Oslo Forum on the Universality of Human Rights: New Arguments for Defenders of the Universality of Human Rights

STRASBOURG, France, October 29, 2010 - On Thursday and Friday, October 21-22, the Forum on the Universality of
Human Rights was held in Oslo, hosted by the Conference of INGOs of the
Council of Europe in collaboration with the European Wergeland Center for
Education in Human Rights.

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Some one hundred participants attended the forum to study current
developments in Human Rights and bring together arguments in defence of their
universal nature.

INGO representatives and directors of educational institutions from some
twenty countries came together during workshops, round tables and
conferences. They shared their expertise and offered proposals for presenting
solid arguments to defenders of the universality of Human Rights.

This universality is now in jeopardy, and it is necessary to reaffirm
this universality in the face of attacks coming in particular from cultural
and religious relativism.

Experts and philosophers at the Forum, including Abdelwahab Meddeb,
Gerard Fellous, Gabriel Nissim, Alain Mouchoux and Solon Smith, explained how
religious precepts, political approaches and cultural diversity cannot in any
circumstance justify non-respect of Human Rights.

Their arguments are based on objective and factual data in addition to
historical and scientific information proving that Human Rights are not
simply the expression of a single Western civilisation, and that they are not
"imposed upon the rest of the world by colonial and neo-colonial powers", but
rather that they result from the uniqueness of the concept of the inalienable
dignity of Human beings.

INGOs of the Council of Europe have a crucial role to play in this area.
This is a role, however, which is under-recognised by states and
international organisations. The involvement of INGOs during the Oslo Forum
should give new impetus to the struggle to ensure respect for the application
of Human Rights. This struggle must be initiated through education. Often
cited in the various workshops, education in Human Rights is today deemed
insufficient despite the working tools which are provided by the Council of
Europe. Areas for further work and actions to be taken to follow…

Website: www.coe.int/T/NGO/default_en.asp

    Press contact
    Estelle Girod
    +33-6-78-60-31-56
    estellegirod@yahoo.fr

Video:
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Press contact, Estelle Girod, +33-6-78-60-31-56, estellegirod at yahoo.fr