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Speech by Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner - Human rights, Security and Development in a Globalised World

Summary: July 8, 2005: Speech by Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood policy, Human rights, Security and Development in a Globalised World, Women Building Peace Conference, Soroptimist International (Vienna)



Human rights, Security and Development in a Globalised World

Mrs. President Croemer,
Mrs. President Brandl,
Mrs. President Konrad,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear "Soroptimists",

Thank you very much for inviting me today. It is a pleasure to address such a distinguished and impressively large audience on an important topic, which means a great deal to me personally.

I.

The "Soroptimists" have been helping to improve the lives of women for more than eight decades. You are a worldwide "voice for women", with your compassion, commitment and energy.

Protecting human and specifically women's rights is not a "dispensable luxury". On the contrary: It is a crucial cornerstone for peace, security and development.

In this vein, I would like to elaborate on two basic points today:

First, in our "globalized" era, we need to stand up for human dignity, the freedom from fear and the freedom from want.

This is not just a moral imperative - it is also in our "enlightened self-interest". It is a practical necessity to make globalization work. If we do not strengthen human security and help our partners to reform, we will eventually import instability ourselves.

The European Union, and that will be my second main point, already plays a key role in this regard.

Given the new challenges we face, it is vital that we deepen our engagement as a global player, with a strong focus on human rights.

Europe cannot be passive. We have to take on our responsibility. Our partners - and our citizens - expect that from us. Strengthening our foreign policy is therefore my main goal as the EU Commissioner for External Relations.

To borrow from Franklin Roosevelt: We need to work hard for II.

Human security stands at the basis of a modern foreign policy. Today's threats are often the result of violations of individual liberties. We will not have stable partners as long as the exclusion from government, lawlessness, the lack of economic opportunities, arms proliferation and organized crime haunt their people.

Sadly, this lack of human security is often a lack of "female security". Women are more vulnerable in crises. They are the first victims and bear the brunt of violent conflicts. Women and children form the vast majority of refugees and displaced persons in conflicts, and they suffer most from the long-term disruptions caused by wars.

That is why we need to work even harder to achieve the first of Roosevelt's "freedoms", the freedom from fear.

III.

Yesterday's outrageous attacks in London have shown how precious this freedom from fear is. These horrible acts, which go to the heart of our European values, have shocked us all. They have shown that Europe is vulnerable. My sympathy goes to the families of the innocent dead.

We must now show strength and resolve to fight the threat of terrorism. And we must tackle its root causes, by investing in international stability and by countering this ideology with our values of democracy, the rule of law and tolerance.

Today's diplomacy is therefore not only about the security of states. It is increasingly about ensuring the integrity of the individual. There can be no long term peace and global security without human security.

IV.

Humanity will not enjoy this basic security without the respect for human rights. Hence our second responsibility: to work for the freedom to live in dignity under the rule of law.

This is not only a liberal ideal. Democratic societies, where human rights are respected, are more stable and more secure, both internally and in their international relations.

Here, women's rights - actually women's human rights - are particularly important: Excluding more than 50% of the population from politics and the economy is not only wrong, but also self-defeating. It destroys the fabric of a society.

Therefore, it would be a big mistake to see a trade-off between women's rights and security, economic growth or development. There is no such trade-off, but on the contrary, a direct connection.

The "virtuous circle" of liberty, peace and development is vital. We have all too often seen the dramatic consequences of its breakdown:

Think about the "failed state" of Afghanistan, whose internal problems - including the gross mistreatment of women - made it a hothouse of regional instability.

Think of some Middle Eastern countries, where the lack of democratic participation and economic perspectives - and the partial exclusion of women from public life - fuel instability and discontent, which can spread beyond the region.

V.

Therefore, we have a genuine interest to raise human security with our partners. These are not "internal affairs". That is one key lesson that we learned in the last years.

This is particularly relevant for women's rights. I am strongly opposed to those who say that women's rights would depend on the cultural context; to those who accuse the so-called "West" of imposing its values. These false "arguments" are mere excuses for their real subtext: That the lives of women would matter less than men's. This is a totally unacceptable position.

In supporting women's rights, we do not impose values - we help to empower women to make their own choices. We are simply fighting for the freedom to be human, without the need for permission.

VI.

Let me give you a few examples how the EU promotes human rights:

First, human rights are a pre-requisite for deeper relations with the EU. We use our "power of attraction" to promote them.

We also ensure that partners respect international obligations and enforce them on the ground. The EU has equally included human rights clauses into its network of treaties - which can be suspended in case of human rights violations.

Moreover, we mainstream human rights and gender points into economic and social reforms.

But we do not just fight for human rights. We also invest in them through human rights education. This is a special priority for me. We need to lay the foundation for reforms within our partner countries.

Similarly, our election support and election observation missions strengthen the roots of democracy in our partner countries.

Last but not least, financial assistance for human rights is an integral part of our aid programs, in particular through the special "European Initiative for Human Rights and Democracy", which has an annual budget of more than 100 Million Euro.

In addition, we have created a special policy for the strategic regions surrounding the EU, from Eastern Europe to the Middle East: The European Neighbourhood Policy. It builds a "ring of friends" around us and offers our partners a perspective of coming closer to the Union - provided they undertake political and economic reforms.

This gives us leverage for human rights. For instance, our partners explicitly undertake to promote equal treatment. We then monitor their legislation and practices, coupled with financial aid. The Neighbourhood Policy is thus a tool for modernization.

VII.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Advocating fundamental rights and laying the basis for peace and development requires strong international cooperation. Cross-border challenges must be tackled jointly, not in a unilateralist fashion. That is why the EU is committed to effective multilateralism. This is a guiding principle of our foreign policy.

We need to strengthen global governance to manage our evolving world order. The UN Summit in September provides a historic opportunity for the international community to forge a new global consensus and agree on action on today's challenges.

The EU is strongly engaged in preparing this Summit, and my organization, the European Commission, has just recently published a set of substantial proposals in that regard, including on peace-building, and on stronger human rights protection.

It is now up to us as international players to use this opportunity and make globalization work on a multilateral platform. The UN is not a different, faraway planet. We are the United Nations.

VIII.

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Human rights are not just a matter of laws and basic security. They are also about development opportunities. Human security and human rights are linked with a third "freedom": The freedom from want.

The UN Millennium Development Goals, which we are now implementing with renewed momentum, are our plan for action to achieve this. They are not faraway objectives. They are achievable. Enforcing them makes a real difference and saves lives.

We must focus more actively on poverty reduction; on combating famines and diseases; we must help to improve basic health and sanitation; bring power to rural areas to foster economic development; and we must invest in education.

Gender equality and the empowerment of women are a specific, central MDG. In particular, we sow the seeds of equality by helping to eliminate gender disparity in education.

Secondly, to enforce these goals, we will boost development financing. We need to deepen our investment in humanity.

That is why the international community has set itself clear targets to raise more money. Here too, the EU stands at the forefront. We will reach an aid-level of 0.7 percent of our GDP over the next years. We will continue to drop the debt of the poorest and most-indebted states.

Still, development is not just a matter of how much we spend, but also how we spend it: The EU tailors its programs to the specific needs of women, for instance through support for local communities in which women play a key role; or through micro-credit schemes which particularly benefit female entrepreneurs.

The MDGs do require financial efforts in difficult times. But they are affordable. What we cannot afford is the opposite - dying children, women trapped in poverty and whole generations without a future.

Thirdly, we need to improve the coherence of our efforts and embed development in our wider foreign policy.

Development is not an isolated issue. We cannot achieve the MDGs if we do not help countries integrate into the global system. We must make smart use of all our tools: Our security policy and crisis management; our economic power, to open markets and ensure global fairness; and policies from agriculture to education, to help reforms.

IX.

As you see, the EU is a key player in the fight for human security. We are the world's biggest economy and the most generous donor of assistance - with more than half of the world's aid. Our political reform networks span the globe. We have an increasing role in crisis management, and actively tackle new challenges like the trafficking of women and children.

This sophisticated toolbox is our comparative advantage. The EU is a "soft power", not working by force but with the power of gravitation and persuasion.

European integration was never introspective. It has successfully projected security, prosperity and the rule of law abroad. Its ability to transform societies is unique. Last year's enlargement proves this point.

Therefore, stressing Europe's global role is not a call to create an "empire". It is an appeal to activism, optimism and the courage to shoulder responsibility - virtues that the "Soroptimists" stand for, too.

I am convinced that the EU will overcome its current crisis. We need to reconnect the European project to the hearts and minds of our citizens. And we must be more courageous in managing globalization. The EU is part of the solution, not of the problem.

This requires a strong European foreign policy. We must not pull up the drawbridges. We cannot take "a year off" from international affairs. It is our duty as political leaders to work for an open and active Europe in a fast-changing world.

X.

Ladies and Gentlemen! Let me conclude.

The art of politics is not about commenting events from the sidelines. To strengthen women's rights, we need a clear vision and the political will and stamina to get things done.

That is why governments and civil society organizations like yours must join forces. Those fortunate enough to benefit from opportunities which are denied to women elsewhere have a duty to fight on their behalf.

I salute you for your efforts as "women building peace". I am sure that these days are a great opportunity for you to build friendships and strengthen your organization as a global women's network.

Behind each successful man stands a strong woman. Behind Franklin Roosevelt, whom I quoted earlier, stood Eleanor Roosevelt. I close with a thought by her. It should be a leitmotif for all of us:

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Thank you.

  • Ref: SP05-277EN
  • EU source: European Commission
  • UN forum: 
  • Date: 8/7/2005


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