6 November 2009: Joint International Seminar on Transitions and Transformation Processes

The European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) and Cà Foscari University of Venice hosted a  Joint International Seminar on Transitions and Transformation Processes: Constitutional Design . This special event was organised by the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (E.MA) in the framework of the United Nations International Year of Human Rights Learning 2009.

Contemporary democracies face a number of challenges and paradoxes in a rapidly changing world. Although, democracy, both as an ideal and as a set of political institutions and processes, has prevailed in most countries of the world, there has been a general downward trend in electoral interest and participation. Also, while the substance of politics has rapidly globalised in key areas such as security, economy, trade, environment etc., the process of politics has not. Principal stakeholders remain firmly rooted at the national or even local level. Democratisation as an open-ended process consist of transitions and transformation processes, whose outcome is crucial for world peace and for people’s well-being.

Within the framework of the E.MA Programme, EIUC invited two eminent specialists to a public debate with students: Professor Vital Moreira, Member of the European Parliament, Chairman of the Committee on International Trade, and Justice Albie Sachs, from the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

By organising this special event the European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation (EIUC) aimed at promoting a better understanding of human rights issues and actively supporting the United Nations’ International Year of Human Rights Learning 2009. In addition a series of lectures in Venice will be co-sponsored with the Cà Foscari University of Venice within the common area of interest of international relations.