Promoting Human Rights: Human Rights Defenders as Actors of Social Change

The Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights KIOS in co-operation with Kepa, Finnish Amnesty and The Finnish League for human Rights organises an international seminar Promoting Human Rights: Human Rights Defenders as Actors of Social Change 18-19 September  2013.

KIOS believes that results of the work of human rights defenders need to be highlighted and their role in social change. A human rights defender is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. According to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders from 1998 everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels. By organising the seminar KIOS wishes to strengthen international cooperation in making the work of human rights defenders more visible, supporting them in their work, as well as, implementing efficient strategies and tools for their protection.

Key facilitators of the seminar include experts in human rights representing NGOs in developing countries, and central Finnish and international institutions. The questions regarding human rights defenders are approached in the presentations and discussed in the workshops.  Topics under discussion include for example:

·         Who is a human rights defender?

·         What are the rights and duties of a human rights defender?

·         The invaluable role of human rights defender in peaceful protest

·     Regional and international cooperation: Sharing of ideas on potential strategies for Human Rights Defenders

·         How can we combat risks and work towards enhancing the protection of human rights defenders?

·         Human rights defenders in Finnish foreign policy

Seminar will be held in English. Participation in the seminar is free of charge. Refreshments, coffee and lunch are provided to all registered participants. KIOS cannot provide any travel costs or accommodation for the participants. Seminar programme and information for registration will be found on the website: www.kios.fi/english/seminars/.

You are warmly welcome to the seminar!

Time and venue:

18th September 2013 Kuntatalo, Auditorium, Toinen Linja 14, 00530 Helsinki

19th September 2013 KIOS office (auditorium) at Lintulahdenkatu 10, 00500 Helsinki

Please register no later than 7th September 2013 to seminaari [ät] kios.fi

More information:

Maarit Roström, seminaari [ät] kios.fi