• SAARC

SAARC

This paper examines how a South Asian Social Charter could give coherent expression and commitment to poverty alleviation in the sub-continent. It also assesses the possibility of this framework to unify efforts within a collective frame of social values and norms. That paper argues that whereas the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has attempted to harmonise sustainable development and poverty reduction policies for the past ten years, this initiative represents the most ambitions and realistic possibility to achieve success.

The paper considers the recent trends of democratization in most of the South Asian countries, and takes its starting point from the synergies created as a result of this process. It argues that knock-on effects include a concerted effort to widen the conceptualisation of poverty reduction theories and strategies in the sub-continent. The paper highlights recent SAARC efforts to address social issues and poverty alleviation, culminating in the creation of the SAARC Commission on Poverty Alleviation.

The author highlights some of the key finding of the commission, and puts them in the socio-economic context of South Asia. These findings have also played a key role in the conceptualisation of the Social Charter, and the paper then focuses on the following key issues in order to make the Charter a reality:

• the charter must comply with the realities of the South Asian context
• the charter needs to be standard quality, ie. comparable with the standards similar international summits
• development goals agreed upon collectively must be scheduled in consideration of the status, capability and resources of SAARC nations
• the major criterion of measuring/assessing progress should be based on the extent of reduction of the disparities within each member state
• human values reflected in the declaration should not be compromised in favour of regionalism

The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at developing a sustainable framework for the charter to realise its ambitions:

• space must be created to ensure the full and unhindered participation of civil society throughout the process
• the finalization of the charter must reflect the common aspirations of the Asian people
• member nations must be held accountable to both their respective citizenry and the South Asian community as a whole

Summary originally provided by GDNet, an Eldis content partner

• Full text of document
• Publisher details
• Send to a friend