Speech Stockholm 14 June 2007
Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality

Speech at Forum for the Future of Democracy

(Check against delivery.)

Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I was born in exile in Burundi because my parents home country, Congo, was a dictatorship. When I grew up, politics seemed to be something dangerous and threatening. Those who did not agree with the ruling party in Congo, were thrown into jail. My father was imprisoned because of his political activity. He later managed to come to Sweden as a political refugee. I was twelve at the time.

The topic of this conference is in my heart and in my life. And therefore I am concerned we seize this opportunity. Not just to have yet another international meeting with good-hearted ideals and predictable conclusions. Not just another restatement of democracy and human rights being someone else's problem. Not yet another reducing democracy to its formal institutions.

We have the democratic institutions in Sweden and many other countries. Parliaments. Parties. Universal Suffrage. We have the constitutional rights.

But my concern is that the institutions and letters do not create participation.

Democracy is not only a challenge to countries without the institutions. Or the newly established ones. It is no less a challenge to the old ones. Our institutions were created before the take-off of globalization,
before the fall of the Berlin Wall,
before the clash of civilizations,
before the introduction of the Internet.

I am proud to say that Universal suffrage was introduced in Sweden in 1921. But I am sure history must continue to build and develop on this fundamental achievement.
The work has only just begun.

How do we create a meaningful participation in the decision process? Today, many people are not satisfied to vote once in a while. Many people are not trustful neither of the politicians, nor of the institutions.

Is that ok? Is democracy in Western societies just for export?

In Sweden there are an increasing number of people who feel they do not belong.They feel they are not being listened to. They feel they do not have the tools or the ability to participate. They do not feel safe and secure enough in their basic needs, their human rights, to engage in matters beyond their immediate concerns.

For the poorest, the deprivation of food hinders democratic participation. For some in the richest countries, the deprivation of meaning and trust shuts them out from democratic participation.

I am certain that both Human Rights and Democracy need to be translated into systematic programs of renewal and action. Citizens need to see how we plan to work.
They need to be able to spot where the real decisions are made. They need to feel that representatives are accountable for processes and promises.

Are we, as we speak and discuss during the coming days, relevant to people outside the established circles? Are the twelve year olds, the citizens of tomorrow, also in our minds, as well as legislation, voting systems and international declarations?

I would so much want us to contribute if only a little
to girls and boys that today are in the situation I was in
being able to hope for a better future that also includes them.

We know the struggle for and development of democracy and Human Rights has a proud history. Does it have an equally exciting future?

I hope this conference will be a free, inclusive and searching dialogue. We have questions in search of answers. And we all have some answers to contribute.

That is why I am very happy, on behalf of the Swedish government and the Ministry for Integration and Gender Equality, to welcome you all to the 2007 Forum for the Future of Democracy.

Thank you!