Central European University
The Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, in cooperation with the University of Gdansk, the Milan Simecka Foundation and Transitions (TOL), hosted by the Central European University, and with the support of the International Visegrad Fundorganized a Roundtable on “Cooperation of the Visegrad Group in Preventing Mass Atrocities”, a pre-event of the VI. Budapest Human Rights Forum and part of the “Prevention of mass atrocities in practice” series of the Centre.
Background & Roundtable
The European Parliament adopted a recommendation on the UN principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (‘R2P’) on 18th April 2013 where it urged the Council to arrive at a common understanding on the implications of R2P for the EU’s external action and the role its actions and instruments can play in situations of concern. The UN General Assembly arranged a debate on the Report of the Secretary General on the Responsibility to Protect at its meeting on 11th September 2013.The Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities released a Report prepared by a Task Force on the EU capabilities to prevent mass atrocities in March 2013 and launched a dialogue process in Europe to discuss the challenges and tasks in that regard.
The reconciliation and peace process after the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995 calls for increased efforts to promote the reconciliation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The European Union makes efforts to support the peace and stabilization processes in the Balkans including Bosnia and Herzegovina. The above-mentioned processes call for developing the cooperation of the Visegrad Group countries in the field of R2P.
The Roundtable will provide a framework for governmental officials responsible for human rights and the Responsibility to Protect, and researchers and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the cause of mass atrocities prevention to discuss the contribution of the Visegrad Group to the on-going international efforts and identify the possibilities of building up relevant national and regional capabilities. The geographical and temporal proximity of genocide in Srebrenica is a particular challenge for the Visegrad Group that should better facilitate the reconciliation and peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Roundtable will consist of two panels: 1. Exchange of views on promoting international efforts related to Mass Atrocities Prevention/R2P including the capacity building in EU institutions and Visegrad Group; 2. Promotion of the reconciliation/relaxation processes by the Visegrad Group in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the aftermath of the genocide in Srebrenica.
Roundtable Programme
9.00-9.30 Registrations9.30- 10.00 Welcome speeches
Robert Templer, Director, Centre for Conflict, Negotiation and Recovery, School of Public Policy of the Central European University, Edit Szilagyine Batorfi, V4 and Central European Initiative National Coordinator, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hungary, Karla Wursterova, Director, International Visegrad Fund Gyorgy Tatar, Chair, Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
10.00-10.30 Keynote speech by Jennifer Welsh, UN Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect
10.45-12.30 Implementation of the Responsibility to Protect
Moderator: Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini, Director of Research and Cooperation, Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
Panelists:
1. Laszlo Bajan, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hungary – Cooperation of the Visegrad Group in implementing the Responsibility to Protect
2. Istvan Lakatos, Human Rights Ambassador, Hungarian Mission to the UN in Geneva – Possible role of the Human Rights Council in light of the Report of the Secretary General on the RtoP in the UN GA 3. Simona Leskovar, Slovenian Focal Point for R2P – Challenges of building up the R2P focal point network
3. Christoph Meyer, professor, King’s College – Presentation of the Report on the EU capabilities to prevent mass atrocities
4. Steinar Bryn, Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue, Oslo – Significance of dialogue in mass atrocities prevention
Discussion
12.30- 13.30 Buffet lunch
13.30-15.30 Challenges of reconciliation in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Moderator: Krzysztof Drzewicki, professor, Chair of International Public Law, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk
Panelists:
1. Zorica Maric Djordjevic, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the WTO and Special Representative of Minister-Ambassador to the UNHRC – The importance of mass atrocities prevention/R2P in the Balkan region
2. Drino Galicic, National Legal Adviser on Rule of Law and ICTY cooperation, Delegation of European External Action Service, Sarajevo – Transitional justice efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and perspective for an EU engagement
3. Francesco de Sanctis, assistant professor, Sarajevo School of Science and Technology – Punishment of perpetrators
4. Ljuljjeta Goranci Brkić, General Manager, Nansen Dialogue Centre, Sarajevo – Local experience to facilitate dialogue at community level
Discussion
15.30-15.45 Conclusions
Enzo Maria Le Fevre Cervini, Director of Research and Cooperation, Budapest Centre for the International Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
ROUNDTABLE REPORT: Cooperation of the Visegrad Countries in preventing mass atrocities
