What the APRM does about underdevelopment of human resources  These issues are spread throughout the APRM Questionnaire. For example, skills find particular expression in the EGM thematic area under Objective 1 on design and implementation of economic policies for sustainable development, where Question 3 asks ―What sectoral economic policies has your country developed and implemented to promote economic growth and sustainable development in the past 5-10 years and what has been their effectiveness?‖ Both health and education also feature prominently in the fourth thematic are on Socio-Economic Development (SED). These documents approach human resource development as both a pragmatic and moral imperative. Developing the human potential is both necessary for economic development and is the right of Africa‘s people. Expanding access to the services that achieve this – education, training and healthcare – and improving their effectiveness is a priority. APRM standards also deal extensively with human resources development issues. Indeed, this is central to the very concept of development. The following are particularly notable in this area:                 UN, World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development (2002, Johannesburg, South Africa) Women‘s human development attracts particular attention. The standards require that women not be discriminated against in terms of access to services; indeed, they are to be accorded services in accordance with their specific needs. Women should be helped to reach their potential in education, especially in areas where they have not historically been represented, such as the sciences. Women‘s reproductive rights, for example, access to contraception, are to be recognised. AU, AU Constitutive Act (2000, Lomé, Togo) AU, Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003, Maputo, Mozambique) International Conference on Popular Participation in the Recovery and Development Process in Africa, African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation (February 1990, Arusha, Tanzania) OAU, African Charter on Human and Peoples‘ Rights (1981, Nairobi, Kenya) OAU, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1999) OAU, The New Partnership for Africa‘s Development (NEPAD) (2001) OAU, Solemn Declaration, Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (2000, Lomé, Togo) OAU, Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (1991, Abuja, Nigeria) UN, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979, New York, USA) UN, Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989, New York, USA) UN, Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975, New York, USA) UN, Declaration on the Right to Development (1986, New York, USA) UN, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966, New York, USA) UN, United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000, New York, USA) UN, United Nations Millennium Development Goals (2000, New York, USA) UN, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948, New York, USA) The standards also recognise the problem of Africa‘s ‗brain drain‘, i.e. the loss of skilled personnel to emigration to (and sometimes poaching by) other countries. Measures need to be taken to deal with this. Agenda 2063 concurs with this, foreseeing ‗well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation‘ as well as ‗healthy and well-nourished citizens‘.153 Health Africa faces some severe health challenges. For the most part, African countries rank significantly behind the global average. Africans die earlier, and live shorter productive lives than their counterparts elsewhere. Infants in Africa are twice as likely to die as those elsewhere. The prevalence of stunting is also very concerning. HIV infections, malaria and tuberculosis remain serious public health threats. Meanwhile, the availability of skilled health professionals remains far behind the world average. 153 39 Agenda 2063, pp. 4-5.

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