Against a bleak backdrop of global turmoil, with wars and conflicts proliferating and a growing opposition to universal human rights, the High Commissioner’s visit to the University of Oslo provided an opportunity to gather a prominent panel to discuss various human rights challenges.
During his keynote speech, the High Commissioner highlighted that the Declaration is the most translated document in history and represents one of the most inspiring ideas of humankind. The High Commissioner highlighted that the Declaration already contains articulated solutions to current challenges and shows how humanity can survive and thrive. He called in connection to the Human Rights 75 Initiative for pledges that can generate innovative action. He also underlined that universal laws and principles are especially important in times of crises.
Following his speech, the High Commissioner participated in a panel discussion with Nina Reiners (Associate Professor at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights), Boris Tadiwanashe (President of Zimbabwe National Students Union, currently enrolled at the University of Oslo under the Student at Risk-program) and Aili Keskitalo (political adviser for Amnesty Norway and former president of the Sami Parliament). Catharina Bu (Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of Norway) moderated the discussion.
The panel debate aimed at reflecting on how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights can meet the needs of our time and advance its promise of freedom, equality and justice for all. How to fulfill these promises during times of a global set-back for human rights? And how to best utilize the global human rights system as a common heritage of humankind?
The panelists provided interesting, thought-provoking and emotionally moving perspectives on the Rule of Law, on how to hold authoritarian regimes accountable, restrictions of civic space, and the role of both regional and international bodies, as well as academia. The need for meaningful participation of affected communities and the status of indigenous peoples and other minority groups when human rights issues are at stake was also highlighted during the debate.