Opening statement

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(1)Opening Statements p 16 à 17. 29.11.2002. 8:38. Page 16. Robert A. Spencer Director General, Webster University in Europe On the 15th of February 1996, I made an opening statement at the first humanitarian conference organized by Webster University in Geneva. That was six years ago last week. I was in my first year as Director of Webster University in Geneva and my colleague, Dr. Otto Hieronymi, was in his first year as the Chairman of our Department of International Relations. That first humanitarian conference was a new concept for us in providing an organizational learning experience for our students and in offering an educational public service to the Geneva community. It was a bit of a gamble for us: what if we were not able to attract experienced and articulate speakers and what if the public did not attend. But it turned out just fine. The speakers welcomed the opportunity to come together for interaction and dialogue; the public turned out in significant numbers; the Webster students who organized the conference were astonished when 300 participants showed up and rated the conference an outstanding event. The participating organizations, and key people within them, have made this conference series something special over the last six years. For example, Yves Sandoz, who will address us presently, was on our first panel in 1996; and Jeff Crisp, who will speak to you tomorrow, was also one of our original panelists. We have had the great honor of offering all seven these conferences under the auspices of the Conseil d’Etat of Geneva. At each one a representative of the Geneva government has graced us with an opening statement, and we are most grateful that Martine Brunschwig-Graf joins us today for that purpose. Now we arrive at Humanitarian Conference number seven. We have certainly created a tradition out of this ongoing series of events, but it is scarcely one we should gloat over. The problems we have been addressing are the tough ones of people in crisis. They are not going away; and from some perspectives, they are getting worse. Would that we could reach a point where we could look back on some of these tough issues in the past tense and bring historians together to discuss them. Instead we bring practitioners together because they persist. It is important to note at the outset that the topic of today’s conference, “Humanitarian Values for the 21st Century,” was chosen last summer and approved by our partners at UNHCR and the ICRC before September 11th. That is to say, this is not a reactive topic or conference. At Webster University we have long believed that humanitarian values are at the heart of the fight against oppression, persecution, and terror wherever they may occur in the world and that the community of values transcends geography, religion, or state of economic development. Refugee Survey Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2002. © UNHCR 2002.

(2) Opening Statements p 16 à 17. 29.11.2002. 8:38. Page 17. Refugee Survey Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2002. 17. I also want to make clear from the outset that this 7 annual humanitarian conference is a shared undertaking. It involves our student organizing committee and participating faculty members. It involves our speakers and panelists representing numerous organizations. It involves the direct support extended by the Geneva Foundation and UNHCR. It involves all of you who have chosen to come today and tomorrow. Have a fruitful and lively discussion; and may you come away tomorrow with a better understanding of some of the difficult issues we face at the start of the 21st century and with a strengthened sense of humanitarian values to carry you forward. Thanks to all of you for your participation. th.

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