Vootele Hansen, Chairman of the Board, Institute of Human Rights

Eiki Nestor, President of the Riigikogu

Mart Nutt, PhD, Member of Parliament, Host of the Conference

Prof Leonhard Lapin, Estonian artist, architect and poet, Professor Emeritus of the Estonian Academy of Arts

That small states account for the majority of UN member states confirms the increasing importance of their voice in international relations. As small states often cannot make themselves heard, they should take full advantage of one of their strengths – the ability to engage in effective cooperation.

Small states that are not burdened by an excessive state bureaucracy can be practical and flexible and adjust dynamically to change. This makes them effective partners for bigger states, because they bring with them new ideas.

Nothing threatens small states more than utter disregard for international law. But to protect this law, joint efforts are needed. If the rights of small states and of their people are to be protected, small states have to be emphatic in raising this issue in international fora. Estonia understand the need for small states to work together and is prepared to represent and protect the rights of all small states on the international stage, including as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Pasi Patokallio, Foreign policy and arms control expert

Jens Ole Bach Hansen, Danish diplomat, promoter of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Raimonda Murmokaitė, Director, Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania

Paul Teesalu, Estonian Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Evelyn Kaldoja, Journalist, foreign policy expert, Postimees

Traditional human rights are being forced into the background in a world where intolerance is raising its head and extremist populists are entering the political scene. Do human rights need new regulation? Is the emergence of populistic confrontation, disrespect for other people’s vies, and a xenophobic and misogynous world view a sign that human rights organisations should look for new synergies among international and domestic human rights?

Human rights are far more than a political platform – in today’s world, they must be considered as geopolitical, technological, cultural and national strategies that provide a guarantee for free and equal development. Moreover, the protection of human rights faces new challenges in the form of security threats: terrorism, disregard for international law and uncontrolled illegal migration that also entails human trafficking.

While states on the one hand must provide security for their populations under these new circumstances, they also cannot themselves pose new threats to human rights. These are the greatest challenges in protecting democratic values.

John Dalhuisen, Expert on human rights and refugee issues, senior fellow at the European Stability Initiative (ESI)

Jean- Yves Camus, Political scientist, expert on populist and extremist right-wing political movements

Nina Reiners, Political scientist, expert on international law

Prof Ph.D Alison Brysk, Expert on international law and human rights

Liisa Pakosta, Estonian Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner

Hannes Vallikivi, Attorney-at-law and legal scholar

The right to respect for privacy and family life is a universal fundamental right guaranteed under Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

But what is your profile on the Internet based on algorithms, that is, automated data processing methods? How do algorithms determine who you are, what choices you make and how you may be influenced?

The line between algorithmic recommendations and decisions is becoming increasingly blurred, resulting in automated decisions for which no one wants to assume liability. Digital technologies are already affecting our understanding, for example of the right to life, the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, the right to respect for private life, freedom of expression, the right to free elections and even the principles underlying the rule of law.

Who is responsible for human rights violations where a decision has been made by an algorithm? The person who programmed the algorithm, the person who controls it or the person who executes the decision? How can we preserve and protect human rights in the face of ever more pervasive digital technologies that are taking over control and control over our decisions. Do new technologies give human rights any consideration at all?
SEE: Dr Ben Wagner’s presentation

Giovanni Buttarelli, European Data Protection Supervisor

Helen Eenmaa-Dimitrieva, Legal Scholar and Researcher in IT Law

Vesselin Popov, Business Development Director of the Psychometrics Centre at Cambridge University

Ben Wagner, Expert on technology and human rights, Director of the Privacy & Sustainable Computing Lab

Luukas Ilves, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow at The Lisbon Council

Russia is an land of enormous opportunities. However, all these opportunities have been drowned in nostalgia and a belief in a special mission. This has demanded enormous resources, as well as resulted in much suffering both inside and outside the Russian borders. And yet, Russia has the opportunity to break free of this vicious cycle and develop into a democratic European state. Is there…
SEE: Survey by Levada Center “Image of the Future Through the Eyes of Young Russians“

Sergei Badamshin, Attorney-at-law, defender of human rights

Aleksei Gaskarov, Social figure and activist

Olga Shorina, Journalist, co-founder of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom

Harri Tiido, Estonian Ambassador in Finland

Raivo Vare, Expert on economics and public figure

The organiser reserves the right to make changes in the schedule and the presenters.

By invitation