Human Rights Day at AUK

As part of its 4th Annual Social Awareness Week, the Office of Student Life at AUK hosted UN Resident Coordinator in Kuwait Dr. Salah Bourjini on the occasion of Human Rights Day. This lecture is part of a series held during Social Awareness Week whereby everyday is dedicated to a subjected matter that is universally socially relevant. The Topics include Save Our Resources Day, Tolerance Day, Human Rights Day, Hunger and Poverty Day and finally Community Service Day. 

The lecture began with a history of the United Nations as a whole and the many specialized agencies that came to be, including one of the most important agencies dealing with sustainable Human Development, the UNDP, which is represented in 166 countries. Dr. Bourjini then focused on the history and role of the UNDP stating that, "It is important to mention that UNDP is working in almost all parts of the world in the out posts of the development fronts and at all national levels, regional and global dealing especially with important areas as in the fight against poverty, dealing with climate change and achieving equality between the sexes."

Dr. Bourjini then narrowed his attention to human development in the Arab world naming the various obstacles in the face of development in this region. Dr. Bourjini continued by saying, "There are enormous challenges facing Arab Countries today, they must find a way to improve their situation. There is a need to define priorities, scope and tools for improving and enhancing development."

Some experts have retained seven dimensions of threat to the Arab Region, these are:

1. People and their insecure environment include: demographic pressures, water scarcity, desertification, pollution and climate change.
2. The state and its insecure people: Citizenship, adherence to international charters, problem of Human Rights, constitutional falling, legal restrictions of political parties, obstruction of justice. 
3. Violence against women 
4. High unemployment and persisting poverty 
5. Hunger and food insecurity 
6. Health security
7. Occupations and wars: (Palestine and Iraq)

Dr. Salah Bourjini got his PhD in Economics Development and Growth from Kansas University, USA in 1972. After serving as an Engineer in the Ministry of Planning in Tunisia and as a University Professor, Dr. Bourjini served as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Algeria, Iraq, Libya and Kuwait. He also served as an Advisor for international NGOs.