It is widely accepted that Europe hosts the most effective system of protection of human rights in the world. During the last twenty years this system has undergone substantial changes. With the accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of former communist countries, it now covers the rights of 800 million people in 47 states. This presents serious challenges for the European Court of Human Rights whose composition has significantly changed and caseload dramatically expanded. Further challenges lie ahead with the expected ratification by the European Union of the Convention.
The Court has recently reached several controversial judgments dealing with topics such as freedom of religion, the right to life (abortion, euthanasia), and freedom of expression. Some of these decisions have provoked serious debates in Europe. What is the future of the European system of human rights in light of those debates and controversies?

 

Opening Address: H.E. Mr Andrzej Jaroszyński, Ambassador, Embassy of Poland
Closing Address: H.E. Mr David Daly, Ambassador, Embassy of the EU

Speaker: Professor Roman Wieruszewski

Professor Roman Wieruszewski is one of Poland’s most eminent jurists. A former Member (and Vice-chairman) of the UN Human Rights Committee and ad hoc Judge at the European Court of Human Rights, he is currently Professor of Human Rights at the Institute of Legal Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences and Director of the Poznan Human Rights Centre. His current positions also include vice-chairman of Scientific Council of the Institute of Legal Studies, Professor at the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, member of the Polish Refugee Board, research fellow at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, OSCE Human Rights Expert, member of the Legal AdvisEvolvolutionory Board of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy in Warsaw, member of the Editorial Board of the Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, and member of the Editorial Board of the Polish quarterly "Legal Studies". He has been a Visiting Professor and lecturer at Marbourg, Mainz and Bochum universities in Germany and numerous Polish universities (Warsaw, Krakow, Poznan, Torun). 

 

To view the flyer for this event please see: Evolution of the European System of Human Rights