Speech bij de Alliantie der Beschavingen
Gelegenheid: Alliantie der BeschavingenSpeech by Maxime Verhagen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on the occasion of the first UN Alliance of Civilisations Annual Forum, Madrid, 15 January 2008
Mr Chairman, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here at the first Annual Forum of the Alliance of Civilisations. I would like to thank the Spanish government, which is hosting this event today.
Our age is defined by increasing globalisation, migration and diversity. And while globalisation offers many opportunities, it has also led to feelings of insecurity and unease around the world. The High-Level Group’s report underlines this trend, and speaks of ‘exacerbated mutual suspicion and fear within and among societies’. We worry, in this fast-changing world, that we are losing our own identity. This is as true in the Netherlands as anywhere else. Many Dutch people fear that their jobs, their security and their identity will be taken from them by others, by the wider world outside. They are fearful of radicalisation, and their fears are fuelled by terrorist attacks across the globe. Diversity has come to be viewed not so much as a source of cultural enrichment, but as a threat. The murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands contributed to this climate.
There is no sense in denying or disguising these tensions between cultures, customs and beliefs. In fact, I believe it is far better to acknowledge them, and ask ourselves: how should we deal with these tensions? How can we bridge our differences? Some answers to these questions are constructive, others less so. Today, in this forum, we are interested in finding constructive solutions. I consider this to be a crucial moral responsibility for today's world leaders.
Fear is always a poor counsellor. The Dutch government will not be led by fear. I do not want to view the world in terms of a ‘clash of civilisations’. I prefer to focus on what we share as nations, and how we can live together peacefully, regardless of our differences, on the basis of a number of universally shared convictions. And I believe this goal fits seamlessly with that of the Alliance of Civilisations.
Human rights are what bind us together in this world. This year is the sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This important document set down the ‘values of the world’: justice, equality, solidarity, humanity and liberty. These are the ground rules for how people should treat one another in a civilised society. I believe it is vital that these values be promoted and upheld in places where they are under threat. For this reason, I have given human rights a central role in Dutch foreign policy.
Human rights apply to all people, in all places, at all times. Tradition, culture or religion must never be used to justify the violation of human rights. Equally, there can be no special circumstances in which human rights violations may be condoned. A simple example is our duty to protect people from torture. An absolute value, yet one that is under threat today. The fight against terrorism has sparked a debate about whether there are circumstances in which torture may be acceptable. I have a very simple answer to that: torture is not acceptable in any circumstances.
Nor can the right to freedom of religion be eroded. Freedom of religion means the freedom to profess one’s beliefs, but it also means a duty to respect the religious or philosophical convictions of others. It also means the right to choose, or to change, one’s beliefs. Christians in Muslim countries should be able to freely profess their belief. And the same freedom should of course be extended to Muslims in the Netherlands. Those in my country who call for the Koran to be banned are undermining the central principle of universal human rights. I condemn such calls in the strongest possible terms. The Dutch government would never countenance such a proposal, as this would be a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights which are enshrined in our Constitution and in international human rights agreements.
Freedom of religion may sometimes appear to be at odds with freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is a universal right, one that should be protected and promoted. But freedom of expression is not the same thing as the freedom to insult others. Freedom of expression carries responsibilities with it as explicitly stated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. One of these responsibilities is to consider the consequences of one’s words. In expressing our opinions we have a responsibility to respect others. The Netherlands sees no need, incidentally, for a specific international legal instrument which deals with insults to religion: the ICCPR is already perfectly clear on this point.
Human rights play an important role in determining the expectations that we, as citizens, may have of one another. Every Dutch resident should be aware of the fundamental rights and be guided by them as members of Dutch society. Our Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration has made this a central theme of her integration policy.
Dutch integration policy is aimed at reversing the increased polarisation between groups in our country. The government is appealing to people’s common interests: socioeconomic – jobs, for example – as well as those related to public safety, education, childcare, housing and quality of life in the community. It is the government’s job to create the conditions for active citizenship, social equality, and integration. But people themselves have the responsibility to participate in society on the basis of mutual acceptance and equality.
How a multicultural society should work has long been the subject of fierce debate. And this discussion generates a great deal of media attention. I think it is very important for reporting to remain objective, clear and transparent, especially in this age where any remark can be read or heard around the world within the space of ten seconds.
If we are to live together in mutual respect, dialogue is an indispensable tool. You can have a dialogue within, as well as between, cultures. And dialogue – by which I mean the exchange of ideas, experiences and criticism – can occur between ordinary people as well as in institutions, whether in an organised form or otherwise.
In Dutch society, many promising initiatives are already under way. One project is using art and culture as a means of breaking through prejudices in Dutch society and fostering a better mutual understanding between cultures. The Kosmopolis foundation, which is running this project, is mainly active in our large cities and works closely with cultural organisations in Turkey and Morocco.
The Dutch government is supporting these kinds of social initiatives and is making direct contact with minority groups in Dutch society. It does so through the National Ethnic Minorities Consultative Committee, for example, which is chaired by the Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration.
The Netherlands is also actively involved in a number of international activities. We are part of the Forum for the Future, a G8 dialogue which brings Western and Islamic states and also – and primarily – civil society organisations together to discuss democratisation.
In June 2008, the Netherlands is hosting the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue in Amsterdam. Participants will experience at close hand several social initiatives being organised in Amsterdam around this theme. And in December 2008, a large, interfaith conference, entitled ‘Faith in Human Rights’, will take place in The Hague. A large number of religious leaders from every part of the world will be taking part.
The Netherlands believes it is important that the Alliance of Civilisations deliver tangible results in a short period. A number of good proposals have been made. We expect great things, for example, from the establishment of a ‘ clearing house’.
Together, we must provide a counterbalance to those forces seeking to undermine human rights and spread ignorance and polarisation. In the current international context, promoting a consensus on the universality of human rights is essential. The promotion of universal values, then, should be a central task for the Alliance of Civilisations.
Thank you.