Welcome to the 2010 Washington Human Rights Summit: Affirming Fundamental Freedoms

Watch Vaclav Havel's video presentation here
Download the Plan of Action
See pictures from the summit

Washington, D.C. Febuary 17 - 19, 2010

Fundamental freedoms of association and expression - the cornerstones of accountable, representative democratic systems – are currently under assault in many regions of the world. The rights of individuals to share information and to express their opinions are being threatened by a broad array of legal and political forces as well as by violence from state and non-state actors, creating increasingly hostile conditions for human rights defenders and democracy activists everywhere.

The 2010 Washington Human Rights Summit: Affirming Fundamental Freedoms, in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 18 and 19, 2010 will bring together many of the new generation of dissidents and human rights advocates with U.S. policy makers, officials from other democratic governments, and influential figures from the world of media, think tanks, universities, NGOs, and human rights and freedom of expression activists. The summit will produce an action plan for the Obama Administration, other governments and multilateral institutions in defense of democratic values and fundamental human rights. It will also give government officials the opportunity to hear from activists currently engaged in frontline struggles for freedom and democracy.

Human Rights Advocates Issue Plan of Action as Human Rights Council Meets in Geneva

Freedom House and Human Rights First delegates who are in Geneva for the 13th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations today issued a Plan of Action developed by their organizations and dozens of human rights advocates from 27 countries to advance global human rights. The plan urges all governments, multi-lateral institutions and civil society to prioritize freedom of expression and association and to support the work of human rights defenders around the globe.

Human Rights Advocates Present Plan of Action to Obama Administration

Freedom House, Human Rights First and dozens of human rights advocates from 27 countries today released the U.S.-specific portion of a Plan of Action to advance global human rights. The plan, which comes just days after the group met with President Obama and senior administration officials at the White House, includes a recommendation that the U.S. prioritize support for human rights defenders and independent media through the protection of freedom of expression and association in U.S. foreign policy.

Welcome to the 2010 Washington Human Rights Summit: Affirming Fundamental Freedoms

#HRSummit on Twitter