Human Rights in the Baltic Countries: Accomplishments and Challenges

November 15 – 16, 2018

Tallinn, Estonia

--------- Call for Papers ---------

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have all joined the main global and regional human rights instruments and are viewed as compliant with their international human rights obligations. Yet there has not been a comprehensive comparative analysis of the human rights situation in the three Baltic countries. This conference will review trends and developments in the Baltic countries since the restoration of independence until the present day.

The two-day conference will be divided into two overall themes, each with two sessions. Day I will focus on Legal framework and processes, with sessions on The European Court of Human Rights and Domestic protection of human rights. Day II will focus on Actors and challenges, with sessions on Old and new human rights actors, and Current and future challenges.

Presentations at Day I will be by invitation only. Day II will be open to presentations from academics, PhD students and practitioners. With this Call for Papers, we invite presentations that explore the following questions:

Who are the main actors working for the promotion of human rights in the three countries?
What are the current and future challenges in the continuous protection of human rights?

We are particularly interested in presentations that focus on the role of government, business, civil society and media as actors in the human rights system, the impact of the migration crisis on human rights, minority rights, and sexual orientation and gender identity rights.

A total of 8 presentations will be accepted. Each speaker will have 20 minutes for his/her presentation followed by the comments of a discussant and an open discussion.

Application and registration

In order to apply, please send an email to Carsten Wulff, wulffc@tlu.ee, with your name, institutional affiliation and the theme/session you are interested in, together with a 500 word abstract by 01 August 2018. You will receive an answer from the organizers by 21 August 2018.

Travel and accommodation

Funding for travel expenses and accommodation in Tallinn is available via the HURMUR fund for successful applicants. In your application, please indicate whether you would like to apply for funding.

Organisers and funding

The conference is organised in cooperation between Tallinn University and the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The course is part of HURMUR (Human Rights Raising Excellence), an EU twinning cooperation between the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Tallinn University and Kiel University funded by the European Commission.

Additional information:

If you have any questions about the conference and arrangements, contact us:

Carsten Wulff:

E-mail: wulffc@tlu.ee

Conference Programme

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2018: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND PROCESSES

9:00 Welcome

Mart Susi, Professor of Human Rights Law, School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University

9:15 Keynote speech

Mikael Rask Madsen, Director of Centre for Excellence of International Courts, University of Copenhagen

10.00 Session 1: Baltic countries and Europe (the Strasbourg view)

Overview and lessons of the Lithuanian cases in the Strasbourg Court

Egidijus Kuris, Judge, Euroepan Court of Human Rights

Overview and lessons of the Latvian cases in the Strasbourg Court

Kristine Lice, Representative of Latvia before the European Court of Human Rights

Overview and lessons of the Estonian cases in the Strasbourg Court

Maris Kuurberg, Representative of Estonia before the European Court of Human Rights

Each presentation will conclude with a QA and discussion

Coffee break at around 11:30

12.45 Lunch
14.00 Session 2: Domestic protection of human rights

Remedies against human rights violations in Lithuania

Rimvydas Norkus, President of the Supreme Court of Lithuania

Remedies against human rights violations in Estonia

Priit Pikamäe, Chairman of the Supreme Court of Estonia

Remedies against human rights violations in Latvia

Arturs Kućs, Judge at the Constitutional Court of Latvia

Each presentation will conclude with a QA and discussion

Coffee break at around 15:30
16.45 Wrapping up

Tiina Pajuste, Associate Professor, School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2018: ACTORS AND CHALLENGES

9:00 Welcome and summing up from yesterday

Hans-Otto Sano, Director of Research, Danish Institute for Human Rights

9:15 Keynote speech

Sirpa Rautio, Director of the Finnish Human Rights Centre

10.00 Session 3: Old and new human rights actors

Presentations on the role of e.g. government, business, civil society and media as human rights actors

Coffee break at around 11:30
12.45 Lunch break
14.00 Session 4: Current and future challenges

Presentations on current and future human rights, including e.g. human rights and new technologies; the impact of the migration crisis; minority rights; and sexual orientation and gender identity

Coffee break at around 15:30
16:45 Closing remarks