Toespraak bij de uitreiking van de Four Freedoms Award

Toespraak | 29-05-2010

De toespraak is in het Engels gehouden.

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Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Your Excellencies,
Laureates,
President Costa,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Franklin Roosevelt once said that for democracy to flourish, ‘we must … guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all our citizens…. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilisation.’ He spoke these words at the beginning of 1940.

Today, on 29 May 2010, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Four Freedoms Award goes to an institution whose work is a clear and constant tribute to the spirit of those words. An institution whose sole aim is to protect the fundamental human rights of the more than 800 million people who live in the continent of Europe.

I am proud and honoured to present this year’s International Four Freedoms Award to:

the European Court of Human Rights.

Sixty years ago, in the wake of the most devastating war in human history, the nations of Europe came together in Rome to draft the European Convention on Human Rights. They were inspired by Franklin Roosevelt’s vision. In the dark days of 1941, he had called for a post-war world founded on four fundamental human freedoms:  freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. They also built on the pioneering work of Eleanor Roosevelt and René Cassin in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Above all, they understood that the European Convention on Human Rights would need a mechanism to enforce it and uphold its principles. And so, nine years later, the European Court of Human Rights was established.

Since that historic day, a little over 50 years ago, this unique body has played a central role in strengthening democracy and the rule of law. The Court guarantees all Europeans the right to life, to a fair hearing, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to the protection of their privacy and property, and to the free expression of ideas. Its binding judgments have led governments across Europe to change their laws and amend their constitutions. In this way the Court has set an example of international cooperation that is an inspiration to the world.

Over the last 50 years, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled on thousands of cases. It has ensured access to justice for every person in our vast and ancient continent. It has brought security and stability to our society. It has fully earned the respect and support of the member states of the Council of Europe. And even more important, the people of Europe have found the Court to be a fair and powerful instrument of justice on their behalf. Today, we gather to celebrate this great achievement. Because, as Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, said at the Court’s 50th anniversary celebration: ‘The story of the European Court of Human Rights is undoubtedly a success story.’

President Costa, you recently said that human rights require a permanent battle, because they can never be taken for granted. ‘It is my belief,’ you said, ‘that the European human rights protection system, as it was first set up and has been enhanced by 50 years of case law, has all the necessary characteristics to guarantee it a promising future.’ We all share that belief. Therefore I am presenting this award to you, not only to express our deep appreciation for the Court’s service to democracy and freedom in the past, but also on behalf of future generations.

Thank you.