Politics and
Peace Initiative
(recent
activity)
Human
Dignity
November 5, 2004
President Vaclav Havel (Czech
Republic)
Vaclav Havel, the first
President of Czechoslovakia
after the fall of Communism,
is a world famous defender of
human rights and was one of
the leaders of anti-communist
non-violent resistance in his
country. Following the political
suppression of the Prague Spring
in 1968, the future president
became fully engaged in the
dissident movement. He was one
of the founders and spokesmen
of the Charter 77 initiative
and became a leading figure
in the Velvet Revolution of
1989.
During the conference “Human
Dignity and the Failure of Communism”
Vaclav Havel delivered
a message of hope to the young
people of CEE. As a result of
his opposition to the regime,
President Havel spent nearly
five years in prison.
He shared with all the participants
that he has reflected a lot
during the course of his life
on the dignity of the human
being, and especially during
the time spent behind bars.
Where one is continuously humiliated
and has to decide at what point
there is no option left than
to rebel, regardless of all
the risks involved. The moment
in which one’s dignity
is in danger.
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