Il y a près d’un demi-siècle, U Thant, alors Secrétaire général de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, a pris la parole devant cette assemblée et fait une prédiction.
Le Conseil de l’Europe allait montrer que l’Europe, appelée autrefois l’ancien monde, pouvait jouer un rôle moteur dans le nouveau monde.
Aujourd’hui, l’Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe est un des mécanismes régionaux de défense des droits de l’homme les plus efficaces du monde.
Je suis heureux d’avoir l’occasion de m’adresser à vous, à un moment où des crises nouvelles se déclenchent tandis que d’autres ne sont toujours pas réglées. En Syrie, en Iraq, au Yémen, au Soudan du Sud et ailleurs, les souffrances sont immenses. L’ONU fait tout ce qu’elle peut pour sauver des vies et aider à faire revenir la paix partout où c’est possible. Elle insiste aussi pour que le principe de responsabilité soit observé. Les crimes qui choquent notre conscience ne sauraient rester impunis.
Aujourd’hui, je vous demande de prendre part à une action mondiale portant sur quatre questions liées entre elles.
Premièrement, les restrictions imposées à la société civile.
Deuxièmement, les migrations.
Troisièmement, la montée de l’extrémisme violent.
Et quatrièmement, la nécessité de créer d’urgence les conditions d’un avenir placé sous le signe de la viabilité.
L’action ne pourra aboutir sur chaque front que si les droits de l’homme sont respectés sur tous les fronts.
Comme l’a dit Secrétaire général Jagland, le Conseil de l’Europe s’inscrit en droite ligne de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme.
Je vous exhorte à œuvrer en ce sens en renforçant votre partenariat avec l’ONU.
Madame President,
Honourable members of parliament,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Europe’s newer democracies have their roots in civil society: in the Solidarity movement in Poland… the ecological movement in Bulgaria … and the singing movement of the Baltic States … and many others.
Globally, democracy is on the rise.
But in some countries around the world, democratic progress is going backwards.
Democratic institutions are being eroded.
Judicial independence and press freedom are under attack.
Space for civil society is diminishing – or even disappearing.
We must raise our voices against those who block non-governmental organizations and human rights defenders.
More than 50 countries, including in Europe, have passed nearly 100 laws restricting the operations and funding of NGOs.
I urge the Council of Europe to join me in calling for an end to this curbing of essential freedoms.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Civil society groups, independent media and human rights defenders are critical in addressing one of the gravest threats of our time: the rise of violent extremism.
The United Nations is mobilizing a wide range of countries and partners to address this scourge.
I believe religious leaders are critical. I recently co-hosted a United Nations meeting that provided a platform against intolerance.
Crimes in the name of religion are crimes against religion.
Threats posed by Da’esh, Al Shabab, Boko Haram, Al Qaida and any other terrorist groups may require security measures and even military action.
But when counter-terrorism violates human rights, countries lose their moral standing – and terrorists cheer. They have been handed one of their best recruiting tools.
Women are often the first target. Young people, even children, are being conscripted as fighters.
Some young people may be vulnerable to radicalization – but youth are vital to our response. With support, they can be a force against terrorism and the appeal of violent extremism.
We stand with Europe as it struggles to combat a rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attacks and discrimination.
This continent, Europe, must stand for equality, opportunity and democratic freedoms, especially for religious and ethnic minorities, including the Roma.
This November, I will unveil a Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism to the General Assembly.
It will reinforce international unity around the shared principles that violent extremists seek to undermine.
I welcome the efforts of this Council’s Committee of Ministers to address the issue, including how radicalization leads to terrorism.
I commend the Council of Europe’s adoption of a Political Declaration, Action Plan and the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism.
I also welcome this Assembly’s No Hate Parliamentary Alliance.
Madame President,
Honourable members of parliament,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Poverty, poor governance and human rights abuses fuel conflict and displace millions of people.
Many risk their lives to migrate to safer shores.
I am alarmed by the plight of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, especially in the Mediterranean and Andaman Seas as well as the Bay of Bengal.
I call on you to advocate for the protection and rights of people who flee conflict, persecution, entrenched poverty or lack of access to decent work.
We have a responsibility, a common responsibility, to act before more lives are lost.
That is why Europe needs safe, regular and orderly channels for migration and mobility.
I understand the challenges. I have seen them first-hand, myself. I welcome expanded search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
I have also seen the value of legal channels, such as resettlement, family reunification and work and study visas. Last month in Ireland, I met with resettled refugees. I shared my own story of how I fled from my home when I was just a young boy during the Korean War in 1950 – and I told them: the world is with you, the United Nations is with you.
I count on Europe to lead in global solidarity.
I call on this Council to help those who look to Europe for protection from tyranny, lawlessness and deprivation.
We must reject anti-migrant rhetoric and recognize migrants’ positive contributions to your societies.
Globally, nearly 60 million people are forcibly displaced. This is an all-time high that needs a record response.
Other regions with many more refugees are closely watching this continent.
The United Nations will continue to work with you to defend the rights of migrants, uphold Europe’s values, and promote better security for all.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
More than a million Europeans live in a legal limbo in disputed territories where the government does not have effective control.
States have an obligation to protect all people’s human rights – and so do the de facto authorities.
In Ukraine more than six thousand people have been killed in just over a year. Serious human rights violations and abuses persist, particularly in eastern Ukraine. Overall, the human rights of millions of people are affected.
I call again for all possible efforts to press the parties to fully implement the Minsk Agreements and achieve a political solution.
Any peaceful resolution must be based on human rights protection, accountability and justice for victims – in a sovereign, independent and unified Ukraine. This is crucial for sustainable peace. More progress on internal reforms and efforts to tackle corruption and past abuses will also be critical.
I thank the Council of Europe for joining with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to support Ukraine in developing its national human rights strategy. The next crucial step is to prepare a human rights action plan.
Honourable membres de l’Assemblée parlementaire,
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Ce sont les droits de l’homme et le principe de dignité humaine qui sous-tendent notre action en faveur du développement durable.
Les objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement ont changé des centaines de millions de vies. À présent, nous mettons la dernière main à une série d’objectifs de développement durable devant permettre d’éliminer la pauvreté, d’accroître la prospérité et de protéger la planète dans l’intérêt des générations futures.
L’objet du Sommet extraordinaire de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies qui se tiendra à New York en septembre sera de susciter des changements profonds.
Je remercie les pays européens de défendre cette cause aux plus hauts niveaux, y compris dans le cadre de la conférence sur le financement du développement qui se tiendra le mois prochain à Addis-Abeba.
Un autre de nos objectifs est de parvenir à un nouvel accord sur le climat, ici en France, en décembre de cette année.
Nous devons trouver une voie politiquement crédible pour parvenir à mobiliser 100 milliards de dollars chaque année d’ici à 2020. Les progrès du Fonds vert pour le climat sont de bon augure.
Les gouvernements doivent mettre en place des politiques, des règlements et des mesures d’incitation pour encourager le secteur privé à contribuer à la réduction des émissions de carbone.
Pour que Paris soit un succès, il faudra que soit élaboré un dispositif global de financement du développement qui favorise l’adoption, au niveau mondial, de pratiques économiques compatibles avec le maintien de la hausse de la température planétaire en deçà de 2 °C.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Parliamentarians have a real power to improve your countries and our world.
You are living proof of the value of democracy.
You are entrusted with safeguarding human rights.
In Strasbourg, you find higher purpose as part of larger Europe.
I count on you to bring this spirit back home, stand for our shared ideals, and help shape our common future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let us work together to make this world a better place – a place of justice, human rights and dignity for all.
Merci beaucoup.