The 10 December 2023 marked the 75th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To celebrate this anniversary, the Austrian Parliament hosted an event on 15 January 2024 to discuss milestones and successes in the field of human rights. The challenges and developments in the field of human rights that continue to require attention were also discussed. The keynote speech was given by Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan.
In her speech, the PRIF researcher reflected on the achievements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She recalled the serious human rights violations that are currently taking place around the world. Hoffberger-Pippan also discussed how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came about 75 years ago and why it is a civilizational breakthrough despite its shortcomings in the area of economic, cultural and social human rights. The declaration remains relevant today, especially in times of social polarization and the dissolution of technological boundaries. She concluded her speech with a plea for civil society engagement that contributes to the protection and preservation of human rights.
Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan is a research associate at the CBWNet project. She researches biological and chemical weapons, including verification and compliance issues. Her research also concerns international law with regards to new military technologies.