- Written by: Tobias Troll
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (United Nations 1989, CRC) is a binding international contract in the framework of the United Nations, and thus obliges legally the ratifying nations – indeed all UN members besides the United States and Somalia – to implement its provisions. This is a mayor milestone to recognise children, i.e. everyone under the age of 18, as citizens with human rights, and consequently responsibilities. Through this convention, children are conceived as subjects of society – like all human beings – and not anymore as mere objects of protection (Verhellen 2000).
- Written by: Illario Esposito
Ms. Illario Esposito, member of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth and Trainer in Human Rights Education, first showed a video about the Advisory Council on Youth for the Council of Europe dealing with human rights (see www.coe.int/enter). She explained that In terms of human rights education, the Council of Europe speaks about all the issues that young people are facing today.
- Written by: Bogdan Pammer
Mr. Bogdan Pammer, Youth Director of UPF – Europe, spoke on the issue of how the UPF youth committees around Europe are dealing with these issues. He first quoted the so-called Böckenförde-dictum: “The liberal secular state lives on premises that it cannot itself guarantee”.
- Written by: Fritz Piepenburg, UPF-Germany
Berlin, Germany - A European Leadership Conference in Berlin November 15-17 addressed the issue "What Kind of Europe Do We Want in the Future?" (Wie soll das Europa der Zukunft aussehen?). Some 80 participants listened to and discussed 20 presentations assessing and presenting possible solutions to the current crisis of Europe in general and the European Union in particular.
- Written by: UPF Europe and Middle East
An International Leadership conference on the topic "Europe and Russia - Partners in a Globalized World," was held in Vienna on October 12 and 13, 2012, organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in cooperation with the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) and the Women's Federation for World Peace.
- Written by: Mr. Jacques Marion, Secretary General of UPF Europe
It is a privilege to participate in this European Leadership conference here in Vienna, co-sponsored by the Women’s Federation for World Peace and the Academic Council on the United Nations System.
- Written by: Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, President, UPF International
The Universal Peace Federation is dedicated to the promotion of good relations, good partnerships among peoples, nations, religions.
- Written by: A.S. Azimov, Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia
We consider the issue of visa abolition for short-term trips by Russian Federation and European Union citizens to be one of priorities of our current relations with the EU. A breakthrough in this direction will be a serious achievement in our strategic partnership with the EU as well as a sound stimulus for developing economic, cultural, and humanitarian interrelations.