Posted 22 February 2013
Lack of trust in leaders and institutions requires new model of leadership, says Executive Director of UN Women
Michelle Bachelet, considered one of the most influential women in the world, delivered the Kapuscinski Development Lecture at University College Dublin.
Bachelet is the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women. She served as the President of Chile from 2006 to 2010, during which she strongly advocated for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“Today, scepticism about politics, lack of trust in leaders and institutions, and reactive rather than proactive policymaking seems to be a hallmark of our times,” said Bachelet addressing a crowded lecture theatre at UCD.
Pictured at UCD during the introductory speeches: Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women and Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, UCD School of Politics and International Relations
“...to manage today’s complex challenges, leaders must first and foremost listen and actively engage all segments of society in problem solving.”
“It is only by including all, by coming together that we can face the serious problems of human rights, war and peace, deep poverty and inequality, and humanitarian need, be it from Gaza to northern Mail to Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, the Congo and Syria.”
“More than a quarter century ago Ryszard Kapuscinski said: ‘Society is asking to be more involved in the problems of the world, to be active and personally present,” she continued.
“The desire to be involved is not just a personal wish or a societal trend... it is a basic human right articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and elaborated in international treaties.”
“[But] in every country, in every region, people remain excluded from the opportunity to play an active role in public life. They are excluded on the mere basis of their race, income level, ethnicity, age, religion, location, and gender,” she noted.
“While women constitute over half of humanity, they are far from enjoying equal rights, equal opportunities and equal participation and leadership with men.”
“And this exclusion, this discrimination and this violence based on gender, is one of the biggest obstacles we face in advancing sustainable development.”
Pictured at UCD: Prof Patrick Paul Walsh, UCD School of Politics & International Relations; Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women; Minister Joe Costello, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development; and Prof Mark Rogers, UCD Registrar & Deputy President
She continued to speak about deeply entrenched cultural and social norms and discriminatory laws, practices, and policies that hold women back, and the urgent need to gain equal access and rights to education (at all levels) and health (both sexual and reproductive) for women around the world.
“Every person has the right to basic income security and universal access to essential social services such as health, water and sanitation, education and food security,” she said.
“The post-2015 agenda will have to rely on a new social contract between states and citizens, which prioritises inclusion, equality, and democratic participation.”
According to Bachelet, in the 21st century, leadership can no longer be by control and command. “It is about listening and leveraging a response.”
“Now is the time for openness and participation.”
“We can no longer pursue public policies that, in effect, save the best for the best and the rest for the rest.”
“I ask you to show the heart and the courage to make this century the century of inclusion,” she concluded.
Kapuscinski Development Lectures
The Kapuscinski Development Lecture was hosted by the UCD School of Politics and International Relations and Chaired by Minister Joe Costello, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with responsibility for Trade and Development.
The lectures are organised across the European Union by the European Commission, UNDP and partner universities to offer an unprecedented opportunity to learn about and discuss development issues such as climate change, human rights, aid effectiveness, Europe-Africa relations, Millennium Development Goals and more.
The lectures honor the name of Kapuscinski, a Polish journalist and writer, who died in 2007. Kapuscinski, whose books were translated into many languages, was often named the “Third World Chronicler” or the “Voice of the Poor” for his famous reportages and books describing developing countries on all continents. Among other books, he was famous for: “The Emperor” on Ethiopia, “Shah of Shahs” about Iran, “The Shadow of the Sun” about Africa, “Another Day of Life” about Angola, and “Imperium” about the Soviet Union.
The high-level events contribute to the debate and formulation of the European development policy. They are live-streamed and shared at www.kapuscinskilectures.eu(Produced by UCD University Relations)
