Invitation to a Discussion on “Human Rights Defenders Under Pressure”

The Forum 2000 Foundation would like to invite you to a discussion entitled “Human Rights Defenders Under Pressure – Challenges of Their Work and How to Support Them” that will focus on current efforts to use legislation to restrict activities of human rights defenders. The discussion will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 14.00 at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague which organizes the event.

The guest of honor will be Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders. Mrs. Sekaggya is a magistrate from Uganda and was previously the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (1996–2008).

Other participants include Wenzel Michalski, Director of Human Rights Watch Germany, and Monika Šimůnková, Human Rights Commissioner of the Czech Republic. The discussion will be moderated by the Executive Director of the Forum 2000 Foundation, Jakub Klepal.

Working language is English. Should you be interested in attending the discussion, please register by April 23 at pr-10@prag.diplo.de.

Program

Thursday, April 25, 2013, 14.00–16.00

Venue: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Vlašská 19, Prague 1

13.30–14.00 Registration

14.00–14.20 Introduction

Detlef Lingemann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Czech Republic

N.N., Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

14.20–14.40 Situation of Human Rights Defenders – Current Trends and Challenges

Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

14.40–14.55 Role of National Institutions

Monika Šimůnková, Human Rights Commissioner of the Czech Republic (tbc)

15.00–16.00 Panel Discussion and Discussion with the Audience

Margaret Sekaggya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders

Monika Šimůnková, Human Rights Commissioner of the Czech Republic

Wenzel Michalski, Director, Human Rights Watch Germany

Chair: Jakub Klepal, Executive Director, Forum 2000 Foundation

The discussion will be followed by a glass of wine.