Human Development Report

[Facilitator's Note: This discussion is currently being hosted on the HDR network. We would like to invite you to share your comments on the attached HDR 2004 Concept Note, with particular reference to the data question outlined below on capturing inequalities between groups. Please send your comments to surf-hdr@groups.undp.org. Many thanks.]

Dear Colleagues, 

The Human Development Report 2004 will focus on building inclusive societies to promote human development in a multicultural world. We hope to begin a discussion with you on next year’s Report – to tap into the unique experience and knowledge that human development professionals on this network possess. To this end, we would very much appreciate your comments and feedback on the attached Concept Paper, as well as on the discussion below. We hope to wrap up the discussion on HDR2004 by Wednesday, 24 December
2003. 

Managing Cultural Diversity – Policy Dilemmas

Promoting cultural freedom and managing cultural diversity raises many real and difficult issues. Indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities/majorities and migrants may make various political, socioeconomic and cultural claims on the state – such as to be better represented in parliament and key public institutions; to have separate, autonomous power within the state; to have a greater share of economic resources; to have full, or even separate, civil and political rights; or to have the state recognize, and even ensure the survival of, their unique heritage and cultural traditions. Some states may respond by ignoring these claims and suppressing these groups. Other states may work to accommodate these claims in order to build more inclusive societies, which often lead to (real or perceived) policy dilemmas. For example, the state may need to enact such controversial policies as affirmative action, bilingual education and proportional representation.

In the context of your country as well as your own experience, what has been the state response to these issues, and what debates are currently underway?

Capturing Inequalities Between Groups

The political, socioeconomic or cultural inequalities that exist between groups (such as religious, linguistic and ethnic groups) within countries are difficult to measure and not often available.
We have benefited greatly from disaggregated data published in the National Human Development Reports as such data often highlights these inequalities.

Would you be able to provide us with additional data on the inequalities between groups that exist in your country, or point us to organizations doing such work? For example: 

Differences in political opportunities: Data on the number (and proportion of) representatives in parliament and public institutions from different groups; differences in voter turnout between these groups, or do some groups not have the right to vote (or have only recently received this right)

Socioeconomic gaps: Data on socioeconomic inequalities in terms of HDI, health, education or
income/assets

Suppression of cultural recognition: Data or information on the curbing of religious practices, restriction of language use and/or other cultural practices of certain groups

Thank you very much. I look forward to this discussion, and believe that it will greatly contribute to the work of the HDR team.

Sincerely,
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr
HDRO/UNDP