Istanbul: FIDH 38th Congress
For a week, from Thursday, May 23, to Monday, May 27, Istanbul will become the human rights capital of the world, with more than 200 NGOs from 130 countries gathering together.
Belarus is represented at the Congress by Valiantsin Stefanovich, Deputy Head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, and lawyer Pavel Sapelka.
The main issue to be discussed at the Congress is “Political Transitions from a Human Rights Perspective: Experiences and Challenges”.
FIDH has chosen to hold this event in Turkey, and dedicate it to the issue of viewing political transition from a human rights perspective. Turkey is currently at a crossroads, with peace negotiations under way with representatives of the Kurdish people, after many years of bloody conflict. Turkey is also closely observed by governments in Middle East and North Africa, who have themselves only recently assumed power and are currently undergoing the process of political transition.
The Forum will foster exchange between human rights defenders and organisations from over one hundred countries. Participants will debate challenging impunity, strengthening justice, supporting institutions and NGOs, the place of religion, the role of women as drivers for transition, the rights of minorities, the promotion of economic and social rights, and the role of private businesses and international financial institutions in transition periods. Alliances will be developed and strategies for action identified on these key challenges.
