Speech by Maud de Boer-BuquicchioDeputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Conference on
“Interacting in Diversity for Social Cohesion”
Council of Europe 7 December 2009

Minister, Deputy Director General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The truth about the world is that there is no place you can go and only be with people who are like you. Should it be the case, the world would be much worse off.

Individual and cultural differences have challenged and benefited people throughout times. Our differences are a source of knowledge and well-being. Globalisation intensifies this process further.

This process requires an open-minded and informed debate and exchange. Unfortunately, this necessary debate is often overshadowed by tensions, which arise when values and symbols are discussed.

However, we are not only becoming more culturally diversified, we will also live longer. A recent study showed that every second child being born today will most likely live to the age of 100.

We are growing in numbers, and we are growing in complexity. The need for public services will increase, and so will the demand for public services addressing the very pluralism of society.
How should our public services respond to these challenges?

The Council of Europe takes a clear position on the question of human rights, including social rights and minority rights. We fight against discrimination and we celebrate diversity.

The question which must be raised is: How can public services be a tool to strengthen social stability and cohesion? How can it be a tool to ensure that cultural diversity contributes to further development and enrichment of our societies? And finally, how can public services be a tool to combat discrimination instead of intensifying it?

Only if public services reflect the diversity of society can they contribute to stability and social cohesion. And only if public services see the growing variety of needs and expectations as a chance to develop can they effectively deal with the needs of all citizens.

I think we can all agree that public services must become better for everybody, not only for those with special needs. Having accepted that, the next question is obvious: what competences, knowledge and practices do public services require in order to be able to positively respond to this challenge?

The experience of Quebec, which will be presented and discussed here, raises many questions: reasonable or mutual accommodation? for migrant or minority populations or for everybody? How to construct an intercultural dialogue that can influence and change policy making, legislative frameworks and public services.

I encourage you to discuss two aspects in particular:

First, the “mono-ethnic” composition of public administration has to been taken into account as a possible obstacle to equality. This aspect is also explored by the Council of Europe “Intercultural Cities” project, where the cities work together in developing policies for multiethnic recruitment of officials.

Secondly, it has become imperative to analyse and possibly improve the language public institutions and services use for their communication with citizens. This “institutional language” must allow citizens to understand their rights, as well as rules and procedures.

The existence of a legal basis is a conditio sine qua non for the respect of human rights and thus for social cohesion. However, the challenges cannot be solved with legislative measures alone.

They cannot replace intercultural dialogue, awareness raising and training. Policies, attitudes and competences need to change.

I am therefore pleased to announce that the Council of Europe will soon publish a Guide on Intercultural Competences Training, aimed at public authorities, social services as well as migrant organisations.

Dear friends,

Today, here in Strasbourg, several countries and at least two continents have come together, bringing a unique two-year project on Intercultural Competences of Social Services to its end.

By doing so you are putting into practice what you preach: Interacting in diversity and learning from each other!

I hope you will find inspiration to explore concepts, political and legal frameworks, competences and institutional language which can help public services to respond to the needs and expectations of our increasingly diversified societies.

Europe needs a debate on social services that reflects the pluralism of society and contributes to social cohesion. It’s a steep order, but I have no doubt that you will have challenging and interesting debates and I look forward to the results.

John F. Kennedy once said that “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity”.

Differences will persist. But public services will be one of our most important tools in promoting respect for human rights and making the world safe for diversity.

Thank you for your attention.