UNITED NATIONS, March 20: “People around the world aspire to lead happy and fulfilling lives free from fear and want, and in harmony with nature,” United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday in his message for the International Day of Happiness.

Mr Ban called on the international community to commit to an inclusive and sustainable human development that would improve the well-being of those who lack basic services needed to pursue happiness.

“Yet, basic material well-being is still elusive for far too many living in extreme poverty. For many more, recurring socio-economic crises, violence and crime, environmental degradation and increasing threats of climate change are an ever-present threat.”

In April 2012, the UN held a high-level meeting on the topic of ‘Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm’ at the initiative of Bhutan, a country which recognised the supremacy of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.

In July, the General Assembly proclaimed March 20 the International Day of Happiness, recognising the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in people’s lives around the world and the importance of their recognition in policy objectives.