Czech Centre Taipei and Sinopsis cordially invite you to the conference The Václav Havel Dialogues: Human Rights and Responsibility in a Changing World, which will take place on 3 June at the Center for Public and Business Administration Education of National Chengchi University.
The conference, organised by the Czech Centre Taipei and Sinopsis, commemorates what would have been Václav Havel’s 90th birthday. The event will be opened with a speech by the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Mr Miloš Vystrčil.
Further details about the programme and registration can be found below.
The Václav Havel Dialogues: Human Rights and Responsibility in a Changing World
Organisers: Czech Centre Taipei, Sinopsis
Co-organisers: Czech Economic and Cultural Office, National Chengchi University, Václav Havel Library
Date: 3 June 2026
Time: 9:00 – 12:00
Location: NCCU, Center for Public and Business Administration Education, 7th floor, Room A604 Seminar Room (No. 187, Jinhua St., Da’an District, Taipei)
Language: English, no translation provided
The conference Václav Havel Dialogues, held to commemorate what would have been the 90th birthday of Václav Havel, will explore the legacy of the former Czech president—not only as a politician, but also as a playwright, intellectual, and dissident. Havel profoundly influenced debates on democracy and human rights around the world. Bringing together Czech, Taiwanese, and international speakers, the conference will reflect on the intellectual and moral foundations of his thought, as well as the continued relevance of his ideas in the contemporary world.
Particular attention will be devoted to Havel’s opposition to authoritarianism through the concept of “living in truth,” which emphasised the power of individuals to resist oppression by refusing to participate in the everyday falsehoods of authoritarian regimes. Such civic courage, in Havel’s view, forms the foundation of a strong civil society, which is an essential pillar of democratic life.
The conference will also examine Havel’s understanding of universal human rights and address the challenges this concept faces today amid shifting geopolitical conditions. Through these discussions, the event seeks to explore how Havel’s legacy can inspire responses to current global challenges and contribute to the defence of democratic values.
Confirmed speakers:
Olga Lomová, Professor at the Department of Sinology at Charles University, Co-founder of Sinopsis
Jáchym Topol, Dramaturg, Václav Havel Library
Yeh-Chung Lu, Dean of the College of International Affairs at NCCU, Vice-President of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
David Bandurski, Director, China Media Project
Keng Yi-Wei, Dramaturg of the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)
Jacky Yuen Hung Tai, Assistant Professor, Institute of Philosophy, National Sun Yat-Sen University
Cheng Te-Hsing, Associate Professor and Director of the Departmental Centre for Teaching and Research on Central and Eastern Europe, Soochow University
Registration information:
To confirm your attendance, please complete the registration via the Google Forms link by 30 May: https://forms.gle/7xoLmaEY5xbhc4F66
We will confirm your registration by email prior to the conference.
As the venue capacity is limited, registrations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
