Good evening,
We have come together this evening to honour excellence. But it is a very special kind of excellence that we recognize with the United Nations Vienna Civil Society Award. The winners exemplify a dedication to foster justice and social progress. As organizations or individuals, they lead by their example in fighting drug abuse, crime and terrorism.
They prove that responsibility for protecting society from crime, violence and drugs is not simply the responsibility of the authorities. Every man and every woman can make a difference. This year's recipients of the Award have made a difference
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has from the moment he took office stressed the need to create strong links between the United Nations and civil society. The Award recognizes the accomplishments of individuals and humanitarian organizations in the same fields of work to which we at the UN in Vienna are dedicated. It underlines our conviction that we will succeed only if we have as partners the associations and individuals who will take on the challenge at the level of the town, the neighbourhood, the family and even the single human being.
The United Nations Vienna Civil Society Award is testimony to cooperation between the UN and civil society at another level as well. It is co-sponsored by the City of Vienna, the Federal Government of Austria and the United Nations. For us at the UN, it is a symbol of the excellent relations we have with our host country and city. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation for all the support we receive.
The Selection Committee for this year's Award had a difficult task. There were some 150 nominees. A great number of them were deserving of the Award. The Committee decided to share the Award among four recipients. Two are individuals and two are organizations. They work in different parts of the world and in different subjects. Yet they have in common a commitment to help their fellow human beings, especially those who are vulnerable.
It is my honour to introduce this year's recipients.
The Fundacion Pais Libre, founded in 1991 by Francisco Santos to address the epidemic of kidnaping in Colombia. Mr. Santos was himself a kidnap victim and understood that civil society needed to get involved. The goals of the Organization are to raise the awareness of the public to the seriousness and danger of the problem and the need to eliminate it. Through public campaigns and by working with the Government, the Organization promotes the adoption and implementation of effective anti-kidnaping policies and laws. One of its projects was the basis for the first anti-kidnaping law in Colombia. The most important part of the work of Pais Libre, however, is the psychological and physical support given to victims and their families. The Fundacion Pais Libre has become the emblem of the fight against kidnaping in Colombia.
In Bangkok's largest slum, Klong Toey, Ameena Beedillae is a well known woman, loved and respected for what she does for the 100 thousand residents. The greatest problem faced by the community is drug addiction and related crime. Ameena Beedillae knows this from her own personal loss of a loved one to addiction. In 1986 she joined the Anti-Drugs Volunteer Association, which at that time operated in only one of Klong Toey's 23 communities. It now operates in 13, with a network of nearly 600 volunteers. Although she is the head of the Organization, she does not remain in an office. She goes from house to house to build up networks of support. Her home has become a gathering place for young people. She directs those who need help to rehabilitation centres. Even the drug dealers who once threatened her now leave her alone to do her work. Every day, Ameena Beedillae proves that an individual can make a difference.
In the Republic of Chad, the Association Tchadienne "Les Amis des Drogu?s" began work in 1993. Translated, it is "Friends of the Addicts". This is an appropriate name. The objective of the Association is to rehabilitate drug addicts and help them rejoin their families and communities. Every addict is treated as in individual. The Association helps them reduce their drug use and provides training and guidance to get them back into school or jobs. The Association undertakes a range of activities to raise public awareness of the drug problem and educates parents, teachers and the young people themselves on the dangers. In Chad, the young people have a true friend in the Association "Les Amis des Drogu?s".
The fourth recipient is Roger Lewis from the United Kingdom. Roger died last April, shortly after his nomination. He was a trustee at Release UK, a British NGO specialized in support for drug addicts, which is here to accept the reward in his memory. In his professional life, Roger Lewis was a sociologist with a special gift for research into the workings of drug markets and the associated structures of organized crime at the level of cities and communities. He was largely responsible for making drug market research an indispensable tool for understanding the drug problem. The exceptional side of Roger Lewis was the personal commitment he brought to his work. In his view, social research was only justified if it could be applied to do good. His sense of what was good was deeply rooted in his strong beliefs in the principles of justice and equality. He found ways to bridge gaps of understanding between various components of society and the state. Roger Lewis provided a valuable academic legacy that will influence drug and crime policies for many years to come. He also left a sterling human legacy that is an inspiration to us all.
I would now like to call on the Selection Committee to present the awards. Each recipient or their representative will please come forward to receive the award as I announce the names.
Mr. Francisco Santos, Fundacion Pais Libre in Colombia
Ms. Ameena Beedillae, Duang Prateep Foundation in Thailand
The Representative of Les Amis des Drogu?s in Chad has been unable to come to Vienna at this time. We will arrange an appropriate way in which to present the award to the group.
Posthumous award to Roger Lewis will be accepted in his memory by Ms. Deborah Olszewski, Release UK.