Nils Muiznieks, the new Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner, key note speaker on 25 January in The Hague

The Netherlands Helsinki Committee wishes you a happy, prosperous and peaceful 2013!

Our first public event this year will be our Conference on “The Future of Human Rights in Europe”, scheduled on Friday 25 January 2013 from 10h00 till 16h30 at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (Haagse Hogeschool). We are honoured to announce Mr. Nils Muižnieks, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, as keynote speaker of our Conference. Mr Muiznieks has taken up his post on 1 April 2012. This is his first visit to The Netherlands. Registration for the conference is possible on the dedicated page on our website.

The conference will address current and possible future threats and challenges in the field of human rights in Europe. During this day we will look at current trends in Europe and their possible impact on the protection of human rights. What is to be expected in the future? What is the possible impact of the economic crises and increasing nationalism and xenophobia? Is Eastern Europe turning more and more autocratic? What can active citizens do to foster the protection of human rights?

Next to Mr Muiznieks, presenters include people from academia (Rick Lawson, Anja Mihr and Bibi van Ginkel), civil society (Eduard Nazarski, Renate Hartman) and from official human rights protection institutions (Bob Deen and Vincent de Graaf, Kathalijne Buitenweg). Consultant Dirk Steen will introduce scenario planning on future human rights developments. Speakers from Russia will talk about the defence of human rights in their country. The film Justice for Sergei on the ‘Magnitsky case’ will be shown and discussed.

At the conference also the winner will be announced of our student essay contest on The Future of Human Rights in Europe (participation still possible until 6 January 2013).