Mr.
Chairman,
Distinguished representatives,
Friends from the Red Cross and Red Crescent,
Guests and observers,
Today, I speak on behalf of our 181 National Societies around
the world that make up the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies. I also speak on behalf of the millions
of volunteers and members who every day work selflessly to protect
the lives, livelihoods and dignity of vulnerable people everywhere.
They are indispensable in our efforts to build a better world.
So, I consider it an honour, and a responsibility to be before
you today. I hope I can convey clearly the strong sense of solidarity
and unity among the members of the International Federation
in our collective commitment to the theme of this Conference
“Protecting human dignity”.
Protecting human dignity means safeguarding the capacities of
all individuals, thus making it possible for all people not
only to use their capacities but also to develop to their fullest
potential. Protecting human dignity thus implies ensuring respect
for the dignity of all human beings and enabling each person
to develop to the fullest extent possible.
This in turn implies that no individual is more or less important
than another and that we are all entitled to equal respect for
our dignity. Protecting human dignity must not be achieved for
some by leaving others behind, condemning them to a life of
indignity and dependence. Moreover, it is not enough to protect
human dignity, we must actively promote it.
At our recent General Assembly, we had the pleasure to welcome
three new National Societies to the Federation: the Cook Islands
Red Cross Society, the Kazakh Red Crescent Society and the Red
Cross Society of Micronesia. We were also pleased to have among
us those National Societies that have not yet been recognized
and we look forward to the day when we can welcome them as full-fledged
members of the Federation.
The International Federation and its member Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, together with the ICRC, are on the front
lines when dealing with threats to human dignity. In every corner
of the globe, wherever there is pain and suffering, we provide
relief.
Where there is grief and desperation, we restore hope. We speak
out against inequity, discrimination, intolerance and hate,
and advocate on behalf of the vulnerable, the marginalized,
and the forgotten. Our humanitarian voice and our actions benefit
millions of people each year.
It is precisely these people, the vulnerable, the marginalized,
the hurt, the forgotten, the missing – all those whose
human dignity is at risk - they are the reason that we are here
today. And it is their voices that need to be heard in a conference
like this one. So when we speak about protecting human dignity,
let us never forget that we are speaking about people, not abstract
concepts.
There can be no doubt that the humanitarian landscape has been
radically altered in the last few years. We have all have been
shaken by the recent events and attacks that have taken place
in various parts of the world. For those of us in the Red Cross
and Red Crescent, we have been particularly alarmed by the erosion
of respect for our neutral and impartial work to alleviate human
suffering, as well as the growing insecurity faced by humanitarian
workers, especially those working as volunteers, with little
else to protect them except the emblem.
One of the most disturbing trends we have seen in recent years
has been the politicization of humanitarian assistance. Too
often, the flow of humanitarian assistance is determined by
media attention and political concerns, rather than on the basis
of who is most vulnerable or is the most in need. We need to
refocus attention on the humanitarian imperative to provide
assistance to those who need it most, in a neutral and impartial
manner, and without discrimination. This must take precedence
over all other concerns.
We must not ignore the other, more hidden threats to human dignity
- the ones that don’t capture the attention of the media
or governments. I am referring not only to the forgotten conflicts,
but also, the day-to-day situations that threaten the lives,
livelihood and dignity of millions of people. These are the
daily forgotten disasters such as the poverty and inequity faced
by millions, or the intolerance and discrimination directed
against many groups and individuals, that contribute to increased
vulnerability and threaten human dignity.
Among the most serious and pervasive threats to human dignity
today are disasters and disease, which claim millions of lives
each year. Disasters and disease not only destroy lives but
also increase the vulnerability of entire populations by undermining
development gains, unravelling social structures and reducing
the ability of communities to cope with crises. These are areas
in which the International Federation and its member National
Societies have shown their commitment to action, and which we
want to highlight during this International Conference.
The burden of disasters and disease falls disproportionately
on those who are least able to cope with it: the poor and those
who are marginalized and excluded from society, such as minorities,
migrants and refugees. Discriminatory policies and practices
that deny vulnerable populations equal access to services, information
and decision-making mechanisms which could protect their lives,
livelihoods and dignity, further exacerbate the situation.
Just a few days ago, World Aids Day took place, reminding us
again that HIV/AIDS is certainly one of the most serious humanitarian
challenges we are facing today. We all know by now that the
escalating impact of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is tearing
apart communities, families and individuals. We know that the
complex interaction between HIV/AIDS and other problems makes
the impact of the pandemic even greater. And we know that access
to compassionate care and access to treatment are fundamental
to allowing people living with HIV/AIDS to preserve their dignity
and contribute to their communities.
Yet, despite all we know, our response is still lagging too
far behind. Funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS is woefully
inadequate. Access to affordable antiretroviral treatment is
still far from reaching the millions of people who require it.
Proven methods to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS are being questioned.
And ignorance, stigma and discrimination and societal attitudes
continue to hamper our efforts to reach those who need our help
most.
Within the Red Cross and Red Crescent, we have had to grapple
with the reality of HIV/AIDS and the impact it is having on
our staff and volunteers. We have learned to confront our own
attitudes and fears to make the Red Cross and Red Crescent a
more welcoming home for those living with HIV/AIDS. And we have
scaled up our efforts to combat the stigma and discrimination
faced by people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and to
support prevention and care programmes. Furthermore, we are
actively looking into ways to improve access to treatment.
Our programmes reach millions of people, but all these efforts
are not enough. We need to do more. And we need to work with
governments, civil society, groups representing PLWHA and others
to ensure that our efforts have the maximum impact.
Similarly, we cannot ignore the impact of disasters and the
threat they represent to human dignity. In recent decades, the
number of people affected by disasters has risen dramatically.
Disasters break down the resilience and coping mechanisms of
communities and individuals, and undermine efforts to reduce
poverty and improve quality of life. The causes of disasters
are many, including the effects of climate change and extreme
weather conditions, but reducing the impact of disasters depends
largely on how well we -- governments, National Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, and communities -- can work together
in preparing for and responding to situations of disaster.
Too often, the impact of disasters is made worse because of
poor planning, environmental degradation, and inadequate response
mechanisms. That is why disaster risk reduction is critical
to preventing and avoiding situations that make communities
vulnerable. Just as importantly, while we focus on reducing
risks, we need to be able to respond effectively when a disaster
strikes. And following a disaster, we need to ensure that our
efforts contribute to longer-term development which incorporates
risk reduction into planning. These are areas where National
Societies and the International Federation can also bring valuable
experience and knowledge to the discussion.
One key area that we believe requires more attention is the
area of policies, laws, and procedures relating to disaster
response. We have long known that a rapid and effective response
at the local level is critical to saving lives. But when a disaster
exceeds local response capacity, resources often have to be
mobilized from the international community.
At times, laws, policies and procedures act as a barrier and
impediment to effective and coordinated disaster response. This
is why we believe that governments and the National Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies need to work together at examining
the laws related to international disaster response, in order
to identify gaps and weaknesses, and look for appropriate solutions.
Our focus here is to identify, publicize and apply existing
legal frameworks more effectively in order to save lives, and
minimize the effects and impact of disasters, particularly on
those who have few resources and coping mechanisms to recover.
Mr. Chairman,
These threats to human dignity are not new. We know about the
vulnerability caused by disaster, disease and conflicts, and
we know that investments, even on a small scale, can pay big
dividends in terms of protecting human dignity. So, how do we
respond to these threats? What does protecting human dignity
mean in practical terms? Again, the answers are not based on
theory, they come from experience.
Building the capacity of individuals, families and communities
to respond to and cope with situations of vulnerability is the
first step. We need to work more closely with vulnerable communities,
and support them in finding long-term solutions, in a manner
that respects their culture, hopes and aspirations.
Capacity building of civil society organizations is also critical.
The scale of the humanitarian challenges presented by conflicts,
disasters and disease are well beyond the ability of governments
alone to handle. Governments need to work in partnership with
civil society organizations and with communities to strengthen
capacity and reduce vulnerability.
In this sense, I want to highlight the need for governments
to support more actively the work of the International Red Cross
and Red Crescent Movement. The unique nature and status of the
partnership between National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and governments, along with the global reach and far-reaching
perspectives offered by the International Federation and the
ICRC, makes this a powerful alliance, with enormous potential
to engage with the key humanitarian challenges we have before
us.
We need governments to better understand the work we do, and
the fundamental principles that we adhere to as a Movement.
This means understanding that, while we work as willing partners
with governments in efforts to confront contemporary humanitarian
challenges, we must at all times maintain our independence,
neutrality and autonomy. I would like to draw your attention
to the report “National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
as auxiliaries to public authorities in the humanitarian field”
which has been prepared by the International Federation for
the Conference. It highlights several areas that need further
attention in maintaining a relationship of mutual respect between
governments and National Societies, and I hope that we can discuss
them during and following the Conference.
I would like to especially mention the important role of volunteers
in our efforts to protect human dignity. Voluntary service is
one of our Movement’s core principles and values. As I
said, the humanitarian challenges we face are too great to face
alone. That is why we need to continue to promote and encourage
voluntary service. Without volunteers, we will not be able to
perform the tasks before us, and we need to acknowledge that
without them, we will not be able to make an impact in the huge
task of protecting human dignity.
We rely on volunteers to carry out our activities; we must learn
to appreciate them and be grateful for their selfless work.
We need to invest in training and resources to support volunteers.
Governments can help by supporting National Societies, creating
an environment that encourages voluntary service. They can also
help by recognizing and supporting the valuable contributions
made by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and voluntary
organizations in general.
Finally, our efforts to protect human dignity depend not only
on action, but also advocacy. The basis of human dignity begins
with respect for the individual, and empathy and compassion
for those whose dignity is compromised. It requires undertaking
efforts to raise awareness of the threats to human dignity and
generate a commitment by all to promote tolerance, respect for
diversity, mutual understanding and a culture of peace.
Mr. Chairman,
Protecting human dignity means taking action to allow communities,
families and individuals to grow stronger, to enjoy fuller and
more productive lives, and become less vulnerable. It means
taking action to empower vulnerable populations to reduce their
risk and vulnerability to disasters and disease, and strengthen
their capacity to cope with and respond to situations that threaten
their lives, livelihoods and dignity. It means allowing vulnerable
people to have a voice and to participate in decisions that
affect them and their dignity.
It also requires governments to demonstrate their commitment
to human dignity by establishing and strengthening policies,
laws and practices that protect the integrity of the individual,
and ensure fair, equitable access to programmes and support
services to all those who need them, regardless of their status
or circumstances.
And it requires governments and the components of the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to mobilize civil society,
businesses, and others to work in partnerships with vulnerable
communities, and to listen to their voices and concerns and
look for lasting solutions to the humanitarian challenges we
face.
The challenges we face in protecting human dignity are enormous,
even overwhelming. But they are not insurmountable. Together,
we can build a better world, to move forward towards that goal.
We can take our inspiration from the founder of the International
Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, Henry Dunant, who mobilized
support from the community and from the States, in order to
attain noble humanitarian aims. This is the example that we
should follow.
Mr. Chairman,
We must also never forget that the human face of despair –
can also be the human face of hope and dignity. We can make
a difference if the will, determination and commitment are there.
That is the challenge before us in this International Conference
– to take meaningful action to protect human dignity,
and to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable
people everywhere.
Thank you very much.
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