I would also like to thank the representative from the Geneva
Red Cross youth that spoke before me. Like him, now some time
ago, I too was a youth volunteer, with the Spanish Red Cross.
It is therefore a great honour for me to be here now, representing
in some way the interests and aspirations of millions of Red
Cross Red Crescent volunteers around the world.
Let me share some of the things that I have learned over my
years of involvement as a volunteer with the Red Cross Red Crescent.
I have learned respect for the individual and to care for the
well-being of others. I have learned not only the value of tolerance,
but to celebrate diversity. I have learned to listen to others,
to value their opinions, and to work together in cooperation
towards a common goal. In short, I think I can say that I have
learned to be a better person through volunteering.
Above all, I have learned that every person, regardless of their
situation or circumstances, has something to offer to humanity.
Every individual has the capacity for caring and the capacity
for working in solidarity to alleviate human suffering and contribute
to human dignity.
We all know that the task of protecting human dignity and achieving
noble goals such as eradicating poverty and hunger, intolerance
and discrimination, and other threats to human dignity would
be impossible without the energy and dedication of volunteers.
But, as I said in my opening statement to this Conference, the
task goes beyond merely protecting human dignity. We need to
actively promote human dignity. I can think of no better way
to do so than through volunteering. Volunteering plays a vital
transforming role in society.
The videos we have seen show volunteers from vulnerable communities
offering care and support and inspiring other through their
dedication. It confirms once more that vulnerable people are
never just “victims” – they have so much to
offer in our efforts to promote human dignity. We should look
for socially-inclusive means of allowing and encouraging their
involvement and participation in reaching that goal. Volunteering
can be one of them.
By creating a sense of cohesion and solidarity within society,
volunteering builds social capital, because it converts individual
action into collective action directed towards a social end.
It allows for social mobilisation and organisation within the
community. It also offers a means for people to show that their
value and to reaffirm that they have an important place in society.
It can build a sense of self-worth, and true feeling of pride
for their contribution to creating a better world. These points
highlight something that is not often acknowledged about volunteering:
it is a key function in strengthening civil society.
The International Federation has worked hard at fulfilling the
pledge made at the 1999 International Conference to promote
voluntary service and improve our mechanisms to support volunteers
within our Red Cross Red Crescent network.
We have also worked in close partnership with United Nations
Volunteers, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to follow-up on
the International Year of Volunteers in 2001.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the outstanding
efforts of Sharon Capeling-Alakija, the former Executive Coordinator
of United Nations Volunteers who recently passed away. I knew
Sharon personally, and admired her energy and commitment to
volunteerism. She was a good friend to the Red Cross Red Crescent,
and she will be missed, but her vision will continue to guide
the continued relationship between the Federation and UNV.
One outcome of the International Year of Volunteers was United
Nations General Assembly resolution 56/38, which outlined a
number of ways in which governments could support volunteering.
I would like to commend governments that have taken action to
improve their support to volunteering, and encourage you all
to do more.
But I would like to ask the governments represented here today
to continue to work with the Red Cross Red Crescent and volunteer
organisations everywhere to create a more conducive environment
for volunteerism. In particular, we need to ensure that legislation
promotes and safeguards volunteers, rather then impedes and
discourages voluntary service. We especially need to ensure
that volunteers engaged in humanitarian activities are afforded
the respect, dignity and protection they deserve.
Today, International Volunteer Day, we can begin with a simple
gesture, if only symbolic, towards that objective: to value,
acknowledge and celebrate the work of volunteering. For that
we can together honour them through our applause.
I would like to ask ALL delegates here to convert this gesture
into reality when we return to our homes, to transmit to the
volunteers that work in our countries, not only that we have
applauded their efforts here today, but that we recognize and
value the work that they do every day.
And to the millions of volunteers that every day put our humanitarian
principles into action, I give my sincerest thanks. Without
every single one of you, the dream of human dignity for all
would be impossible.
Thank you!
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