On November 20, a high-level conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights began its work at the European Parliament (EP) building in Brussels. This event marked the opening of the “Human Rights Week” held in the EP from November 19 to 22.

The conference was attended by members of the European Parliament, representatives of international organizations, expert and academic circles of the EU member states.

The goal - against the backdrop of new global challenges of the digital world to reflect the basic principles of human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including such as universality, interdependence and indivisibility, equality and non-discrimination.

As emphasized by the organizers, for 70 years, international cooperation based on the declaration has contributed to the systematization of human rights in the generally accepted regime of treaties and norms. Efforts at the national, regional and international levels have brought a dynamic and decentralized network of civil society.

However, today it is increasingly possible to encounter uncertainty, nationalist rhetoric, cultural relativism, the violation of rights and democratic principles. The protection of existing standards in this field, the strengthening of the international system for the protection of human rights and the promotion of new norms continue to be fraught with serious problems.

The panel sessions of the conference examined the central role of the UN Human Rights Council, the protection of the rights of migrants, refugees, women and children, and the enhancement of international responsibility and the fight against impunity.

In addition, the conference participants are focused on issues of improvement, early response and responsibility in the field of human rights protection, the creation of national and regional institutions for monitoring activities in this direction, and the protection of human rights in the new conditions of digitalization and climate change.