1. Human Rights, Democratisation and Good Governance
From ’A World of Difference’:
”The government will give markedly higher priority to the efforts to promote respect for human rights, democratisation and good governance. As a new priority, the government will focus particularly on efforts that can contribute to promoting the dialogue between cultures and religious tolerance. Other focal areas include the fight against corruption.”
Democracy is promoted in the African countries
New programmes for good governance, human rights and democracy are introduced.
Promoting human rights, effective public administration that fights corruption, decentralised administration, and a better framework for private sector development are high priorities for Denmark’s efforts in Africa.
Support for good governance is increasingly being combined with other efforts. The efforts are coordinated with other donors, where both governmental and non-governmental organisations receive support.
Good results have been achieved, even though there is still a very long way to go for the African countries.
In Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania, among other countries, Denmark has supported democratic election processes, and a democratic tradition is slowly but surely being created in Africa. Governments change, parliamentary work is being given increasing importance, and presidents step down voluntarily when they have lost an election. Challenges remain, in Uganda for instance, where the possibility for implementing a multi-party system is being discussed.
The legal sector in Africa does not possess the necessary capacity for ensuring a society based on the rule of law. Non-
governmental organisations perform important work by informing poorly educated people about their rights and by providing aid in legal cases. Denmark supports reform in the legal sector in countries such as Mozambique, Uganda and Kenya in order to promote the people’s access to justice. The challenges are great, and it is a long tough road.
Corruption is widespread in Africa. Anti-corruption is therefore on the agenda when Denmark enters into dialogue about development cooperation with African partner countries. In Mozambique, the Danish embassy led the way in demanding that the necessary legislation be passed – and it now has been implemented.
The Danish partner countries in Africa are aware of the fact that good governance is a prerequisite for enabling the private sector to deliver the economic growth that is a necessity for reducing poverty. In Ghana and Tanzania, Denmark is leading the way in developing new forms of cooperation in order to promote better public regulation of private sector development. And it is having an impact. Tanzania has, for the fifth year in a row, positive real economic growth.
Good governance on the agenda
In 2004 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a “Good Governance Network.”
Good governance, human rights and democratisation have been given greater and more concrete focus in development assistance.
Great emphasis is placed on integrating good governance in both the political dialogue with programme countries and in sector assistance, while specific aid is simultaneously given for good governance. Fighting corruption is given high priority, and the completion of an action plan for fighting corruption is well underway. The increased focus means that aid is now available for projects and programmes that are aimed at improving good governance in all programme countries.
These programmes involve cooperating with the civil society, the free press, local and central governments and institutions, as well as courts and parliaments and independent ombudsmen. Good governance also receives assistance in countries affected by conflict, such as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq.
In order to ensure the sharing of information and to strengthen the Danish capacity in the area, in 2004 the Ministry for Foreign Affairs launched a publicly-available internet-based ’Good Governance Network’ for the benefit of both internal and external experts in the field (http://www.danida-networks.dk).
Increased focus on human rights and democracy (The MRD framework)1
1 Appropropriations Act allocations
Human rights assistance to non-programme countries 2004:
* Includes, among other things, contributions to the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Ombudsman of the Folketing
Danida’s anti-corruption code
Experience shows that it pays to speak openly in the fight against corruption.
An important step in the implementation of Danida’s Anti-Corruption Action Plan is to make our values visible.
In the fight against corruption, it pays to make one’s intentions clear to the world. The principles contain, among other things, guidelines for how one should deal with conflicts of interest, with the abuse of public status, and the ’zero-tolerance’ principle.
Danida’s anti-corruption principles
- Conflicts of interest. We will avoid all conflicts of interest – real or potential – between our personal interests and the interests of Danida. We will immediately report any such situations of conflict.
- Misuse of official position and public resources. We will avoid trying to influence people or organisations based on our private interests by using our official position or by offering them personal advantages or goods. Likewise, we will not use public property, facilities, services or financial resources for private objectives, unless permitted by law.
- Respect for the law. We will respect the laws of the country in which we are working.
- Proper personal conduct. We will ensure that our private conduct does not compromise us in our role as Danida employees.
- Active and passive bribery. We will not offer, ask for, or accept gifts or other favours which might affect our ability to function, our work effort or our judgement. This does not apply, however, to common hospitality and small gifts.
- Zero tolerance. According to the ’zero tolerance’ principle, we are obliged to report any suspicions or evidence of corruption committed by colleagues or anyone else.
- Openness and transparency as a rule – confidentiality when it is required. We will strive to achieve openness and transparency in relation to the public and our partners. Confidentiality will, however, be exercised when it is required in order to protect the rights of partners, co-workers or others.
- Non-discrimination. We will not discriminate in our work with respect to gender, religion, culture, education, social status, ethnic or national background or other status.
- Dissemination of the code. We will make our professional partners aware of our code of conduct.
- Observance of the code. We will respect the principles of the code and report all evidence or suspicions of violations of the code. The superior responsible will ensure that the rights of the informants and the accused are protected during and after any possible investigation.
Zero tolerance
’Zero tolerance’ is a basic principle in the work against fighting corruption. ’Zero tolerance’ means that anyone who actively oversees Danish development assistance must prevent and fight corruption.
In order to increase awareness and competence in fighting and preventing corruption, Danida has developed an e-learning course, which is obligatory for all staff members.
Women’s rights need to be taken into account everywhere
In 2004, a new strategy for gender equality in Danish development assistance was introduced.
The Government made public a new strategy for gender equality in Danish development assistance in August of 2004.
The strategy updates Denmark’s current policy in the area and couples it to international legal and political commitments such as the Convention on Women, the Beijing Action Plan and the Millennium Development Goals, along with the new approaches that are being used in development work as well as poverty strategies and sector programme assistance.
Equality between women and men is both a goal in itself and an important tool in working towards reducing poverty; achieving growth, democratisation and good governance; promoting human rights; fighting HIV/AIDS and many other
goals of Danish development policy. The level of ambition is higher than previously, and the efforts in the individual countries, in international cooperation and within special policy areas need to be prioritised in order to achieve the greatest results.
Women’s rights and gender equality issues must be incorporated into all aspects of development assistance in combination with special efforts. Both aspects are mirrored in the strategies of the countries and the performance contracts of the embassies.
The Board for International Development Cooperation will receive an annual report on the implementation of the strategy.
Women, peace and security – a different perspective in 2004
A conference on women, peace and security was held in September.
In many armed conflicts, systematic assaults on women and girls – often in the form of sexual violence as a conscious element of warfare – are the greatest violations of human rights that are committed. In many countries, women are systematically prevented from participating in the relevant processes concerning conflict resolution and the subsequent rebuilding of their society. Neglecting to use over 50 per cent of a country’s human resources is neither democratic nor effective. ”Peace and Security” has, therefore, been chosen as one out of many special policy areas for the strategy.
In 2000, the UN Security Council passed resolution 1325 concerning women peace and security, which focuses on women, both as victims and as a resource in a range of phases connected with armed conflict. It includes recommendations to the UN member countries, the UN Secretary General and other actors and parties in conflicts, and stresses the inclusion of women at all levels.
In the light of Denmark’s membership of the Security Council for the period 2005-2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in
cooperation with the Government’s International Committee on Gender Equality (ICGE), arranged a conference on women, peace and security on September 9, 2004. The purpose was both to increase awareness of resolution 1325 among Danish actors in conflict situations – the defence forces, the police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ staff, NGOs, etc. – and also, on the background of presentations from a variety of Danish and international authorities in the field, to discuss the possibilities, dilemmas and challenges involved in implementing the resolution.
The conference inspired the formation of a work group consisting of various branches of the armed forces and relevant sections of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group will analyse Denmark’s current efforts and provide recommendations for future initiatives with respect to the Security Council, the UN, the EU, other international organisations and the various instruments of Danish development assistance.
The Wider Middle East Initiative
The Government’s Wider Middle East Initiative was launched in 2003 with the goal of developing closer cooperation with the positive forces that support modernisation and democratisation in the Arab world and the Middle East. The initiative is made up of bilateral and multilateral aspects.
The bilateral Danish partnership programme
The bilateral aspect consists of a Danish partnership programme that supports reform processes in the region and contributes to strengthening dialogue and cooperation between Denmark and the countries of the region.
2004 was the first year of a two-year pilot phase for the programme, where the first year focused on Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Yemen. By the end of the year, concrete projects had been set in motion in all four countries, among them:
- The establishment of a Danish-Egyptian Institute for Dialogue in Cairo
- Cooperation between the government of Jordan and the Ombudsman for the Folketing (Danish Parliament) regarding the establishment of an ombudsmaninsti-tution in Jordan and the holding of an international ombudsman conference in Jordan in October 2004
- An agreement with the government of Yemen concerning partnership programmes, including projects involving women’s rights, free press and decentralisation/local participation.
- A project in Iran, in cooperation with the Institute for Human Rights, to promote the country’s ratification of the UN Convention on Torture.
In 2004, missions were also carried out to identify possible areas for projects in Algeria, Morocco and Syria. The missions showed good possibilities for concrete cooperation.
Multilateral cooperation on the Middle East
The multilateral aspect of the Wider Middle East Initiative includes Danish initiatives for promoting the reform cooperation of international organisations with the Middle Eastern region.
For years, Denmark has been fighting for a coordinated strategy for the EU’s relations to the countries of the Middle East. These efforts led, in 2004, to the adoption of the European Council’s EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean Area and the Middle East. The purpose is to promote democratisation and reforms in the Middle Eastern region by expanding the EU’s cooperation programmes.
In 2004, progress was also made in the joint Danish-Cana-dian efforts to promote a regional cooperation and security structure in the Middle East. In the spring of 2004, comprehensive Danish-Canadian consultations were conducted in the region concerning a security charter for the Middle East. In 2005, Denmark will be co-organiser of a number of seminars for local think-tanks, research institutions and representatives of civil society on cooperation and security in the region.
Finally, Denmark took the initiative in 2004 of establishing cooperation with the Middle Eastern countries regarding, among other issues, military reforms, civilian control of the military and inter-operability under NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Co-operation Initiative.
This page forms part of the publication 'Danida’s Annual Report 2004' as chapter 5 of 18
Publication may be found at the address http://www.netpublikationer.dk/um/6051/index.htm
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