KABUL - Noting that poverty is a “fertile ground for violence and crime” and the United Nations is setting a new development agenda with “poverty at its core,” the world body’s head today called on global citizens to be inspired by the courage of people like Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

“It [poverty] is inherently violent to the needs and aspirations of the world’s most vulnerable people. That is why we place such emphasis in fulfilling the promise of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, and setting a new development agenda with poverty at its core and sustainable development as its guide,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message for the International Day of Non-Violence, which falls on 2 October – the birthday of the Indian leader.

“Today we celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and his resonant legacy of non-violence,” Mr. Ban added. “Non-violence is neither inert nor passive. It takes courage to stand up to those who use violence to enforce their will or beliefs. It requires resolve to stand against injustice, discrimination and brutality and to demand respect for diversity and fundamental human rights. It also requires courage to move from conflict and embrace peaceful negotiation.”

Established in 2007, the International Day of Non-Violence is observed globally with the aim of disseminating “the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness."

The MDGs – launched by the UN in 2000 – aim to achieve eight development goals ranging from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015. In 2010, the UN General Assembly initiated a post-2015 development plan.

In his message, the UN chief said that growing populations have increased pressures on the planet and “we need also to be aware of the violence we inflict on the natural world.”

The International Day comes in the wake of a series of events in held recently in Afghanistan to highlight the importance of peace for the country’s development.

In one such event, organized in the southern province of Kandahar, local residents and members of the local Provincial Peace Committee (PPC) asked for “more practical and tangible steps” towards bringing peace to the country, which has experienced conflict for more than three decades.

“It is imperative for ex-combatants, who reconcile, to give them jobs so that they can return to normal life and have some means to support their families. Since we have to reintegrate these combatants into society, we need to provide some sort of support to them and their families,” said the head of the PPC, Haji Ata Mohammad.

Since their establishment in 2010, the PPCs of Kandahar, Zabul, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces have gotten some 400 insurgents to reconcile under a government programme.

Kandahar’s neighbouring province of Nimroz established a PPC recently. The most recent incident of involving ex-combatants joining the peace process in the country’s south took place in Helmand, where 14 individuals gave up their arms last week.

“The group of 14 insurgents decided to quit fighting and join the peace process through the efforts of the National Directorate of Security and the PPC,” said the Governor of Helmand, Mohammad Naim, at a ceremony organized to welcome the ex-fighters.