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Caux, Switzerland 18-23 July 2008
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Bad governance, national and international, means that two-
thirds of humanity is denied the rule of law. At least 2.6 billion
people subsist on less than US $2 per day. Yet we spend 15 times as
much on defence as on development assistance. In reality we can
never hope for more than relative security, but insecurity puts
whole societies at risk…
when parents are unable to feed their children – 10 million
children under five die of malnutrition each year.
when discrimination instills fear among communities because of
their ethnic origin, their cultural background or historical
prejudices.
when intolerance leads people to spread hate propaganda and
fanaticism.
when greed intensifies drilling for oil, the destruction of our
forests, the erosion of the land and scarcity of water. What needs
to change, in ourselves and in our societies, to enable us to
respond to these challenges? As we work together for human
security, and for a new dynamic in diplomacy, we hope Caux could
become a precious resource for the world’s peace-builders.
The Forum, held in the picturesque Swiss mountain village of
Caux, was initiated by Mohamed Sahnoun, President of
Initiatives of Change International, and formerly Special
Advisor
to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Horn of Africa.
Mohamed Sahnoun Chair, Caux Forum for Human Secuirity
My passion is to save endangered populations from the extreme
insecurity of war, famine, drought and disaster.
Photo: Maria Grace
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The first Caux Forum for Human Security brought together 300
peace-makers from 52 countries.
During the 5-day conference, led by 25 expert panelists, they
addressed the ‘root causes’ of human insecurity under six headings:
social and economic conditions, armed conflicts, environmental
factors, good governance and the rule of law, wounded memories,
religious and cultural dimensions.
More than ever, the complexity of the world's problems demands a
new level of cooperation between actors from different fields. A
multi-sector, multi-level approach has been a feature of Caux
conferences for 60 years. The holistic format of the Forum enabled
the cross-pollination of thinking and experience between these six
interdependent aspects of human security. The interaction with
people of diverse backgrounds was much appreciated by participants,
who included those working at the 'grassroots' and leaders in their
respective fields.
Photos (except front cover): Kathy Aquilina, Blair Cummock,
Maria Grace, Cécile de Nomazy, Erik Parsons, Samantha, Yulia
Savchenko, Christoph Spreng. Design: Erik Parsons. Editor: John
Bond.
To help participants see the necessity of thinking about human
security in fresh, innovative ways To launch an annual forum which,
over five years or more, contributes towards changing the
traditional dynamic of diplomacy, by encouraging greater listening,
collaboration and attention to past hurts To offer Caux as a
resource and meeting place for all those working around the world
for peace and human security
Conference Aims
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Cobus de Swardt, South Africa, Managing Director, Transparency
InternationalWe are arguably the first human generation with the
possibilities – political, social and technological – to co-create
a world where all live without socially-created insecurity.
Overcoming corruption, particularly in extractive industries, is
crucial. 60% of the world’s poorest people live in resource-rich
countries. Transparency International is asking companies to
publish what they pay governments, and asking governments to make
public what they receive from companies. If that were to happen,
50% of corruption would end.
Clare Short MP, UK, former Secretary of State for International
DevelopmentGlobal warming will not be solved by technological
fixes. What is required is a revolution as profound as the end of
feudalism, to create a world in which all share equally the
resources of the planet. This will take profound social and
political change. In my view the world situation is going to get
worse, and politics will become fascistic and nasty. So a parallel
dialogue is needed, calling for more generous politics. I would
like to see a Caux Declaration, around which people like us, and
many others across the world, could organize. And then a worldwide
movement.
Luc Gnacadja, Benin, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to
Combat DesertificationConflict in the Sahel is caused, in large
part, by land degradation. The response is mainly military, at huge
expense. Yet land degradation is reversible, and our research shows
this can be achieved for less than US$500 per hectare. Chad Briggs,
USA, Professor of Environ-ment and Security, Lehigh
UniversityStudies have shown that if you confront people with a
risk but don’t offer solutions, they move back into apathy. That’s
why in our university, students are not only identifying problems
but also solutions. While not discounting the dangers, they are
remaining optimistic.
Here is a sampling of comments made during the panel
discussions. For more information, and to download speeches, visit:
www.cauxforum.net
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Florence Mpaayei, Kenya, Executive Director, Nairobi Peace
Initiative - AfricaThe moral authority of leaders is essential to
human security. Our attitudes will determine whether we are able to
resolve conflict. It requires real listening and a readiness to
consider new ways. And if we are to be a bridge, we have to be
willing to be walked on.
Hussein Hassouna, Egypt, Ambassador of the League of Arab
States, Washington DC, Member, UN International Law Commission The
rule of law is crucial. Without it there can be no prosperity, no
freedom. International disputes can only be settled within a legal
framework. And it is the rule of law which emphasizes the equality
of all citizens. Each society has its own values, characteristics,
cultural heritage. But there are certain minimum world standards,
and we must not let those standards fall.
Heribert Scharrenbroich, Germany, President of CAREAfter the
Second World War, millions of Americans and Canadians sent CARE
packages to Europe, particularly to Germany, to help people
survive. This created a relationship of trust, and that
relationship convinced us Germans that we could protect our
freedom. Out of that confidence came the social and economic
developments which secured democracy in our country.
Geoffrey Lean, UK, award-winning pioneer of environmental
journalismIn the past 800,000 years the earth’s temperature has
varied dramatically between extremes.. The only steady period has
been the last 11,000 years – enabling civilization to develop. We
are now climbing out of this period very fast. We must
initiative which began here in Caux. The following year 150
rabbis and imams met, and last year 270 came together in Seville.
Amidst powerful emotion new understanding has grown, and now many
of the participants are reaching across the religious boundaries,
in Israel, in Gaza and many other places.
Paul van Tongeren, Netherlands, Secretary-General, Global
Partnership for the Prevention of Armed ConflictWe urgently need an
infrastructure for peace-building. We have ministries of defence
and war colleges; we need similar structures to deal with conflict.
During the recent crisis in Kenya, civil society organizations set
up dialogues and reduced the violence. We expect conflict in the
coming years as we struggle with mass migration due to climate
change and pressure on resources. We need to train people to deal
with these conflicts.
Brendan McAllister, Northern Ireland, Victims CommissionerWe
need to bridge the gap between peaceniks and politicians. When
politicians look at a lot of our work, they see people who are too
heavenly-minded to be of any earthly use. We need to build
relationships between warring parties, but not by going soft on the
issues that our politicians confront.
Harriet Fulbright, USA, President, J William & Harriet
Fulbright CenterWhat is good government? It is a genuine concern
for the dignity and needs of citizens. A concentrated effort to
erase corruption. An emphasis on human rights. It requires
transparency – a sensible discussion of the issues with a minimum
of spin.
decarbonize our society rapidly and globally. That will require
worldwide agreement and, ultimately, an acceptance that every
person on the planet is entitled to the same size of carbon
footprint.
Lillian Cingo, Manager of Phelophepa Health Train, which serves
45,000 patients a year in rural South AfricaIn rural communities,
trust is crucial. Lose it, and it takes a long time to rebuild. My
work is about explaining, apologizing, clarifying, acting, leading,
being led, and learning. It has taught me humility. When I mess
things up, I say so. Then we can see together what to do to put it
right.
Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, Jordan, in a video message to the
conferenceBy 2050 there will be nine billion people on the planet,
and the eight Nile Basin countries will need the equivalent of five
Nile rivers. Yet across the world, 40 billion tons of topsoil blow
away every year. We need a supranational approach, as Europe is
developing.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a message expressing his
keen interest in the matters raised in the Forum. It was delivered
by the Orthodox Metropolitan of Switzerland, Jeremie Caligiorgis.
‘The Patriarch regularly takes action on the matters on the Forum’s
agenda,’ he said. ‘He has worked with scientists on many
initiatives for the environmental protection of the planet, to the
extent that he is known as the Green Patriarch.’
Alain Michel, France, Hommes de Parole‘If people are fighting,
it is not because they are Jews, Christians and Muslims but because
they no longer are.’ This was said by the Imam of Milan at the 2005
Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace – an
Peter Vickers, UK, Managing Director, Vickers OilsWe in the
developed world need to recognize the price for our reluctance to
change is being paid by others before us. Could that give us
impetus to change our ways? Fifteen years ago my company followed a
hunch and developed biodegradable and renewable lubricants. We're
now the market leader, and all over the world ships are using our
oils.
Joseph Montville, USA, founder, Program on Preventive Diplomacy,
Center for Strategic and International StudiesThere is a science to
peacemaking. Each war has a particular context, and we have to
understand its pathology, its history. Wounded memories are the
repositories of hurts and injustices suffered by individuals,
groups and nations. Peace requires acknowledgement of wrong doing,
contrition, and compensation in some cases. And, ideally,
forgiveness.
Mark Bin Bakar, Aboriginal of the Year, AustraliaHow can
Aboriginal people overcome the memory of having their children
ripped away and taken to white institutions? After many years at
last we have a Prime Minister who, in February, apologized for the
suffering. The denial is half gone. Much healing is still needed.
But Aboriginal people can now stand up with pride in our country.
That is a big step towards respect and healing.
Adrien Zeller, France, President, Regional Council of
AlsaceInsecurity encourages the emergence of xenophobia. This is a
constant danger in Alsace, a culturally diverse region. But I have
seen that creative action by citizens, through religious groups and
community organizations, can do much to overcome the tensions.
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www.cauxforum.netCaux Forum for Human Security Secretariat c/o
Initiatives of Change InternationalRue de Varembé 1, CH-1202
Geneva. Postal address: PO Box 3, CH-1211 Geneva 20,
SwitzerlandPhone +41(0)22 749 16 20 Fax +41 (0)22 733 02 67 Email
[email protected]
Initiatives of Change Conference CentreCaux, SwitzerlandThomas
Greminger, Switzerland, Head of Political Affairs Division IV
Human
Security, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign AffairsMy
division, with a staff of 75 people, has been dealing with the
Human Security concept for some years. So it is interesting for me
to see...whether some totally fresh perspectives will emerge [from
this conference]. It is exciting that the Human Security concept is
being discussed with an holistic approach, whereas my division is
mostly concentrating on the ‘freedom from fear’ aspects.
Rajmohan Gandhi, India, professor, author of a biography of his
grandfather, the MahatmaThe computer, the internet, the cell phone
have made this the age of the citizen. My vision is that in this
age, innocence and decency will have power, the weak will gather
strength, individuals will reinforce one another and influence
governments and together we will say to tyrants and to ourselves
that cruelty, oppression and indifference shall not prevail.
Scilla Elworthy, UK, Chair, Peace DirectOften this kind of
gathering can be a talk-shop, going nowhere. But I have a feeling
that the way it is shaping up it’s going to lead to more concrete
ways of making sure that human security becomes understood by
governments, and that concrete actions are taken by governments in
the human security area.
Knut Vollebaek, Norway, OSCE High Commissioner on National
MinoritiesThis is a dangerous conference! Asking about the root
causes may cause upheaval both in our own lives and in the
societies in which we live. My position was established in 1992
when Europe realized that it had not got rid of its wars. Tensions
between ethnic groups – long suppressed by dictatorships and
outside enemies – surfaced again, even more violently than before.
No-one had tried to address the root causes. Too often we deal with
the symptoms rather than the causes, and so we do patchwork.
Katherine Marshall, USA, Visiting Professor, Georgetown
UniversityThe meeting outlined issues in an honest way – for
example the broader impact of the festering Israel-Palestine
conflict and repercussions of US policies on Iraq and Iran. The
spiritual core of the Caux culture is particularly conducive to the
kind of delving discussions that are sorely needed. I was
fascinated to rediscover an organization that has played an
important role in peace-making, particularly in the remarkable
reconciliation of France and Germany after World War II. The
courage to dig down into root causes, to bring out bitter memories
in an effort to shed some new light and show compassion and
understanding is a welcome feature of Caux. (From her blog,
available at: www.washingtonpost.com)
The Caux Forum for Human Security is organized by Initiatives of
Change International and hosted in partnership with
CAUX-Initiatives of Change.
The first Forum in 2008 received generous support from the Swiss
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irene Prestwich
Trust, UK, as well as from several individuals and Initiatives of
Change national bodies. It was envisaged as the first in a series
of five or more annual events. For more information:
www.cauxforum.net
Initiatives of Change International is a non-governmental
organization (NGO), with special consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). Based
in Caux, Switzerland, IofC International was founded in 2002 as an
association bringing together the autonomous national bodies of the
Initiatives of Change movement. www.iofc.org
CAUX-Initiatives of Change is a charitable Swiss Foundation. It
owns and manages the conference centre in Caux. www.caux.ch
