Publisert med forbehold om endringer under fremførelsen.

Dear friends,

As we all know, since the Human Rights House Network was founded in the spirit of optimism after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the skies have once again started to darken.

Recent developments not only in Europe, but worldwide, suggest a deeply unsettling trend: democratic expansion has ground to a halt and levels of freedom have deteriorated. Even more so, many governments are increasingly trying to tighten control over the activities of human rights organisations.

The very same governments I might add, that in 2013 unanimously adopted the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on the right to be a human rights defender. This is deeply worrying.

Not only do these restrictions cause human suffering, they are stalling democratic development in a number of aspiring democracies.

For 20 years you have been fighting a largely uphill battle. It seems to me, however, that in this current climate the Human Rights House Network is more essential than ever before.

I am convinced that your vigilant and persistent efforts to secure the influence and well-being of a broad civil society should be mentioned as one of the most noteworthy aspects of your work.

I am sure we all agree that a thriving civil society equals a thriving democracy. Not only do organisations such as Human Rights House Network act as watch dogs. You also offer the benefits of knowledge and independent expertise in the process of decision making.

In March I went to Kiev with my Nordic and Baltic speaker colleagues. What I witnessed there was testimony to the crucial role civil society can play, not least in relation to the new parliament in its efforts to re-establish the rule of law and democratic procedure.

I was also privileged to meet the young Ukrainian activist Oleksandra Matvichuk. Some of you may know her. Through her work she speaks up against individual injustice and offers constructive advice on good governance.

Regrettably, we see too many examples of authorities preventing the work of the likes of Matvichuk and yourselves. Instead of embracing the opportunities that lie in cooperating with civil society, authorities in certain regions respond to such activism by ousting non-governmental organisations, often accusing them of being foreign agents or even traitors.

There is beyond doubt a pressing need to focus on the working conditions of civil society. I am therefore looking forward to hearing the conclusions of the panel dialogue today on the way forward for human rights defenders in an increasingly difficult environment.

The struggle for human rights and democracy is not a field where quick or easy results can be expected. This should by no means discourage us from aiming high. But it does require perseverance and the ability to find meaning and motivation in each small step, and every minor victory, on the long road towards the ultimate goals.

In these 20 years, you have achieved a huge amount. Your network has expanded, perhaps beyond expectation, and you offer crucial support to all those activists on the ground.

I would like to express my sincere congratulations on your 20th anniversary! I wish you the best of luck for your conference, and the best of luck for the 20 years to come.