Today at 6 p.m. the Farnesina will host the international Workshop “Protecting Human Rights Defenders: Best Practices and the Role of Italy”, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), under the auspices of the OSCE Italian Chairmanship-in-office.
Protecting and promoting the rights of human rights defenders is an important element in Italy’s international action on human rights. Human Rights Defenders play a crucial role in promoting a culture of respect for human rights and in supporting the victims of rape and abuse. Italy is firmly convinced that an active civil society contributes to building inclusive, stable and prosperous societies.
The Workshop forms part of the dialogue that the MAECI opened with civil society and represents an opportunity for a constructive exchange with representatives of the OSCE, the EU and of civil society organisations in the year that marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The morning’s agenda scheduled several plenary sessions focused on the OSCE and EU guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders and on the exchange of best practices. The afternoon session will be dedicated to the role of Italy.