On September 20th, a summit of European leaders takes place in Salzburg. Following the guiding principles of their policies, the ÖVP-FPÖ government has chosen the taglines “domestic security“ and “combating illegal migration“. Therefore, there is an emphasis on the planned sealing-off of Europe against undesired people and the intensification of social control and disciplining.

The basic attitude of the political activities and undertakings of the conservative and reactionary ÖVP-FPÖ government is the demolition of sociopolitical achievements in the fields of education, health, social security and democratic participation. They do everything they can to comply with the wishes of industry and financial economy.

Thus Austria highlights issues also emphasised by the European Union, which pursues broadly similar aims. To fuel capital appropriation, which has stagnated over the last few years, the European Union – along with the national governments – has taken more and more antisocial measures: It tries to make working times longer and more flexible, to intensify competition between wage-dependent people and to re-design social insurances in a way, so that they become profitable investments for financial companies. Instead of further developing fundamental rights, they cater to financial interests and at that accept the destruction of the already damaged environment in Europe and the rest of the world.

We oppose such policies and demand social, solidary and ecological initiatives:

• Social and political rights for people in Europe and elsewhere have to be ensured
• Peace and disarmament have to be ensured
• Legal ways for flight and migration have to be created, and the integration of people seeking protection has to be promoted
• Living wages and fair transfer-services guaranteeing a living income have to be created
• Working hours have to be reduced (30 hours are enough)
• Unemployment has to be tackled
• Open access to education, and social, cultural and democratic participation has to be ensured
• Industry has to be re-designed in a way that it is ecologically sustainable and public transport infrastructure has to be improved

As a reaction to the informal meeting of European leaders on September 20th in Salzburg, Solidarity Salzburg plans an alternative summit taking place between September 13th and 20th. It thereby wants to form an antithesis to the summit of European leaders, which puts its focus on security and the closing off of borders.

Event by Amnesty International

The aim of human rights education is to do its bit to establish a culture of human rights in Europe and elsewhere. “Knowledge, abilities and attitude” make it possible to feel human rights, which encourages people to become active themselves. Only who knows his rights, can stand up for their rights and the rights of others.

This is a task which is more than necessary in current times, in which human rights apparently lose their significance and are not protected sufficiently. Examples from practical work with human rights and human rights education show, in how far human rights are a powerful tool to encourage positive changes.

Speakers: Gudrun Rabussay-Schwald, Amnesty International Austria

• When: 13.09.2018, 17:00-18:30
• What: Talk and following discussion
• Where: Tribühne, Salzburg Lehen, Tulpenstraße 1