Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 20 Years After Vienna

On October 3, 2013, the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) hosted a daylong symposium to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Vienna World Conference on Human Rights: Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 20 Years After Vienna. The symposium brought together human rights activists, academics, and experts to discuss the significance and achievements of the Vienna conference, present-day challenges facing human rights, and pathways forward. The aim of the symposium was to:

Historicize the Vienna Conference and emphasize the substantive and institutional achievements of the conference.
Highlight current challenges of the human rights framework.
Discuss forward looking ideas for building global 21st century human rights mechanisms that effectively hold governments to account.

During the daylong event, participants had the opportunity to engage in rich discussions and explore global issues in women's rights, poverty and inequality, and human rights, democracy, and the right to development.

Highlights from the symposium

Synopsis of "Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 20 Years After Vienna", edited by David Kalal

Keynote Address at "Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 20 Years After Vienna", edited by David Kalal

Full symposium proceedings

Keynote Address

Human Rights, Democracy & Right to Development Panel

Poverty and Inequality Panel

Women's Rights Panel

Poem & Closing