Personal Human Liberty and an Independent State Governed by the Rule of Law, Founded on Democratic Values. 200 Years since the Abolition of Serfdom in the Baltics

In 2019, 200 years have passed since all people in the Baltics have had personal liberty. The serfdom was abolished (1816-1819) in the Baltic Provinces of the Russian Empire. Contemporary understanding of human dignity and of the safeguards for fundamental rights is inconceivable without personal human liberty. Only a democratic state governed by the rule of law, founded on democratic values, is the safeguard for freedom the rule of law, justice, equality, and other values of civil society.

The discussion on the importance of the abolition of serfdom in the development of civil society and states governed by the rule of law, founded on democratic values, in the Baltic Sea region in the 19^th c.- the first half of the 20^th century aimed to create knowledge about the process, in which the fundamental values of the contemporary European Union have developed. The transfer of the generalised knowledge and, thus, sustainability thereof, was ensured by involving the broadest layers of society in the work of the section (as the audience and the speakers) and by publishing the conference papers.

The conference “Personal Human Liberty and an Independent State Governed by the Rule of Law, Founded on Democratic Values. 200 Years since the Abolition of Serfdom in the Baltics” was held as part of a more extensive scientific event– as one of the sections in the 7^th International Conference of the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia “The Significance of Legal Science and the Future in Legal Systems. 100 years of the Faculty of Law” on 16-18 October, 2019 in Riga.

Direct: The Universities’ faculty members, students and researchers from the fields of social sciences and humanities – 41 person.

Indirect: Any person interested in the recent history of the Baltic Sea region, law, political processes and the origins of states – approximately 300 persons; however, this number could increase, in view of the fact that the presentations given at the conference later will be published in a collection of articles.

The conference “Personal Human Liberty and an Independent State Governed by the Rule of Law, Founded on Democratic Values. 200 Years since the Abolition of Serfdom in the Baltics” 16-18 October, 2019, University of Latvia, Faculty of Law, Raiņa 19, Riga.