Human Rights Day Observed in Prague

T raditionally, the Czech UPF chapter celebrated the Human Rights Day in Prague on Dec. 11, 2014 by convening a conference followed by a panel discussion. The conference took place in the Cevro Institute in Prague and was organized together basic ideas and problem areas when dealing with human rights. He mentioned four areas: the definition of a human being as both spiritual and physical being, what is the origin of human rights (derived from the Creator or from the society), with the Civic Institute as a partner organization. definition of human rights (what are and what are Over thirty people participated in spite of a very busy not human rights) and finally he tried to outline the time before the Christmas. Surely they were base for the definition of human rights and their attracted not only to the topic itself but also to the applications. In he end he emphasized the presence of high level speakers including 2 members importance of a healthy family as the primary and of the Czech Parliament. primordial environment where we can learn about human rights, to respect others and have sympathy The conference had three panels. Interestingly there and solidarity with our neighbours. was no brake for about three hours from the beginning until the end because the speeches and discussions were very interesting and kept the attention of the audience and nobody wanted to interrupt the atmosphere.

The second speaker, Mrs. Nina Nováková, member of the Czech Parliament and member of the Subcommittee for Human Rights of the Czech Parliament tied up the topic and spoke about the In the first panel the topic was “The Significance of human rights in he family. In her illustrative the Human Rights in Present Time.” Dr. Juraj Lajda, presentation she advocated the idea that the human secretary general of UPF-Czech Republic, outlined the rights can be executed only in the relationship. The

quality of the relationship is very important. She and member of the Committee on Constitutional and analysed the relationships in the family especially Legal Affairs of the Czech Parliament spoke about the among the husband and wife and parents and application of human rights from the perspective of children. The quality of these relationships forms the a leftish a and conservative politics. He mentioned base for human rights in the society. In the family we that if we have social rights then our ownership rights can grow together. have no meaning. Too many various rights limit the freedom. We have the The second panel right for life but on the focused on “How to other hand there is a lot Apply the Human Rights discussion about the in Politics and the abortion and euthanasia. Economy.” Dr. Roman Joch, director of the Civic “Human Rights in the Institute, spoke about Social Context“ was the the true and false human theme of the last panel. rights. He emphasized Mr. Vít Zvánovec from that there are natural the The Office for human rights and social Personal Data Protection spoke about the national rights The natural rights such as the right for life, system of the courts. He specified the responsibility freedom of speech, religious freedom etc. should be of each level of the legal institutions including the guaranteed for everybody. Social rights, on the other Constitutional, regional and local courts. He hand are based on consensus in the society and mentioned also the European legislature and the depend on the fact if the system of courts. This was very illustrative because society can afford to we could see how the legal system operates and grant them (e.g. right for how the human rights can be secured through this living, work etc.) There is system. He mentioned that a judge should be a a difference between mature person. them and we need to The conference was successful. It was important that differentiate them. we could held this conference because very little The next speaker Mr. attention was dedicated in the public to observe the Marek Benda, member Human Rights Day this year. of the Czech Parliament