a multidisciplinary approach, we are developing a comprehensive framework to measure and enhance the level of CQ in individuals and organisations. One of our goals at SMGC is to integrate compassion, as a measurable and cultivable trait, into educational curricula and leadership programmes. We also want to develop indices and metrics to assess compassionate action at a policy level, so as to eventually mainstream the idea of compassion being a guiding principle in global governance. Compassion is essential to ending suffering, and while many leaders speak of it in their speeches, it is time we turn those words into action and hold ourselves accountable. We no longer have the luxury of merely showing intent. We have no choice now but to act with compassion and urgency. Collectively, the world has never been wealthier – economically, intellectually or technologically. It is clear that we need to redefine our approach to life and society. We must build compassionate leadership in all walks of life, whether it is education, the judiciary, governance, or healthcare. This evolution in our thinking would benefit everyone, but, again, most of all, it will benefit our children, who will one day be leaders in their own right, responsible for taking these ideas forward. I refuse to accept that, with all the resources at our disposal, we cannot ensure their freedom, safety, health and education. If we do that, they will be better-placed as adults to ensure it for the generations to follow.

UN migration chief calls for access to help Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

The National

11 hours ago

The National

UN migration chief calls for access to help Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is seeking access to assist people in Gaza, where the scale of displacement is 'enormous' and 'people have nowhere else to turn', the head of the UN agency told The National. The IOM has 40,000 tents, hygiene kits and cooking kits waiting in warehouses in Jordan that have been unable to enter the Palestinian enclave since a ceasefire broke down in March, its Director General Amy Pope said. 'We have things that that will just give the most basic of life-saving support to people, but we can't get it in,' Ms Pope said in a wide-ranging interview with The National following the Astana International Forum in the capital of Kazakhstan. 'So that's what we're asking for ... access to the communities who are in need.' Ninety per cent of Gaza's population, around 1.9 million people, have been displaced, according to the IOM. More than half of them children, and many have been displaced several times. A US-backed body, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been tasked with carrying out aid distribution without a halt to the fighting, but the UN has rejected participating in the scheme. Israel says the foundation is a way of providing aid without it falling into the hands of Hamas, whom Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government accuses of looting food supplies. It has been shunned by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, who say the operation puts civilian lives in danger and could cause further mass displacement. A former adviser to US Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, Ms Pope said she saw very few buildings that remained standing when she visited Gaza in February during a ceasefire. At that time, residents' number one concern was lack of safe shelter, she said. 'I met people who had effectively nowhere else to turn,' she said. Since the ceasefire ended, 'our ability to get anything in to support shelter has been nonexistent, and so we know that that the suffering has only increased enormously.' The death toll in Gaza stands at more than 54,000, including more than 4,000 who were killed since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, according to the territory's health ministry. The strip's entire population is at risk of famine, the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Friday. Mr Netanyahu said last week that Israel would control the whole of the Gaza Strip at the end of its continuing military offensive. The renewed assault has prompted condemnation and pledges to review trade ties from some of Israel's closest allies, including the UK and EU. Israel's right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the army 'aims to occupy and cleanse areas in Gaza', raising fears of forced displacement, widely considered a violation of international law. 'We cannot be a part of forced displacement, and obviously we urge all countries to abide by international law, which forbids forced displacement,' Ms Pope said. Israel's military says it is ordering people to leave locations in Gaza for their own safety, although it has also attacked designated 'safe zones'. Its eviction orders, in the form of leaflets, phone calls and text messages, also come with inadequate notice, according to humanitarian organisations. Gazans' right to return to their homes is paramount, Ms Pope said. 'What's critical is enable people to get out of harm's way, enable people to go back home. They shouldn't have to choose.' Global need for safe migration routes Beyond Gaza, Ms Pope wants people to look beyond the UN to shape responses to migration, as attitudes towards the issue harden in many parts of the world. 'I don't always think the UN is the best advocate for better policy," she said. 'We're looking to the private sector, who tell us all the time that they need sustainable workforces.' Without addressing the key drivers of migration, including climate change, conflict and a paucity of opportunities, tough border controls will not work, said Ms Pope, who was elected to her role in 2023 and is the first woman to lead the IOM. 'We know that as much as a government is investing in controlling borders, unless it invests in addressing why people are moving in the first place, it's always going to have a gap between policy and outcome,' she said. In Kazakhstan, the government has the opposite attitude of many western nations, where safe and legal paths to migration have shut down. As well as workers from other central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, the resource-rich middle power is attracting migrants from South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. 'There is a strong interest from the government in promoting safe and regular migration,' Ms Pope said. The IOM is encouraging all governments to seriously consider provision of safe and legal routes for migrants, who can fill labour shortages and improve diversity. 'It's difficult in the political climate,' Ms Pope said. 'But from a strategic and economic development point of view, it makes a lot of sense.'

UN migration chief calls for access to Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

The National

12 hours ago

The National

UN migration chief calls for access to Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is seeking access to assist people in Gaza, where the scale of displacement is 'enormous' and 'people have nowhere else to turn', the head of the UN agency told The National. The IOM has 40,000 tents, hygiene kits and cooking kits waiting in warehouses in Jordan that have been unable to enter the Palestinian enclave since a ceasefire broke down in March, its Director General Amy Pope said. 'We have things that that will just give the most basic of life-saving support to people, but we can't get it in,' Ms Pope said in a wide-ranging interview with The National following the Astana International Forum in the capital of Kazakhstan. 'So that's what we're asking for ... access to the communities who are in need.' Ninety per cent of Gaza's population, around 1.9 million people, have been displaced, according to the IOM. More than half of them children, and many have been displaced several times. A US-backed body, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been tasked with carrying out aid distribution without a halt to the fighting, but the UN has rejected participating in the scheme. Israel says the foundation is a way of providing aid without it falling into the hands of Hamas, whom Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government accuses of looting food supplies. It has been shunned by UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, who say the operation puts civilian lives in danger and could cause further mass displacement. A former adviser to US Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, Ms Pope said she saw very few buildings that remained standing when she visited Gaza in February during a ceasefire. At that time, residents' number one concern was lack of safe shelter, she said. 'I met people who had effectively nowhere else to turn,' she said. Since the ceasefire ended, 'our ability to get anything in to support shelter has been nonexistent, and so we know that that the suffering has only increased enormously.' The death toll in Gaza stands at more than 54,000, including more than 4,000 who were killed since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, according to the territory's health ministry. The strip's entire population is at risk of famine, the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Friday. Mr Netanyahu said last week that Israel would control the whole of the Gaza Strip at the end of its continuing military offensive. The renewed assault has prompted condemnation and pledges to review trade ties from some of Israel's closest allies, including the UK and EU. Israel's right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the army 'aims to occupy and cleanse areas in Gaza', raising fears of forced displacement, widely considered a violation of international law. 'We cannot be a part of forced displacement, and obviously we urge all countries to abide by international law, which forbids forced displacement,' Ms Pope said. Israel's military says it is ordering people to leave locations in Gaza for their own safety, although it has also attacked designated 'safe zones'. Its eviction orders, in the form of leaflets, phone calls and text messages, also come with inadequate notice, according to humanitarian organisations. Gazans' right to return to their homes is paramount, Ms Pope said. 'What's critical is enable people to get out of harm's way, enable people to go back home. They shouldn't have to choose.' Global need for safe migration routes Beyond Gaza, Ms Pope wants people to look beyond the UN to shape responses to migration, as attitudes towards the issue harden in many parts of the world. 'I don't always think the UN is the best advocate for better policy," she said. 'We're looking to the private sector, who tell us all the time that they need sustainable workforces.' Without addressing the key drivers of migration, including climate change, conflict and a paucity of opportunities, tough border controls will not work, said Ms Pope, who was elected to her role in 2023 and is the first woman to lead the IOM. 'We know that as much as a government is investing in controlling borders, unless it invests in addressing why people are moving in the first place, it's always going to have a gap between policy and outcome,' she said. In Kazakhstan, the government has the opposite attitude of many western nations, where safe and legal paths to migration have shut down. As well as workers from other central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, the resource-rich middle power is attracting migrants from South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. 'There is a strong interest from the government in promoting safe and regular migration,' Ms Pope said. The IOM is encouraging all governments to seriously consider provision of safe and legal routes for migrants, who can fill labour shortages and improve diversity. 'It's difficult in the political climate,' Ms Pope said. 'But from a strategic and economic development point of view, it makes a lot of sense.'

UAE to UN: Arab Group says Israel's use of 'starvation as weapon of war is evident'

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If we find a way to measure compassion, can we use it to solve global problems?

UN migration chief calls for access to help Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

UN migration chief calls for access to Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

UAE to UN: Arab Group says Israel's use of 'starvation as weapon of war is evident'

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Try Our AI Features

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Related Articles

If we find a way to measure compassion, can we use it to solve global problems?

UN migration chief calls for access to help Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

UN migration chief calls for access to Gazans, who have 'nowhere else to turn'

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