Activity Quote by Kofi Annan
“Good, healthy democratic societies are built on three pillars: there's peace and stability, economic development, and respect for rule of law and human rights. But often, we take stability - peace in terms of security and economic activity - to mean a country is doing well. We forget the third and important pillar of rule of law and respect for human rights, because no country can long remain prosperous without that third pillar.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: UN General Assembly, 2005
Societies need peace, prosperity, and law‑based rights; neglecting rule of law undermines lasting prosperity.
In simple terms: Three pillars: peace, economy, law and rights; all essential.
Key Takeaway
Balance security, growth, and human rights.
Themes
governance
human rights
development
Mood
hopeful
urgent
Type
inspirational
policy
When to use this quote
- policy making
- international aid
- economic planning
- legal reform
Key Concepts
rule of law
sustainability
equity
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies ensure law and rights keep pace with development?
- How can societies monitor the health of all three pillars?
A Different Perspective
Economic growth alone cannot sustain stability without justice.
![“Let's not use the term democracy as a play on words which is what people commonly do, using human rights as a pretext. Those people that really violate human rights [the West] violate human rights from all perspectives. Typically on the subject of human rights regarding the nations from the south…” quote by Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/855/alejandro-castro-espin-12304_cuba_let-s-not-use-the-term-democracy-as-a-pl_224808.jpg)
