Conference on Human Rights: Let's talk about immigration with Dominique Reynié

Dominique Reynié took part in the 6^th edition of the annual conference on Human Rights which was held in Tallinn (Estonia) on 9 December. This event brought together more than 350 activists, diplomats, analysts and experts from Estonia and around the world to debate on the subject of immigration.

This 6^th edition was dedicated to two topics of international importance:

• Migration and immigration
• Propaganda, as it is linked to freedom of expression.

This year’s discussion also focused on the human rights opinion poll conducted among Estonians and new immigrants living in Estonia. The survey asked them about their feelings on human rights and their acclimatisation in Estonia. They talked about collective rights and propaganda, which have changed the pubic’s understanding of fundamental rights. In view of the migrant crisis, they asked themselves about “Who is European and who has the right to be European?” Lastly, they examined whether in a Europe with increasingly contradictory ideologies, the concept of human rights can still exist.

Dominique Reynié was accompanied in the discussions on the migration crisis by Thilo Sarrazin, a German writer, politician and former member of the executive board of the Deutsche Bundesbank. This migratory crisis raises questions related to human rights and makes many people doubt the fundamental values of the European Union. It also raises questions about freedom of expression. To what extent has the spread of extremist ideologies led to a crisis of freedom of expression?

Finally, the question “can a uniform Europe actually work?” was addressed. Populism has become an integral part of public discourse in our changing societies, and many opposing forces are seeking public support.