INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ECONOMISTS (IUE)

WORLD FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Nantes, France, 16-19 of May 2004

Delegation of the International Union of Economists, headed by Mr.Victor Krasilnikov, First Vice-president, General Director participated in the work of the WORLD FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS in Nantes, France from 16 to 19 of May, 2004.

UNESCO, supported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Labor Organization, initiated organization of a World Forum on Human Rights. During the Forum, organized by the City of Nantes, at the initiative and with the support of UNESCO and in cooperation with the French National Commission for UNESCO the most pressing human rights issues were discussed by the representatives of governments, parliaments, cities, UNESCO, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labor Organization and other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, actors of civil society, human rights specialists, reseachers and educators.

At the Opening Ceremony there were welcoming speeches by: Mr.Jean-Marc Ayrault, Mayor of Nantes and member of Parliament, president of Nantes Metropole; Mr.Bertrand Ramcharan, acting United Nations High commissioner for human rights; Mr.Pierre Sane, Assistant Director General for social and human sciences UNESCO; Mr.Jean Favier, President of the French national commission for UNESCO; Mr.Kari Tapiola, Executive Director, standards and fundamental principles and rights at work sector International Labor Organization; Mr.Michel Tubiana, President of the French human rights League, Mr.Joёl Thoraval, President of the French National consultative Commission for human rights; Mr. Alvaro Gil Robles, commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe.

“Sowing the seeds of thought to harvest action” was the guiding spirit of the World Forum on Human Rights. It provided a platform for free debate, exchange of knowledge and good practices for all actors committed to the protection and promotion of human rights on an equal footing. It contributed to reaffirm the universality, interdependence and interrelation of all human rights - civil, cultural, economic, political and social - as well as to their advancement. The Forum gave the participants an opportunity to establish contacts, to discuss, to network and to agree amongst themselves on possible follow-up actions. The Forum was not geared towards standard-setting activities, monitoring of implementation of existing human rights instruments or political debate. The Forum tried to bring together “theory and practice” of human rights in an attempt to explore responses to the current and future challenges. Joint efforts are indispensable to find responses to human rights challenges. While globalization has created unprecedented wealth and well being, it has been accompanied by increasing poverty, inequality and exclusion for many countries, groups and individuals from society life. It is concern of the world community as a whole.