High-level workshop on human rights diplomacy

EIUC, the Human Rights Law Centre of the University of Nottingham, and the Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan are jointly organising a high-level workshop on human rights diplomacy, which will take place in the Monastery of San Nicolò on Friday and Saturday, 30 and 31 January 2009. (PROGRAMME)

The term “human rights diplomacy” refers in the present context to the use of the range of persuasive negotiation-based diplomatic tools available to States and Inter-governmental organisations for the specific purpose of promoting and protecting human rights. The form of human rights diplomacy has developed considerably in the period since the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights (1993), notably with the advent of diplomatic office holders tasked specifically with human rights responsibilities. However, concern has been expressed that, despite the developments of recent years, the potential of human rights diplomacy is far from being exploited. For instance, it has been suggested that, notwithstanding availability of novel diplomatic tools, there is a tendency to bypass the so called ‘soft’ stages of addressing human rights problems and to move directly to more confrontational and, arguably, less effective, methods.

The workshop is devoted to a rigorous examination of human rights diplomacy with a view to better understanding its potentials and complications and promoting good practice. Invitees include current and former human rights diplomacy office holders, governmental and intergovernmental officials, academics and other experts. Participation will be limited to some 25 participants.

The principal output of the workshop will be a set of findings indicating achievements, challenges, risks and opportunities. An edited volume will also be developed in tandem with the workshop.
For the draft programme of the workshop, please click here.