Eurojust and Europol have supported judicial and law enforcement authorities in Italy and Albania in dismantling a network of drug traffickers. During a joint action day, which saw the involvement of some 350 officers in the field, 30 suspects were arrested and 31 locations were searched. Five rifles, one gun and six vehicles were seized during the operation. The action day was steered in real time from Eurojust’s coordination centre. Europol provided operational support on the spot by deploying its specialists to Italy and Albania.
The criminal groups were allegedly responsible for the large-scale trafficking of cocaine, cannabis and heroin, mainly from Albania to Italy. Today’s operation is part of a longer-term investigation, which is being jointly undertaken by the Italian and Albanian authorities and has already led to the arrest of 62 persons and the seizure of assets worth approximately EUR 1 million (in Italy), as well as to the seizure of vast quantities of drugs.
The case was opened at Eurojust and Europol in 2019. Eurojust organised two coordination meetings, during which representatives of the involved authorities came together to discuss the case, exchange information and agree on further steps. The Agency also supported the authorities by setting up and funding a joint investigation team (JIT). Over the course of the investigation, Europol provided in-depth analytical support and expertise, mapping out the different high-profile targets and their criminal activities. The investigation was supported by the European Commission’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) project, which – for the first time – was able to financially support operational activities.
The following authorities took part in the investigation:
Italy: Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bergamo, Central Investigation Service on Organised Crime of the Guardia di Finanza, Economic-Financial Police of Brescia of the Guardia di Finanza, Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services, Italian International Police Cooperation Service
Albania: Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), Albanian State Police – Department of International Relation, Europol National Unit
This week, a delegation composed of officials from Rwanda’s travel companies, the Embassy of Rwanda in the Netherlands and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) are showcasing Rwanda’s tourist attractions and experiences at the Vakantiebeurs Tourism Fair.
The Vakantiebeurs Tourism Fair, taking place from 11 – 15 January, is the leading travel fair for the BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) market organised in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
The Ambassadors of Burundi, H.E Mr. Gamaliel Nkurunziza and the Ambassador of Cameroon, H.E. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua, visited Ambassador Nduhungirehe at Rwanda stand.
The show attracts leading business professionals from the region’s tourism industry including tour operators, travel agents, and Africa travel specialists.
H.E. Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands said: “We look forward to supporting the Rwandan companies attending to engage and create business ties with these business travel partners in order to increase travel traffic from the region to Rwanda. Visitors to the Visit Rwanda stand can find inspiration for their next holiday, while enjoying a cup of fresh Rwandan specialty coffee and dance performances by the Rwandan dance group.”
H.E. Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, Ambassador of Rwanda with visitors at Rwanda stand.
The Rwandan companies participating at the fair include RwandAir, Kingfisher Journeys, Mist Rwanda Safaris, Silverbird Tours Agency, Pure Africa Tours and Judith Tours.
There’s a Visit Rwanda stand at the fair and a special networking session will also be organised along the margins of the event for the Rwandan delegation to engage with the participating travel agents and tour operators.
By Dr. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, Director, Textile Research Centre
It may not come as a surprise to hear that few people, if any, go without clothing or textiles. But many are surprised when they learn about the complexities, meanings and above all the language of those items. Don’t we all sometimes ‘dress up’ to impress, ‘dress down’ to show our modesty, or recognise someone’s attire as specific to a certain culture?
The Textile Research Centre (TRC) in Leiden studies the skills of textile and garment production, and what people want to express when wearing their clothes, namely the language of dress. It is a knowledge centre that is actively involved in the preservation, interpretation and future of this specific, but universal part of cultural heritage.
An embroidered, married woman’s dress from Bayt al-Fakih, Tihamah, Yemen (late 20th century; TRC 1997.0213).
The TRC was founded in 1991 as an independent foundation (‘Stichting’) and works closely together with Leiden University and other Dutch and international organisations worldwide. The courses and workshops set up by the TRC are attended by professionals and non-professionals, promoted by the TRC’s (EU) Erasmus+ Adult Education Accreditation and its official status as a Cultural Public Benefit Organisation (‘ANBI’).
A key feature of the TRC is its collection of over 40,000 textiles, garments and accessories that date from prehistory to yesterday. Most of the items are photographed and included in the open-access, online catalogue. The items have been brought together for people to see, feel and indeed closely investigate.
An embroidered, woman’s blouse (huipil) from Guatemala (late 20th century, TRC 2011.0486).
In doing so they can focus on the associated techniques, decoration and the specific meanings of the garments. Items in the collection have been collected during travels in the Netherlands and abroad; they have also been donated by many institutes and individuals, including various embassies in The Hague, as well as immigrant organisations in Leiden and beyond. But people not only donate textiles, they also help us with invaluable information about the meaning of the items, how they were made and used. We often describe this as ‘Citizen Culture at Work’ because so many people are involved.
There is another, closely related side to the TRC. In 2015 the then Yemeni Ambassador to the Netherlands asked if the TRC would become a cultural ark for Yemeni textiles and dress. Since then the TRC has become a haven for Yemeni textiles, preserving and supporting the study of Yemeni textile and dress culture. Sadly, the TRC has also become a textile ark for other communities, including Afghanistan and Syria.
An embroidered, and appliquéd woman’s jacket from the Akhe people in Thailand (late 20th century, TRC 2021.2173).
Embroidery has become an important and prestigious part of TRC activities. We study its long history, its many techniques and forms and its meaning. Embroidery’s history includes monarchs, religious leaders, as well as the military and the diplomatic world, and of course ‘ordinary’ people all over the world. The oldest known surviving embroideries, for example, come from the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamen. He was buried in c. 1322 BC together with both Egyptian made embroidered garments and embroidered clothing that was given as diplomatic gifts by the Mittani, who lived in what is now northern Syria.
A Brussels lace shawl once owned by Queen Anna Paulowna of the Netherlands (c. 1820; TRC 2014.0831).
Embroidery was and still is produced in many parts of the world and there are hundreds of different forms, materials, stitches, threads and end products, and they all have a different history and a different meaning. Many of these forms are represented in the TRC collection, as well as being the subject of an eight-volume series called the Bloomsbury World Encyclopedia of Embroidery, which is written and edited at the TRC, and published by Bloomsbury, London. The first two volumes are already out and cover the Arab World (2016) and Central Asia, the Iranian Plateau and the Indian sub-continent (2021). The first volume won several international prizes, including the prestigious Dartmouth Medal (2017). The third volume on Sub-Saharan embroidery is due in April 2023. The other volumes on Central and East European, East Asian, Southeast Asian and the American forms are all planned for the next five or so years.
A married, Turkmen woman’s headdress from Afghanistan, richly decorated with metal plaques, beads and embroidery (late 20th century; TRC 2000.0120).
Help with the relevant entries is being given by many individuals, institutes and others. The Georgian, Philippine and Estonian Embassies in The Hague, for example, are already working with the TRC. TRC’s ‘Citizen culture at work’ unites many people from all over the world, since, as was said, we all use textiles and garments, and we have to learn the myriads of dialects in order to communicate effectively.
A woman’s apron made from the sleeve of a Turkish embroidered dress. The apron is decorated with paisley (buteh) motifs as well as the signature (tughra) of the Turkish sultan (c. 1900; TRC 2003.0199).
I would like to thank the Arts Society The Hague, and in particular its chair, Mr Andrea Perugini, former Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, for facilitating the publication and dissemination of this article.
Information:
Textile Research Centre, Hogewoerd 164 2311 HW Leiden
The Leonardo Royal Hotel Den Haag Promenade is represented by both new and more experienced employees working together with passion as one team, to deliver great service and to depict the hotel’s values. In these monthly written pieces, there is a focus on their values and their approach to our international clients. Who are the employees as an individual? Allow us to introduce you to Chantalle Shen-Ai Kaljee.
Nationality: Dutch
Function: Groups & Events Executive
Department: Booking Office
When did you start working at the Promenade Hotel?
Back in June 2019 I started working at the Promenade Hotel as a parttime Food and Beverage employee. It was just something I enjoyed doing next to my bachelors. However, I switched department and/or position few times since then. In July 2020, I started a six-month-internship as Food and Beverage Management Trainee. Per February 2021, I made a switch to the Booking Office and completed a Meetings and Events Management internship. Upon rounding off this final part of my studies and graduating from Hotelschool, the Promenade Hotel offered me a full time position as Meetings and Events Coordinator. Happily, I accepted this opportunity and executed this function for about a year. Last July, I promoted to Groups & Events Executive, which is my current position.
What was your first impression of the Promenade Hotel?
Warm, sincere, and family-like, which is something I expressed during the first months as an employee, back in 2019. When I was still living with my parents, in my hometown, I worked for a catering company for about 3 years. That company had a very similar environment and ambience, which is why it felt like a second home. I kind of grew up there. When I moved to The Hague, away from my parents, being quite young still (17), I was looking for a similar workplace. A place to feel at home away from home. So, imagine my delight when I found this welcoming and warm team at the Promenade Hotel!
What makes the Promenade Hotel suitable for welcoming people from all around the world?
Multiple things! To start with, the diversity amongst all our departments. Personally, I really consider it one of our unique selling points that we have such an international team. This way, we get to share our own traditions and habits with each other. It also enables us to connect and understand guests that may be from the same country.
What do you value most in the organization of diplomatic events at the Promenade Hotel?
Each diplomatic event is considered as individual, unique event, whilst keeping the experiences of previously organized events in mind. A way to show a personal and simultaneously professional approach to both old and new events and collaborations. Furthermore, I really appreciate the new things I learn from each country during the process of organizing and hosting a new event.
What did you learn so far by working with diplomats? Some tips, rules or values to share?
Many diplomats are in a way trying to find a place where they can feel at home, whilst being in a different country. This may be through making a real connection with for example staff and guests, frequently returning to a same place because of the friendly faces, or choosing a place because they serve a dish that tastes like home. One thing that they all seem to have in common is that even when they are on the clock, they also appreciate a bit of small talk and laughter during the business hours.
Which Food Festival has been your favorite so far or would you like to experience?
The very first time I experienced a Food Festival was my first day of shift, back in 2019. A very impressive day. If memory serves, it was the Philippine Food Festival. Due to it being my first day, I was not that focused on the special menu, traditional decorations and live elements. Therefore, I would like to experience it again. Other countries that were really appealing to me are Greece and Mexico.
What local food(s), from abroad, have you tried already?
When I go abroad, I always try and taste a local food or drink. Due to the majority of my friends being (partially) international, I also tried some foods and drinks because they brought it from home or made it for me. For instance, I have tried more common things as a Pastel de nata and Polvo à Lagareiro ( both Portugal) as well as more traditional dishes Bigos (Polish) and very authentically prepared foods, like Guanciale carbonara (Italy).
What is your favorite drink or dish at LEO’s International Flavors?
My personal favorite drink was definitely the LEO’S summer special: the Sangria. However, I do also really like the LEO’S Gin and tonic combination. For dishes… I always have a hard time choosing, so I am happy they offer a tasting menu!
What sustainable development goal do you value most? Why this one?
For me, all sustainable development goals are very important. I believe that none of these can exist well or will have the desired effect if the others are neglected. If I would have to single out one in particular, I think that clean water and sanitation would be the one I value most. During the pandemic we have seen the power of good sanitary facilities and services and the importance of it in regards to taking care of ones health. Additionally, water is one of the primary needs for us humans. Without sufficient supplies of clean water and proper sanitation, we would not be able to function and execute actions to reach the other goals.
What piece of good advice did you receive, and from whom, that you would like to forward?
After rain comes sunshine, after every storm, the sun always shines, or a similar quote that represents that nothing bad lasts forever. Impact may be of longer term, but the actual situation is ought to change one day, sooner or later.
“Let us hope the new year will be better than the last one”, was a wish one could hear from almost everyone since January 1st, 2023. It is easy to understand with so many things going wrong in the previous one.
Putin started what most people thought was no longer possible, a real unprovoked territorial war on European soil, and then botched it. Not only did he fail militarily, but he also resorted to WWII tactics by deliberately destroying civilian lives and targets.
The death toll so far is likely to top a quarter of a million lives. The Communist Party in China compounded its mistaken zero-covid policy by loosening it without an adequate vaccination program in place, potentially killing well over a million of its people.
Stubbornly, it also refused an American offer of proven vaccines. In the U.S. it appeared, that there was a mass shooting every week, and the new leading party in its congress was in complete disarray. Israel now has the most extremist government ever, eroding its claim to be the only true democracy in the Middle east.
The United Nations sanctioned Israel with more than half of its total number of such resolutions and two and a half times as many as the ones condemning war-monger Russia. There were extreme weather conditions all over the globe. Inflation has shot up dramatically, resulting in drastic interest rate increases that killed stock markets worldwide.
It is truly a litany of problems.
But there is also light, not just at the end of the tunnel, but within it. Under President Biden’s deft leadership, the ‘Western’ countries united spectacularly in aiding Ukraine, President Zelenski, a novice politician and = statesman, rose to the occasion in a true Churchillian way. At long last, there is a groundswell of home-grown protest in Iran against its murderous regime. In most countries, vaccines and herd immunity have reduced Covid to a manageable problem.
Under the radar, there is more. Russia’s use of weaponising its fossil fuels has added a whole new layer to the urgency of finding alternative and renewable sources of energy. In the short run, this means liquified gas, the use of which still emits carbon dioxide, but is much less polluting than oil or coal. Funds are freed for wind- and solar farms, traditional nuclear power is no longer taboo, and the possibility of nuclear fusion is getting closer.
One thing Putin’s war has taught us is that when necessary, governments can and will spend tens of billions to solve a clear and urgent danger.
Above the problems of the day, the big problems threatening life as we know it are the climate and the availability of fresh water. Solving both will be less costly than facing aggressors and coping with the problems if we don’t.
As I have written before, it takes about two billion dollars to build desalination plants that produce enough fresh water to turn a chunk of the Sahara the size of France into savannas. Giant wind farms are being built and there are many developments in harvesting sunshine, using heat pumps, the temperature of the earth itself, etc. Huge strides are being made in energy storage.
Just think of what the money poured into Ukraine could have done, not just to Africa, but to the Middle East, the western states of the U.S., and large swathes of Australia. Israel desalinates 75% of its water, in the Emirates the percentage is much higher.
Yes, there are still a lot of daunting problems, but Ukraine has shown us what can be achieved when well-willing countries act together.
It is a privilege to have been invited to start the first series of articles exclusively dedicated to public diplomacy (PD). We will publish essays on this fascinating contemporary science that is timidly developing in the field of international relations.
It is de rigueur to give certain touches to theoretical elements, although the raison d’être of our next articles is to maintain its central purpose; that of showing models with practical results of public diplomacy that we have successfully implemented for more than 20 years as diplomats in Canada, Netherlands, Argentina, Panama, Uruguay and recently in Haiti. In addition to this background, we have provided PD advice for decades to twenty-seven foreign embassies and chancelleries, creating original sources of academic references.
Public diplomacy comes to renew the bureaucratic, passive and hermetic traditional diplomacy. Only an average of 4% of career diplomats have been able to recycle themselves in that sense (E. Matos, Den Haag Political Institute 2014). The PD begins to have its first practical effects in 2001, mainly in the United States. Twenty-three years ago, Washington decided to create the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, replacing the USIA or USIS. The U.S. government chose to elevate public diplomacy to the level of what we understand as a vice-ministry. It turns out to be a key element for the State Department and U.S. foreign policy.
Some countries have tried to emulate their steps, such as: Israel, Japan, Vietnam and Spain, among others. It should be noted that the People’s Republic of China incorporated public diplomacy into its foreign ministry in 2011. Although relatively late, Shanghai is already betting internationally with surprising results. On the other side of the Strait, Taipei was forced to launch in the same year the “Public Diplomacy Desk” in its chancellery, although of course, on a smaller scale, but with very good results. I was an eyewitness of the latter process, since during the “authorities” of President Ma Ying-Jeou (whom I was able to shake hands on three occasions and who maintained a laissez-faire with Mainland China). It was an honor to assist the island to help them with specific strategies of public diplomacy, mainly for their bureaus of commercial and cultural interests in Holland and Buenos Aires. In addition, the author offered an academic contribution favoring Tamkang University in Taipei, for the good knowledge and practice of PD.
On the other hand, an atypical diplomatic phenomenon took place in the Dominican Republic in terms of public diplomacy. It was not the chancellery in Santo Domingo that instituted the PD in its diplomatic missions, but two entrepreneur ambassadors. They set out to innovate and make unprecedented changes in the Dominican Foreign service. The first one was Ambassador Eduardo Tejera in Ottawa in 2005. He was followed by Ambassador Luis Arias Núñez (father of the Dominican vote abroad), who formalized the first public diplomacy sections in the Dominican embassies in Holland, Argentina and recently in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. The deans of the diplomatic corps ranked these four Dominican embassies as among the most effective in those destinations.
More recently, despite the state of siege in the Republic of Haiti, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Port-au-Prince executed its first public diplomacy program in its history; which took place between November 2020 and July 2022, under the management of Ambassador Faruk Miguel Castillo. Among its great achievements and initiatives, to give just a sample, were the academic agreement signed between the María Auxiliadora School of Hotel Management of Haiti and the PUCMM, the edition and publication of “DiploIsla” (the first bilingual digital and printed magazine of that mission), classical Dominican musical performances at the embassy and public schools, the launching of the first social networks of the legation (which it had never had), its first electronic portal (which it also did not have), without forgetting the establishment of close relations with the media of the neighboring nation (which were relatively nonexistent). Currently, the embassy has two portals; the institutional one linked to the chancery in Santo Domingo, and an individual portal with the photography exhibit of the artist Vanessa Moquete under the title “Jimaní and the Deep Border”. Let us remember that public diplomacy is also nurtured and projected through digital diplomacy. We must keep in mind that the PD can contribute greatly to the prevention or mitigation of conflicts between the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic (E. Matos, OttawaU 2021). Having been the Minister Counselor to lead the PD with all these prestigious heads of diplomatic missions mentioned above is something that will remain in my most unforgettable memories.
Public diplomacy, as a foreign policy strategy, is equally critical to sustaining a country’s good image abroad. We have shown academically (E. Matos, MaltaU 2001), that in a successful diplomatic mission, more than 50% of its work agenda should be devoted to public diplomacy programs. An embassy that consumes most of its time in internal administrative matters, “by chasing its own tail” (MaltaU, Kishan Rhana 2001), has no reason to exist. The work of the public diplomat is nurtured by cultural diplomacy, soft power, and friendly relations with the host country’s media, among other elements.
About the author:
Dr. Eugenio Matos G. is a professor of public diplomacy at the University of Ottawa in Canada, an alumnus from the Faculty of Law from this academic center, a professional violinist from different symphony orchestras, co-founder of Diplomat Magazine Netherlands and a former minister-counselor of the Dominican Republic Embassy in the Netherlands.
Main picture: Minister Counselor in Haiti Eugenio Matos G, offering volunteer violin lessons for children in the vulnerable La Saline sector in Port-au-Prince, June 2022, as part of the Dominican embassy’s first public diplomacy pilot program. (EXTERNAL SOURCE).
Despite widespread worldwide initiatives, such as those focused on ending poverty and expanding access to education, the humankind continues to struggle with challenges related to education, poverty, inequality and global insecurity. While it is true that not everyone who has access to an educational system ends up in poverty, the vast majority of today’s poor never even made it through elementary school, two out of every five individuals are illiterate, and violence is on the rise.
According to the World Bank, around 8.5% of the today’s world population might be extremely poor by the end of 2022, and poverty is now falling at a relatively slower rate of barely 2% per year. Today’s population is poorer than that of 1990’s where 1.9 billion people, or 36% of the global population, lived on less than $1.90 a day back then.
There is a direct correlation between poverty and hunger in Africa. A quarter of the world’s hungry people live in Africa. Africa’s population are malnourished and more than 30% of children in Africa have growth anomalies such stunting as a result of chronic malnutrition, making it impossible for them to benefit fully from receiving education.
Education is a great tool for breaking the cycle of poverty since it helps people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. It has the potential to aid those in need by providing them with pathways to employment, resources, and the development of employability skills that can allow them to break out of poverty.
Issues described above where the main driver to invite a specialist in field: On Friday, December 9, 2022, former President of Finland Her Excellency Mrs. Tarja Halonen flue from Helsinki to spend an entire day with the fellows of the Executive’s Masters of International Relations and Global Politics students at the Swiss Geneva University, organized by professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic.
Sustainable development goals, their influence on the global system, and the significance of poverty eradication, education, and inequality were all central to the discussion themes. From 2000 to 2012, Her Excellency – the former President of the Republic of Finland and a pioneering female leader in the 20th century, after serving as president for a total of 12 years, her political insight and know-how are immense. She began by explaining the origins of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as we know them now by drawing on her considerable background in multilateralism and international politics.
They evolved from their original name, the “Millennium Development Goals,” to their current form over time. However, the ironical connection was that all of these goals were compared to a home with many windows. A window that has a goal with a specific purpose.
Excellency Halonen focused on four goals; The first goal is the “elimination of poverty.” The fourth goal is “quality education.” The fifth goal is “gender equality.” Finally, the sixteenth goal is “peace, justice, and strong institutions.”
Most of her presentation focused on the first goal: why poverty is the underlying cause of most global problems and how to begin addressing it. For instance, excellent education and gender equality go hand in hand with reducing poverty since these SDGs and other SDGs are interconnected.
First, getting an education is a great approach to better one’s life and to erdicate poverty in the long term since it increases one’s earning potential and decreases wealth disparity. This implies that persons in poverty have a more difficult time bettering their situation due to obstacles such as physical ability, religion, race, and caste. If we zoom down on more vulnerable regions, however, such as Africa, we see that 67.4% of adults from the age of 15 in 2021 have necessary literacy skills to read and comprehend a short phrase.
In 2022, Africa has a population of little over 1.4 billion people, and its literacy rate is lower than that of a country as Russia. A total of 143.4 million individuals can read and write at a 99.69% proficiency level by the year 2021.
There is a significant gender gap in the world’s illiterate population, with women making up a disproportionate share. Some nations have nearly female literacy, such as 64% in Burkina Faso and 39% in Niger, while others, such as Afghanistan, have just around 30% of women who are literate.
However, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to be a problem for women in Burkina Faso, Niger, and other nearby countries. This violence frequently occurs in societies where sexism and patriarchy are prevalent and this issue might serve as a roadblock for women, preventing them from exercising their rights.
Worldwide gender equality will presently take four generations. All inclusive, 388 million ladies and young ladies are poorer than men and boys, with the lion’s share living in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southern Asia, and the Middle East. The plague has raised the perils of GBV over the world, with 13 million additional young girls at chance of getting to be child brides, on top of the 100 million people who are now in danger.
If women are not enrolled into social equations, how can they be treated equally? Increases in sexual violence, domestic violence, early and forced marriages, manipulation, and maltreatment of girls and women are being fueled by conflict and displacement in the Sahel area.
Not only in Africa, but also, different parts of the world such as Afghanistan, the international community was caught off guard by the rise of the Taliban’s action toward women in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s latest statement on suspending women from attending college is emblematic of their larger discriminatory practices. They have restricted the mobility of women and girls, prevented most women from participating in the labor market, and banned them from using public utilities since August 2021. Ultimately, these restrictions keep Afghan women and girls within their homes, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
As efforts to engage her efforts and activate this crucial role at the international and local levels are a priority for Her Excellency, Mrs. Taria Halonen firmly recognizes the value of women’s contributions to development.
In addition, in line with the fifth goal of the sustainable development goals, women must have an all-encompassing goal of growing their participation to the labor market and maintaining their rights in the fields of health and education as part of the decision-making process. Women have an important role in bringing peace to situations of armed conflict, yet their contributions are often overlooked. The effectiveness of United Nations Peacekeeping actions and the maintenance of peace depend on the recognition and incorporation of women’s various perspectives, experiences, and abilities in all aspects of UN Peacekeeping operations.
Despite progress in the number of women in the highest levels of political leadership, the Inter-Parliamentary Union of the United Nations (IPU-UN) reports that gender inequalities persist in several areas in the year 2021.
However, following a jump of 21.3% of women occupying ministerial posts in 2021, as well as development has stalled, with just a little increase to 21.9% in 2021. The data also shows that the number of states with no women in government has grown, defying a recent declining trend.
Amid record global military spending of $2.1 trillion, funding for women’s organizations in combat zones has declined. Presently, women only make about 19% of peace negotiators in UN-led projects. Her Excellency, Mrs. Halonen emphasized the significance of women’s participation in peace talks and the value of having female leaders of countries present at the negotiations table.
Mrs. Halonen is one of the first in this field and being a member of the high-level advisory board of the Secretary-General on Mediation of the United Nations, therefore, from where Mrs. Halonen stands, she stressed on the importance of the role of women in peace process.
Women’s involvement in peace-building processes is more than simply achieving parity. Where, women hold just 18.9% of parliamentary seats in conflict and post-conflict countries, compared to 25.5% worldwide, a still-inadequate figure.
In order to address the root causes of conflict, it is necessary to rethink peace-building and come up with solutions that take into account the requirements of all parties involved in the conflict. The goal is to usher in an era of permanent global peace and security by dismantling the systems that sustain and promote conflict. Many of the ills from which people in war zones and poorer parts of the world suffer are easily solvable through education, which should be a basic human right.
One may say that education is the key to achieving all Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals.
Since 1960, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has ratified the Convention Against Discrimination in Education, which acknowledges the right of all students to an education. Furthermore, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of the United Nations has recognized access to education as a human right since 1966.
In conclusion, by expanding access to high-quality education for all, SDG four has the potential to be a powerful tool in the fight against extreme poverty and for raising living standards in developing countries.
Lack of education, gender inequality, poverty, and global insecurity are the main reasons why states should invest more in education rather than military and armaments warfare. Education should be a national priority to eliminate all causes of poverty, gender inequality, and insecurity.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela.
About the Author:
Sara AlDhahri
Sara AlDhahri is an international officer at the humanitarian affairs department of the OIC.
She is also, an advocate for peace, security and humanitarian development.
From our first encounter, at a long walk in Tiergarten, Berlin’s popular park, Olivia seemed to me the kind of woman who looks fragile on the outside but is strong and determined on the inside. Later, I discovered she is also a great friend, a delicate and refined woman and a talented writer and photographer.
Born in Munich, Germany, Olivia Nikel spent three years at a Swiss boarding school, later completed her education with the German “Abitur” diploma and moved to Madrid, Spain for one year, to learn Spanish. She remembers her childhood years with pleasure, as they were ‘unforgettably happy times’. She completed her studies in New York, at Bard College in Annandale on Hudson, where she graduated from political science.
Her professional life took her from working as a journalist at a local newspaper “Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung” (AZ) to “Berliner Zeitung” which used to be one of the most prestigious papers in the GDR. She remembers: ‘moving to the capital was a big and challenging step in my professional career. It was a tough time in many ways, but very interesting professionally, with me covering topics such as the Northern Irish peace process, or the elections in the USA. It was an important time for my growth as a journalist and a person’.
After five years there, she was offered the job of US-Correspondent in Washington, DC. She says: ‘today I would count those six years in the US as one of the best times of my life, before marriage. I was able to write about US politics, explore the country, report from Afghanistan and Iraq, cover many election campaigns, including the most exciting one of Barack Obama and enjoy a lot of freedom in my work’.
Learning about her life experience is impressive, indeed. I would have loved it, too!
But life took her back to Belin, where she met her future husband, who was then working in the Chancellery of Angela Merkel. After marriage and moving abroad on diplomatic assignment, she had to pause her own career and look for something new, as so many of us did over the years.
“Best part of being a diplomatic spouse is to discover a country in so many ways, having an insight on so many levels and enjoying mostly wonderful and kind diplomatic colleagues, who share and understand the sometimes a bit ambivalent situation: living a diplomatic life with privileges, while at the same time feeling lonely and, at times, quite disconnected and not able to pursue your own career.”
“Because of our life style (living in a nice residence, having contact with important and powerful people and enjoying celebrations) someone watching from the outside might see this as a privileged lifestyle. People might think diplomatic spouses take this for granted, and to be honest, some do. On the other hand, there might be prejudice against spouses that they only rest on their partners’ jobs and have very little to offer themselves. Thinking of all the partners I met, this seems to be a complete misconception. I have met highly educated, warm hearted, non-snobbish spouses, who, at times, had an even better education and job than their spouses. Or, who made themselves incredibly useful in terms of charity or support to their family or the families of others. Ironically, the biggest misconceptions I usually heard from people who had not even met any diplomatic spouses, but based their judgement on tales and legends.”
“As my husband and I went to our posting in Poland, it was clear that I would not be able to continue my career as a journalist. First, I decided to learn Polish, take some classes in Polish history at the university and later fulfill one of my lifelong dreams, to learn more about photography. So, I enrolled in a photography school in Warsaw and started a completely new phase of my life, going back to school with fellow students who could have been my children. It was though so much fun and I learned very much thanks to this younger, technology-oriented generation. It was quite an experience.”
Olivia then continues with her life story: ‘whether as a young person, professional journalist or diplomatic spouse, I always enjoyed discovering other cultures, new languages, new people and history. As a diplomatic spouse, I had the chance to explore my new country on different levels and that was what made it very exciting. As a journalist or diplomatic spouse, I was blessed to have many opportunities of adventures and learning.’
She tells me that, during their posting, she only published one article (about the opening of a museum in Warsaw) but she instead followed her dream and, after finishing photography school, she completely focused on this new form of communication in her life. She published three photography books and, after returning to Berlin, she had her first solo exhibition. Her photography style is very interesting and uses quite innovative production processes.
She recently started research for a book about the history of her family, especially about her great grandfather and his daughter, Olivia’s grandmother, living in Berlin at the turn of the 20th century. She discovered that he was a stonemason and was running a well-known company in the city. “At that time, Berlin was the capital of Germany, a newly unified nation, bustling with new businesses and in desperate need of monuments and statues to praise the new Reich and its Emperor. My great grandfather was involved in many buildings and monuments of the time. Among the most famous one was a fountain that Kaiser Wilhelm II gave as a present to the Turkish Sultan in Constantinople (Istanbul now). That fountain still exists today. But in 1914 the world changed and WWI started. My great grandfather and both his sons died in WW I. It changed my grandmother’s life forever. As it happens sometimes with stories, this one became a much larger project than anticipated. I have all the letters which the soldiers of our family wrote during the war and I visited most of the places where my family lived in Berlin. It is a great and emotional voyage back to a very different time. I am happily still working on it, while at the same time I have been continuing my photographic journey, working for a friend, who is developing a foundation (so I can afford my office in a photo studio)”.
But, no matter how accomplished and busy she is in her professional life, she still confesses with humor that one of her proudest moments in life was probably when her grandsons told her that they liked her cooking.
Family comes first and, after many years of stress and far too many worries, she decided to follow the late Queen Elizabeth’s II advice: ‘Keep calm and carry on!’
Recent conflict in Ukraine has, once again, revealed the inability of intergovernmental organizations in ensuring peace, security, and stability. This is particularly the case for United Nations, and its most powerful body, the Security Council. If the recent crisis has reinforced anything – it is the further disenchantment towards existing global governing structures and its ability to protect broader global interests of peace and security. This is particularly true for the Global South, that has been left facing the unprecedented food and fuel crisis, along with significantly eroded trust in the global financial order.
This is not the first instance when United Nations has been ineffective in responding to the great humanitarian crisis. And this trajectory of remaining ineffective will prevail if the institution continues to resist the reforms to reflect current dynamic of realities. Power structure and its balance that existed in late 1940s have changed significantly but the institutional structure has continuously failed to reflect that. The key challenge before the institution of UN is primarily not about the one-time change or reform, but the ability to periodically reform itself to reflect contemporary world order, reflective of balance of power, without giving up on its key principles. While everyone, including former Secretary Generals – Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-Moon, have time again reiterated calls for reforms to make Security Council far more representative and more importantly capable of achieving its primary objective – ensuring peace and stability.
Unsurprisingly, conflicting interests and resulting realpolitik have ensured no meaningful progress on the nature of reforms, let alone the specifics of the proposals. The thorniest issue in any comprehensive reform package is that of the permanent membership and the ensuing veto. It is beyond obvious that none of the five permanent members will accept any package that distantly compromise their existing ‘privileged’ position. And thus, the debate on relevance of any of the existing permanent members has been simply out of question.
More seemingly feasible proposals have been around expansion of the council, either with new permanent and/or non-permanent members. One of the broadly debated proposal included the permanent membership for at-least four member states, the G4 proposal (Japan, India, Germany, and Brazil). While this proposal has somewhat broad range of support, it has been fervently opposed by another informal grouping – United for Consensus, whose purpose is to oppose the G4’s entry into the council as permanent members – notably Argentina opposing Brazil, South Korea opposing Japan, Pakistan opposing India, and Italy and Spain opposing Germany – along with pushing their own proposal with addition of new non-permanent members only.
Within diplomatic circles, a collective compromise from G4 members to accept initial 15-year moratorium on their veto power for their inclusion as permanent members has been debated but there has been no significant progress even on that compromise, and it reflects how difficult it is to even initiate reforms at institutions of global governance.
While the imminent expansion of the council is the first step, it can’t be the only part of any reform package. The ability to make amends that are reflective of contemporary balance of power as well as representative of variety of interests is essential to make institution such as Security Council to be credible and effective for decades to come. The recent crisis has only highlighted how the supposedly most powerful body is helpless in stopping the misuse and weaponization of everything – food, fuel, and finance. Stability of institutional framework as a hedge against unilateral and multilateral hegemony has collapsed.
Thus, a key aspect of reform must be focused on dilution of veto, as more realistic threats to global peace and security come from those who have their ‘secured’ seat at the ‘high table’. Credible mechanism to not only include new permanent members, but also to replace the existing ones (if required) is essential for efficient functioning. A point in case is that of nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), which categorically and systematically discriminates five permanent members and their possession of nuclear weapons among the rest, and thus has not been successful in reducing the threat of global catastrophe.
All five states, regardless of their orientation, have in one way or other, disregarded the idea of universal, non-discriminatory, and verifiable disarmament. In other words, the highly discriminatory treaty makes P5 member states, part of problem rather than solution, and somewhat similar dynamics have ensured Security Council and their permanent members as part of the problem. And thus, required reform doesn’t only need new members and expanded council, but a more balance of power among the nation-states and less discrimination. Given the realpolitik of existing governance structure, such reform seems merely a distant dream.
About the author:
Sanvit Shah
Sanvit Shahis a management consultant and often writes on issues at the intersection of foreign policy and international business. He holds a postgraduate degree in Contemporary Indian studies from the University of Oxford. He is currently with the Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands.
By H.E. Mr.Marián Jakubócy, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Germany
On 1 January 1993 is the day of the constitution of the Slovak Republic. Since that day, Slovakia has been perfecting its system of the rule of law with multi-party democracy, human rights and a market economy. After a decade of turbulent political development in the 1990s, which was almost lost from the point of view of democracy, Slovakia was able to catch up. Yet 30 years ago, Slovakia’s starting points were not that simple. In some respects economically unbalanced, oriented towards heavy industry, with not very convincing labour discipline or pronounced entrepreneurial ethos, or even corporate responsibility. We didn’t care that much about human rights or the environment. An advantageous geographical position was one of our greatest assets, and the fate of a country should not depend on it. At that time, Slovakia had only a fleeting experience of independence and an independent state, and not a good one at that. We knew democracy and respect for the law, which can lead to prosperity. We had a certain muscle memory from the time of the first Czechoslovakia after 1918. We did not manage to develop both democracy and prosperity further than 1938, but it has remained with us in a kind of collective memory. We didn’t make it back then also because we had few – if any – good partners and allies.
We have had our dark episodes in the past decades, and we have tried to learn from each one. At times we have succeeded, at others we have, unfortunately, had to repeat the experience. Detention. The message, also with regard to all the Unfree, the Invaded, is therefore: we have not been merely dealt a good hand, possessed more valuable historical memories or simply more luck. What really mattered for Slovakia in the last 30 years was a sustainable political system. A social order that is most oriented and suited to let people build and enjoy a secure existence in freedom and dignity. We have, we may proudly say, successfully established a liberal democracy. We have been able to decide to return to the values of civilization. In terms of security, to be among the countries that have established and now maintain the most effective defense alliance. Economically, to emulate the countries that since the Second World War have exemplified how to achieve prosperity in a social market economy that generates enough for its own responsible citizens, and for exhaustive humanitarian aid and development cooperation with weaker societies on top of that.
In 2004, we first joined NATO and a little later the European Union. On 1 January 2009, Slovakia introduced the euro, from which our export-oriented economy with a strong automotive sector benefited greatly. Thanks to this development, the bilateral economic relations between Slovakia and Germany have also progressed extremely well over the past 30 years and have risen to an outstanding level of quality. Characterised by close partnership, intensive dialogue and a shared commitment to European integration. Featuring very close economic ties – as evidenced by the presence of some 600 German companies in the country – and lively trade. The strong involvement of German investors is of utmost importance for the Slovak state budget. Just to give an example; German companies contribute the largest share (25%) to the tax revenue of the 300 largest companies in Slovakia, amounting to 2.3 billion euros. German companies employ about 146,000 workers. With 184 cars produced per thousand inhabitants in 2021, Slovakia is also the world leader in car production per capita thanks to the Volkswagen automotive group, which is the first major foreign investor in our country. German direct investments in Slovakia now amount to 8.9 billion euros. In turn, several Slovak companies have successfully established themselves on the German market in recent years. The trade volume between Slovakia and Germany has exceeded the 36 billion euro mark in 2021.
In the last 30 years, however, Slovakia has not only advanced to become a world leader in automobile production, known for its innovations in IT, the pharmaceutical and bio science sectors. Thanks to its free market economy, Slovakia has also been able to assert itself as a world power in castles and a tourist magnet. The Spiš Castle, for example, which is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is one of the ten largest castles in the world. While on the subject, the 220 Slovak castles and castle ruins are joined by 425 forts and numerous spas; many spas are among the oldest and highest quality in Central Europe (Piešťany/Pistyan, Rajecké Teplice/Bad Rajetz, Turčianske Teplice/Bad Stuben). And there is more to discover in Slovakia – we welcome you all!
Slovakia commemorated many milestones in its modern history already in 2022. Against this background, a commemoration of the Treaty on Good‑neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic of 27 February 1992 was planned at the beginning of 2022. Unfortunately, things turned out quite differently. Slovakia and Germany, in an irrevocably changed Europe, were not to celebrate at the end of February 2022. Since 24 February 2022 – the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – we would rather use all our forces to protect our security and democracy. Actually, there are so many valuable lessons learned from the time Slovakia gained its independence. We should always remind ourselves how to do it right. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine confirms that we must never tire of reminding and demanding the right way.
Even now, almost a year after the invasion of Ukraine and the renewed start of the war in Europe, this is no time to celebrate exuberantly. But the 30th anniversary of free, democratic Slovakia is all the more a moment we should commemorate. With humility as well as a healthy dose of pride. It is an important milestone that Slovakia and its society have worked hard to achieve. It is an opportunity to pause for a stocktaking that helps us understand where we have come from and, more importantly, where we want to arrive. I have already and would like to remind you once again of our neighbouring country, Ukraine. Not because it’s proper, in keeping with the times, or because we want to feel better about ourselves. But to show how important it is to defend values and prosperity without falling into value-free pragmatism. Slovakia has felt safe over the last three decades, and we can no longer claim that today without giving it serious thought. Nevertheless, we were not directly invaded, and we have the time and opportunity to prepare for Moscow’s further steps. We had the capabilities to recognize Russia’s hybrid warfare in time and to respond to it together within NATO and in the EU. Thanks to the last 30 years and the strength we have today as a country to offer our partners and allies.
We commemorate the 30th anniversary of the emergence of sovereign Slovakia, the full-fledged member of the international community, anchored in several leading value-based organisations. I am sure that we will use our experience and strength to support Ukraine on its way.
