Dialogue in Pursuit of Development - Are you looking for one of ...

223
The implied understanding from the beginning on both sides was that
the dialogue offered an opportunity to discuss the situation in China. This
meant that the discussion was not mutual in the sense that the situations in
both China and Europe were covered. With time, however, the Chinese
delegation proposed to correct this and asked questions about European
problems. This confused the EU delegation as it changed the original understanding
about the purpose of the dialogue and also put it in the uncomfortable
position of having to represent the 15 member states on aspects for
which the delegation had no mandate.
The broader lesson for both sides should be that such discussions are useful
if they are unconditional, well prepared and conducted in a frank atmosphere
of mutual respect. Of course, the seriousness will be tested by the extent of
concrete results. If the talks are used to give the impression of genuine concern
but not backed up by real political will, they will not be sustainable.
There is a need for regular public accounting, though not necessarily open
reports on each individual meeting. It is not easy to find the ideal combination
of using the possibilities of diplomatic exchanges and acting with transparency.
The guiding star should be what can honestly be assumed to render
best results. It should be recognized that informal exchanges in a nonconfrontational
setting can be constructive. No government is monolithic
and it might be important to offer those delegates who are interested an
opportunity to discuss in depth matters which might be regarded as taboos
at home. However, the credibility of the approach requires that there will
be public reports sooner or later.
Implementation of human rights
Those who are serious about human rights should reject simplistic notions.
The discourse is not primarily about naming ‘good’ and ‘bad’ governments
or establishing a ranking list. There are shortcomings and problems
in all countries in relation to human rights; those responsible should
demonstrate a determination to address them – this is the point about
political will.
Implementation of human rights has several dimensions. Human rights
theorists often talk about the three dimensions: respect, protect and fulfil.
Governments should themselves avoid violating the norms; their
agents should not practice torture, for instance. This is not sufficient,
there is a need to offer individuals a protection against violations by
others and also to secure that the right to, for example, health and education
be made real, which will require that resources are made available
for this purpose.
The informed human rights discussion is therefore not only focused on
whether a certain government respects the norms but also on what measures
it takes to ensure that the rights are protected and fulfilled. This opens