Minister of International Development and Human Rights Ms. Hilde F. Johnson

Opening remarks at "Social Responsibility and Human Rights"

Lagos, Nigeria, 16 February 2000

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this symposium, organised by the Nigerian Commission for Human Rights along with the Civil Liberties Organisation, as well as my own ministry in Oslo and our embassy here in Lagos.

So what is a foreign Government doing, teaming up with Nigerian institutions and NGOs in order to discuss human rights? Well, we have come to realise the value in keeping an open mind to differing roles and differing views in the human rights debate. I am grateful that the Human Rights Commission and the Civil Liberties Organisation here in Nigeria seem to feel the same way.

It pleases me to recognise in our panel, and among our participants, a good crossection of Nigerian society when it comes to human rights. Your roles may have changed from a year ago, but I look forward to learning that your engagement has not diminished.

Not so long ago, public opinion in Norway and many other parts of Europe were very sceptical to our companies doing business in Nigeria. Now, the situation has changed. It is therefore particularly meaningful for us to be able to exchange views with you this afternoon.

When UN Secretary General Kofi Annan just over a year ago called for a "global compact of shared values and principles", he was referring to the UN and the international business community. In Norway, we have been thinking along these lines for some time. We established our own KOMpact nearly two years ago. Our KOMpact is a forum in which differing constituencies come together to address issues of corporate social responsibility and human rights.

You will find some information on KOMpact as well as other Norwegian initiatives – alongside with materials from different Nigerian quarters – at the table outside this room.

Our agenda this afternoon is broad – and yet specific. The issue of human rights is in many ways underlying and underpinning society and societal debate. At the same time, the family of human rights represent practical tools for promoting development and progress. I hope, therefore, that we can be very specific in terms of sharing experiences and views this afternoon.

We are fortunate enough to have the Norwegian Prime Minister, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, to set the tone for our deliberations.

You have the floor, Prime Minister.