In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Human Rights House Zagreb will hold a public debate “Human Rights Defenders”, as a part of this year’s Human Rights Film Festival program on Friday, December 7, 2018 from 5-7 pm in the Müller Hall of the Kino Europa, Zagreb.
Respect and protection of human rights are the foundation of every democratic society. Realization of this civilization value largely depends on the engagement of active citizens: volunteers, activists, lawyers, journalists and trade unionists. All of these people of different occupations and professions are human rights defenders who mostly work at the local or national level, thus contributing to the promotion of respect for human rights in their own communities or countries.
At the time of the global trend of narrowing civic space accompanied by social delegitimization and demonization of human rights defenders, it is all the more important to promote the visibility and social importance of work on the protection and promotion of human rights.
On this occasion Human Rights House Zagreb will present publication “Rights of Defenders: Principles and Standards Protecting and Empowering Human Rights Work”, and a thematic report on the most significant challenges Croatian human rights defenders are facing today. This will be followed by discussion around pressures and challenges Croatian human rights defenders and civil society organizations dealing with human rights of refugees and migrants endure and face lately.
Panelists will be representatives of the Center for Peace Studies, Are you Syrious? and the Office of the Croatian Ombudsperson.
Working language is Croatian. Simultaneous translation to the English language will be provided.
