|
IHF Publications IHF Yearly Campaign IHF Activities Priority Regions and Countries 2006 - 2007
|
|
|
|
PART IV: PRESENTATION BOOKLET ‘HUMAN RIGHTS AND TERRORISM’
heading_white
mr. jaap de hoop scheffer (osce chairman-in-office):
“We will take note of your recommendations”
heading_white
On the occasion of his receiving the report of the seminar “Human Rights and Terrorism” (?), outgoing OSCE Chairman-in-Office Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expresses his appreciation of the valuable contributions NGOs have made to Europe’s security architecture since the early days of the Helsinki Act (?). Especially during his term as Chairman-in-Office, there has been considerable mutual support between NGOs and the OSCE, according to Mr. De Hoop Scheffer.
On the issue of terrorism, he argues that it is time for the OSCE to turn from policymaking to putting plans into action. The recommendations contained in the report as presented today, will be valuable in this regard, he says. Mr. De Hoop Scheffer promises that the Netherlands will play its part in putting these recommendations into practice, and he is confident that the Bulgarian Chairman will do the same.
heading_white
 |
Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (OSCE Chairman-in-Office): “Since 1989, NGOs have been major partners in designing a new European security architecture.”
|
“Thank you, Mr. Van Roijen, for presenting this first copy of the report on the seminar ‘Human Rights and Combating Terrorism’ which was organized by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee in The Hague on September 18th this year.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we near the end of a long day of hard work both for you, the participants in the NGO conference, and for us at the OSCE Ministerial Council, this is no time for long speeches. As Chairman-in-Office, let me once again welcome you to the Netherlands and to the beautiful city of Maastricht, as Ambassador Everts did this morning. It is really heartening to see that so many representatives from non-governmental organizations took the trouble to attend this meeting. This is in fact the first NGO meeting ever held concurrently with an OSCE Ministerial Council.
The Netherlands government greatly appreciates the valuable work that the international NGO community have been doing ever since the early days of the Helsinki Act. In the first place I should mention the International Helsinki Federation and its network of national Helsinki Committees in the OSCE-participating states. But there are countless other organizations and groups, of both national and international scope. Your work is indispensable to our joint quest for peace and stability in the OSCE region. I salute all of you and I encourage you to remain undaunted by the setbacks that we all encounter from time to time in this difficult field.
Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, throughout the rapid transformation of Eastern and Central Europe in the last decade or so, NGOs have been major partners in designing a new European security architecture, as we call it. As Chairman-in-Office, I am pleased to note that during our Chairmanship we have received considerable support from NGOs. Also, we have been able to assist you in your important work, by supporting NGO initiatives for seminars, conferences, training and other programmes. I can assure you that we will take note of the recommendations of your meeting, in the spirit of its title: ‘OSCE Priorities and Perspectives from Civil Society’.
But let me turn to the topic before us: the presentation of the report on the seminar ‘Human Rights and Terrorism’ which was held in The Hague last September. This timely event was organized by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee with support of our Chairmanship. Terrorism is an issue that has topped the agenda of many international organizations since September 11th, 2001. Two crucial decisions taken at the Porto Ministerial Council meeting last year—the adoption of the Charter on Terrorism (MC(10) Journal No. 2, Agenda item 8. Download pdf) and of the Implementation Decision on Terrorism (download pdf)—have prepared the ground. Now it is time for the OSCE to change gear and shift from policymaking into action.
Given the complex and global nature of terrorism, one-dimensional approaches will not work. Only a comprehensive security approach that links OSCE’s three dimensions and draws on all the OSCE’s bodies and institutions can produce the desired results. OSCE activities include policing, border security, anti-trafficking measures and suppressing terrorist financing. The OSCE works closely with other international organizations in these areas.
Terrorist acts seriously affect the enjoyment of human rights. There is no political, economic, military or humanitarian motive that can excuse or justify terrorism. Large-scale and systematic terrorist acts qualify as crimes against humanity under international law. So we all have to join the fight against terrorism. But, no matter how grave terrorist threats may be, anti-terrorism measures can ultimately be effective only if they are adopted within the context of the human rights commitments we have undertaken.
During the seminar ‘Human Rights and Combating Terrorism’, participants agreed that the promotion of human rights, rule of law and good governance are essential elements of a security strategy. They contribute to the establishment of a climate in which terrorist groups will be unable to find the necessary support among the population at large. The declaration by the Chairman of the seminar, professor Kooijmans, encourages OSCE-participating states to promote more intensive cooperation between the human rights and security communities in the fight against terrorism.
I commend the Netherlands Helsinki Committee for organising the seminar and publishing its report. I understand it contains not only a summary of the discussions but also a number of valuable recommendations that governments, including my own, should take to heart. The Netherlands will play its part in putting these recommendations into practice. I am confident that my esteemed Bulgarian colleague, Minister Solomon Passi, will do the same when he takes up the Chairmanship of the OSCE next year.
Let me conclude by wishing you another productive day tomorrow. I hope that both your meeting and ours will result in concrete ideas for the future work of the OSCE.”
|
|
|
