When did the World Conference on Human Rights take place?

In June 1993, representatives from 171 States met in Vienna, Austria, for a

World Conference on Human Rights. At the end of the conference, the States' representatives agreed the Vienna Declaration and a Programme of Action. The Vienna Declaration appears as the most recent reminder to States of the obligations they have voluntarily undertaken to protect the individual rights of their citizens. Even if a State has not signed or ratified any of the human rights conventions or covenants, it is at the very least morallybound by the Declaration signed in Vienna.

Activity 5. Write an essay on human rights according to the following plan:

Introduction (in which you state the topic) — paragraph 1

Main Body (in which you give arguments for and against, reasons and examples) — paragraphs 2, 3, 4

Conclusion (final paragraph summarising and balancing the points)

Before you start writing the essay make an outline plan.

Use the linking words listed below in your essay:

This is how you may start: Human rights protection is an issue which always generates a great deal of heated debate, with supporters maintaining that...

whilst opponents claim that it is...

Firstly,... For instance,...

Secondly,... It is often argued that... For this reason,...

Furthermore,... Thus,... a duty to impose certain restrictions on

All things considered, it can be concluded that it is vital...

The best course of action would be to attempt to achieve a balance between the requirements of... on the one hand, and individuals' rights on the other.

Activity 6. Give your arguments for and against in discussing the topic: "Democratic institutions are fragile flowers. They must be guarded and tended for as democracy carries within it the seeds of its own destruction by giving freedom to citizens which some will abuse". Do you agree?