HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS

Female Quotas - Yes, please?

When: 21.05.2013, 19:00 -21.00
Location: Dachgschoß im Juridicum (Schottenbastei 10-16, 1010-Wien)

The proportion of women in politics, public service, in supervisory boards in the private sector or in government-related companies, is a current topic. EU Commissioner Reding's proposal for a quota for women in supervisory boards and the debate in Germany lead to the question: What are the developments with regards to female quotas in Austra?

The Committee of the UN Women's Rights Convention (CEDAW) has recently reviewed the implementation of the convention in Austria. On the occasion of the published results of this review of the CEDAW Committee, which call - among others - for regulating female quota, experts will discuss the question whether quotas are a strategic necessity to overcome gender stereotypes and discrimination of women. The event is organized in cooperation with Frauen:Rechte jetzt! (NGO Forum CEDAW Austria) organized.

The event is held in German!

Furthermore we would like to point out that the recordings of previous HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are available at http://zige.tv/.

Following the discussion, the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights would like to invite you to join the subsequent reception.

The series of events take place in cooperation with derStandard.at, juridikum, journal for critique | justice | society and zige.tv.

The admission is free, for logistical reasons we ask you to register at humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Past Events

A Life on Hold – Refugee Resettlements in the EU

When: 18.04.2013, 19:00-21:00
Location: Haus der Europäischen Union (Wipplingerstrasse 35, 1010 Wien)

Hundreds of thousands of refugees are stuck in limbo. They cannot go home because of war and persecution. Some end up in refugee camps that are unsafe and located near conflict areas for months, even years at a time. Others live in situations that leave them vulnerable, exposed to abuse or unable to access fundamental human rights. For some of these refugees, the only hope is to be accepted for resettlement by another country that will give them a chance to restart their lives in safety.

The European Union currently offers between 4,000 and 5,000 places each year, while some member states, such as Austria, present no resettlement programmes. Comparing to the over 50,000 places offered by the USA, 7,000 places by Canada and 6,000 by Australia in recent years, there is an immininent call for the EU to increase its resettlement places.

After the welcome address of  Heinz Patzelt (Amnesty International), Charlotte Phillips (Refugee and Migrants' Rights Team, Amnesty International/ IS), Christoph Pinter (UNHCR), Marcin Pruss (European Commission) and a representative of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior Affairs will be discussing the resettlement agreements and programmes in the member states of the European Union and their responsibility towards refugees and asylum seekers. The event will be moderated by Manfred Nowak (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights) The discussion is organised in cooperation with Amnesty International and the House of the European Union organisiert.

The event is held in English!

Furthermore we would like to point out that the recordings of previous HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are available at http://zige.tv/.

Following the discussion, the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights would like to invite you to join the subsequent reception.

The series of events takes place in cooperation with derStandard.at,  juridikum, zeitschrift für kritik | recht | gesellschaft and zige.tv.

The admission is free, for logistical reasons we ask you to register at humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at!

Beggars – legal entities of second–class?

Thursday, 21 March 2013 at 19:00 at the Diplomatic Academy (Favoritenstraße 15a, 1040 Wien).

The event is organized by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights in cooperation with the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” of the University of Vienna.

We often encounter beggars in everyday life – mostly sitting quietly at the kerbside holding out a tin cup. This mere fact is often sufficient for the media and politics to talk about a “nuisance of beggary”. Meanwhile, federal states within Austria have adopted far-reaching laws, prohibiting begging. According to the jurisdiction of the Austrian Constitutional Court only begging “in silence” must remain permitted. Beggars who “organise themselves” or act “persistently”, although these ascriptions are not further defined, are guilty of an offence according to these laws. To which extent this complies with human rights principles and whether beggars experience an equal treatment within the practice of law will be discussed by Christian SCHMAUS (Lawyer), Gabriela SZEBERENYI (Vinzenzgemeinschaft), Marion THUSWALD (“Bettellobby”, Beggars Lobby) and Barbara WEICHSELBAUM (University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights). Further invited is a representative of the Federal Ministry for Interior Affairs.

The discussion will be moderated by Sonja FERCHER (freelance journalist).

The event is held in German!

Furthermore we would like to point out that the recordings of previous HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are available at http://zige.tv/.

Following the discussion, the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights would like to invite you to join the subsequent reception.

The series of events takes place in cooperation with juridikum, journal for critique | Justice | society, derStandard.at and zige.tv

The admission is free, for logistical reasons we ask you to register at humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at!

Access to the Labour Market for Asylum Seekers?

7.3.2013, 18:30 - 21:00 Uhr

The opening of the labour market for asylum seekers is regularly discussed in Austria. Recently, on the occasion of the demands of the European Refugee Movement that has formed up in several cities in Europe – including Vienna, in 2012. A central concern of the refugees was to be allowed to provide for themselves. At the forthcoming event experts from science, policy and practice will therefore discuss the advantages and possible disadvantages of the option to open the labour market to asylum seekers: Margit AMMER (Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Menschenrechte), Aleksandra IZDEBSKA (Executive Board DiTech), Johannes PEYRL (Vienna Chamber of Labour) and Manfred WOLF (Austrian Union GPA-djp).

The discussion will be moderated by Sonja FERCHER (freelance journalist).

The event is held in German!

Furthermore we would like to point out that the recordings of previous HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are available at http://zige.tv/.

Following the discussion, the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights would like to invite you to join the subsequent reception.

The series of events take place in cooperation with juridikum, journal for critique | justice | society, derStandard.at and zige.tv

Admission is free, for logistical reasons we ask you to register at humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at

Venue:
Juridicum
Dachgeschoß
Schottenbastei 10-16
1010 Wien

Soziale Rechte in der Krise? Die jüngsten Entwicklungen der sozialen und ökonomischen Rechte in Europa

30  November 2012, 18:00 WUK , Währinger Straße 59, 1090 Wien

At the event Katharina Mückstein (FC Gloria), Manfred Nowak (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights; University of Vienna) and Lukas Oberndorfer (Arbeiterkammer; University of Vienna) und Martin Schenk (Armutskonferenz) discuss the effects of the global economic and finance crisis on social and economic rights in Europe. The talk will be moderated by Irene Brickner (Editor at Der Standard). The event is held in cooperation with the Human Rights Film Festival this human world.

The events series HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS is jointly organized by the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” of the University of Vienna and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights.

The talk will be held in German. A reception will follow the talk. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at

Is Punishment necessary?

Thursday, the 15^th of November 2012 at 18:30

The event will be held in cooperation with the Landesgericht für Strafsachen Wien. The HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are jointly organized by the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights.

If punishment is the ultima ratio; the last resort that a constitutional state should turn to, then what are all the other methods that the state must have already exhausted before one can justify the use of punishment? In nearly all European countries, including Austria, there are programmes where the focus is on victim reparation and acceptance of responsibility by the parties involved, with a strong emphasis on looking to the future. What can such a restorative justice-based approach achieve now and in the future? Could these methods of restorative justice potentially render the use of punishment as an ultima ratio unnecessary?

At the talk, Friedrich FORSTHUBER (President of the Landesgericht für Strafsachen Wien), Christa PELIKAN (Researcher at the Institute for Legal and Criminal Sociology), Hannes TRETTER (Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Nikolaus TSEKAS (Director of NEUSTART Wien 1) and Vera M. WELD (Corporate and Defence Lawyer) will discuss the role of punishment and what value it holds nowadays in the European system of justice. The talk will be moderated by Irene BRICKNER (Editor at Der Standard).

This event will be held in German.

The Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the reception which will follow the talk.

To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

The HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are supported by derStandard.at.

Venue:
Großer Schwurgerichtssaal
Landesgericht für Strafsachen Wien
Landesgerichtsstraße 11
1080 Wien

Menschenrechtliche Aus- und Umbauarbeiten des Hauses Europa? Die Rolle der EU bei der Beförderung von Menschenrechten und Rechtsstaatlichkeit in Beitrittskandidatenstaaten

30. October 2012 at 19:00

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna

At the talk, Claudia HÜTTNER (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Waltraut KOTSCHY (Resident Twinning Adviser in Montenegro), Barbara LIEGL (Resident Twinning Adviser in Croatia) and Gabriel TOGGENBURG (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights) will discuss the role and responsibilities of Europe with regard to the democratisation processes in EU candidate states. The talk will be moderated by the journalist Irene BRICKNER (Der Standard).

The event will be held in German.

The Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join a reception which will follow the talk.

To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

The HUMAN RIGHTS TALKS are supported by derStandard.at.

Venue:
Diplomatic Academy of Vienna
Favoritenstrasse 15a
1040 Wien

Monitoring Racism. Data Collection and Monitoring as Essential Instruments for the Fight Against Racism.

29.03.2012 - 19:00

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

The event is held in German! For further Information please see the German version of this page.

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

Opportunities and Limitations of the Legal Equality of Same-Sex Partnerships

18.04.2012 - 19:00

Panel experts will discuss both the positive developments and the persisting challenges concerning the equal rights of same-sex partners. The current legal rights and status of those in same-sex relationships will be analysed within the European context and projections for the future put forward.

The event is held in German!

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
University of Vienna, Marietta-Blau-Saal
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

The Arab Spring and Europe - Future Prospects

14.05.2012 - 19:00

A panel of Austrian and Arabic experts will discuss the role and responsibilities of Europe with regard to the processes of democratisation in the Arab world.

The event is held in cooperation with the House of the European Union.


Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
House of the European Union
Wipplingerstraße 35
1010 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

The End of Impunity? Opportunities and Limitations of the ICC and International Hybrid Courts

19.03.2012 - 19:00

The former ambassador David SCHEFFER (Centre for International Human Rights at Northwestern University School of Law, the first U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues) will give a presentation on his work at the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. This will be followed by a discussion with Manfred NOWAK (Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights; Professor, University of Vienna) and Renate WINTER (Judge and Chairwoman of the Special Court for Sierra Leone) on the nature of the International Hybrid Courts.
The talk will be moderated by the journalist Irene BRICKNER (Der Standard).

The recently published book by David Scheffer, “All the Missing Souls”, will also be presented within the context of the talk.

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
University of Vienna, Senatssitzungssaal
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

Global Business and Social Rights - Contradicting Concepts?

25.01.2012 - 19:00

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

The event is held in German! For further Information please see the German version of this page.

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

In the Defence of Human Dignity in Belarus: Church and State policies and Human Rights

19.10.2011 - 19:00

Our international guest at this month’ HUMAN RIGHTS TALK is Oleg Bresky, the head of the Department of Law at the European Humanities University and member of the Belarusian Human Rights House.
Together with Ingeborg Gabriel (Research Platform "Human Rights in the European Context";  Department of Social Ethics, Faculty of Roman-Catholic Theology, University of Vienna) and Josef Kirchengast (Der Standard) he will be discussing the human rights situation in Belarus as well as the role of church and state policy in this context.
The event will be moderated by Anna Müller-Funk (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights).

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

The event is held in English.

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” invites you to join the subsequent reception. To register for the event, please email humanrightstalk@univie.ac.at.

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

One school for all. On the way to an inclusive educational system in Europe

19.10.2011 - 19:00

The event is held in German. For further information please see the German version of this page.

Ten Years War on Terror: European Security Policies and the Protection of Human Rights after 9/11

20.09.2011 - 19:00

At the event, Walter Feichtinger (Institute for Peace Support and Conflict Management), Manfred Nowak (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights; University of Vienna), Heinz Patzelt (Amnesty International Austria) and Rubina Möhring (Reporters without Borders, to be confirmed) discuss the consequences of the "war" on terror for European security policies and the protection of human rights; the discussion will be moderated by Irene Brickner (Der Standard).

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

The event is held in German!

Following the discussion the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” would like to invite you to join the subsequent reception.
Registration: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna
Favoritenstraße 15a
1040 Vienna

The recordings of previous discussions are available at http://etalks.tv/.

US vs. Europe – Human Rights Standards, Mechanisms and Policies

20.06.2011 - 18:30

The US were pioneers in the development of human rights. Europe caught up and by now both are important actors in the field of human rights. Sometimes their approaches diverge. But who is the leader today not only regarding the level of protection of human rights within the US and Europe but also with regard to the external human rights policies of both powers?

On the occasion of the Stanford-Vienna Human Rights Conference `US-American and European Approaches to Contemporary Human Rights Problems’ from 20 to 22 June 2011 Helen STACY (Professor at Stanford University), James CAVALLARO (Professor at Stanford University), Friedl WEISS (Professor at the University of Vienna) and Manfred NOWAK (Professor at the University of Vienna, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Head of the Research Platform "Human Rights in the European Context") will compare human rights standards, mechanisms and policies of the US versus Europe.

In cooperation with the University of Vienna and Stanford University .

The event will be held in English!

Following the discussion the Rectorate of the University of Vienna cordially invites to join the reception in the University's courtyard which will be opened by the designated Vice Rector Heinz Faßmann.
Registration: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Location:
University of Vienna - Prominentenzimmer
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

The recordings of previous Public Lectures are available at http://etalks.tv/.

Human Rights at Europe's Borders: The Role and Responsibility of Frontex and the EU Member States

26.05.2011 - 19:00

The event is held in German. For further information please see the German version of this page.

The European Integration: Engine for Democratisation Processes and Human Rights? The Case of Croatia

Compensation for Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings?

13.04.2011 - 19:00

The discussion is held in German. For further information please see the German version of this page.

Facing Discrimination everywhere. The Situation of Roma in the European Union

29.03.2011 - 19:00

About twelve to 15 million Roma live in the EU. In recent years, several reports on discrimination and attacks against EU citizens with Roma background emerged. In May 2008, about 800 Roma had to flee from their homes, after about 100 people had attacked a Roma settlement in Naples with batons and petrol bombs and set it on fire. A recent study of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency shows that the majority of Roma in the EU are exposed to discrimination in all areas of life. The EU launched several initiatives in response to better guarantee the rights of Roma. However the announced infringement proceedings against France as a response to the expulsion of thousands of EU citizens of Roma descent were never launched. So, what can the EU institutions, Member States and European civil society actually do to protect the rights of Roma?

Welcome Address: Georg Pfeifer (Head of the Information office of the European Parliament for Austria)

At the event Nele Meyer (Executive Officer ESCR, Amnesty International EU Office, Brussels), Valeriu Nicolae (Policy Center for Roma and Minorities, Bucharest) and Katalin Brenner (Desk officer responsible for Roma inclusion, Directorate-General for Regional Policy, European Commission) will discuss opportunities and challenges to the social and political inclusion of EU citizens with Roma background.

The event is held in English! However there will be German translation available. If you require translation, please let us know by March 13, 2011.

In cooperation with Amnesty International Austria and the House of the EU. 

Registration: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Location:
Haus der Europäischen Union
Wipplingerstraße 35
A-1010 Wien 

The Future of the European asylum system – Which lessons should be learned from the experience with Greece?

10.03.2011 - 19:00

The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights on 21 January 2011 reinforced that the European asylum system is in need for reform. With roughly 90% of all detentions of migrants and refugees that had irregularly immigrated to the European Union, Greece carries the main burden of immigration to the EU but the responsibility for it lies with all Member States of the European Union. In the context of my last mission as UN Special Rapporteur on Torture in October 2010 I had the opportunity to get a personal picture of the devastating situation on the ground and on the basis of my fact-finding I proposed a common European reaction to the crisis in Greece, the immediate stop of all Dublin II returns and a general reconsideration of the Dublin regime.

Welcome Address: Michael F. Pfeifer (General Secretary ÖGAVN)

Manfred Nowak (Head of the Resarch Plattform „Human Rights in the European Context“, University of Vienna, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), who visited numerous detention facilities during his last mission as Special Rapporteur on Torture to Greece will discuss the future of the European asylum system with Ulrike Brandl (University of Salzburg, Member of the Odysseus Networks – Network for legal studies on immigration and asylum in Europe) and Hilbert Karl (Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior Affairs).

Moderation: Irene Brickner (Der Standard)

In addition a selection of the film material that was produced during the Greece mission of Manfred Nowak will be presented during the event.

In cooperation with the Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Außenpolitik und die Vereinten Nationen (ÖGAVN) and the Akademischen Forum für Außenpolitik. 

The event will be held in German!

Registration: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Location:
Clubraum der ÖGAVN
Hofburg/Stallburg
Reitschulgasse 2/2.OG
1010 Wien

The Rights of Digital Citizens. Facebook, Google and Cyber Crimes: New Challenges to EU Fundamental Rights in the Digital Era

19.01.2011 - 19:00

Panel discussion with Peter Hustinx (data protection supervisor of the EU), Bernhard Hötzl (123people.com), Hannes Tretter (expert for data protection, director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights, deputy chairman of the management board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency) and Waltraut Kotschy (expert on information privacy, former head of the Austrian Data Protection Commission, project manager of a EU TWINNING project on data protection in Montenegro).

Moderation: Sonja Bettel (ORF)

Registrations: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Theatersaal
Sonnenfelsgasse 19
1010 Wien

The Role of Civil Society in Peace Building Processes: The Case of Georgia

25.11.2010, 19:00

Claudia Sprenger (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights - BIM) will present the project "Strengthening European Partnerships for Crisis Prevention and Response: Civil society peace-building round tables for Georgia". This project was carried out by the BIM in co-operation with the Georgian International Center on Conflict and Negotiation and funded by the European Commission/Instrument for Stability (IfS).

Afterwards an interdisiplinary panel with Ursula Werther-Pietsch (Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs), Madonna Kharebava (Association of Disabled Women and Mothers of Disabled Children DEA, Georgia) and Barbara Winter (CARE International) will discuss the involvement of civil society in peace processes in general and in the case of Georgia in particular.

To register for the event, please email to publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at .

Location:
Österreichische Forschungsstiftung für internationale Entwicklung
Alois Wagner Saal
Sensengasse 3
1090 Wien

Public Lecture with Manfred Nowak: Six Years as UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

9.11.2010, 19:00

Manfred Nowak reports on his experiences as UN special rapporteur on torture.

Host: Peter Huemer (ORF)

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

Registration: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Diplomatic Academy Vienna
Festsaal
Favoritenstrasse 15a
1040 Wien

The lecture is held in German! For further information please see the German version of this page.

The EU's Asylum and Border Policy: On Human Rights Perspectives and Questions of Extra-Territoriality

23 June 2010, 19.00

A panel discussion in German language.
To register for this event, please email to: bim.staatsrecht@univie.ac.at

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Festsaal
Favoritenstrasse 15
1040 Vienna

Europe's Influence on U.S. Human Rights Policy

28 Mai 2010, 18.00

Key note:
Helen Stacy (Stanford Law School/Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University)

Panel:
Eugen Freund (former ORF correspondent in Washington, special correspondent, commentator, and author)
Manfred Nowak (Chair of the Research Platform, University of Vienna; Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights; UN Special Rapporteur on Torture)

Moderation:
Karin Lukas (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights)

A panel discussion in English language.
To register for this event, please email to: bim.staatsrecht@univie.ac.at

Location:
University of Vienna, Marietta-Blau-Saal
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

The Checks and Balances of Modern Democracy: The Case of Italy during the Berlusconi Era

29 April 2010, 19.00

Panel:
Franz Kössler (Journalist, Der Falter)
Sylvia Kritzinger (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna)
Vito Monetti (Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of Cassation, Italy; President of MEDEL –  Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés, www.medelnet.org)

Moderation:
Hannes Tretter (Research Platform; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights; EU Fundamental Rights Agency)

The discussion will be held in English.

To register for this event, please email to: publiclecture.human-rights@univie.ac.at

Location:
University of Vienna, Kleiner Festsaal
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

Election Observation – Fostering Democracy?
Potentials and Limitations of International Electoral Support: The Case of Sudan

31 March 2010, 19.00

On the occasion of the forthcoming Sudanese elections in April 2010 Christina Binder (Legal Expert in the EU Election Observation Mission to Sudan, Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context”), Yonsif El Kordofani (Sudanese Ambassador in Austria), Armin Rabitsch (EU and OSCE election observation and assistance expert) and Adelheid Wölfl (Foreign Editor, Der Standard) will be discussing the opportunities, potentials as well as the limitations of electoral support of the international community using the example of the Sudanese elections. The discussion will be moderated by Christina Sommer (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights).

A panel discussion in English language.
To register for this event, please email to: bim.staatsrecht@univie.ac.at

Location:
University of Vienna, Elise-Richter-Saal
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1
1010 Vienna

Women's Rights - The Unknown Factor?

24.2.2010, 19.00

A panel discussion (in German language) in cooperation with the Austrian NGO-CEDAW-Commitee.

For further information please see the German version of this page.

Climate change, environmental refugees, prevention measures: Human rights aspects and the role of Europe

13.01.2010, 19.00

In German language - for more information please see the German version of this page.

Deportations - unavoidable?
Historical perspectives and present challenges.

9.12.2009, 19.00

In German language - for more information please see the German version of this page.

Positive Action Measures - Is unequal treatment necessary for equality ?

19.11.2009, 19.00

In German language - for more information please see the German version of this page.

National Human Rights Institutions in Europe: Status Quo Vadis?

04.11.2009, 19:00

Panel discussion (in English) on the role of national human rights institutions in the formulation and implementation of human rights policies:

Jonas Grimheden (Author of the Study „National Human Rights Institutions in Europe“, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - FRA)
Gerhard Hesse (Deputy Cabinet Chief of the Federal Chancellor, Federal Chancellery of the Republic of Austria),
Morton Kjaerum (Director European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - FRA)
Ursula Kriebaum (Research Platform, Department of European,
International and Comparative Law)
Hannes Tretter (Research Platform, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, FRA)

Location:
Diplomatic Academy Vienna, Festsaal
Favoritenstrasse 15a
1040 Wien

To register for this event, please email: anna.mueller-funk@univie.ac.at

In cooperation with the Diplomatic Academy Vienna.

The Global Financial Crisis’ Impact on the Human Rights Accountability of Companies

1st September 2009, 19:30, followed by a reception

Welcome Address: Georg Winckler (Rector of the University of Vienna)

Book presentation: Karin Lukas (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights), Gerald Muther (Neuer Wissenschaftlicher Verlag) and Hannes Tretter (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights) - „Menschenrechte und Wirtschaft” (Karin Lukas und Franz-Josef Hutter, NWV 2009)

Patrick Davis, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Birgit Forstnig-Errath, International Business Leaders Forum
Stefan Kerl, Clean Clothes
Karin Lukas, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, EU-Project LARRGE
Tom Sorell, Centre for the Study of Global Ethics, University of Birmingham

Moderation: Manfred Nowak (Chair of the Research Platform, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights)

Palais Strudlhof
Room: Schrödinger/Freud/Barany
Strudelhofgasse 10
1090 Wien

To register for the event, please email bim.staatsrecht@univie.ac.at

Democratic Governance, Development and Human Rights
Round table in cooperation with the Austrian Development Agency

7 July 2009, 18.30

Welcome Address:
Heinz W. Engl, Vice-Rector of the University of Vienna

Panel:
Sanji Mmasenono Monageng (Botswana), Hon. Judge at the International Criminal Court Chair, African Commission on Human Rights

Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia), Member of the Regional Working Group for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Dorota Gierycz (Poland), Senior Fellow, European Center for Human Rights and Democratization (EIUC), Former Director of the Human Rights Section, UN Mission to Liberia (UNMIL)

Patrick van Weerelt (The Netherlands), Human Rights Advisor, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP New York

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil), Commissioner at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Former Independent Expert of the UN SG on Violence against Children, Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar

Franziska Walter (Austria), Governance & Human Rights Advisor, Austrian Development Agency (ADA)

Moderator:
Manfred Nowak (Austria), Chair of the Research Platform University of Vienna, Director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

The conceptual convergence of development principles and human rights has gained momentum over the past decade. In the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, the Heads of State and Government reaffirmed that “democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing”.
With the initiative to mainstream human rights across all UN agencies, it has increasingly been recognised that democracy and human rights are not merely an outcome of development, but rather critical to its success. In the context of the current economic crisis, the role of human rights for democratic governance and development is all the more important, as it emphasises the need to focus on those vulnerable and marginalised groups, which are likely to bear the burden of cuts in expenditure and services by governments.

Against this background, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights in Vienna (BIM) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are cooperating on a project which brings together Austrian and international experts from the fields of human rights and development to discuss the role of human rights in governance assistance.
Through its Public Lecture Series, the Research Platform “Human Rights in the European Context” together with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) would like to use this unique meeting of national and international experts to invite the interested public to a high-level roundtable discussion on the current promises and challenges in linking human rights and development cooperation in the field of democratic governance.

The round table will be held in English. It will be followed by a reception.
Dachgeschoß Juridicum, Schottenbastei 10-16, 1010 Vienna

Der Europäische Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte: Wie groß ist die Durchschlagskraft der „obersten Instanz“ in Menschenrechtsfragen?
Studienpräsentation und Podiumsdiskussion - in Kooperation mit dem Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Menschenrechte

15 June 2009, 18.00 - 20.00

The presentation will be held in German - for further information please see the German version of this website.

Minority Rights and Current Religious Gender Perspectives

28 May 2009, 3 - 5 p.m.

Topic 1 - Minority Rights

Mr. I Gede Dewa Palguna, lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Udayana University (Bali)
Mr. René Kuppe, Department of Legal Philosophy, Law of Religion and Culture, University of Vienna

Topic 2 - Current Religious Gender Perspectives

Ms. Siti Musdah Mulia, Research Professor of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Lecturer at the School of Graduate Studies of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University
Ms. Ingeborg Gabriel, Head of the Department of Social Ethics, Faculty of Roman-Catholic Theology, University of Vienna

Chair: Mr. Stefan Hammer, Department of Public Law, University of Vienna

The Lecture will be held in English.

University of Vienna, Marietta-Blau-Saal   
Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 1   
1010 Vienna

In cooperation with: