Challenges to Democracy and Human Rights in Europe – Forum for the
Future of Democracy
ArmRadio.am
11.06.2007 17:07
Today more Europeans live in democracies than ever before. However,
despite this unprecedented and favourable context, lack of confidence
in the democratic system as a whole is growing among European citizens.
Declining turnout in elections, political disaffection, distrust of
politicians and the challenges of globalisation, are all challenging
and threatening the very foundations of democracy in Europe.
The theme of the 2007 Council of Europe Forum on the Future of
Democracy is "Power and empowerment – the interdependence of democracy
and human rights". The Forum takes place in Stockholm and Sigtuna in
Sweden from 13-15 June and is hosted by the Swedish Government, the
Swedish Parliament and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and
Regions.
400 participants from all over Europe and from many sectors of the
European societies, including citizen-activists, will discuss a wide
range of subjects. The keynote speech on the theme of Power and
Empowerment will be given by Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights, as the first item after the opening of
the Forum.
The Forum opens on 13 June at the Swedish Parliament (Rikdagen) at
13h30 with a welcome address by Per Westerberg, Speaker of the Riksdag.
The opening speeches include statements by Vuk Jeremic, Serbia’s
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers, René van der Linden, President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Nyamko Sabuni, the
Swedish Minister for Integration and Gender Equality, Terry Davis,
Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Halvdan Skard, President
of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of
Europe.