EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Human Rights and the Protection of the Un-empowered and Dispossessed

15th to 16th June 2012
Houses of Parliament and Royal National Hotel, London, United Kingdom

Since UPF and WFWP Europe launched their initiative to engage Europe's decision takers and opinion
leaders in their own environment by holding regular "Leadership Conferences" at key decision making
bodies across Europe, the most frequently utilised theme has been Human Rights. Europe has been a
major engine in advancing the global struggle for Human Rights and this is considered an immensely
important topic in Europe as a whole and one that people feel deeply about and easily engage with.

The first panel left to right: Baroness, Sandip Verma, UK Government Spokesperson for Business, Innovation and
Skills, Women and Equalities, Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in Japan, Dr. Yong Cheon
Song, Chair UPF Europe, Rt. Hon. Tom Brake MP, spokesperson on London for the Liberal Democrat Party, Prof.
Siddharth Saxena and UPF UK Patron Lord Tarsem King

This first day of this most recent E.L.C. (June 15th) was held in the 'House of Commons' which has, for
centuries, been at the centre of the battle for Human Rights not only for UK citizens but for those around
the entire world. Its halls and corridors exude history and gravitas and seem to demand free speech. All the
participants could feel comfortable within the unique environment which creates such a fitting venue for
cutting edge debate.

The first conference day included six very impressive sessions which required us to simultaneously use the
largest Committee Room in the House of Commons and a smaller room in the House of Lords to host in
excess of 250 participants from around Europe, the United Kingdom and the wider world.

The Opening Plenary Session was hosted by Rt. Hon. Tom Brake MP, spokesperson on London

for the Liberal Democrat Party, who has a strong interest in Human Rights issues and the UPF UK Patron
Lord Tarsem King of West Bromwich. Speakers included:

Prof. Akiko Yamanaka, former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in Japan is currently
By-Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge and an expert in Human Security. She
has been very supportive of our ELCs and has spoken in London in December,
UNESCO Paris in April and now again in London. She reflected that political
dynamics in the international arena have changed radically since the end of the cold
war and, as a result, it becomes important to examine where we are today in the tide
of history. If we are to change the past dependence upon war to resolve disputes, it
becomes very important for us to introduce the concept and value of “preventive
diplomacy”. – link to speech

Prof. Siddharth Saxena, expressed concern about the division of human rights from
their essential partner, human values. When we forget that rights and duty are
connected, solutions cannot be sustained. Prof. Saxena questioned, “do we
personally believe human rights are useful or are they just something we accept?”.
He suggested that we should ask this question because religion and politics have had
a tendency to devalue individual human rights. Prof. Saxena also proposed practical
steps that the international community can take to allow people to uphold their rights
in times of crisis. Natural disasters can, and will, happen suddenly. War can be
waged anywhere in the world in 6 hours, but it takes days to get food to people

affected by natural disasters. Standing funds, pooled by all nations, should be kept at hand in order to
provide relief to victims of disaster, along with political expertise, military might and medical aid.

Baroness Sandip Verma, UK Government Spokesperson for Business, Innovation
and Skills, Women and Equalities, addressed a European Leadership Conference for
the first time and she spoke with great honesty over matters in which she has a
passionate interest.

She shared that her interest in public life was awoken when a woman facing terrible
domestic violence poured out her troubles on the young Sandip Verma’s doorstep
and commented that, we must change the people immediately around us. She also
shared her conviction that, unless women have land rights and property rights they
will not gain their human rights.

Dr. Yong Cheon Song, European Chair of the Universal Peace Federation, testified
that the driving passion behind UPF’s concern with human rights and dignity comes
from the Founder, Father Moon, a person who has suffered from serious human rights
abuses and experienced for himself what it means to be un-empowered and
dispossessed. Where he is truly unique and exceptional is in his ability to rise from
such experiences, to not be embittered or disempowered by them but rather to turn
them into positive energy directed at ensuring others do not suffer such things in the
future. He advocates and practices the importance of forgiveness towards one’s
persecutors.
Dr Song encouraged us to; Search within the realms of morality, spirituality and
religion, to find answers and suggested that the long term solution is to be found in three main areas,
namely the religious sphere, the family and our education systems. For example The UN Human Rights
Council should establish an “Inter-Religious Advisory Committee on Human Rights and Human
Responsibilities” to bring the wisdom of the world’s religions to bear on this whole area. – Link to Pres.
Song’s Speech

Group photo in Westminster Hall inside the UK Parliament
Lady Fiona Hodgson CBE, Hon. Vice Pres. Conservative Women's Organisation, Pres. National Conservative
Convention receiving the Ambassador for Peace award from Robin Marsh, Secretary General UPF UK
Panel of the second session

A further eleven sessions took place over the two days of the conference. They are referred to

below with photographs of the speakers and links to their presentations or summaries of the session .

SESSION II A - Religious Freedom: Religious Minorities, Majorities and the State
link to report

Chair: Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke, President of World Congress of Faiths
Mr. Willy Fautre: Director, Human Rights Without Frontiers International
Imam Dr. Abduljalil Sajid JP, Chair Task-force European year of Inter-cultural Dialogue, President
Religions for Peace UK
Mrs. Katharina Grieb, President of the International Society for Human Rights Austria
Sheikh Rahman, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

SESSION II B - Human Rights, Torture and Sexual Violence – link to report

Chair: Lord Tarsem King of West Bromwich and Margaret Ali, Director UPF – UK
Mr.Keith Best, CEO of Torture Care – link to speech
Ms. Charlotte Simon Bongumba, Trustee TG Foundation (supporting rape victims in Congo DRC)
Dr Antonio Stango, SG Helsinki Comm. For Human Rights& UPF’s Global Peace Council

SESSION III A - Youth Unemployment a Threat to Dignity

Chair: Adam Nazar , CEO VIP Minds UK and UPF Youth Committee
Ms. Kanchan Jadeja, Chair National Council for Voluntary Youth Services UK
Ms. Maja Micic, Director Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Serbia
Ms. Carly Ward, Founder and CEO Young Entrepreneur Society
Mr. Keldon Alleyne, Youth A.I.D. Lewisham and UPF Youth Committee
Mr. Matthew Huish, Youth UPF UK

SESSION III B - Europe’s Role in Global Human Rights Issues

Chair: Robin Marsh, Secretary General UPF UK
Professor Dr. Maurits S. Berger, Chair Islam in the Contemporary West at the Institute for Religious
Studies at Leiden University, Sen. Research Assoc. Clingendael Inst. for International Relations
Ms. Sonia Ramzi, former Head of Promotion for Cultural Heritage UNESCO, - link to speech
representing Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, United Nations Secretary General (1992-1996)
Ms. Saoussen Ben Cheikh, Head of Mission Assistant for Doctors without Borders in Yemen

SESSION IV - Women’s Empowerment and Human Rights – link to report

Chair: Mitty Tohma, President, Women’s Federation for World Peace UK
Lady Fiona Hodgson CBE, Hon. Vice Pres. Conservative Women's Organisation, Pres. National
Conservative Convention
Dr. Krishna Ahoojapatel, President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
(WILPF), Chair Displaced Women Committee, UN Geneva – link to speech
Ms. Aisha Abdul Latif, Consultant for Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC)
Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, President, WFWPI- Europe
Day Two of the Conference at the Royal National Hotel, Russell Square

SESSION V A - Human Rights Education and Religious Freedom Issues – link to report

Chair: Mr. Heiner Handschin, Secretary
General UPF Europe 2
Mr. Peter Zoehrer, Sec. Gen. FOREF
Austria and Human Rights journalist
Mrs. Katharina Grieb, President of the
International Society for Human Rights
Austria

SESSION V B - Human Rights Education and Gender Equality

Chair: Mrs. Louise Rawlence
Ms. Manuela Mesa Peinado, Director
Center for Education and Research for
Peace (CEIPAZ) within the Foundation for
a Culture of Peace, President of the
Spanish Association for the Research of
Peace (AIPAZ)
Mrs. Martina Coombs, Adviser WFWPI-
Europe

SESSION VI A - Human Rights in a Multicultural Society - link to report

Chair: Mr. Jonathan Fryer, Liberal
Democrat politician, writer and journalist
Dr. Amiira Neff, Director Terre des
Femmes, Switzerland, integration expert.
Ms. Madi Sharma, UK Representative,
European Economic and Social Council:
Domestic Violence

SESSION VI B - Human Rights and Global Citizenship – link to report

Chair: Mrs. Margaret Ali, Director UPF –
United Kingdom
Sheikh Dr. Hojjat Ramzy, Chair of
Education Committee, Muslim Council of
Britain
Mr. Bogdan Pammer, European UPF
Youth Director

SESSION VII - Human Value and Dignity – link to report

Chair : Mrs. Cecilie Fortune
Mr. Jack Corley, Chair UPF United
Kingdom
Dr. Antonio Stango SG, Helsinki Comm.
for Human Rights, Italy & UPF’s Global
Peace Council
Mr. Timothy Miller, Vice-Chair UPF
Europe

SESSION VIII - Vision, Projects and Recent Activities

Chair: Mr. Robin Marsh, Secretary
General UPF United Kingdom
Mrs. Taeko Duckworth Vice-President
WFWP United Kingdom (15 minutes)
Mr. Mark Brann, Secretary General UPF
Europe (25 minutes)

Left: Congratulatory remarks by Ambassador for Peace Dr. Joy Philippou
Middle: Ms. Maja Micic, Director Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Serbia, receives the Ambassador for
Peace award
Right: group picture with Ambassador for Peace awardees.

June 17th Youth Training Day ‘Real Rights: Let’s Make Dignity A Reality’

The Youth Training Day is an additional day of the ELC targeted at young conference participants (age 18-
27) to develop their own ideas and their capacity to run initiatives. For more information please contact
youth.upf@gmail.com.

On Sunday about 40 young conference participants gathered for the Youth Training Day. These young
activists wanted to develop their own ideas and the capacity to run initiatives.

Group pictures of the UPF Europe Youth Committee members with Dr. Yong Cheon Song, Chair UPF
Europe, Baroness Sandip Verma, UK Government Spokesperson for Business, Innovation and Skills,
Women and Equalities, Mrs. Margaret Ali, Director UPF UK and Ms. Kanchan Jadeja, Chair National
Council for Voluntary Youth Services UK

Committee Members, Keldon Alleyne and Bandana Upadhya , started the day of with an engaging ice-
breaker and led throughout the day. Three activists shared: why they are involved in their respective
causes, which challenges they had to overcome and some of the lessons they have learnt through “living a
life for the sake for others.”

Maja Micic, Director for the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia shared about her engagement for a
more open Serbian society and how this demands her total personal involvement.

Lotifa Begum, from Islamic Relief UK, works as Development Education Officer for her organisation and
brings the message of Global Citizenships and Human Rights into schools.

Corinna Pummer, a PhD student from Austria, shared about her experience setting up and developing her
own NGO in the Peruvian Andes.

Next, Ilaria Esposito, member of the Council of Europe's Youth Council, introduced the participants to the
history and practice of Human Rights Education. Her colourful presentation balanced input and non-formal
learning well, leaving the participants with a better understanding of how Human Rights Education can be
implemented in their work.

This session was followed by two very interactive session on project management and funding. In total five
presenters (Adam Nazar, Shabnam Khan, Narraser Gordon, Iran Arif, Muhammad Tahir) offered an
interactive mix of group activities, short exercises, practical experience and management background.
Participants were challenged to develop a marketing strategy for an imaginary NGO, train for their elevator
pitch and reflect on their approach to funding.

The training day closed with a moving call by Haesul Fagcang (UPF UK Youth Director) for people to step
beyond the walls of their minds and take practical action to secure each other’s dignity. In their reflections
participants expressed their sense of empowerment and their desire to work closely together with UPF to
make dignity a reality.