Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

4 O viedo | C ampoamor T heatre | 20 th O ctober 2006 In Spain you have been confronted with the painful reality of people risking their lives on the open seas to arrive at your shores. This is part of a global phenomenon in which economic forces produce global flows of people in search of improved livelihoods. Economic globalization moves goods, services and information. It also means that people move, or are moved. The most alarming of these movements is a 21st century version of slavery through human trafficking networks that disproportionately affect women and children. Despite evidence that migrants contribute positively to our economies and societies, we are often distracted by fears of migrants from diverse cultures. In fact, migration movements have reached epic proportions: there are an estimated 200 million immigrants worldwide which in total would constitute the fifth most populous country in the world; remittance flows in 2005 exceeded US $233 billion worldwide, more than the GDP of Ireland; roughly 30 to 40 million unauthorised migrants worldwide; there are 7-8 million undocumented migrants here in Europe, often left without legal guarantees and protections that we deem to be fundamental human rights. (…) We cannot fail these people. We encounter the human faces of globalization in daily contact in our communities and among those who risk their lives to leave their homes in search of greater opportunity. Recognizing our common humanity in the faces of migrants can inspire us to reaffirm our common dignity and build diverse, pluralistic and democratic societies at home and ensure equitable development beyond our shores. Mary Robinson — Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences 2006 Mary Robinson was President of the Republic of Ireland between 1990 and 1997. — Excerpt from the speech given on the occasion of receiving the Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences on 20/10/2006.