Friday, 10 February 2023 at Swissôtel Tallinn (Tornimae Street, 3) in Tallinn, Estonia.

The Estonian Institute of Human Rights annual conference “War, Dictatorship and Human Rights“.

The Institute considers promotion of research in human rights and raising awareness regarding human rights in Estonia and the world its mission. In relation to this, the Institute has aimed to uncover new facets of human rights at its annual conferences, where value systems are contrary, the cultural background different and the approach to the topic reflects societal developments.  Will a human rights debate in the contemporary format facilitate developments in democracy or has human rights rhetoric become the defence reaction of powers who deny it, a justification to limiting freedom of expression and domination of an aggressive minority over the silent majority?

We have to admit to ourselves that the human rights movement is standing at a significant crossroads. Abandonment of democracy is spreading across the globe. In recent years, we have noticed more and more that democracy is on the retreat in many regions of the world and authoritarianism is on the rise. In Western societies, both left- and right-wing populists have used methodical demagogy to incite acute backlash and create an increasingly antagonistic atmosphere.
Nowadays, some countries are employing human rights rhetoric extensively, using it as an aggressive tool to undermine other countries’ security and authority, and to provoke dissatisfaction in those countries. It is claimed that defenders of human rights excessively emphasize moral principles, avoiding actual outcomes. It is a fact that people’s support to democracy and rights depends equally on the ability to provide economic and social protection, but it is achieved only if state security is ensured.