Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize – 2024 Award Ceremony
Laudatory Speech – Dr. Elisabeth Wesseling-van Gent
26 November 2024
Excellencies, General, members of the Armed Forces and dear guests,
We are here today to implement the will of Johan Wateler.
I will read a translation from his will, written in The Hague in 1916:
“… the yearly revenue in round figures will be spent for the award of a prize to him or her, who in whatever way, through word, deed or example, literature, sculpture or painting, in the country or abroad, has been most meritorious in the furthering of the peace ideal, or in contributing to finding means to render the horror of war more and more impossible in the long run.”
Since 1931, the Carnegie Foundation has awarded this prize to a person or organisation that has worked for peace in Wateler’s spirit and although its mission as established by Johan Wateler is basically unchanged, it has to be viewed in the context of ever-changing times and also take into consideration continuous changing political and social developments.
When you received the “Save the date’’ for today’s award ceremony, your eye may have briefly fallen on the prize’s motto: translated in English “The Palms of Peace are More Honorable than the Trophies of War”.
At the very first glance, this motto could seem to contradict the laureate we decided to honor today.
Conflict can ideally be prevented or resolved in the courtroom through peaceful arbitration and adjudication, rather than taken to the battlefield. Here at the Peace Palace, we can witness such efforts on a daily basis when looking at the work of the institutions housed at the palace. Their efforts show that international law still is a very effective instrument to peacefully avoid or settle conflicts between states.
However, by granting this prize, the Carnegie Foundation wishes to emphasize another highly important aspect of peacebuilding: There is a world of difference between on the one hand using military force to start a war and on the other hand using military force to end a conflict and restore peace.
The Netherlands Armed Forces, through their four branches, the Royal Netherlands Army, Air Force, Navy and Marechaussee have always played and continue to play a significant role in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and stability in our country as well as the world at large.
Long before the United Nations and UN-peacekeeping missions existed, the Netherlands armed forces carried out their first peacekeeping missions: in 1913 in Albania and in 1933 for the Saarland plebiscite.
This shows that, more than a hundred years ago, people had already recognized that peacekeeping and peacebuilding have many dimensions.
After the Second World War, the Netherlands Armed Forces have participated in more than 80 peacekeeping missions under the flags of the United Nations, NATO and the European Union.
The Armed Forces not only provide military support, but also contribute to civilian assistance. Dutch military personnel are often involved in building infrastructure, providing medical care, supporting local communities, training troops as well as maintaining the rule of law. Currently, Dutch forces are active in peacekeeping or enforcement operations in 12 countries including, among others, Lithuania, Iraq, Somalia, Mali and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The jury is of course aware that not all peace missions undertaken by the Netherlands were equally successful, but that does not negate the huge efforts undertaken by the Armed Forces and those in its ranks.
The peacekeeping missions of the Netherlands Armed Forces are highly diverse but, for many here present perhaps somewhat abstract. Allow me therefore to provide you with some examples of the Armed Forces’ contribution to peacekeeping missions both past and present:
One of the most notable contributions was involvement in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). From 2014, the Royal Netherlands Army and the Royal Netherlands Air Force played crucial roles in this mission. The Army provided security, gathered intelligence and supported local governance whilst the Air Force offered air support with helicopters, conducted reconnaissance missions and transport for personnel and equipment.
The mission aimed to stabilize Mali, protect civilians and support the implementation of a peace agreement between the Malian government and various armed groups.
Since 2008, the Royal Netherlands Navy, including its Marine Corps has played, and is still playing, a crucial role in countering piracy off the coast of Somalia as part of the European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta (EUNAVFOR). This mission aims to protect vulnerable shipping routes as well as delivering humanitarian aid to Somalia. The contribution of the Netherlands Navy has been significant with naval vessels escorting humanitarian shipments and deterring pirate attacks. The mission has involved over 500 military personnel and resulted in the distribution of more than 1,000 tonnes of aid supplies. Their efforts have led to a marked decrease in pirate attacks with the number of incidents dropping by over 50% since the start thereof.
Both missions also highlight the versatility and readiness of the Netherlands Armed Forces to engage in complex and challenging operations far from home.
The Netherlands Armed Forces are also heavily involved in training and capacity-building initiatives, f.e. in Iraq since 2018 and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. In Iraq, Dutch military personnel have been training local security forces to enhance their capabilities in combating terrorism and maintaining security. This effort is part of the broader international coalition to stabilize the region by deter ISIS.
In Afghanistan, Dutch troops contributed to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, which focused on training, advising and assisting Afghan security forces.
Beyond traditional peacekeeping, the Netherlands Armed Forces have also been involved in numerous humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. For instance, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the Netherlands deployed military personnel and resources to assist in the relief efforts. Dutch troops provided essential medical care, distributed food and water and helped rebuild critical infrastructure.
These are only a few examples of the deployment of the Netherlands Armed Forces. As you can clearly see, the Netherlands Armed Forces contribute to global stability and peacekeeping in many different ways, often combining military with humanitarian efforts. They have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace and security through their extensive involvement in international peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance and capacity-building missions. Their contributions have had a profound impact on global stability, saving lives and fostering peace in some of the world’s most volatile regions.
The Palms of Peace are More Honorable than the Trophies of War. We know of course that there cannot be trophies of war as there are only victims. There are sacrifices, suffering and loss on all sides. Even amongst those who come with the very best intentions to help, there can be injuries, both physical and mental, as Tine Molendijk and Lonneke Peperkamp have just impressively described.
By presenting the 2024 Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize to the Netherlands Armed Forces, we would like to honor and thank all Dutch military personnel who, on a daily basis, push their own boundaries to protect those of others. Members of the Netherlands Armed Forces dedicate and sometimes sacrifice their lives to preserving or building peace worldwide.