On-site Valedictory lecture Prof. dr. A. (Fons) P.M. Coomans
Extraordinary professor Human Rights and Peace
"Towards 2122 and Beyond: Developing the Human Rights of Future Generations"
Today it is abundantly clear that the planet is in crisis: the future of mankind is at stake in light of ongoing and very serious threats: climate change, the depletion of natural resources, the risk of nuclear conflict, loss of biodiversity, and a heavy burden of financial debts put on future generations. Do members of future generations, even if they do not exist yet, have human rights and what is the nature of obligations of present states to secure these rights? In my valedictory lecture I will explain why future generations do indeed have human rights and what is needed to respect and protect these rights, such as applying the precautionary principle in all matters that will affect the lives of members of future generations. These human rights can be included in a legal expert opinion which can be used as input for the work of the international human rights community. The initiative to draft an expert opinion fits in well in the tradition of pushing human rights law further through standard-setting documents in the field of human rights that have been developed in Maastricht since 1986.
