Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action – Conference and Publication: Global Standards – Local Action

About the Project

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) at the World Conference of Human Rights in 1993, an international expert conference took place in Vienna on 28-29 August 2008. The Conference titled “Global Standards – Local Action” was jointly organised by Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR), the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the European Training Centre for Human Rights (ETC) Graz. It focussed on progress in the implementation of the commitments made by all States for the promotion and protection of human rights and reaffirmed key accomplishments of the VDPA, such as the recognition of the universality of all human rights.
In three working groups, the participants assessed the status of implementation of international human rights standards at national level; international and national perspectives and practices regarding human rights education; and the role of UN human rights mechanisms and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Practical recommendations to States and other actors were generated by the Conference for presentation at the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly.
The Conference brought together some 450 participants to attend the opening panel and more than 120 internationally renowned experts in the working groups. The conference proceedings were assembled in a publication titled “Global Standards – Local Action. 15 Years Vienna World Conference on Human Rights”, published within the LBI-GMR Study Series by NWV (Neuer Wissenschaftlicher Verlag).

Project Data

Country: Österreich
Persons involved: OrganisatorInnen: Julia Kozma, Engelbert Theuermann (BMeiA). Viktoria Wagner (BMeiA)
Vorsitzende der Arbeitsgruppen: Manfred Nowak, Wolfgang Benedek, Christian Strohal
HerausgeberInnen der Publikation: Wolfgang Benedek, Clare Gregory, Julia Kozma
Manfred Nowak, Christian Strohal, Engelbert Theuermann
Contact persons: Michael Lysander Fremuth
Lead Organisation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR)
Partner Organisations: Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs, European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC)
Project start: 08/2008
Project end: 02/2009
Project completed: Yes
Funded by: Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs, Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
Programmline LBI-GMR: Human Dignity and Public Security