Bahrain ranks at the top in the GCC region in participation in the My World Survey, with 4,269 votes. This shows how lively the society is and how lively and dynamic the citizens are and how global they are in their approach to issues, said Nejib Friji, Director of UN Information Centre, Bahrain, at the 69th anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations charter (UN Day) Celebrations.
He told Bahrain News Agency that good education, better healthcare, an honest and responsive government, protection against crime and violence have ben the priorities for the Bahraini. “Through these priorities of the Bahraini listed protection of forest, rivers and oceans as top priority . With this, the Bahraini citizens have proved that they are global citizens. Though they have no rivers or forests, they are aware of the importance of these to mankind. They have looked at a global concern, rather than limiting themselves to the detailed domestic concerns,” said Friji.
The UN views this as very important and encouraging. This survey asked individuals to lay their priorities for the world leaders to shape the new concept of sustainable development goals. This will replace the outgoing models, the Millennium Development Goals, he added.
Bahrainis also looked for better healthcare, better job opportunities, honest and responsive government and protection against crime and violence among their other priorities.
“We are glad that we launched the project in 2013 with the Minister of State for Information Affairs, Sameera Rajab and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, GhanemFadhul Al Buainain. The government of Bahrain at the highest level gave the go-ahead to conduct the survey in Bahrain. From there we went to the grassroots – the schools, civil societies, unions,women, universities, GPIC, Gulf Air –two organizations that teamed up with the UN to promote the survey. Here today we brought all partners from civil societies, government officials, education and the media to look at interpreting the finding into concrete components in the development scheme that we should use in the future.”
The prioritization of the protection of forests, rivers and oceans are key ingredients of sustainable development, said Friji. When the people have taken the first step, the political process will begin, he added.
Of the respondents, 42 per cent were female, 57 per cent were under 30 years of age, 62 per cent finished post-secondary education, 14 per cent finished secondary education.
Total votes polled globally were 5,040,483.
UN Resident Coordinator, Peter Grohman, told the agency that the post- 2015 Development workshop, held in connection with the UN Day, looked at the developments in the Millennium Developoment Goals. Bahrain has responded positively with most of the goals already enshrined in their constitution or even taken up with various bodies towards implementation of these goals, he added. In the two areas of infant mortality and universal right to education, Bahrain has already taken the step forward and the results are encouraging, he added.