Human Development Today: Special issue

2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first Human Development Report. Celebrate with us, join us #HumanDev25.


"Human Development Report ? a personal intellectual journey" Selim Jahan, Director of the Human Development report Office, shares his reflections.

Foreword for 25th Anniversary of the Human Development Report Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

I am honoured to join in marking the 25th anniversary of the Human Development Report. For too long before the advent of this landmark series, a nation?s prosperity was viewed solely through the lens of economic growth. This approach obscured a central truth: people are the real wealth of a nation. The Human Development Report helped change the perspective, from the things that a nation produces ? to the people who actually produce them. Read more.
 
25 years of UNDP?s Leadership on Advancing Human Progress Helen Clark, Administrator United Nations Development Programme

It has been 25 years since the first Human Development Report (HDR) introduced a new concept for advancing human wellbeing which challenged the notion that the level of economic growth and of GDP per capita were the leading indicators of a country?s progress. Read more.
 
Celebrating the human development success HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

In 2003 I was invited to become a Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP. I was delighted to accept because I have long been a firm believer in UNDP?s mission and in human development. People are born equal; everyone should have the same right to realize his or her potential as a human being. But although this should be the case it is often not so. Therefore, human development remains an important tool to help offer everyone equal access to services and opportunities. Read more.
 
25 Years of Human Development, an African Perspective Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia

We note with passion that as the 2015 deadline approaches, Africa?s progress on the Millennium Development Goals remains uneven. Remarkable advances have been made in areas of human development, such as net primary school enrollment, gender parity in primary education, the representation of women in decision-making, some reduction in poverty, immunization coverage, and stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS. Read more.
 
In Pursuit of Dignity Stefan L?fven, Prime Minister of Sweden

When I think about human development, I often recall the speech that Nelson Mandela gave in 2005 at a rally to make poverty history. He said: ?Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.? Read more.
 
Human Development is about putting people at the center Winnie Byanyima, International Executive Director, Oxfam

It is an opportune moment to reflect on the importance of the first Human Development Report, twenty-five years ago. Human Development appeared as a concept in the midst of intense debates that were challenging both GDP growth as a measure of national progress and the Washington consensus. By putting the lives of people at the centre of development and economic thinking, it brought a revolutionary change in the way the world considers poverty and social injustices.

Read more.



Celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking research, new perspectives, data analysis and innovative policies.
Find out more about #HumanDev25 at our special site http://hdr.undp.org/en/25-years