The "Forum on the Universality of Human Rights" will be held in Oslo, Norway, 21-22 October, organized by the Education Committee of INGOs at the Council of Europe, in cooperation with the EWC.

The aim of the forum is:

- To reaffirm the universality and indivisibility of human rights, in accordance with the
  Declaration of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of 12 May 2009,
  the Declaration of 1st July of the Committee of Ministers on human rights in culturally
  diverse societies and the Council of Europe White Paper on intercultural dialogue
  launched by the Council of Europe Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 7 May 2008;
- To contrast this with the diversity of cultures;
- The recognition that we live in a multicultural world is in no way intended to undermine the    
  common basis of human rights, which implies that all women and men are fundamentally equal
  in dignity and rights;
- Can we accept different “sovereign universal rights” in each country?
- Similarly, shouldn’t “universal rights”, laid down by some religions, all join together in serving
  this common human heritage?

The forum will deal with specific topics and controversial questions such as:

- Can there be a hierarchy of rights? Case-law of the European Court of Human Rights;
- How to resolve conflicts between rights;
- Education in human rights;
- The function of the Council of Europe.

The participants will have the honor of listening to, among others,

• Mr. Gérard FELLOUS, Secretary General of the French National Consultative Commission of Human Rights;
• Mr. Peter LEUPRECHT, Director of the Institute of International Studies of the UQAM at Montreal;
• Mr. Abdelwahab MEDDEB, Director of the newspaper Dédale;
• Mr. Solon SMITH, Doctor in Philosophy and Psychology

Participation is by invitation only.

For more information, please visit the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe