IIMSAM Middle East Office Commemorated UN Public Service Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 22, 2011 --

Commemorating the United Nations Public Service Day, Dr. Naseer Homoud, Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM) - the Intergovernmental Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council said, “IIMSAM Mid East Office joins in the worldwide celebration of United Nations Public Service Day. Instituted in 2002 when the UN General Assembly designated June 23 annually as UN Public Service Day, the Day urges member states to organize special events that would highlight the contribution of public service in development as well as in the peace process”.

UN Public Service Day emphasizes that democracy and successful governance are built on the foundation of a competent civil service. It is observed with a host of activities, including setting up of stalls and booths about selfless public servants and community service, organized lunches with guest speakers, internal awards ceremonies within public service agencies or departments, and special announcements and programs to honor public servants.

The Goodwill Ambassador said “we believe that inclusive and accessible public services are vital for addressing social inequalities, promoting wellbeing and social cohesion. The provision of public services should be underpinned by principles of equality, diversity, non-discrimination and a respect for the rights of the individual. We believe that public services can promote the well-being of individual citizens and enhance their social capital, that their full availability is essential for full citizenship and equality for all and equally essential for greater social cohesion”.

“Service delivery should be people-driven, this day served to deepen democracy by promoting good governance while recognizing public service workers, the implementation of results- based management systems in public institutions has resulted in enhanced strategic intra-government coordination and linkages which ensure increased efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector”, said Dr. Homoud.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Homoud maintained that the Public Service Day is very significant not only for public sector workers, but also for all citizens who depend on the wide range of services – health, education, water and electricity – provided by local and national authorities. “Public services are the glue that holds society together, and should be held in high esteem. Unfortunately, some of that feeling has been lost during these turbulent economic and political times. It is time we stopped to consider the important role that public services play in our day-to-day lives. Let us not forget to appreciate the public servants who leave no stones unturned for welfare of community at large”, said Dr. Homoud.

Dr. Homoud indicated that public service day celebration is meant to appreciate the contribution made by public servants to the effective public service delivery. Among the challenges, he said, were still facing the civil service is poverty eradication, to fight corruption and to work towards developing democracy. “A good public service is that solid foundation on which a country functions. Civil servants are the people who run the day to day affairs of a country and their services are essential at all times, on this day let us salute the tireless and non-ending sincere and honest efforts of public servants who have left no stones unturned towards serving the humanity”, said Dr. Homoud.

Maintaining that role of public servants is essential for accomplishing United Nations Millennium Development Goals Dr. Homoud said “we cannot deny this fact that without effective mechanism and channels of public service MDGs cannot be achieved; the ultimate carrier of the policies meant towards MDGs accomplishment are indeed public servants and a greater efficacy is required in this segment if the world community has to achieve the MDGs as set by the United Nations”. He maintained that the governments cannot achieve the MDGs alone. The initiatives towards this end should recognize the crucial role that local governmental bodies might play in delivering public services to achieve the MDGs, especially in education, health and agriculture. “Empowering local governmental bodies, organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders and equipping them with the technical and financial resources they need and strengthening partnerships between the several tiers of government, will speed progress towards the MDGs”, said Dr. Homoud.

Dr. Naseer Homoud     IIMSAM     Qatar Attestation Service