Human Dignity and Leadership

Often leadership and management are used interchangeably. And yet, managing people is quite another thing from leading them. It is said that things are managed, and management is control. Whereas people are lead, and that is done by creating vision and empowering people. This notion has implications on our perspective of what we assume is global governance. Global governance should be about leadership – creating vision, rule of law and empowering society. It is focused on human dignity, and not on social control at the cost of the individual. If one takes people’s agency and decision power away, and they are treated as mere objects or animals at best. It is this concern for human dignity that lies at the heart of Human Rights and global governance.

Global Governance and the UN

When the United Nations Charter was signed in June of 1945 in San Francisco, it was to promote international peace and security, cooperation and human rights among nations. It also provides a framework for resolving conflicts and disputes through peaceful means, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or judicial settlement. The Charter also authorizes the use of collective measures, such as sanctions or military action, to maintain or restore international peace and security in cases of aggression or breach of the peace. The Charter has been amended five times since its adoption. But with the current Zeitgeist, another overhaul of the United Nations may be due.

It was not intended for the UN to become a global ruling body surpassing national sovereignty. Instead, one could argue that it is a platform for the development and support of values that benefit mankind worldwide. The United Nations, with its myriad of sub-organizations supports and encourages national governments and agencies to function in accordance to Human Dignity. It includes refining and enforcing the rule of law, as opposed to chaos or dictatorship from individuals or ideologies that negate human rights. It includes organizations that strife for Human Development, such as Education, Health, Employment, and Equality. It includes the protection of our planet, its resources and its climate. And it includes, if necessary, military defense and or support. On top of that I would like to say a word, in particular, about a topic that is of the utmost importance in an effective strategy for global governance that respects Human Dignity, which is the role of NGOs, Civil Society, and Smart Coalitions.

Involvement of Civil Society

We all know how children, can develop what is called counter will, when they are forced into a decision they do not like. They not only drag their heels, but they may outright get angry and will want the exact opposite as a sign of defiance. The same is not just true for children. Adults, and indeed, societies act in similar ways when pressured against their conscience. How many revolutions in history can we bring to mind? All of them were a reaction to a form of injustice and dominance. Leadership had turned into dictatorship and control. And unfortunately most of these revolutions go hand in hand with armed conflict. Increasingly we hope to get smarter and learn to resolve through negotiation and diplomacy. This often avoids bloodshed. The rule of law, the judiciary and law enforcement, too, are necessary components.

At the same time, we often underestimate the real boots on the ground, which are already in place before any conflict even arises. I am talking about the role of Civil Society. I will mention a few, just to refresh your memory:

• Faith-based organizations, are motivated by religious beliefs and values. They provide services or advocate on behalf of certain issues. Some examples of faith-based organizations are World Vision, Islamic Relief, Caritas Internationalis, numerous victimized religions who struggle for survival in their country, and the Salvation Army.

• Community groups or informal networks of people who share a common identity, interest, or locality. They organize themselves for mutual support, social activities, or collective action. They include neighborhood associations, sports clubs, hobby clubs, self-help groups, the local bridge club, and reading and cultural societies.

• Professional associations represent the interests and standards of a specific profession or occupation. They may offer training, certification, networking, or advocacy for their members. Some examples of professional associations are the Medical Associations, the International Federation of Journalists, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, and the International Bar Association.

• Charitable organizations raise funds or provide goods and services for people in need. They may focus on local or global issues, such as poverty, health, education, or disaster relief. Some examples of charitable organizations are the Red Cross, Oxfam, UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders, and LDS Charities.

• International summits by Civic Society, such as environmental protection activities focus on awareness raising and civic engagement. One example is the “it’s for you” initiative, organized by World Climate School and the Eastern African Colleges and Campuses Green Network.

• Informative groups, bring together leaders from business, government, civil society, and academia to shape the future of the world. They organize events, publish reports, and facilitate dialogue on various topics on climate change, health, education, and innovation2. They also publishe articles and entries on civil society organizations and their roles in different contexts and regions4. At Human Rights Without Frontiers, of which I am the Associate Director, we investigate Human Rights Abuse worldwide, and publish a daily newsletter sent to 10.000 subscribers around the globally – mostly political decision-makers and influential institutions. We organize and facilitate events at the EU parliament and the United Nations for those who want to be heard in the arenas of decision makers. And we are certainly not alone. Moreover, we work closely with a host of other such organizations.

Civil Society, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and warms body and soul. These organizations make people aware of atrocities and irregularities, even long before a conflict arises. They are part of a checks and balances system that galvanizes and stabilizes society. They inform and hance public debate and practically fix social issues. And what they are good at, in particular, is doing it cheaply and efficiently, without much of a bureaucracy and often on a shoe string budget. They are passionate, with many people volunteering because of intrinsic values rather than financial reward, and they are run by experts in the field. And to top it off, they generally avoid the political axis, which only destabilizes society with polarizing arguments. What else could we ask for?

And you will have noticed that whenever a conflict gets very serious it is these civil society organizations, in particular, that are hampered in their work. Food, medicine, and fuel are hindered to get into the area. I refer to the current crisis at the border of the Gaza Strip. The media is either suppressed, with journalists threatened or killed, and fake news and propaganda takes over. A political narrative replaces true description of reality. Charity and faith-based organizations are made illegal, and those who wish to do the most good are incarcerated.

Summary

As we get smarter in global governance, rather than dictating from the top, finding ways to allow Civil Society to do its work actually strengthens a new form of United Nations. Civil Society needs to be cherished and protected. Leadership is not about micromanagement or even control. It is about creating vision and direction, and about empowering those that enhance Human Dignity, not Human Control. Power must come from the bottom up, and the top facilitates. Now, that is what I call democracy!