Europe, Justice & Peace

Justice & Peace as leitmotiv through European history since 1948. What can we do to promote justice and peace in this currently polarized world?

From 7-10 May 1948 nearly 800 participants, varying from politicians, representatives from trade unions, trade and industry to philosophers, theologians, journalists and academics from all over (mainly) Western Europe came together in The Hague for the International Congress of The Hague. The Congress led to several outcomes among which a Political Report that is often said to be the forerunner of the European unification project. Peace and justice play the leading role. The Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights are two of its direct institutional outcomes.

(Re)Modelling the New Europe with surprising accurate insights of past and present will soothen polarization and foster justice and peace for now and for the future. The importance of personal virtuous leadership in connection with the common good also beyond borders seems to be ever more the way to go and the way of hope for Europe and its role in the world.

Speakers:

Frans Alting von Geusau, professor emeritus of European and international law, and Western Cooperation, universities of Leiden and Tilburg. None of the deep wounds of the Second World War had been healed and a new East-West war was thought to be imminent, when the Congress of the Hague assembled in May 1948. The spirit of 1948 changed the history of Europe with its call for unity and a Charter of Human Rights. What can we learn from it at a time nationalist populists insist on forgetting the past?

Francisco Jiménez Villarejo, Mr., National Member for Spain and former Vice-President of Eurojust: will explain what Eurojust does to foster justice and peace in Europe & how to soothen the polarized interests and attitudes. The need of ethical behaviour.

Jolanda van Vliet, lecturer The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) & Dual PhD Candidate Leiden University: will focus on Environmental migrants, the complex and often conflictive combination of human rights and migration rights and the need not to lose sight of the humane factor.

Judith Karels, (MSc) project Manager Good Hotel Group & Shana Atangana Bekono, Law & Security Programme (THUAS): will give an interpretation on Europe as a global player.

Margriet Krijtenburg, PhD, researcher & lecturer at European Studies Programme (THUAS): will link the core principles of European integration with Personal Leadership.

Academics and others will give their insights: The introductions will be 15-20 minutes each and be followed by a 15-20 minutes discussion. Musical intermezzos and a delicious European lunch will accompany the Symposium.

Programme Saturday 27 January

10.30 Doors open, Registration & coffee

11.00 Welcome: Mr. René Guldenmund

11.10 Prof. dr. F.A.M. Alting von Geusau

11.40 Question time

12.00 Mr. FJiménez Villarejo

12.30 Question time followed by lunchbuffet

14.00 Judith Karels & Shana Atangana Bekono

14.15 Questions from the public

14.30 Jolanda van Vliet

14.45 Question time

15.00 Margriet Krijtenburg

15.15 Question time

15.30 Musical intermezzo

15.40 Debate with public

16.00 End

Moderator: Mr. René Guldenmund

René Guldenmund is an international lawyer, specialised in the implementation and enforcement of EU-law. He was a researcher at the Faculty of Law at Utrecht University and worked for many years as a senior legislative lawyer at the ministries of agriculture and economic affairs in The Netherlands. Currently he is a member of the delegation of the Holy See in several international organisations and works on a thesis about the freedom of religion (“God in Public Space”).