Marking Human Rights Day, and EYD Month on Human Rights - Main contents

Good governance and respect for human rights are preconditions for human development and poverty reduction

As you will know by now, each month, the European Year for Development (EYD2015) focuses on a different development theme, to raise awareness of the benefits of the EU’s development cooperation in that area and encourage the direct involvement, critical thinking and active interest of EU citizens.

Good governance and respect for human rights are preconditions for human development and poverty reduction. This is the reason why December (the last development theme of the European Year for Development) is focusing on ‘Human Rights and Governance’.

Human rights and development are inextricably linked. They have the same ultimate objective to improve human well-being and freedom, based on the inherent dignity and equality of all people. Democracy and human rights are universal values and they should be vigorously promoted around the world.

Good governance is at the heart of European development policy and is vital for sustainable development. It is clear that there can be no development without good governance. Without a government and institutions with the capacity to serve the public interest, human rights cannot be upheld and poverty and inequality will continue to persist.

I would like to give you some examples of what we are doing in this area. The EU conducts human rights dialogues with over 40 countries around the globe with the aim of improving cooperation on human rights. We are also supporting capacity building programmes on the rule of law, security and justice in more than 50 countries worldwide. Nearly 3,000 civil society initiatives have been supported since 2007 through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( EIDHR), to reinforce the role of grassroots civil society in promoting human rights and democratic reforms. 400 human rights defenders at risk have been supported through the EIDHR Emergency Fund since 2010. In most cases, such EU support has helped save their lives.

I am proud to say that this week I am launching the first ever EU comprehensive Human Rights Defenders Mechanism. The initiative is set to become one of Europe's key tools to assist human rights defenders at high risk, including in remote areas, and will run until 2018. Human rights are at the core of EU's values. Therefore, it is only logical that those who risk their lives to defend them must be able to count on us for support. Thanks to this first-of-its-kind mechanism, we will provide them with essential help, from urgent relocation to legal advice.

I believe that defending and promoting human rights and good governance is the only way to guarantee security, stability and sustainable development throughout the world. There is still much to be done in this area and I know that the European Union, together with our Member States, will continue to provide support for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide.