Statement by Pincess Margriet at the VIth European Regional Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference, Berlin, April 14, 2002
Mr President, Professor Ipsen, Mr Suarez del Toro Rivero, Mr Forster, Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues and friends, Ladies and gentlemen,
Before proceeding to my address, allow me to first express my grave concern about the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Large numbers of totally innocent civilians are bearing the brunt of the suffering. Wounded and sick people are being left unattended; basic humanitarian services are being denied, as RC/RC personnel have no access. This tragic conflict has been very much on our minds over the past days and weeks.
The Movement's concern is the full protection of the civilian population at all times. Some Standing Commission members have been in direct contact with all parties. All have had discussions and contacts not only with the governments but also with the Magen David Adom and the Palestine Red Crescent.
In joint statements, the ICRC and the International Federation have forcefully appealed for adherence to and respect for international humanitarian law. Many National Societies from around the world have joined in with these appeals.
The situation, difficult and traumatic as it is for all parties concerned, has demonstrated the importance of the basic principles of humanitarian law and of developing mechanisms for ensuring that it is being observed. It also underlines again the importance for all parties concerned to respect the emblem in the current conflict.
I wish to convey our heartfelt feelings of sympathy to all victims of the present conflict. I call upon all parties concerned to respect international law.
Dear Friends,
"It was a routine day on the smuggling routes of Central Europe. In the Northern Croatian town of Varazdin, a 35-year old woman was arrested for trying to smuggle four Macedonians across the Slovenian border. On the Adriatic, police in Zadar apprehended nine Turks attempting to reach Italy illegally. In Hungary, border police searched for Afghans and Sri Lankans, whom gangsters had brought in from Ukraine."
I am quoting from the most recent issue of the Bridge, the RC/RC publication for Central Europe, and I continue:
"How many migrants got through that day could only be guessed at. But it would be fair to assume those apprehended were a small percentage."
Migration is a hotly debated, burning issue in Europe. Worldwide people are moving around far more than before. Millions of people have been forced or obliged to leave their homes and communities in search of a better life, for themselves and their children, or in search of safety. Women, men and children hoping for a future but often ending up in a seemingly endless nightmare. Many have turned into the wandering unwanted.
With country borders closing and tough immigration laws, the smuggling of people through organised crime has become a global business today. Human smuggling is estimated to generate up to USD 7 billion a year. This estimate is higher than the annual narcotics trade. Millions of people are being affected.
We have not come to Berlin to discuss why millions of people are moving around nor to elaborate on why states restrict their movements and close their borders. We are here to find new ways and means to protect them, to assist them, to ensure their human dignity and human rights. And - perhaps the most important - how we, as the Red Cross / Red Crescent, can best fight the increasing acts of racism, discrimination and xenophobia against migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them.
The challenge we are facing is certainly not an easy one. The Red Cross/Crescent involvement with migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced is not always looked upon favourably by governments or even by some of our supporters and members. But true to our humanitarian ideals and principles, we must stand up to that immense challenge.
This conference is continuing where last year's Council of Delegates concluded discussing the concerns of our work with refugees and displaced persons. We heard, loud and clear, the strongly voiced need to develop a Red Cross/Crescent policy on how to work with migrants, refugees and internally displaced people.
Here in Berlin we will hopefully develop new forms and concrete plans of action and move towards defining basic guidelines on our role and responsibilities - not only as National Societies- but also as a Movement. Migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced persons are certainly Movement issues.
Health today is demanding a higher priority and more action by National Societies than when we last met in Copenhagen five years ago. Deteriorating health is a rapidly growing concern that many National Societies are facing in our countries. I am glad to see that health is the other pressing and important theme of this conference.
When talking health, many tend to immediately think of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. This is no surprise. HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. HIV or AIDS now afflicts some 40 million people. The figures describing the continuing spread and prevalence are frightening. In the course of my speech AIDS has killed approximately 100 people worldwide and about 50 - mostly young - people have contracted the disease. Through its devastating scale and impact, HIV/AIDS constitutes a global emergency and one of the most formidable challenges to human life and dignity. Many people living with HIV/AIDS experience discrimination and stigmatisation by their own local communities and by the public at large.
We are not immune to sexually transmitted and infectious diseases in Europe - even if one sometimes gets that impression when observing the low level of prevention activities such as public information campaigns on HIV/AIDS today. It is spreading in our countries as well. It is not a thing of the past. The risks are real. Diseases such as HIV/AIDS eat away our future: it mostly affects young people, people in their prime at the height of their productive lives. It is not only a medical challenge; it has become a development problem in large parts of the world.
The Red Cross/Crescent has traditionally worked with what we used to call 'health education'. With our network reaching into local communities in all countries, with our hundreds of thousands of volunteers, our links to schools and other community entities we still possess the power of social and community mobilisation.
In spite of it being seemingly 'dormant' in some cases, waiting to be activated, to be put to use. This power can be geared towards preventing infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, as well as towards promoting healthy life styles. Our Movement can make a unique difference by mobilising our peers, the volunteers living amongst us. They know what works in practice.
We must further commit ourselves to working in strengthening partnerships with governments, WHO, UNAIDS and other international organisations, industry, academic institutions, NGOs and other relevant actors in civil society. Together, with sustained effort, partnership and goodwill, progress can and will be made.
Shaping public opinion to change behaviour and influencing decision-makers through public campaigns or face-to-face advocacy is crucial to our work both with migration issues and fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic. But words without action are only echoes in a hollow space.
I hope all European National Societies will vigorously support our global campaign against stigma and discrimination and its launch on May 8. Working with these topical issues, we can aim for greater efficiency as a Movement. The National Societies are the front-runners with their daily actions.
To have an impact as a Movement, to be seen and heard as a worldwide humanitarian player influencing decision-makers and opinion shapers, we must speak - loudly - with one voice. We must develop action based on our humanitarian principles, adopted policies and guidelines. Our credibility depends on it.
Last November we adopted the Strategy for the Movement as a tool towards greater effectiveness and efficiency through better co-operation.
The Strategy is about how we, the components of this great Movement, can best work together to improve the lives of those we serve. It is about how we, as a Movement, can contribute in the areas of protection, assistance and advocacy following mutually agreed guidelines and complementing each other's efforts.
What particularly struck me when I was reading the Conference documents was how the Strategy has already been put to practice by actively involving National Societies in the preparations. (action point 5 of the Strategy) I was also struck by how the document summaries have followed the pattern of the Strategy by clearly spelling out the objectives, required action, and expected results.
Then there is also the emphasis on the exchange of best practices, of learning from one another. Listening to each other, learning from success stories and failures, helps us to do a better job. The outcome of our discussions here is relevant to our sister societies in other regions of the world. Although their problems with AIDS, refugees and displaced people may differ, there are many points of similarity that we can share with one another.
I therefore believe that Regional Conferences give us an excellent opportunity to discuss Movement matters from a regional perspective. To listen to and learn from our sister societies in the region, to exchange ideas and formulate actions for our regional level. This way we get a better understanding on how to cope with the problems we are facing.
Yet we can always put it in a larger perspective - as some of the documents underline. On Tuesday afternoon we will have an opportunity to expressly discuss Movement matters, including the new developments in addressing the emblem question and the preparations of the International Conference in 2003.
Friends, we have come from 50 countries in Europe to find ways and new approaches to some of the most pressing challenges in today's Europe - actually in today's world.
We have an opportunity to demonstrate to the outside world - and to ourselves - how our diversity, our different cultures and traditions, our different mandates in the Movement enrich us and add to our strength and resolve. We can help build an image of an organisation that truly cares and actively fights for what it believes in - even when it sometimes means that we have to agree to disagree with our governments, even public opinion.
When we work together, building on our mission and humanitarian principles, we make a difference. Be it in serving and speaking for the migrants, who today have crossed into our countries, or in supporting people, who because of HIV/AIDS or other diseases need us.
In the words of a dreamer: "I dream of a Red Cross /Red Crescent Movement that clearly understands and is enthusiastic about its raison d'être in the present world-wide context, willing and able to communicate it in attractive and innovative ways."
If we really want to make a difference in the area of health and migration, our Movement needs to be much bolder, more creative and more decisive. I believe that this conference can make a significant contribution. But let us continually bear in mind that this conference is first and foremost about people and humanitarian action, not paper and eloquent words! After all, as the British saying goes: fine words butter no parsnips. There's a Chinese equivalent, and I do not want to deprive you of it: if you are not going to lay an egg, then don't make a noise like a chicken.
Thank you.