European Regional Conference Vienna, Austria 13 April Address by Mr Tadateru Konoé, President

Transcription

1 European Regional Conference Vienna, Austria 13 April 2010 Address by Mr Tadateru Konoé, President 1

2 Mr/Madame President, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests. It is a pleasure to be in Vienna for my first Red Cross Red Crescent regional conference since my election as IFRC president in November Let me thank the Austrian Red Cross for its splendid organization of this conference. Under your leadership, Mr President, your volunteers and staff have worked hard for many months to ensure a successful event. I also thank the Preparatory Committee for its guidance and support through a wide consultative process on the background: now it is up to the participants to secure an equally impressive outcome. [Our sincere thanks are also due to the authorities of Austria and of Vienna, who have helped make this Conference happen.] At Istanbul and Berlin, Europe Conferences dealt with international migration. European National Societies pioneered the efforts of the Red Cross Red Crescent to extend services and support to migrants particularly the vulnerable without documents, those trafficked and unaccompanied minors. Some of the decisions taken by the European regional conferences eventually was given support at the 30th International Conference in 2007, and led to the adoption of a Federation-wide migration policy in Nairobi last November. With migration firmly an element the Red Cross Red Crescent mandate, I think it is very noteworthy that this conference in Vienna focuses on the subject of Multicultural interaction in view of increased phenomena of migration. 2

3 With that theme, we take a step away from regarding migrants as passive recipients of services and assistance, and towards becoming actors in their own situation. We also take a step in the direction of looking at ourselves, and our own approaches and practices as individuals and as organizations. At times, National Societies are asked to align with political rather than humanitarian agendas, for example in programmes related to the integration or the return of migrants. I am confident that European National Societies continues to base themselves in the Fundamental Principles take due account of the need for Movement-wide cooperation in this field Effective multicultural interaction is also an important element in reducing social exclusion, something affecting many people in Europe not only those from other countries. The elderly are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, so I welcome the conference s focus on the ageing population in Europe. Ageing is a complex phenomenon that increasingly dominates the demographic realities. All National Societies including my own need to respond better to some of the challenges involved. It would be a mistake, however, to define ageing as a problem. The fact that more people are living longer and healthier lives should be celebrated. The knowledge and skills of older people is a resource, and those who have retired can become volunteers. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Both migration and ageing are phenomena that are shaped extensively by broader economic, social and political trends. 3

4 That is an additional reason to appreciate that this European Conference has decided to treat the current economic crisis still affecting millions, as an overarching theme European National Societies woke up to the consequences of this crisis at an early stage. You worked together to gain a deep understanding of how the crisis affected your populations, the emergence of new vulnerabilities and newly vulnerable groups, the requirement for new services and methods, and the difficulties involved in achieving all this in a situation of contracting resources. The IFRC report on the humanitarian consequences of the economic crisis in Europe is still relevant. The Zone office in Budapest has been asked to produce an updated report. This will be available in late May or early June of this year. I would urge, however, European National Societies to continue to their efforts to reach those affected by the crisis: young unemployed; migrants, lonely elderly and, interestingly, the many members of the new middle classes who have seen their savings and hopes collapse under the burden of debt. Very often, economic growth returns long before the improvements are noticeable to those affected by unemployment. There will continue to be a need for assistance, services and, increasingly humanitarian diplomacy to improve the situation of the most vulnerable. In Nairobi, we adopted Strategy 2020 with its aims in terms of disasters, health and values, supported by the three enabling actions of humanitarian diplomacy, capacity building and working together effectively. Having created the strategy, we now must focus on its realisation. As a result of the very broad consultative process that preceded its adoption there is a high degree of understanding and ownership of S

5 Nevertheless, we are at the beginning of a process. Each one of us must ensure that the strategy is translated into appropriate languages, formatted to be accessible to all volunteers and staff, and translated into action through our own strategic and operational planning. That process belongs to each National Society, but the secretariat particularly through its Zone offices - will support and facilitate, but must also seek out one another s experiences, insights and advice and build peer-to-peer support mechanisms that draw strength from existing networks and partnerships. I strongly believe in the spirit of togetherness. This is, I believe, the key to unlocking the capital that is embedded in our organizations, structures, processes and executive mechanisms and, through that, enabling us to do more, do better and reach further. There is much to do in that regard. Gaps in communication and understanding among us persist. To overcome that, we need to practice and promote close dialogue at all levels, understand cultural context better and be considerate with one another. I firmly believe that this conference is an important step forward in that regard. This is the first opportunity I have to meet with a large group of National Societies since we were in Nairobi, and I look forward to hearing your views on the issues before the conference. As president of the IFRC, I represent the global Red Cross Red Crescent, and on behalf of the millions of volunteers, leaders and staff of National Societies in other regions, and on behalf of the Governance of the IFRC, I wish you every success in this conference and the coming four years. Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Thank you. 5