The Dragon Boat Festival

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The Dragon Boat Festival

By Richard T. Griffiths

The Dragon Boat Festival is traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese year. For some reason, nine hundred years ago Emperor Huizong chose to sponsor one on Jinming Lake (near the Northern Song capital Kaifeng) on the third day of the third month. The occasion was recorded for posterity by the renowned artist Wang Zhenpeng for Emperor Renzong in 1310CE. Twelve years later, he copied the painting for the emperor’s sister.

The version shown here is also probably a copy/forgery. It is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and it will feature as an animated handscroll in the Silk Road Virtual Museum later this year. The image, which shows only part of the festival, has been enhanced for your viewing pleasure (or, more accurately to allow you to see anything at all).

There are several explanations for the origins of the festival. The most obvious, for those who believe that numbers can be more, or less, propitious is that ‘five’ is considered unlucky and a double five, therefore, more so. However, that only explains the date of the festivities, not the form at they take. The most common legend is that citizens took to the boats and thrashed the water with their oars to stop a body being eaten by the fish. Although this is the most common, there are several variants. Let us take them in chronological order.

In the first, the body is of the beautiful Wu Zixu who, in 484 BCE, was forced to commit suicide by her royal husband on the fifth day of the fifth month when she tried to warn him of a plot against him. The second candidate is the poet Qu Yaun who, in 278 BCE, committed suicide, after being captured and condemned for resisting what he considered an unwise alliance. The citizens went to find the body and, on failing that, dropped balls of sticky rice into the water to stop it being eaten (another feature of the festivities). The final candidate is the young girl Cao E who, in 143 CE, dived into the river to save her father, who had himself fallen in while supervising a dragon boat festival. Both were swept down river and the citizens took to the waters to find the bodies, which they did some five days later. Regardless of how it came about, the dragon boat festival is now a public holiday throughout China.

As chance would have it, I was in Hong Kong in mid-June for a ‘Port City’ history conference with my good friend and colleague, Sarah Ward. It offered a perfect opportunity to see, first hand, what the festivities involved and to put some sound and colour into the fourteenth century images in my possession. So it came about that in the morning of 22 June we were at Stanley Beach to watch the start of the races. The heat was already rebounding off the sand as the twenty competitors clambered into each of their boats. The steersman and the drummer remained in place, and served the same boat regardless of crew changes. The friendly dragon on the bow of the boat sported a jaunty bouquet of flowers. Then, the crew slowly rowed backwards, turned and set off towards the starting line at a slow but steady pace.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 66.174a

Meanwhile, in the distance, some 300 metres off-shore, the far-off waters were beginning to churn. The race had started and the boats surged forwards, their crews stabbing their blades into the water at an ever-increasing tempo. Slowly the straight line begins to break and one on the right and one in the middle establish a lead over their nearest rivals, a signal of the crowds lining the shore to start shouting in encouragement. By now the boats are approaching the finish. The drummers are pounding their drums, the blades blur through the water and a white foaming wash is punched before the boats. One final surge, a gun is fired and the boats slowly lower themselves into the gentle incoming tide. In one or two boats the oars are raised in triumph, but no one knows yet who has won. At the shore the exhausted crews disembark and make way for the next competitors. All of them are welcomed into the embrace of their supporters, some more vociferously than others. There is a winner. All the teams will have completed the 270 metre course in under ninety seconds. The margins between the leaders often wafer thin.

But look up – the new crews are starting their journey to the start and… yes, the next race is already under way. I was pleased to be a neutral. I don’t think I could have survived as my A/B/Mixed/Womens teams made their way through the day. It is good to know that the sponsors of the race, Sun Life, offer a free Personal Accident Protection Plan that not only includes coverage for severe heat stroke but also a one-off compensation for death caused by participation in Dragon Boat championship. Even as a neutral, I felt I truly had participated. I confess, we left before the races ended, the temperature climbing faster than the sun was rising and scarcely a scrap of shade to be found. Next stop, to find some triangulars portion of zongzi, sticky rice with a savoury filling[Rg1]  and wrapped in bamboo leaf, much too good for the fish.

The Silk Road Virtual Museum can be found at https://silkroadvirtualmuseum.com. The museum is being developed with V21 Art Space

 [Rg1]

What Nelson Mandela Can Teach Today’s Leaders About Leadership

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What Nelson Mandela Can Teach Today’s Leaders About Leadership

By Michael J. Provitera and Mostafa Sayyadi

The complexities of today’s leadership icons world more than ever prevent organizations from focusing solely on business goals and forgetting the vital role of employees, as the main piece of the puzzle of business success. Employees seek leaders who are authentic and focus on emotional intelligence. Nelson Mandela, in South Africa, provided the emotional intelligence they needed This form of leadership can also develop a work environment where employees can best discharge their innovative energies and provide more creative ideas for their organizations.

A higher degree of emotional intelligence initiated at the top echelon of organizations can manifest an award-winning culture. Culture needs to be flexible, and it should provide a continuous learning environment through training and development. There are also two more factors that help organizations survive today: an effective knowledge-powered strategy, and a risk-taking tolerance for mistakes.

Emotional intelligence – Nelson Mandela’s approach

Organizations that provide a higher degree of emotional intelligence, a flexible work environment, continuous learning, an effective knowledge-powered strategy, and a risk-taking tolerance for mistakes are more in line with the Nelson Mandela leadership style.

Employees who receive emotional intelligence training coupled with leadership intervention from their managers are more interested in presenting innovative ideas to solve complex organizational problems than other employees. Also, these employees are more interested than other employees in participating in those activities in organizations that are not in the scope of their duties, but their participation can help them to do better. In fact, there is a greater sense of belonging that these employees feel than others. Abraham Maslow coined belonging as a mid-level motivational category in which many people feel as if they are treated as owners of the organization.

Leaders that focus obsessively on achieving business goals and ignore the vital role of employees, sometimes consciously or unconsciously, fail to achieve a cohesive business culture. Profit maximization and treating people as expendable assets offer negative signals transmitted to employees which can lead to the oppression of innovative energies.

Nelson Mandela offered a vast degree of emotional intelligence to prisoners during the equality and freedom movement. This effort led to freedom from apartheid and provided an impetus to use emotional intelligence to manage and lead others. Through compassion, kindness, and emotional support, Mandela created equality and brotherhood from racial discrimination. He is the Father of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion today. He realized that the human feelings and emotions of the average citizen in a country are a great source of energy for achieving higher goals and accomplishing great things. Mandela developed a form of leadership that is a successful example of emotional intelligence, late picked up by the Dan Goleman movement in the States.

Diane Belcher in a Harvard Business Review article, on March 31, 2023, titled Leading the Way, found that “Today’s frontline leaders are highly motivated to grow and learn—about topics that reach far beyond what’s been traditionally served up to them. Companies that don’t respond to the interests of this vital segment of their workforce face an uphill battle in retention, employee engagement, and more.”

Business leaders can learn from Nelson Mandela’s emotional intelligence leadership style provides an impetus for how leaders can become icons in a world that has many facets and challenges.  Mandela desired to personally develop all people by building trust and engaging them more in actual dialogue. People engaged in dialogue in which managers, avoiding dramatic activities, actively seek employees’ participation in discussions and choose the employee’s best innovative ideas.

While working as an executive at Morgan Stanley in the financial district of Manhattan, the CEO had breakfast with employees to gain insight into innovations and projects that became fruitful and expansive. Twenty-six Breakfast and Conversation With James Gorman Chairman CEO of Morgan Stanley led to innovation and customer awareness. This endeavor was much needed in 2012 when the competitive edge was sharp and complicated.

Many CEOs, one being Louis V. Gerstner, argue that sharing in not only the success but also the mistakes of people. At IBM, the Chairman and CEO told an employee that just lost ten million dollars on an innovative project and that he just invested ten million dollars in the employee, and letting the person go was out of the question. Gerstner also at IBM, established Reinventing Education, which is a $35 million grant program that enables IBM researchers and classroom teachers to address curriculum concerns that would lead to better careers for youngsters later on in life. His aim was to develop trust among not only employees but potential future employees.

Emotional intelligence leads to greater intellectual safety for employees with the aim of encouraging them to put their ideas into practice. Thus, be an emotionally intelligent leader. Leaders who bravely seek emotional support from their employees, as noted above, consciously use the innovative energies of their employees to achieve organizational goals and find the best ideas to solve their complex organizational problems.

The EU and transitional justice

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The EU and transitional justice

Speech delivered on 28 July 2023 at a conference about Transitional Justice at the National 2.28 Memorial Museum

By Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers

HRWF (02.08.2023) – Ending impunity for serious crimes against human rights and humanitarian norms is an important EU and UN objective. It is essential in overcoming the legacy of past conflicts and in building the basis of stable, peaceful societies, as shown by the experience of societies that have taken the democratic path in recent decades.

Transitional Justice Historical background

The field of transitional justice emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, in response to the political transitions that took place during that time in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

The implementation of transitional justice measures depended on the national context, varying greatly, e.g. among former communist regimes. Today, the focus of transitional justice mechanisms has moved to countries afflicted by conflicts in Africa and Asia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002, aims to complement national systems where these are unable to bring to justice for serious crimes those in the highest positions of responsibility.

Transitional justice aims both at holding those responsible for serious crimes to account, at providing redress to victims, as well as at building fairer and resilient justice systems able to secure reconciliation and the transition to democracy. It includes several measures:

Prosecution of leaders and high officials of former regimes

Communist leaders in some eastern European countries and leaders of military juntas in Latin America faced justice in their countries: in Argentina (with a verdict in 1985) or in Guatemala where the verdict was finally invalidated in 2013 .

In other cases, former president of Serbia died before his conviction and former president of Côte d’Ivoire was acquitted after standing trial in international tribunals.

Prosecution took place independently of rank, of perpetrators of grave crimes, particularly genocide: Rwanda. (1994).

Lustration policies included vetting procedure before holding public office. These were central to the efforts of former communist countries in Europe (such as Germany, Czechia and Estonia), in overcoming their past and building stable democracies, but they were not free of judicial controversy regarding the concordance of lustration laws with human rights.

Truth initiatives ranged from the opening of secret services archives (as in former communist countries) to the Truth Commission in South Africa, (1995), while in Cambodia in 1995, a NGO assumed the task of preserving the memory of genocide.

Rehabilitation and redress for those convicted on political grounds or for persecuted groups.

Amnesty: This is the most controversial approach to transitional justice, as it precludes justice for victims, but it can be instrumental in ending bloody conflict. However, amnesty cannot apply in serious crimes against humanity and other similar crimes, as made clear in a number of landmark decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. In Latin America, amnesty was granted broadly to allow transition, but amnesty laws were later struck down for grave crimes in Argentina (2003), Guatemala (1996) or Peru (2019), although not in Brazil.

European Union action

The EU is an important player in the field of transitional justice. It has developed a comprehensive approach to help non-EU countries implement transitional justice.

Closing the accountability gap, fighting impunity and supporting transitional justice is among the priorities of the EU action plan on human rights and democracy for 2020-2024.

An EU policy framework on support to transitional justice provides guidance for both EU institutions and Member States, based on the main UN elements :

  • in terms of criminal justice: 

the EU supports the reform of national criminal legislation and alternative ways (mediation or traditional courts) to provide justice;

  • in terms of search for truth: the EU promotes truth-seeking initiatives based on international law and best practice;
  • in terms of reparations: the EU encourages a participatory, victim-focused approach to reparations;
  • in terms of guarantees of non-recurrence/institutional reform:

The EU opposes amnesties for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide or gross violations of human rights, in line with the UN position.

The EU supports the ICC; it helps countries in situations of fragility and provides financial support for transitional justice initiatives and related issues.

The EU has put in place multiannual funding programs with partner countries including Burundi, Central African Republic, Colombia, Rwanda, South Sudan and The Gambia.

European Parliament position

The European Parliament has repeatedly underlined the need to put an end to impunity for grave crimes under international law.

In a March 2019 resolution on building EU capacity on conflict prevention and mediation, the Parliament declared that a pool of experts covering reconciliation and transitional justice was needed at EU level.

In another resolution in January 2021, the Parliament proposed to establish an EU Special Representative on International Humanitarian Law and International Justice and underlined the need to ensure justice for all victims of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

A recent resolution in February 2022 called for the promotion of transitional justice processes empowering civil society, victims, marginalised and vulnerable populations, increasing the role of women and young people in transitional justice.

Transitional justice measures do not only address past atrocities but they are also forward-looking.

As the armed conflict in Ukraine is ongoing and atrocities continue to be committed systematically, it is important to keep documenting the human rights violations perpetrated by Russia, the aggressor country, not only for accountability purposes, but also to know the truth of what happened and help determine the type and form of reparations.

If there is a peace agreement, the inclusion of transitional justice issues will be important but there may not be any negotiations and any peace agreement as in the case on the Korean Peninsula 60 years ago. In such a case of a stuck or frozen conflict, Europol, Interpol and the International Criminal Court will have to unite their efforts to hunt and prosecute Russian war criminals until the last one as long as they will be alive as it happened to the Nazi criminals of World War II.

Financial Architecture of ICCIA for a Prosperous Tomorrow

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Financial Architecture of ICCIA for a Prosperous Tomorrow

In the epic city on two legs, each on other continent – Istanbul, the Future Leaders Executive Program (FLEP) welcomed four guests for its two full days June 2023 session. A definite highlight of the June round was a visit and the lecture of the Karachi-based Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) Secretary General, Dr. Yousef Khalawi. With a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of economy, religious philosophy and ethics, businesses and politics, Dr. Khalawi shared his invaluable insights on the current state of global economic affairs, challenges, obstacles and ways to tackle those.

Saudi-born Dr. Yousef Khalawi graduated from the Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University (Faculty of Theology), with further specialisations in comparative fiqh, international investment, arbitration and dispute resolution. He obtained his subsequent legal education in various international law and consultancy firms in Germany (Frankfurt), Switzerland (Geneva) and UK (London). He has established many companies with a large number of investors in more than 70 countries around the world, has served as a board member, and chairman of audit and management committees in various companies.

Besides being the ICCIA Sec-General for the past 5 years, Dr. Khalawi is also a board member of many important companies around the world and a member of the Board of Trustees in various international organizations, including the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions in Bahrain (AAOIFI), and the Islamic Fiqh Academy’s Main Committee member. Conclusively, he is a board member of the Saudi Commercial Arbitration Center in Riyadh – SCCA, which is the highest Saudi arbitration authority.

Energetically thinking alternatives to the existing system

Secretary-General opened his talked by sketching the current state of global economy and finances, describing it as highly worrying and definitely unsustainable on a long run. This state of affairs invites all of us to energetically think alternatives and fundamental adjustments to the existing system which already spent his model, on both levels – trust and operability. Since every crisis is at the same time opening to new opportunities; this might be a way to consider the Islamic financing mechanisms, but even more the concept of Islamic economy as whole. Such approach would globally relax brewing tensions and omnipresent recession of trust.  

In the context of a crucial importance of Islamic finance, Secretary General Dr. Yousef Khalawi referred to “Sukuk” as a more flexible funding mechanism compared to usual financial instrument of bonds. This because it has funding mechanisms that are not existed with classical bonds, which makes “Sukuk” object of close consideration of governments, even the non-Muslim ones (like numerous in Latin America and Asia).

Developing verity of mechanisms of microfinance


In this regard, drawing from his profoundly rich professional and personal life journey, The Secretary-General highlighted the dire need to microfinance, particularly in the developing countries. In the light of ICCIA’s efforts to develop verity of mechanisms of microfinance and promote its position globally, Secretary-General Khalawi also pointed out that the Islamic economy’s firm scientific merits which survived tests of history and numerous regional realities throughout calamitous centuries – which only means one: That system is beyond any narrow religious interpretation, and is as such applicable for those confessing any religion and those non-religious as well.

The tantalising sparkling and inspiring tit-for-tat exchange between Secretary-General, and the FLEP participants draw to its close with open exchanges, brain-storming. To say; in a search, and a quest for solutions, to live future of a safer and fairer world – emphatic moral and inclusive, while striving to the realisation of human race.

Dr. Yousef Khalawi’s participation in the Future Leaders Executive Program provided an indispensable opportunity for emerging leaders to gain insights into the current state of the global economic and financial affairs and their subtle interplay with geopolitics, security and civilisation advancements. His huge experiences and wisdom shed light on the essential values and principles that can guide aspiring leaders on their path to success, ensuring a more inclusive, compassionate, secure and just future.

Summing up that special day with the ICYF President, Mr. Taha Ayhan (who acted as a principal host to the event), Secretary-General Khalawi jointly expressed what all participants had already concluded throughout the day: that the Future Leaders Executive Program (FLEP) offers a unique setting and the winning narrative. Excellency Khalawi and President Taha both agreed that such a particular format – by which an established experience meets the new passions, drives, rhythms and colours through cross generational leaders’ talks – represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging leaders from verities of environments: the state, intergovernmental, and corporate sectors of all meridians.

Secretary-General expressed his joy that the FLEP’s mesmerising ship of insights and wisdom gets a full swing sail once again in the Fall this year. 

About the author:  

Isabella Maria Bello Arocha

Isabella Maria Bello Arocha – Madrid-based researcher specialized in comparative law and international relations. She covers International Institute IFIMES before the UNWTO, other Iberia-based and Latin American international FORAs.

The French Protests: Behind the Scenes of the Media

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The French Protests: Behind the Scenes of the Media

By Hana Kolar

The political uproar of France in the first half of 2023 was at the face of the media, with articles and new outlets covering the anger of citizens. From the 19th of January 2023, protests began all throughout France, revolting against the Government’s pension reform project to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.  

In the nation’s capital, the vocalisation of frustration was often heard, especially of those living in the heart of Paris as the strikes and protests ensued, causing blockages, increased cases of police presence and violence. However, both French nationals and foreigners were often seen participating in these protests, supporting the common goal to have their opinions regarding  by the government. 

Students were also seen to be actively involved in the protests. Pupils at Sciences Po Paris, a research university of social sciences, were seen protesting on multiple occasions. Through barricading the entryway to the Saint Guillaume campus on the 8th of March 2023, this, alongside other similar occurrences, resulted in some classes being cancelled or moved to an online platform. This consequentially caused disruptions for both students and teachers, affecting the university curricular.

As the protests continued across France, from the 6th of March onwards, Paris was seen littered with rubbish for a three-week period, as media coverage focused on trash collectors of the capital joining the protest against the government and limiting access to waste incinerators.

Just as things were suspected to have settled down, news had surfaced that the reform to the pension would ensue, moments before parliamentary vote was set to occur. Invoking article 49:3 of the French Constitution, the Government was enabled to pass a law without a vote, unless the parliament chose to pass a ‘noconfidence’ motion.

Photo taken by Hana Kolar on the 25th March 2023 Phone numbers are blurred for privacy purposes.

Protests have since continued to occur, progressively getting more violent as the balance between the freedom of speech and the danger of uncontrolled protesting was increasingly strained.

One student of Sciences Po Paris recounted her experience being tear gassed alongside her friends at a night-time protest, explaining how she carried a keychain (see pictured to the left) containing phone numbers of her family and friends, as well as her forearm being marked by the same numbers in case of an emergency.

Photo taken by Hana Kolar on the 26th March 2023 in Paris, France: 4th arrondisement.

The response of the public to the actions of the Government reflected similarities to the Yellow Vest Movement (Gilets Jaunes) which took place in November of 2018 in response to the rise of tax on diesel and petrol. Similarly to the current protests occurring, what started as a protest against tax soon transformed into a wider protest against the actions of the French Government. Citizens argued that President Macron was favouring the elite, privileged class of the population as tax increase and low wages impacted more severely low- to middle-income families, particularly single mothers, on their ability to support themselves and their children.

Both protests highlight the ingrained cultural system where what is rooted in the population is a desire to be heard. Throughout history, the French Republic has demonstrated a desire for their leaders to reflect and uphold of values of the nation. The cyclic nature of protesting the Government has led, to some degree, to positive change for the French in the past. It can equally allow us to wonder what the outcome of this current wave of protests will be.

So how may these protests affect France’s diplomatic, economic and trade relations? The strain between the government and its people have been present since the beginning of January, even more so with the news of Nahel Merzouk’s death, police brutality concerns and tensions are increasing. President Macron was seen to have left the European summit in Brussels (29–30 June 2023) early and has postponed his upcoming planned visit to Germany – a visit intended to demonstrate the strength of France’s friendship with Germany, despite each country’s ongoing economic, defence and energy issues.

With increasing societal issues being faced by France such as discrimination, police brutality, integration, crime rates in immigrant-prominent suburbs, social inequality, and tensions between civilians and the military, the French President has been seen in crisis cabinet meetings to direct ministers. As the protests have begun in French overseas territories, such as French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Reunion, it is still unclear as to what the potential long-term impacts on France’s diplomatic, economic and trade relations will be due to the current protests occurring.  

This could arguably echo a greater sense of dissatisfaction of governmental actions, demonstrating this issue sensitivity goes beyond strictly continental French boarders. Only the future will demonstrate whether both the French citizens as well as President Macron’s methods will induce grounds for stability, or further chaos.

About the author:

Hana Kolar

Hana Kolar is a 4th year law(honours)/science student at Monash University, Australia. She has just completed a law school exchange at Sciences Po Paris last semester and continues to explore her interests in global legal and political spheres. She is a Junior Legal Officer to the International Institute IFIMES.

Swiss-based startup fairaly combines the power of analytics and AI to achieve ESG goals 

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Swiss-based startup fairaly combines the power of analytics and AI to achieve ESG goals 

July 2023, Zürich, Switzerland – With the European directive seeking to put an end to pay secrecy by March 2023, companies are feeling the pressure to comply with regulations that require full disclosure of salary information. This measure, designed to expose existing gender pay gaps and provide a basis for fair salary comparison among employees, has left organizations scrambling to meet the guidelines. Stepping into the spotlight to address these challenges is fairaly, a Swiss-based startup that combines the power of analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve ESG goals and retain and attract talent through facts.

Fairaly offers a comprehensive solution for businesses that need to navigate these new regulatory waters. Serving as a one-stop shop for all processes around DEI within a company, fairaly proposes directly how to implement salaries for new hires and pay raises to ensure compliance and fairness.

Leveraging AI

By leveraging generative AI, the fairaly team enables its clients to easily enrich their salary data with market benchmarks so HR and business leaders can see how the company’s salaries compare to others in a similar market. Last but not least, fairaly automatically provides an employer branding module where companies can promote their truly data-based DEI company. At a time when talent are hard to find and talent acquisition is a major challenge for companies, employer branding automation offers refief. “In addition, companies that act in a socially responsible manner have a better chance of attracting talent and convincing investors”, so the founder N. Habicht of fairaly. 

She states that “Leveraging AI, companies can eliminate inequalities (not only between men and women), comply with equal pay regulations, and at the same time promote diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) with just one click. Our software helps companies to identify salary discrepancies instantly.

As new hires are onboarded and salaries change during a year our platform automatically and continuously analyzes the changes and provides instant feedback if there’s a risk of non-compliance. With the help of intelligent chatbots we provide another way to access information faster in a more natural way. 

“Our mission is to reach equality not in 300 years as predicted by UNO, but earlier with the help of technology”

The fairaly team is composed of renowned AI entrepreneurs and leaders from various industries. They help enterprises and SMEs to safe time, be compliant and at the same time have a real social impact.

For further information“

www.fairaly.com 

Image courtesy of fairaly 

The future belongs to those who prepare for it today

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The future belongs to those who prepare for it today

By Alexandra Paucescu

As diplomats, we learn to build intercultural bridges, we form alliances and we get to master to perfection the art of conversation. We were not all prepared or formally trained for it; some just learned it along the way. For others, it was part of their career and a life time passion.

Giovanni Calvano is one of those people, who made a career out of the intercultural dialogue and international relations and who was lucky enough to be able to practice it in his future diplomatic life.

Born in Paola, a beautiful little town in Calabria, southern Italy, he fondly remembers his childhood years: ‘I feel lucky having grown up there, in a quiet place where everyone knew each other, where I played with my friends all day in the courtyards until mom yelled from the balcony “back home, it’s late”. I remember the endless hot summers on the beautiful beaches’.  It certainly sounds idyllic and worry-free, as every childhood should be.

Giovani Calvano receiving the award “Corea -Colombia” from Mario Lopez, President of the Association of Corean Studies in Colombia.

His life changed thanks to an Erasmus study program in the UK. Although he was studying economics at the University of Calabria, his career path took a turn, and he decided to continue his education in international and public relations. (He later completed two masters, at the University of Mantova and University of Rome).

‘I was feeling more and more like a real global citizen and my happiness grew beyond borders. Now I feel good and happy in any place where I can share the little beautiful things of life with my wife and kids’.

‘I started working in Rome for an association where I was in charge of managing the European youth exchange program; then I moved to the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), where I had the opportunity to work with many diplomatic missions and international organizations. Finally, I crossed the Atlantic to Colombia, starting a wonderful collaboration with the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Bogota.  I currently hold the position of director of international affairs at the oldest and most prestigious university in Colombia, which is a great experience that allows me to move in the context of the internationalization of higher education. Javeriana university aims to improve education and research, but also promoting “ the common home”, as a commitment to improving the society, and this is perfectly in line with my job, which is to lead the international academic collaboration of the Javeriana university with others abroad. This allows me to continue my duties while being posted in the Netherlands. Also, I feel privileged because living a diplomatic life certainly gives an added value to my work. Moreover, the excellent and strategic geographical position of the Netherlands greatly facilitates me reaching out to local universities and expand my network at an European level’.

He continues, passionately: ‘living in the Netherlands, a unique country where many cultures coexist and interact, is an ideal opportunity to promote, in my case through university collaborations, Colombia and its beauties, art, traditions, culture and its excellent higher education’.

He clearly enjoys and fully appreciates the life and the city he lives in today. ‘I love to visit museums with my kids, to get lost in Hague’s wonderful parks or to follow my passion for international eno-gastronomy, because I am convinced that inter-culturalism also comes through the art of eating and drinking well, it’s a magnificent facilitator for dialogue between people.

I can honestly say that living a diplomatic experience abroad represents the realization of a dream. Being able to meet and interact with people from all over the world is wonderful. It is like a long journey across continents, but staying in one place. You learn so much every day, different points of view and opinions. To me, it’s a unique richness, hardly replicable in other contexts; and being able to also give this opportunity to my children is just fantastic!

However, I believe that the diplomatic life requires navigating within some constraints, prudence, tact, patience, open-mindedness and surely tolerance. The permanent dialogue is essential. Meanwhile, I believe that it is crucial to remain humble, be curious and understand the ecosystem in which we live, abandoning prejudices and not forgetting that we represent our countries on a daily basis. The role of a diplomatic spouse is much more than accompanying the partner, it is an honor’.

Giovanni Calvano with Giancarlo Fortino, UNICAL – University of Calabria.

But then again, ‘people tend to only notice the beautiful side of diplomatic life, often “fueled” by movies, fiction books, and it is therefore easy to imagine a life with only daily  parties and travels, disregarding the sensitive work commitments,  the compromise. It can also be sometimes hard and emotionally difficult.  You build a circle of friendships and a social life that you eventually have to leave behind after a few years, only to rebuild it in another place. The difficulty and, in many cases, the impossibility to develop your own steady and successful career may also be seen as a sacrifice’.

Above all that hardship, he says he is most proud of his wife and of all she can do for Colombia. In a world which is still strongly patriarchal, it is a pleasure to hear a man praising his wife in such a way: ’my wife is an incredible person and a great professional, I feel really lucky. We share the same passions, we love the inter-culturalism. I really enjoy talking to her and when I may, offer some small advice. I am sure that family stability is critical for the success of a diplomatic mission’.

He is equally fond of the couple’s children, who already master three different languages from a small age.

‘I feel also proud when I see students of my university returning happily and completely changed after a study experience abroad. I am proud because I know that even if I contribute in a small part to their formation, it may be decisive for their future, their work, and why not, to create a better world’.

…And the world certainly needs more people like him today.


About the author:

Alexandra Paucescu

Alexandra Paucescu- Author of “Just a Diplomatic Spouse” Romanian, management graduate with a Master in business, cultural diplomacy and international relations studies.

She speaks Romanian, English, French, German and Italian,  gives lectures on intercultural communication and is an active NGO volunteer.

May 20 Cameroon’s National Unity Day 

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May 20 Cameroon’s National Unity Day 

By Roy Lie Atjam

The Hague, on 16 June 2023, H.E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon, hosted a celebratory reception on the 51st National Day of Cameroon.

“Defence Forces and Cameroonian people in harmony to safeguard peace and national unity, bedrock of a strong and prosperous Cameroon”.

The reception saw the participation of a sizable number of members of the Diplomatic Corps among them ambassadors from Germany, Uruguay, Romania, India, Argentina, Tanzania, Georgia, Finland, Armenia, Greece, Latvia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Finland, Japan, Albania, Poland, Brazil, Philippines, North Macedonia, Holy Sea, Egypt, New Zealand, Norway, Costa Rica, Panama, Rwanda, Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Angola. The Charges d’Affairs of Sudan, South Africa, Malaysia and Venezuela. The mayors of Westland and Dorchdrecht, senior officials of the Netherlands, business people, Dutch cultural community, medias, NGO’s and members of the Cameroonian diaspora in the Netherlands and beyond.

A  delightfully flamboyant atmosphere reigned in the reception room as well as outdoors.

Cameroon National Anthem / H.E. Ms. Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon.

Celebrating Cameroon’s National Unity Day

Ambassador Liguemoh Ondoua, explained the significance of 20 May for Cameroon. “It means celebrating an important moment in its existence as a Republic, a unique moment because it consecrated the fusion of the wills of the children of the same land to live together within a unitary State after an unprecedented referendum.”

The Ambassador went on to remark, in evoking this historic moment in the history of Cameroon, “I would like to convey to you the warm greetings of the President of the Republic of Cameroon H.E. Mr. Paul Biya and of his Government and to express my pleasure and that of all the staff of the Embassy on this day of 16 June 2023, to welcome you to share with all of you the joy of the Cameroonians in celebrating Cameroon’s National Unity Day. 

This unity remains our most precious asset, along with peace.

The People of Cameroon declared its will to unite during the Referendum of 1972. These founding values of a remarkable identity make our country a haven of peace, a stable State, a land of hospitality where life is good.

It is a Unity that celebrates and magnifies our cultural and linguistic diversity. Our unity is conscious of the need to involve the people in its consolidation and the development of the Republic. This is why the Constitution of Cameroon stipulates that, Cameroon is a decentralised unitary State and enshrines the special regime enjoyed by certain Regions, notably the North-West and South-West Regions.

Unity is the matrix that founded the Cameroonian Nation and its Martyrs. Cameroonian communities have always maintained plural exchanges despite their diversity.

The Government has chosen to place this 51st edition of the National Unity Day under the theme: “Defence Forces and the Cameroonian people, in symbiosis for the safeguard of peace and national unity, the foundation of a strong and prosperous Cameroon”.

The  President of the Republic of Cameroon H.E. Paul Biya, stated on the podium of the United Nations, “We are all beggars for peace“. Our commitment to peace is unflinching and firm.  This is why Cameroon is firmly fighting against terrorist and violent movements which, under the disguise of religious fundamentalism and irredentism, threaten peace. The commitment of Cameroon’s Security and Defence Forces against the Islamic State in the Sahel and Boko Haram.

Cameroon’s economy

Cameroon’s economy, known for its resilience thanks to its diversification, has been dubbed “Africa in miniature”. It is an attractive country, with a subsoil rich in mineral resources, a large amount of arable land suitable for healthy and commercial agriculture, and a young and well-educated population that speaks the two official languages, English and French above, making it more open to the world. Cameroon has adopted its National Development Strategy, which sets out vast economic, infrastructural and social projects to ensure its emergence by 2035. Potential investors are offered opportunities in the agricultural, industrial, road, airport, port and energy infrastructure sectors.

In this regard, I would like to pay tribute to the Dutch and Cameroonian companies that took part in the Economic Days organized in The Hague in May 2022, chaired by Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, HE Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, who had fruitful discussions with the Dutch authorities and heads of international organisations in The Hague. There was also an economic visit to Yaoundé in Cameroon in November 2023. As a result of this ballet of economic operators, trends suggest that the Netherlands has become Cameroon’s 3rd largest economic partner.

In addition to the events mentioned above, we can also look forward to the opening in Cameroon of the very first Luxembourg Cultural Centre in Central Africa, the foundation stone laid in the Commune of Lobo in Cameroon (Centre Region) last April.

These first steps certainly augur promising economic prospects for our respective countries, given the immense potential identified on both sides in terms of natural resources for Cameroon, capital and know-how for Holland and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.”

Ambassador Madeleine Liguemoh Ondoua also focused on Cameroonian entrepreneurs, sons and daughters of Cameroon who are working to make their country shine abroad and are participating in local development. “These sons and daughters have honourable intellectual aptitudes in many fields: scientific, technological, medical, political, social and artistic, like the Cameroonian photographer Angèle Étoundi, who is exhibiting 14 of her finest works this evening.”

Penja pepper, Cameroon cocoa and Cameroonian coffee

The Ambassador further lauded the activities of Penja pepper as a protected geographical indication product that grows on the Penja volcanic plains in the Moungo department of the Littoral region. This pepper, one of the best in the World, is particularly prized for cold meats, cooking, roasting and other seasonings. “I invite you to try and taste this pepper and make it an essential part of your cooking, just like several Michelin-starred chefs. Mr Sop, CEO of the SCT and Executive Secretary of the Penja Pepper Geographical Indication, has made a memorable trip for this event and is at your disposal.

The cocoa bean from Cameroon has a unique brick-red colour and tones from different terroirs, giving it a unique flavour worldwide. On this day, we are offering you Cocoa Valley chocolate, which is now the chocolate of Buckingham Palace, the Elysée Palace and the best pastry chefs and Michelin-starred chefs. The chocolate desserts you will taste today have been prepared by Mr Serge Ngassa, a Master Chocolatier, and Mr Thierry Court, France’s Best Pastry Chef.

Cameroon has Africa’s broadest range of coffee varieties, such as blue mountain. The Utamtsi brand coffee from promoter Morin Kamga, which you are offering, comes from organic farming and sustainable trade. This coffee is grown on mountainous volcanic land at an altitude of 1800 meters, enhancing the meticulous work of the GIC SONDASON Cooperative. 

Cameroon’s cuisine is rich and diverse, with enchanting scents and spices. Mrs Suzanne Ekwalla, promoter of the Cameroonian company “Des Senteurs et des Goûts”, has taken great care of the meals served from our beautiful country.

Jangolo is an import/export company. It defines itself as the address book for operators involved in the agribusiness value chains in Cameroon.

MbòArts is a creation and brand named after a Cameroonian born clothing Designer called Anye Bih Irene.

CIMPOR company (which is not Cameroonian, but whose role in developing the industrial fabric in Cameroon deserves to be highlighted).

Visit Cameroon, visit this unique country in Africa, which concentrates all the beauties of the African continent. Today, Mr Yannick Tchamba‘s company AfroChic is offering you the chance to organise your visit to Cameroon.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank the Régie, Mr Wamba from ICON PROD, who has worked hard to make this event a success, as well as all my staff and the people whose names I haven’t mentioned.

To all of you who have honoured us with your presence, please accept the expression of my sincere gratitude and my dearest wishes for the strengthening of bilateral cooperation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands (and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg).

Let’s raise our glasses for long live Cameroon and friendship with The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Everyone and for Unity and Peace. “ End quote

The rich and varied Cameroonian gastronomy was served to the guests and the cultural and artistic performances to the rhythms of the musical artist Jay Lou Ava and his orchestra with his amazing vibes furnished this beautiful evening highly praised and appreciated by all.

Colourfully dressed Cameroonian ladies and music added an extra layer to the festive mood.

Celebrations back in Yaounde – Cameroon

The President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya presided over a grand military and civilian parade on 20 May 2023 to commemorate the 51st anniversary of Cameroon’s National Day at the emblematic 20th May Boulevard.

Festivities across the national territory to celebrate the advent of the Unitary State centred on the theme: “Defence Forces and Cameroonian people in harmony to safeguard peace and national unity, the bedrock of a strong and prosperous Cameroon”.

The festivities commenced with a magisterial performance by a detachment of the Egyptian Army’s military band invited by President Paul Biya – to foster the excellent, longstanding, fraternal, and diversified cooperation ties between Yaounde and Cairo.

A major attraction of their fantastic fanfare was the rendition of popular Cameroonian songs like “Waka Waka” and “Soul Makossa” of Zangalewa and Manu Dibango respectively.

On June 16th, 2023, we celebrated Cameroon’s National Unity Day in The Hague. Here’s to a long and prosperous friendship between Cameroon, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Eurojust supports Romania and UK in action against human traffickers

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Eurojust supports Romania and UK in action against human traffickers

The Hague, 4 August 2023

Eurojust and Europol have supported authorities in Romania and the United Kingdom (UK) in an operation against the trafficking of Romanian women for sexual exploitation in the UK.

During an action day in both countries, a total of 17 searches were carried out and 6 people were taken to hearings. In addition, one person in the UK was arrested for a wanted circulation.

Eight victims were taken to safety, six of whom during the action day and two more in the course of the investigation.

The authorities seized large amounts of money, weapons, jewellery and luxury vehicles. In total, 133 officers took part in the operation. Eurojust supported the setting up of a joint investigation team (JIT), which facilitated cross-border judicial cooperation.

The suspects allegedly recruited their victims among low-income families in Romania. The criminals used the so-called ‘loverboy’ approach, a method of trafficking in human beings frequently chosen by similar groups operating from Romania. Lured by false promises of romantic relationships, the young women were transported to London, where they were forced into prostitution. The perpetrators advertised these services on various UK adult websites and used the proceedings for their own benefit.

The successful action day on 4 August 2023 was the result of a close collaboration between Romanian and UK authorities. Eurojust facilitated their investigations by setting up a JIT in which representatives of judicial and law enforcement agencies from both countries worked together on the case. Two Romanian police officers took part in the action day in London while four UK police officers participated in the operation in Romania. Europol provided analytical support and deployed an expert to Romania to support the activities on the ground.

The following authorities took part in the operation:

Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Iasi Territorial Office; Service for Combating Trafficking in Persons (BCCO), Iasi; Brigade for Combating Organised Crime (BCCO), Suceava

United Kingdom: Metropolitan Police Modern Slavery Unit; Crown Prosecution Service, South London Complex Casework Unit

Netherlands Veterans Day 2023

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Netherlands Veterans Day 2023

By Anton Lutter

It was a hot sunny day the Saturday the 24th of June but that didn’t stop the 4000 veterans and serving military to parade before His Majesty King Willem Alexander. Dutch Veterans Day is the annual event in The Netherlands where we thank all 100,000 military veterans for their service, now and in the past.

Next to the military of all service branches, historic army vehicles and dozens of marching bands as well as the impressive air parade of eighteen modern and historic aircraft are part of the event. Prior to the parade Prime minister Mark Rutte and the chairman of the National Committee on Veterans Day, Jaap Smit, the Commissioner (governor) of Zuid-Holland province, addressed the hundreds of veterans in the Koninklijke Schouwburg.

This occasion was attended by HM The King, knights of the Military Order of William (highest decoration for valour), members of parliament and other dignitaries. In his speech the prime minister emphasized the importance of our armed forces:

“For a long time, it seemed unthinkable that we would experience a war on our continent. In fact, we felt so secure as a society that we thought we might be able to cut down on Defense. We were wrong. Never since the end of World War II has peace in Europe been under more pressure, than now. And no sooner had the importance of a well-equipped armed force become so clear. But also: never before was everyone so agreed. In politics and in society. And I can only say: that appreciation, that reassessment, is justified”.

After the parade the Commemoration Veterans Foundation organized a reception for the Defense Attaches and other dignitaries at the famous Poentjak Restaurant owned by Tom Tompoel. Guests – amongst others – included lieutenant-general (ret.) Jan de Kleijn, former chancellor of the Dutch Orders of Knighthood and defense attaches Colonel Thomas Heim (Austria), Colonel Geert Leeman (Belgium), Colonel Christian Bachmann (France), Navy Colonel Mohamed Wirda Prayogo (Indonesia), Colonel Toshiyuki Aso and his successor (Japan), Colonel Piers Strudwick OBE (United Kingdom) as well as the military representative of Poland. Next to that former deputy member of The Hague and member of Parliament Ries Smits and Jens-Volker Ginschel of the German Embassy attended the reception. An unexpected surprise visitor was Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja is currently the Executive Director of ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR).

Also participating in the parade was veteran, current Interior Minister Hanke Bruins Slot. As platoon commander of an armored howitzer, she provided fire support to Dutch, British and Australian troops during the Uruzgan mission in 2008.  Minister Bruins Slot:

“Veterans make an important contribution back in the Netherlands in the context of cherishing and appreciating freedom. After all, they have seen in other countries how things can go wrong and what that means for a society. Together, you must ensure that people can continue to live in freedom in the Netherlands as well. Veterans are the best interpreters of that message. Because freedom, equality and justice, a better world, you make it together.”

More than 90.000 persons visited the event of whom many wore the white carnation. The usage of the white carnation was an act of resistance against the German occupation on June, 29 1940 in the Hague and has been introduced in 2005, the first time Netherlands Veterans Day was held, as a symbol of recognition and appreciation of war and peace keeping veterans.

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