United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched the State of World Population 2008 report at an event held at the Africa Hall, UN Economic Commission for Africa, on 12 November. This year’s report entitled Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender and Human Rights reports highlights that culture is a central component of successful development of poor countries, and must be integrated into development policy and programming. The report affirms that development strategies that are sensitive to cultural values can reduce harmful practices against women and promote human rights, including gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The report, which coincides with this year’s 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is based on the concept that the international human rights framework has universal validity. Human rights express values common to all cultures and protect groups as well as individuals. The report endorses culturally sensitive approaches to development and to the promotion of human rights, in general, and women’s rights, in particular.

“In many cultures, gender inequality remains widespread and deep-rooted—indeed, especially here in Ethiopia and therefore, culturally sensitive approaches to development are critical for the realization of human rights in general, and of women’s rights in particular,” said Monique Rakotomalala, UNFPA Representative to Ethiopia.   

Culturally sensitive approaches seek out creative solutions produced within cultures, and work with them. The State of World Population 2008 cautions, however, that cultural sensitivity and engagement do not mean acceptance of harmful traditional practices, or a free pass for human rights abuses – far from it. Values and practices that infringe human rights can be found in all cultures. Understanding cultural realities can reveal the most effective ways to challenge these harmful cultural practices and strengthen beneficial ones.

“In the Ethiopian context understanding cultures, customs, norms and values is critically important to achieve the development goals set in the national development plan, PASDEP, which integrate the Millennium Development Goals,” noted Woizero Genet Mengistu, Head of the Population Department with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, in a remark she made on the occasion.  She went on to say that it is critically important to understand the various cultural norms, values and practices to implement the appropriate interventions in different regions and weredas in the country.

Ms. Allesandra Tisot, UN Resident Coordinator also made some remarks on the theme of the State of World Population 2008 report.

The State of World Population 2008 report highlights that culturally sensitive approaches call for cultural fluency—familiarity with how cultures work, and how to work with them. The report suggests that partnerships—between UNFPA and community-based institutions and leaders, for example—can create effective strategies to promote human rights and end their abuses, such as female genital mutilation or cutting. The report indicates that the UNFPA approach encourages change from within and the Fund works with governments and a variety of local organizations and individuals through a “culture lens”.  

The experience of an implementing partner of UNFPA, the Kembatti Mentti Gezima- Tope (KMG) was presented during the launching event by Ato Belayneh Nekatebeb, Project Coordinator with the organization. He talked on the experience of KMG in the effort to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation and other forms of gender based violence in the Kembatta area of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples region and the effort to replace this harmful practice with a positive one using culturally sensitive approaches devised in consultation with the beneficiary communities. Testimonials were also shared by two members of beneficiary communities in the operation area of KMG. 

Dignitaries from the government, development partners, UN agencies, and the African Union as well as representatives of NGOs, CSOs, and the media participated in the launching event of the State of World Population 2008 report.