Third Annual High-level Conference on the Global State of Human Rights

On 14-15 July 2023, the Global Campus of Human Rights organises the third edition of its annual Conference on the Global State of Human Rights, in partnership with Right Livelihood.

2023 is a year to reflect both on the past achievements of the global human rights system and how we need to readjust for the future. We mark 75 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which set the normative foundations of a human rights based world order, and 30 years since the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights which reconfirmed the universality and indivisibility of human rights after the divisive Cold War years. Now faced with the catastrophic consequences of climate change, the uncertainties around the impact of artificial intelligence on our societies, armed conflict, increasing anti-democratic tendencies, and how many of these challenges continue to foster global inequalities, we again need a new impetus for a human rights response.

During the conference weekend in Venice, we will discuss these topics with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights; Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Representative for Human Rights; Margot Wallström, former Swedish Foreign Minister and EU Commissioner; Síofra O’Leary, President of the European Court of Human Rights; Rafaâ Ben Achour, Judge of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights; Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Amy Goodman, co-founder of Democracy Now! and Right Livelihood Laureate; Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency; Nnimmo Bassey, Chair of the Management Board of Environmental Rights Action and Right Livelihood Laureate; Verónica Gómez, Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Global Campus President, and many more.

This year’s conference therefore kicks off with an opening event called “Towards a New Era for Human Rights” on Friday, 14 July at the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe at Palazzo Zorzi in Venice. A panel discussion among some of our most high-level speakers is followed by a concert by the Human Rights Band (organised by Musicians for Human Rights) and a reception for the event participants.

On Saturday, 15 July, we continue the conversation at our Global Campus Headquarters at the Monastery of San Nicolò in four roundtables:

  • 75 Years UDHR & 30 Years Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action: Reflecting on the vision and where we stand today
  • A human rights strategy to overcome today’s global and regional crises
  • The climate crisis as a human rights crisis: Interlinkages between conflict, the environment and rights of future generations
  • Artificial intelligence & human rights

Please see here for the full programme:

During the conference weekend, the Monastery of San Nicolò also hosts two photo exhibitions of Global Campus alumni:

  • Lebanon – In a State of Unrest” by Stephanie de la Barra and Rebecca Steinbichler, Members of the Artist Collective Lachesis and Global Campus alumnae of 2022
  • Departed” by Christian Vium, Visual Artist and Associate Professor at Aarhus University and Global Campus alumnus of 2007

Event Contacts:

Imke Steimann & Giada Ferrarese

+39 041 2720934

veniceHRconference@gchumanrights.org

Press Contact:

Isotta Esposito

+39 041 2720911 / +39 347 2296001

pressoffice@gchumanrights.org

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