Are Human Rights Universal?

Public Conference

• SHIRIN EBADI
  2003 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
• WOLE SOYINKA
  1986 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature

Wednesday, 10 December 2008 | 4:30 p.m.

Palais des Nations; Assembly Hall

To watch the video archive, please click here.

Nobel Laureates Shirin Ebadi and Wole Soyinka advocate for the universality of human rights at the 2nd edition of the Geneva Lecture Series

Geneva – 10 December 2008 - The 2nd Edition of the Geneva Lecture Series that was to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights gathered a large and diverse audience of more than 1,000 people. The event took place in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations. Two Nobel Prize laureates, Shirin Ebadi and Wole Soyinka, who were invited to address the issue of the universality of human rights shared their visions and engaged in a lively debate with the audience. The conclusion was unambiguous. Both Shirin Ebadi and Wole Soyinka put forward strong arguments in favor of the universality of human rights – the arguments that underscored the general applicability of the Universal Declaration.

Throughout her speech, Dr. Ebadi contended that human rights were based on universal values. The Iranian lawyer pointed to the necessity of a greater involvement of civil society in intergovernmental processes in the field of human rights. At the same time, she emphasized the importance of the so-called economic rights that are often neglected as part of the human rights agenda. She proposed a new international convention to eradicate poverty. In his turn, Dr. Soyinka explored the issue through the lens of culture while giving a similar answer to Dr. Ebadi’s. The Nigerian writer persuasively demonstrated that the “trap of cultural relativism” can and must be avoided. Cultural relativism has too often been used as a parade to justify discrimination between races, sexes and religions or oppose the diversity of views in society, he recalled.

Following the speeches and a session of questions and answers facilitated by media outlets sponsoring the initiative, Télévision Suisse Romande, Radio Suisse Romande and Tribune de Genève, the lecture proceeded with an open debate with the audience. Mr. Xavier Colin, Producer and Presenter of Geopolitis at the Swiss public TV channel (Télévision Suisse Romande) invited the audience made up of students, diplomats, civil society representatives and UN civil servants to address questions to both Nobel laureates.

The final remarks were made by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, which Foundation is an official sponsor of the Geneva Lecture Series. His Highness reiterated the main statement of the speakers by calling for “new forms of solidarity” in the age of globalization and a “scrupulous and universal insistence on human rights” in all countries around the world.

Press release - 12 December 2008