US-Europe World Affairs

The  efforts to support Human Rights Defenders have been always main priority for Dutch Government and its policy. Those important measures are,not limited, but include:

• Financing projects through the Human Rights Fund to enable Human Rights Defenders to carry out their work more safely and effectively;
• Furthering the visibility of Human Rights Defenders, since visibility can sometimes help make them safer;
• Attending trials of Human Rights Defenders to step up pressure for fair trials;
• Organising the conference ‘Speak Truth to Power’ on 21 and 22 January 2014, attended by Human Rights Defenders and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, EU member states and EU institutions;
• Providing temporary residence to about 10 Human Rights Defenders every year through the project Shelter City. The Hague, Middelburg, Nijmegen, Utrecht and Maastricht are currently designated Cities;
• Awarding the Human Rights Tulip annually to a courageous and innovative organisation or individual for furthering human rights. Nominees for the Human Rights Tulip can come from anywhere in the world.  ©Government of Netherlands

Continue to read on Dutch Governments Leadership on Supporting the Human Rights Defenders

Netherlands Human Rights annual Award Tulip, by the MFA

By Catherine Stella Schmidt

Excerpt of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech at the Climate Conference Paris

“I take this opportunity to again express the solidarity of the people of Israel with the people of France.  Both our peoples have long and bitter experience confronting terrorism. This is not surprising, because Israel and France have in common precisely those qualities that the terrorists seek to destroy: Freedom, Equality, Pluralism, Tolerance  and Democracy.” 

Today we must focus on the security, not just of the nations of the world, but of the world itself.  And even as Israel plays a Leading role in the fight against terrorism, we are also playing a Leading role in addressing climate change.

I want to say first that Israel is committed to those goals and will act accordingly, in deed and in word to fulfill them. Technology gives us the ability to do the unimaginable. Last year Israel was ranked number one in the Global Clean-Tech Innovation Index.

We are a world leader in making the use of water more efficient, therefore more energy efficient. Israel is the number one recycler of water in the world. It has the highest ratio of water efficiency in the world – 70-80%, this is thanks to innovative technologies like drip irrigation, which I know many of you are familiar with.

For decades, Israel has been a Pioneer in Solar energy.  We are also developing state-of-the-art techniques to increase crop yields and to make desert agriculture possible.        30.Nov.2015 ©Prime Minister Office  Continue to read PM Netanyahu’s Speech, the office of Prime Minister 

In the combat against the Violation of Human Rights, Denmark has been playing–constantly an instrumental role for furthering the Concept of Human Rights in the U.N and in the World, by raising the issues and requiring the World to comply with the Universal values of the Human Rights.

Initiated by the Government of Denmark ‘the Resolution against torture’ was unanimously adopted by 193 member States in the U.N General Assembly in November,6  2015.

The Danish resolution against torture was unanimously adopted by 193 member states in the UN General Assembly, By the MFA of Denmark

Promotion and protection of human rights: UN General Assembly November 2015

The International Service for Human Rights congratulates and thanks Denmark for its important leadership on this General Assembly resolution

Convention Against Torture Initiative CTI

Based on the latest survey released by the World Bank– Denmark ranks the first European Top Country for Business in 2015

 “Creating a good and efficient business environment for both foreign and Danish companies is a key priority of the  Danish government, and I am pleased to see that our continuous efforts show results and Denmark is again acknowledged as best in Europe for doing business.”

“It is the second year in a row that Denmark takes a step up in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking and I hope that more foreign investors will consider growing their business in the world’s third best country for business.” Statement Minister Kristian Jensen for Foreign Affairs.

The Government of Denmark sees its success for:

• Having more Innovative Methods
• Establishing more Positive Environment for Investments and new Businesses
• Maximizing the Non-Bureaucratic Regulation
• And by providing more attractive ,and timely, online support for both Danish and Foreign Companies or new Ideas

Denmark an Ideal country for creating new Business and Investment, read the World Bank Report