On 10 December 2018, FDFE participated to the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in the Palace of Nations of the United Nations in Geneva.
The Conference was organized by CAP LC* and Fundacion VIDA* with the support of the:
-Permanent Representation of Estonia to the UN and other International Organisations in Geneva,
-Permanent Mission of Finland in Geneva,
-Republic of Philippines Permanent Mission to the United Nations Geneva,
-Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva.
There were more than 120 attendees including 20 Representatives of Permanent Missions at the U.N. and 25 speakers/moderators.
The general theme was: A Commitment from Civil Society.
This was held in the Room VII of the main United Nations historical building where the League of Nations (Société des Nations) was holding its sessions between 1936 and 1946.
The Conference was gathering:
-grassroots movements representatives from Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, France, Holland, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America, …showing their good practices in making the UDHR known and applied in society, starting from the schools, neighborhoods and public institutions;
-public and governmental institutions eager to inform the civil society on the ways they can collaborate for making Human Rights a reality.
The purpose was to encourage a worldwide network that will contribute to end human trafficking, racism, injustice, intolerance and discrimination through the increase of education on the UDHR (and the subsequent Conventions) to create sustainable societies for all human beings.
The Conference was divided in 4 panels:
The Chair panel was composed by the organizers and the Ambassadors of the Representative Missions at the U.N. and other institutions: H.E. Ambassadors of Estonia, Finland, Philippines and Slovak Republic.
This was followed by the screening of the award-winning documentary « The History of Human Rights » (www.humanrights.com)
The 2nd panel topic was: Education – Knowing and understanding the UDHR to apply it.
The topic of the 3rd panel: Faith based organizations committing to the UDHR.
The last panel topic: Activism and international organizations and institutions. It started by a human rights defender life history of a 70 years activist from Barcelona, born on 10 December 1948.
The FDFE Representative intervened in the 2nd panel. His presentation was:How to Sustainably Protect the Youth from the Drug Use by Prevention
« When we are talking about the lives and futures of the next generation, prevention is truly better than cure ».
Yuri Fedotov, Executive Director of the UNODC – Vienna/Austria
1. Presentation of FDFE
2. The World Drug Problem
3. The Youth and the Drug Problem, based on the article 33 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child
4. The Protection of the Youth
5. How we Help
6. In Fine…Recommendations & Conclusion.
This was a great Conference revitalizing the key importance of the human rights in our trouble world.
Find out more on: www.humanrights70.eu
(*) Non-Governmental Organisations with U.N. Special Consultative ECOSOC Status
