Courage Against Power – Defending Women’s Rights Worldwide
Joint conference of the University of Tübingen, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Global Ethic Institute on the 55th Human Rights Day
In one out of every four countries worldwide, the rights of women and girls are under serious threat. Women human rights defenders, female journalists, lawyers, and activists are deliberately persecuted, intimidated, or even killed—particularly in autocratic and illiberal countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, Belarus and in certain countries across Latin America. They face systematic defamation, surveillance, and violence from both state and non-state actors. Such persecution not only violates their fundamental human rights but also excludes them from economic, cultural, and political participation, with repercussions for society as a whole.
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, and marking 50 years since the International Women’s Year, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Institute of Political Science at the University of Tübingen, the Weltethos-Institut at the University of Tübingen and the College of Fellows at the University of Tübingen convene an expert discussion on pressing issues and commemorate the vital role of women’s rights movements in strengthening civic engagement and overall prosperity worldwide. Against this backdrop, the protection of women’s rights and women human rights defenders—both at the individual and institutional level—will be at the heart of this international Human Rights Conference.
With this event, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is making a contribution to making the goals of the 2030 Agenda adopted by the United Nations in 2015, particularly in the area of human rights and the rule of law, better known.
Programme
4 p.m.
Welcome Remarks
Teresa Morrkopf-Widlok (Head of Global Themes Division, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom)
Dr. Christopher Gohl (Managing Director, Weltethos-Institut at the University of Tübingen)
Dr. Niels Weidtmann (Director, College of Fellows at the University of Tübingen)
4.10 p.m.
Keynote (via Video)
Reem Alsalem (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, its causes and consequences)
4.20 p.m.
The Assault on Women’s Rights in Illiberal Systems Worldwide
Panel Discussion with
Dr. Juliana Tappe Ortiz (Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer, University of Tübingen)
Veronika Tsepkalo (Women’s Rights Activist and Human Rights Defender, Belarus)
Frozan Akbaryaar (Women’s Rights Activist and Human Rights Defender, Afghanistan)
5.30 p.m.
Refreshment break
6 p.m.
Global Push-Back Against Women’s Rights
Impulse Presentation by ODI Global
6:10 p.m.
Effective Strategies for Resilience and Protection of Women’s Rights
Panel Discussion with
Bettina Metz (Executive Director, UN Women Germany)
Dr. Erika Schläppi (Member, United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Committee)
Aleid van den Brink (Member, Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence GREVIO, Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe)
7.20 p.m.
Concluding Remarks
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Abels (Jean Monnet Professor for Comparative Politics & European Integration, University of Tübingen)
7.30 p.m.
Networking and Reception
Overall Moderation: Janet H. Anderson (Journalist & Correspondent, JusticeInfo)
Find the FNF main page on this conference here.
| Datum: | 10.12.2025 |
| Veranstaltungsort: | Universität Tübingen, Alte Aula, Münzgasse 30, 72070 Tübingen |
| Uhrzeit: | Von 4 p.m. bis 8 p.m. |
