By Martin Banks - 23rd November 2011
It is parliament at its best
Graham Watson
Parliament's president Jerzy Buzek has described the institution as the "human rights hub" of the world.
The Pole was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of a conference to celebrate the institution's Sakharov prize for freedom of thought.
The high-profile event brought together human rights defenders, former Sakharov prize winners and numerous human rights activists from all over the world.
The conference was about how new communications technologies can be used in the defence and promotion of human rights and how to manage the transition to democracy.
Opening the conference, Buzek said, "Human rights issues are always at the top of parliament's agenda. As the only European institution, elected directly and democratically, we feel particularly responsible for ensuring that human rights and freedoms are defended and promoted within and outside the EU.
"We want people engaged in the struggle for human rights around the world to look to Brussels, not only as the EU capital, but also as a human rights hub.
"This is why we would like to go beyond just this conference and consolidate our own human rights network: the Sakharov prize network."
With further fresh unrest this week in Egypt, he said the event provided a "timely occasion to discuss the powerful role of new technologies in the battle for human rights".
He added, "Moreover, it also gives an ideal opportunity to look at human rights issues in countries in transition, especially in light of current international developments such as the Arab spring."
Further comment came from Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson, who said, "Concern for human dignity lies at the core of the values which created the EU.
"I am delighted that this year's Sakharov prize was awarded to five activists from across the Arab world, including Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian who set himself on fire and unknowingly provoked the Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan, Syrian, Bahraini and Yemeni uprisings, and, in the first three countries, the overthrow of the authoritarian regime."
"The Sakharov prize, awarded once a year to individuals or organisations for their outstanding contribution to human rights and democracy, is an integral part of parliament's role as a 'megaphone' or 'loudspeaker' for the defence of human rights worldwide. It is parliament at its best."
Sakharov prize laureates present at the event included Hauwa Ibrahim, Wei Jing Sheng, Salih Mahmoud Osman, Alecsandr Milinkievic, Reporters without Borders, Zhanna Litvina - Belarus Association of Journalists, Taslima Nasrin, Salima Ghezali, Ladies in White and Oslobodjenje.
