Education

International Social Responsibility

At the occasion of the inauguration of the Marga Klompé Chair by prof. dr. Mirjam van Reisen

Datum: Friday 14 October 2011
Tijd: 14.00h
Locatie: Aula/Auditorium Tilburg University

About

Do we feel socially responsible enough for people in other countries? How can we practice international solidarity when social policy is questioned in all kind of ways? Former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers and top policy makers will discuss these questions at the conference, a tribute to the legendary politician Marga Klompé.

Klompé (1912 – 1986) had clear views on international social responsibility. Prof. dr. Mirjam van Reisen, who will hold her inaugural address for the Marga Klompé Chair, will highlight the ideas and stress the need to give them a more prominent place in our thinking today.

Klompé was the first female minister of The Netherlands and a driving force behind the introduction of break-through social security services. She was among the writers of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was very concerned about worldwide problems and tried to fight poverty in poor countries. Klompé felt it was a necessity to be socially responsible for others, out of love for fellow human beings.

The international social responsibility will be discussed by former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers, director Juan Somavia of the ILO, the Zimbabwe minister Sekai Holland for National Reconciliation and others like Dick Plessius, president of the Marga Klompé Health group.

Mirjam van Reisen is founding director of the research and consultancy group EEPA and an expert in European external policy, the European Treaty, poverty, conflict and transitional justice.

Theme and Objective

The conference will inspire participants with new ideas and notions on international social responsibility.

How important is International Social Responsibility nowadays in all its forms? What are the changes and what are the consequences in the field? What is happening?

The conference will look at solidarity between countries. Participants will also hear first hand from policy makers about solidarity between people of different generations, cultures, different incomes or after a bloody conflict like in Zimbabwe.

The ideas of Marga Klompé (1912-1986) might be a guiding light in the current times. She has left some remarkable views about many kinds of solidarity, like integration by respecting the own culture of groups.

Speakers

Former prime minister Ruud Lubbers, who knew Marga Klompé very well, will open the conference with a presentation on the changes in the thinking about social responsibility. He will ask some pertinent questions about social wellbeing in international perspective.

Mirjam van Reisen, holder of the Marga Klompé Chair, is the founding director of research and consultancy group Europe External Policy Advisors (EEPA) in Brussels. She is an expert in European external policy, the European Treaty, poverty, conflict and transitional justice. She is board member of many organizations regarding poverty.

Dick Plessius, president of the Marga Klompé Health group, having experience with the changes in practice, will elaborate on the specific situation in the Netherlands. He will explain the challenges posed by the aging of the population, the market forces in the health sector and the budgetary constraints at a time of rising demand for health care.

Minister Sekai Holland of Zimbabwe, responsible for National Reconciliation and Healing will speak about the difficulties about establishing a social floor in her country, in the aftermath of the conflict in her country. With over 1 million victims of torture it is necessary to pay attention to curing, health, mental health, education and recovery.

Juan Somavía, director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO) will talk about the ethical necessity, the feasibility and social-economic desirability of an international social floor, which can create more international social and economical stability (by video message).

Vinicius Pinheiro, Advisor to the Director of the ILO on social protection, Executive Secretary of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group, will give a presentation on the practical dimensions of a minimum social security. He works together with Mme Bachelet, UN-director for Women on an international minimum for social protection.

Koos Richelle, Director General European Commission, Directorate Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, and former Dutch and EC director general International Cooperation and Social Affairs, will elaborate the challenges faced by Europe because of the aging and how Europe can cooperate with other nations in the world, like China.

Roberto Bissio, international Coordinator Social Watch from Uruguay, represents organizations and citizens that hold governments accountable for their promises regarding social services. He will respond to previous speakers and express some concerns.

Dutch ambassador Matthijs van Bonzel (tbc) and project manager Marianella Feoli from Costa Rica will explain that organizations and governments from countries below the equator can start cooperation at a new way, based on their own mutual strengths.