On the 30th of October 2020, the Student Scientific Association on Constitutional Law of the University of Szeged Faculty of Law and Political Sciences organized a human rights themed “Dream and Reality” online conference to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

 

The opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Márta Görög (Head of the Public Law Institute) highlighted the pivotal importance of the Charter which not only protects and upholds core European values but also represents solidarity and unity among the Member States. The guest speaker of the conference was Dr. Tamás Molnár who works as a legal research officer at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). His presentation focused on the significant role that FRA plays in promoting and protecting human rights within the European Union. Dr. Judit Tóth discussed the new challenges of free movement rights.

 

The first panel session of the conference focused on the fundamental rights granted in Title II of the Charter. This section covered a vast variety of subjects including the protection of personal data, freedom to choose an occupation and right to engage in work, freedom of expression, and the right to asylum. The presenters showcased their findings on pivotal issues such as cyberbullying, pro bono work among law students, and the inhumane conditions in Bosnian refugee camps.

 

The second session’s topics revolved around “Equality” and “Solidarity”. This section of the conference drew attention to a wide range of human rights challenges such as the death penalty in ASEAN countries, the future of child-friendly justice, and the idea behind the Housing First and the CSR model. The presenters have also demonstrated the legal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The third panel of the event was inspired by the “Citizen’s rights” and “Justice” Titles of the Charter. In this panel, speakers discussed the importance of a neutral state in an election campaign, the right to a fair trial, and the mechanisms of the Facebook Oversight Board. The closing presentation of the event was about the Charter’s implementation into the Hungarian Constitutional Court’s judicial practice.

The “Dream and Reality” conference has been a deeply educational and eye-opening event. The participants have not only shed light on complex human rights challenges but also made specific recommendations on strengthening and upholding the values declared in the Charter. We would like to thank everyone for participating and tuning in, even during these unprecedented times!

Written by Anna Kecskés and Luca Sevaracz, teachers’ assistants of the Institute of Public Law