Seminar: Menneskerettigheder og EU’s rolle globalt

TIME: Tuesday, 13 December, 17-19

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, the Auditorium, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbh. K.

TIME: Tuesday, 13 December, 17-19

VENUE: Danish Institute for International Studies, the Auditorium, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbh. K.

The background for the seminar is Denmark’s takeover of the EU presidency in January, in conjunction with the events that the world has witnessed in the Middle East and North Africa for the past year. Despite the fact that there has been much debate and that nothing is yet to be taken for granted, there is no doubt that the desire for democracy and human rights was and still is the driving force for change in the region.

Therefore, the Danish presidency is initiated in an immensely hectic and critical period of time, since this is where the development of democracy in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt has to be properly implemented and secured. From a perspective inspired by democracy and human rights, it is safe to say that Denmark and the EU bear a great responsibility in securing this transition.

In relation to this, the seminar will open for a discussion on how the Danish presidency should and will concentrate on the global role of the EU and its responsibility towards the Middle East and North Africa.

Furthermore, it will be debated how in the future the EU can become more of a heavyweight in international politics, especially when it comes to the promotion of democracy and human rights – and is this even a feasible vision at a time when the EU is so preoccupied with the financial crisis?
You will have the opportunity to hear from experts:

– Marc Schade-Poulsen, Executive Director of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
– Anthony Dworkin, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
– Poul Nielson, former minister for development aid, EU-commissioner for development aid, member of the Council of Europe and chairman of the Danish European Movement (Europabevægelsen)
– Peter Seeberg, lector of Middle Eastern Studies, Syddansk University

Each speaker will have 20 minutes for their presentation and this will be followed by questions from the audience. The seminar will be open to the public and it is supported by the Board for the Advancement of Debate and Enlightenment Regarding Europe.

Sign up here.