About the Conference Rights Work!

Rights Work is organised by Sweden during the Swedish chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, May-November 2008.

The purpose of the conference is to exchange experiences concerning systematic work for human rights at the national level as well as to give concrete examples and methods on how to implement human rights.

Sharing experiences

The ambition of Sweden is to stimulate and contribute to a discussion among governments, international organisations and civil society on different methods for ensuring that the reality within countries correspond with the rights proclaimed in regional and international standards.

It is the hope of the organisers that the conference will provide an opportunity for sharing experiences in this area and be a forum for discussion on future co-operation, both within and beyond the Council of Europe.

Four sub themes

Attention will be paid to different models and methods of implementation and evaluation as well as accountability. The conference will focus on four sub themes;

• National human rights action plans and base line studies
• Methods for mainstreaming and following up systematic work for human rights implementation
• Systematic work for human rights implementation at the local and regional level
• The role of civil society and national human rights institutions in systematic work for human rights implementation

Participants

The number of participants is estimated to 200 including keynote speakers, rapporteurs and moderators. Experts from member states of the Council of Europe are invited as well as a number of other states that have a particular interest in systematic work for human rights implementation.

Further representatives of the United Nations, the different Council of Europe bodies, the European Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, national human rights institutions and national and international NGOs are also invited.

Information´to the Media

Pressconference with Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg on Friday, 7 November at 13.30.

Accreditation cards will be issued starting on Thursday, 6 November at 08.30 at the hotel.

A press centre with wireless Internet access will be open:
Thursday, 6 November 08.30-18.30, and Friday, 7 November 08.30-15.00.