Human rights

The European Union is often criticized by people like me for a wide range of alleged policy and administrative failures regarding human rights.  Today, however, I would like to use this opportunity to attest to the importance of Europe’s role in promoting and protecting human rights, which I can do on the basis of my own experience and reflection.

Distinguished guests, Ambassadors for Peace, Ladies & Gentlemen! As Chair of Universal Peace Federation in Europe, it is truly an honour and a privilege to be able to extend a warm welcome to you all to the European Economic and Social Committee here in Brussels and to our European Leadership Conference on the theme “What more can Europe do to improve Human Rights?”

Mr. Jura Nanuk, founder and president of the Central-European Religious Freedom Institute (CERFI) based in Budapest, Hungary, spoke on the topic of “Religious Freedom in Hungary and the New Law on Minority Faiths”. Mr. Nanuk said he was inspired to start his institute by an anonymous quote, “Sometimes I want to ask Godwhy He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, but I’m afraid He may ask me the same question.”

Human rights have high priority in our culture. Which role do they have in peacebuilding? Mr. Ed Brown, from the Stefanus Alliance International, was an effective moderator.

London, UK - UPF-Europe organized an International Leadership Conference in London December 8-10 on the theme 'Commemorating Human Rights Day 2011: How Far Have We Progressed?'

Intervention by Dr. Bashy Quraishy
Conference on the topic « Multiculturalism: A contribution to Peace ? »
United Nations Office Geneva • Room XIX (19), Geneva, 23 September, 2011

Report on sessions 3-7 at the European Leadership Conference Tour 2011 - Geneva, Switzerland, March 25-26, 2011.

Session 2: “Interreligious Cooperation and the Prevention of Incitement to National, Religious, and Racial Hatred” at the European Leadership Conference Tour 2011 - Geneva, Switzerland, March 25-26, 2011.

Session I: Human Rights and Dignity: A New Paradigm for an Intercultural World, at the European Leadership Conference Tour 2011 - Geneva, Switzerland, March 25-26, 2011.

Remarks by Dr. Aaron Rhodes, Conference on Interreligious Cooperation and The Prevention of Incitement to National, Racial and Religious Hatred, United Nations Office Geneva • Room XXIV (24) • 14:00 - 16:30, Geneva, 25 March 2011.

European Leadership Conference (March 25- 26) Opening Plenary - World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland. Welcoming address of Dr. Yong Cheol Song, Chair, Universal Peace Federation, Europe.

Statement by Prof. em. Dr. Christian Brünner, University of Graz, Institute for Austrian, European and Comparative Public Law, Political Sciences and Public Administration at the European Leadership Conference, Geneva, 24.-26.3.2011.