Everyone counts in drive to improve quality of life |10 July 2010
“As we celebrate the achievements in human development that our country has made, let us also look at how we can further improve the quality of life in our society and how we can empower each individual to play his or her part in this endeavour.
“The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development presented a model for development that placed people at its centre. Seychelles was an example in this respect, as we were already ensuring equality of opportunity in education for girls and boys, making health services available to all, creating employment opportunities and ensuring that more vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and the disabled were integrated in social programmes at all levels.
“Today, despite the many challenges that we face as a small nation in an increasingly globalised and competitive world, it is important that we remain committed to our model of holistic and harmonious development, a development that integrates the social, spiritual and economic – with people being themselves its agents and beneficiaries – and takes account of the need for sustainability and respect for the environment.
“The theme adopted by the United Nations Population Fund – Everyone Counts – highlights the importance of data for development. This international theme is most significant for our country as we are carrying out a national census next month.
“Everyone Counts stresses the importance of reliable data that can be used to inform sound policies and appropriate strategies that respond to the needs of children, women and men in all parts of our country. Everyone Counts stresses the importance of everybody taking part in the 2010 census.
“Everyone Counts also means that everyone can help to create the society we wish to live in; everyone has a part in it; everyone’s contribution matters. The actions of everyone have an impact on the quality of life in our society.
“As we celebrate World Population Day tomorrow, let us thank all who have contributed to the progress of our country and people thus far, and let us renew our commitment to creating the equilibrium between population, development and environment to ensure that we can enjoy the quality of life that we value in Seychelles as we move forward Together, ready for the future.”