UDHR @ 75: Bangkok and Vienna+30 Conference

Human rights advocates from across Asia gathered in Bangkok on 28-30 June to mark the 30^th anniversary of the Bangkok NGO Declaration and the subsequent World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. Some of those who came together 30 years ago in Bangkok were joined by younger activists involved in defending human rights and democracy today. With the 75^th anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR in the background, this inter-generational gathering highlighted the role of civil society advocacy in defending and progressing universal values of human dignity.

In 1993, civil society in Asia rose to the challenge, reaffirmed the universality of human rights and called for a focus on poverty and the human right to development, international cooperation and significant reform of the UN system. The Bangkok NGO Declaration laid the foundations for decades of advocacy engaging with a reinvigorated UN human rights system. The context today is different with a return of geo-strategic contest, the climate emergency, challenges of misinformation and disinformation, and artificial intelligence.

Discussions were led by Nimalka Fernando and DTP Advisory Council Member, Professor Vitit Muntabhorn, who explored the pluses and minuses of the last thirty years, of the past, present and future.

There was a special session on the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar with calls for the solidarity that has been at the heart of struggles for human rights and democracy in Asia.

DTP alumni were active participants in both the 1993 and in the 30^th anniversary conference.