3
P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
Laureates. Excerpts
acnur
1
embodies the concern and cooperation of the international community on the refugee
cause. Created in 1951 to deal with what was then perceived as a residual refugee problem in
Europe, acnur’s role and activities have evolved over the decades as the refugee problem has
dramatically increased in scale and scope, spreading from Europe to Africa, Asia, Latin America
and the Middle East.
The importance of international cooperation has never been greater; the need for solidarity has
never been stronger than now. Profound political changes during the past two years foreshadow
an end to many conflicts and augur concrete solutions to the plight of millions of refugees. At the
same time, new clouds darken the horizon. This year alone we faced unprecedented challenges
posed by some of the largest and swiftest population movements in the Persian Gulf area and the
Horn of Africa. There are fears of new displacement as nationalistic, ethnic and religious tensions
tear communities apart. There are concerns of growing migration as the gap between the rich and
the poor widens in a world where distances are being reduced by technological advances. The free
movement of people, which was the harbinger of political change in the East, has become a source
of concern, if not fear, in many circles in the West.
Western countries face an important dilemma: how to preserve the principles of human rights
and humanitarian traditions, how to respect the principle of asylum, how to humanely treat those
who try to emigrate, without compromising the security and stability of their societies? The answer
to this dilemma could give shape to the new emerging world order. (…)
It is evident that the root causes of refugee flows are ultimately related to political conflict
and violation of human rights. Democracy and human rights are essential for the prospects of
development and together the three —that is democracy, human rights and development— can
create conditions which make a real difference to the lives of the people so that they are not
compelled to move. The responsibility as well as the capacity for creating such conditions lie with
governments. At a time when states are adopting a common and assertive approach to global
concerns, the elimination of root causes of refugee movements must be placed high on the political
agenda.
1 Spanish acronym for UNHCR
Sadako Ogata,
on behalf of
unhcr
—
Prince of Asturias
Award for International
Cooperation
1991
Sadako Ogata was the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees
from 1991 to 2001.
—
Excerpt from the speech given on
the occasion of receiving the Prince
of Asturias Award for International
Cooperation on 18/10/1991.
