Fundamental freedoms of association and expression - the cornerstones of accountable, representative democratic systems – are currently under assault in many regions of the world. The rights of individuals to share information and to express their opinions are being threatened by a broad array of legal and political forces as well as by violence from state and non-state actors, creating increasingly hostile conditions for human rights defenders and democracy activists everywhere.
The 2010 Washington Human Rights Summit: Affirming Fundamental Freedoms, in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 18 and 19, 2010 will bring together many of the new generation of dissidents and human rights advocates with U.S. policy makers, officials from other democratic governments, and influential figures from the world of media, think tanks, universities, NGOs, and human rights and freedom of expression activists. The summit will produce an action plan for the Obama Administration, other governments and multilateral institutions in defense of democratic values and fundamental human rights. It will also give government officials the opportunity to hear from activists currently engaged in frontline struggles for freedom and democracy.