These events are not organised by the AHRCentre but may be of interest to human rights practitioners, advocates, academics and the broader community.

Coming Up

Thursday 10th November - Climate Change and Migration in the Asia Pacific: Legal and Policy Responses

This two-day conference will bring together leading international experts, policymakers, and government officials from affected countries to discuss:

1. What is climate change-related migration and displacement?
2. Who will move?  When?  How?  How many?
3. Do countries have obligations to protect people who move?  (so-called ‘climate refugees’)?
4. What is the role of human rights law?
5. Does climate-related movement pose security risks?
6. Relocation and Pacific land tenure
7. Statehood and ‘sinking islands’
8. Institutional responses and good governance

Places are limited, so register now!  An updated draft program is attached and also available on the website below.

Register online: http://www.gtcentre.unsw.edu.au/events/climate-change-and-migration-asia-pacific-legal-and-policy-responses

Cost: $150 for both days (including lunch, morning tea & afternoon tea).  Single day registration is not possible.
Contact: gtcentre@unsw.edu.au

Friday 19th August - Launch of Consultation on inclusion of economic, social and cultural rights in ACT Human Rights Act (closing date for submissions)

The ACT Attorney-General, Mr Simon Corbell, launched a community consultation on whether explicit protection of economic, social and cultural rights should be included in the ACT Human Rights Act 2004. He announced that the consultation period would run until 19 August 2011.

Mr Corbell released a background paper for the purposes of the consultation: Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - A good idea for inclusion in the ACT? (for a Word version of the background paper, click here).  Submissions may be submitted electronically through the website of the Department of Justice and Community Safety. You can also complete an online survey on the Department’s website.

The consultation will inform the government's response to the Final Report of the ACT Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Project, an Australian Research Council-funded Linkage project carried out by researchers at the Centre for International Justice and Governance at the ANU and the Australian Human Rights Centre at UNSW, in collaboration with the ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety. The full report and other relevant materials may be found on the Project website. Extracts from the Report, including an executive summary, the recommendations, a model bill and Q & A can be found here.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your views known.

Thursday 8th December - World Human Rights Moot Court Competition

All universities of the world are invited to participate in the World Human Rights Moot Court Competition. Presented with the support of the Regional Office for Southern Africa of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (ROSA). The presiding judges in the final round will be eminent jurists and judges from international tribunals and bodies, such as the different regional human rights courts and
UN human rights treaty bodies.

Registration forms must be submitted by 15 August and heads of argument by 9 September.

Invitation to the event

Poster for the event

Thursday 19th May - Responsibility to Protect Panel Discussion with Ashley Townshend (Lowy Institute), Annie Herro (Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies) and Christpher Michaelsen (Australian Human Rights Centre)

Dr Christopher Michaelsen is a Senior Research Fellow at the UNSW Law Faculty. He teaches and specialises in public international law, human rights and international security. Prior to joining UNSW, he served as a Human Rights Officer (Anti-Terrorism) at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw, Poland. He has previously worked for the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs in New York City, and at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University in Canberra. He has served as a consultant for the Asian Law Group in Semarang, Indonesia, and for the Center for Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation in New York City. Chris is a member of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and a member of the Australian Human Rights Centre

I was just reminded about an R2P gig at Sydney (if I remember correctly, this came via Andy & Justine, tnx) this Thursday 19 May at 6-8pm at Sydney Law School (main campus) Room 105. Maybe this is sth to advertise to your students (should you be teaching this week)?

To reister please follow the link

Archived 2010

Thursday 4th November - Educating for Human Rights, Peace and Intercultural Dialogue Conference to be held on the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney from 4-6 November 2010. 

At this conference we will examine the contribution of human rights culture to the good functioning of the civil society; highlight key trends and achievements in human rights education in particular, and aim to secure greater commitment for future human rights education. The conference will have a strong development and Indigenous component.

To register please follow the link.

Friday 19th November - Because Writers Speak Their Minds”: International PEN's 50th anniversary of the Writers in Prison Committeee

Sydney PEN is organising on Friday, 19 November 2010 to mark this year's International Day of the Imprisoned Writer. This day is celebrated each year by International PEN and other organisations associated with freedom of expression and human rights activism. This year, the event ties in with “Because Writers Speak Their Minds”: International PEN's 50th anniversary of the Writers in Prison Committee.

The event features a key note address by Julian Burnside AO QC who will be speaking on "how the freedom to write and read has changed in recent times and what it means to us". Former UNSW colleagues Dr Kath Gelber and Dr Ben Saul will provide comments. The event will be held at the Dixson Room of the State Library of NSW on 19 November at 6pm for 6.30pm. Drinks will be served prior to the address. I hope you can join us - please book at bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9273 1770.

This October long weekend Sydney Opera House will host The Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Join us for one of the highlights of the festival... IQ2 DEBATE IF YOU WANT PEACE, FORGET JUSTICE Our guest panellists - Andrea Durbach, Ratih Hardjono, Eric Kaufmann, Agio Pereira and Stuart Rees - will discuss some of the thorniest issues and most intractable conflicts throughout the world to draw out what peace and justice can mean in the 21st century. SAT 2 OCT, 4.45PM TICKETS FROM $35* MORE INFO

Wednesday 21st July - A workshop with rainer Forst: Human rights and the right to justification

Rainer Forst (Goethe-University, Frankfurt) will be visiting Sydney in July to present a workshop entitled ‘Human Rights and the Right to Justification’. We will be reading some important recent papers of his on this theme prior to the seminar, which he will introduce and then open for discussion. Rainer has been developing a very interesting series of arguments concerning the justification of human rights in recent years and this offers an excellent opportunity discuss these arguments with one of the leading political theorists working in the field today. Space will be limited to maximize opportunity for discussion but please circulate to interested students (in particular) and colleagues. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any further queries.

When: Wednesday 21 July, 2-4pm
Where: Kevin Lee Room, level 8, Brennan MacCallum Building, University of Sydney
Cost: Free
RSVP: (essential) to arts.dean@sydney.edu.au

Afternoon tea will be provided.

Rainer Forst is Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at Goethe-University in Frankfurt. He is the author of Contexts of Justice (University of California Press, 2002), Toleration in Conflict (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming), The Right to Justification (Columbia University Press, forthcoming), and Justification and Critique (Polity, forthcoming).

Archived 2010

Wednesday 16th June - Defending the 3 Freedoms in Burma – A Crisis Briefing

Twenty years after the 1990 election when Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won in a landslide there is another election being planned in Burma, but restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and assembly for the people of Burma continue and are likely to increase as the election date draws near.

Join us for the latest cutting edge commentary on the human rights situation in the lead up to the elections in Burma and to take part in the discussion.

Crisis Briefing: Defend Human Rights in Burma
When: Wednesday 16 th June 2010, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Where: Museum of Sydney , AGL Theatre, 37 Phillip Street , Sydney 2000
RSVP: nswprojects@amnesty.org.au by Tuesday 8 th June 2010

Speakers:
·         Benjamin Zawacki, Amnesty International Researcher, South East Asia
·         Dr Myint Cho , Burma Campaign Australia Spokesman

Thursday 27th - 29th May Human Rights Arts and Film Festival

The dates and times of the screenings in Sydney are on the website: www.hraff.org.au

Friday 19th February - 2010 Constitutional Law Conference and Dinner

A major conference on constitutional law, the ninth in a series, will be held at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Friday 19 February 2010. The event is organised by the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law with the support of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law.

The conference will focus on developments in the High Court and other Australian courts in 2009 and beyond. It will be addressed by leading practitioners, government lawyers, judges and academics.

The conference will be followed by dinner at NSW Parliament House, hosted by NSW Attorney-General, the Hon John Hatzistergos, MLC.

Speakers at the conference will review the key themes and statistics of the Court's work in 2009 as well as recent major decisions.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr Melissa Perry QC, New South Wales Bar
• Professor Gerard Carney, Bond University
• Chris Horan, Victorian Bar
• Robert Meadows QC, Solicitor-General of Western Australia
• Associate Professor Alison Duxbury, University of Melbourne
• Nick Gouliaditis, Australian Government Solicitor
• Professor John Williams, University of Adelaide
• Dr Dan Meagher, Deakin University
• Bryan Pape, University of New England
• Gabrielle Appleby, University of Adelaide
• Senator George Brandis SC, Shadow Attorney-General

Registration for this event is now closed. Please contact the Gilbert + Tobin Centre at the University of new South Wales for further information

Archived 2009

Tuesday 22nd September - UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Roundtable

The Disability Studies and Research Centre in conjunction with the Australian Human Rights Commission and the NSW Office of the Public Guardian are holding an Expert Roundtable on Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the offices of Gilbert and Tobin.

Information and invitation

26-29 October - International Conference on Right to Health and Development, Vietnam

The University of New South Wales Initiative for Health and Human Rights (IHHR) and Central Commission for Popularization and Education of The Communist Party of Vietnam, are to host an international conference on ‘Realising the Rights to Health and Development for All” in Hanoi. The Conference aims to further the understanding of the complexl relationships between health, development and human rights and to propose practical ways that policies, strategies and research can optimally respond to these challenges.   The themes of the Conference include: HIV/AIDS and other current and emerging public health threats; maternal and child health; climate change; and economic globalisation. More details at http://www.healthandrights.com/

Tuesday, 20th October - The Human Rights Policy and Practice Forum 2009

Advancing the Debate on Human Rights Reform to Drive Positive Change in Our Communities and Institutions

Liquid Learning is delighted to announce that it will host the Human Rights Policy and Practice Forum in October 2009 - the premier meeting place for senior policy makers in Australia and New Zealand. This event will provide practical value through case studies from leading experts and practitioners. The wide range of challenging views expressed and unique interactive format also sets the scene for rich debate and networking.

Topics Explored Include:

• Protecting our Rights and Fulfilling our Responsibilities - A Common Sense Approach
• Ensuring our most Vulnerable Citizens are Fairly Represented and Protected
• Commitment to Human Rights and its Practice in the Public Services
• Indigenous Rights and Compensation

Spaces are limited in the workshops, register now to confirm your places. We look forward to seeing you at this event.

For more information regarding to the event, please visit the event website

AHRCentre members receive 10% discount off the registration fee

Friday, 2nd October - Protecting Human Rights Conference

The conference will consider the National Human Rights Consultation and provide an update on developments in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, the ACT Human Rights Act and in NSW human rights law. Leading Australian and international speakers will consider the National Consultation process and its possible outcomes. Finally, the conference will consider additional challenges in relation to human rights protection, including: the rights of Indigenous people; the protection of economic, social and cultural rights; and the intersection between human rights and religion.  For more details see the Gilbert & Tobin Centre of Public Law at http://www.gtcentre.unsw.edu.au/

Download the Conference Brochure

Thursday, 17th September - Hal Wootten Lecture

This years Hal Wooten Lecture presents Hina Jilani who will speak about, ‘Human Rights and International Peace and Security’. At 6pm for a 6.30pm start, Thursday 17 September,Law Theatre, UNSW Faculty of law.

Hina Jilani is one of the world’s leading human rights lawyers. A trail blazer in the life and death struggle for rights in Pakistan, she is now internationally recognised for her leadership and expertise in a range of critical human rights investigations.

Further information and registration is available on the UNSW Law Faculty web at http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news_and_events/events/event-detail.asp?id=2527

Monday 1st June 2009 - Does Australia need a Human Rights Act

Amnesty International Australia UNSW and UNSW Law Society Speakers' Forum
Present:

DOES AUSTRALIA NEED A HUMAN RIGHTS ACT?

Australia is the only liberal democracy without a Human Rights Act or
similar human rights protection. On 10 December 2008, our Government
launched a nationwide consultation to find out how Australians want their
human rights protected. Submissions close on 15 June 2009.

"Does Australia Need a Human Rights Act" is an open community forum that
will feature a moderated panel of highly distinguished speakers, who will
discuss the state of human rights in Australia - from the experience of
refugees and asylum seekers, to the effects of the anti-terrorism laws. Is
it the case that if human rights aren't formally protected, they are at risk
of being eroded?

Come along! Be informed and make a submission to the National Human Rights
Consultation: http://www.amnesty.org.au/yourhumanrights/.

We are delighted to host the following speakers:

Moderator:
Dr Andrew Lynch (Director of the Gilbert+Tobin Centre of Public Law at the
University of New South Wales)

Speakers:
The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH (Former Prime Minister of Australia)
The Hon Keith Mason AC QC (Former President of the NSW Court of Appeal)
Stephen Keim SC (Barrister for Dr Mohamed Haneef)
Edward Santow (Director of the Charter of Human Rights Project,
Gilbert+Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW)

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Date: 1 June (Monday Week 12)
Venue: Law Theatre G04, Law Building, UNSW
Cost: Free. All welcome.
RSVP: nswaia@amnesty.org.au (places are limited)

Thursday 14th May 2009 - Human Rights Opportunities Database Launch

Launched by: The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations. Keynote Speakers:

● Andrea Durbach - Associate Professor of the Faculty of Law, UNSW and
Director, Australian Human Rights Centre
● Kate Eastman - Human Rights Barrister and Co-Founder, Australian
Lawyers for Human Rights
● Jonathon Hunyor - Director of Legal Services, Australian Human Rights
Commission

and with a range of Human Rights practitioners available
to share their experiences with you during the evening.

Time: Thursday 14 May 2009
Date: 6pm - 8pm
Venue: The Strangers Dining Room, NSW Parliament House. Macquarie Street, Sydney
Cost: Donation at the door (Refreshments provided)

RSVP is essential as places are strictly limited. E-mail your RSVP to careers.hrc@younglawyers.com.au

Download Invitation

Thursday 7th May - Australian Human Rights Charter

The Evatt Foundation, a non-profit community organisation dedicated to furthering the ideals of equality, social justice and human rights is hosting a seminar to discuss human rights, and in particular the need for an Australian Human Rights Charter directly in relation to the current National Consultation process. Speakers include:

The Hon. Penny Sharpe, a Vice President of the Evatt Foundation and a NSW MLC, who is also the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and the Attorney-General's representative on the NSW Privacy Advisory Committee (chairperson).

Professor George Williams, Anthony Mason Professor of Law and Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, UNSW. His 22 books include A Charter of Rights for Australia and The Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia.

The Hon. Ron Dyer, a Vice President of the Evatt Foundation and a former NSW MLC, Minister for Community Services and Juvenile Justice, and chair of the NSW Standing Committee on Law and Justice, which included chairing the inquiry into the New South Wales Bill of Rights that recommended a scrutiny of bills function in the parliament.

Time: 6:00 - 7pm
Date: Thursday 7th May, 2009
Venue: Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street Sydney
Cost: by donation

RSVP: 8090 1170 or email admin@evatt.usyd.edu.au

ARCHIVED 2008

Tuesday 30th September - Friday 3rd October 2008

The Australian Sociological Association Annual Public Lecture - Humantiarianism: the power of the gift, presented by Professor Michael Humphrey  

Date:               Tuesday 30 September 2008

Time:              5.30 – 7.00 pm (Refreshments after lecture)

Venue:            The University of Sydney, Refectory, The Holme Building (A09)

RSVP:            admin@tasa.org.au by Monday, 22nd September.

This lecture is a free public lecture open to all interested members of the public

Directions: http://db.auth.usyd.edu.au/directories/map/largemap00a.html - (Holme Building - Map Ref  14D – near Parramatta Rd Footbridge)

The Lecture:

In reaction to the Burmese government’s resistance to allow humanitarian aid and agencies to provide relief to the mass victims of cyclone Nargis PM Kevin Rudd declared we should ‘bash the doors down diplomatically’ to persuade the Burmese regime to let us fulfill our humanitarian obligations towards innocent Burmese victims. The PM expressed a widespread revulsion at the Burmese government's rejection of humanitarian help, the rejection of a life preserving gift.

In this lecture Michael Humphrey explores the limits of the contemporary global politics of victims and therapeutic intervention and looks at the relationship between events of suffering, victims and political legitimacy.

The Speaker:

Michael Humphrey is Chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Sydney. He has published widely on the themes of the Islam in the West, the anthropology of globalisation, political violence and terrorism, human rights and reconciliation. A major theme is his work has been the relationship between the individual, collectivities and the state. His current research is on contemporary human rights politics and democratisation in Argentina and South Africa and globalised Islam and transnational governmentality.

Download the invitation.

Tuesday 30th September - Friday 3rd October 2008

The 4Rs Conference - Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility: Planning for a socially inclusive future for Australia

The 4Rs frame Australia's future as a cosmopolitan civil society. This conference comes at a critical time for Australia, when the opportunities and desire for change abound, yet older fears still persist.

The 4Rs explore the internal debates and the relationships between crucial social, political and cultural questions, with their relevance to public policy, community development and societal cohesion.

The conference is designed around the four themes and their interaction- human rights, Indigenous advancement, inter-communal relations, and active citizenship.

Further information, call for papers, panel proposals, registration, location & program please proceed to the Conference website or contact:

Conference Convener - Professor Andrew Jakubowicz Convener@The4RsConference.org

Conference Secretary - Maqsood Alshams Secretary@The4RsConference.org

Archived 2008

Tuesday 29th July 2008

Mandela’s Legacy: The Next Challenges for South Africa

Mandla Mandela, Chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and grandson of Nelson Mandela will speak on a number of issues and challenges facing South Africa such as poverty, human rights, HIV and the implications of his family legacy.

Time: 6:00pm for refreshments, 6:30pm commencement
Date: Tuesday 29th July 2008
Venue: Leighton Hall, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW, Sydney
RSVP: Free event – RSVP essential to pvcinternational@unsw.edu.au
or call (02) 9385 6982 by Friday 25th July 2008

For more information please download the invitation.

Friday 18th - Sunday 20th July 2008

The inaugral Reader's Feast Crime and Justice Festival

For festival program and information please visit www.crimeandjusticefestival.com

Thursday 10th July 2008

Governing Unruly Population Flows

Dr Ranabir Samaddar, one of India's leading thinkers on human rights, refugees and migration issues will be presenting a special lunchtime seminar at the University of Sydney.

Dr. Ranabir SAMADDAR, a founder of the CRG and its journal, Refugee Watch, was earlier a professor of South Asia Studies, and then was the founder-Director of the Peace Studies Programme at the South Asia Forum for Human Rights, Kathmandu. Known for his critical studies on contemporary issues of justice, human rights, and popular democracy in the context of post-colonial nationalism, trans-border migration, community history, and technological restructuring in South Asia, he has served on various commissions and study groups on issues such as partitions, critical dictionary on globalisation, patterns of forced displacement and the institutional practices of refugee care and protection in India, rights of the minorities and forms of autonomy, technological modernization, and occupational health and safety. He has recently completed a three-volume study of Indian nationalism, the final one titled as, A Biography of the Indian Nation, 1947-1997 (2001). Besides being the editor of three well-known volumes on issues of identity and rights in contemporary politics, Refugees and the State (2003), Space, Territory, and the State (2002), and Reflections on Partition in the East (1997), he is also the editor-in-chief of the South Asian Peace Studies Series. His current work is on theory and practices of dialogue, a question critical to the politics of justice and reconciliation.

Time: 12-2:00pm, Thursday, 3rd July, 2008
Venue: Room 148, RC Mills Building, University of Sydney

Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to danielle.celermajer@usyd.edu.au by 01/07/08

Download the Abstract.

Thursday 3rd July 2008

The Death Penalty: Why should Australians Care?

An expert panel will discuss The death penalty: Why should Australians care?

Amnesty International’s report Death Sentences and Executions in 2007 says that at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries and at least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries. Up to 27,500 people are estimated to be on death row across the world. Amnesty International expressed deep concern that many more were killed by the state, in secret, in countries including China, Mongolia and Vietnam.

The panel will discuss the questions: ‘What does it mean to be an abolitionist country in the Asia-Pacific region in the 21^st century?’, ‘What are the domestic and foreign policy implications of being an “abolitionist country”?’

The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

• Professor Andrew Byrnes, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales and Chair of the Australian Human Rights Centre
• Rachel Walsh, President, Reprieve Australia
• Michael Walton, Convenor of the Against the Death Penalty Sub-Committee, NSW Council for Civil Liberties
• Shannon Owen film-maker and co-creator of Just Punishment, an ABC documentary on Van Tuong Nguyen who was executed in Singapore in 2005

• Associate Professor Andrea Durbach, lawyer for the Upington 25 (14 of whom were sentenced to death), South Africa; Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales and Director, Australian Human Rights Centre

Time: 6:30pm, Thursday, 3rd July, 2008
Venue: Sydney University Law School Assembly Hall, Sydney University

For more information please contact Jenny Leong, NSW Community Campaigner, Amnesty International (0431 481 038)

Download the Invitation.

Friday, 23rd May 2008

HREOC Human Rights Law Seminar - Australia's International Human Rights Engagement: Coming in from the Cold?

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is pleased to present its next Human Rights Law Seminar entitled 'Australia's International Human Rights Engagement: Coming in from the Cold?'. The Seminar will feature two distinguished speakers:

* The Federal Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP. The Attorney-General will speak about Australia's role within the international human rights system.

* The Dean of the University of Sydney Law School, Professor Gillian Triggs. Professor Triggs will discuss the importance of Australia's engagement with international law in protecting human rights.

The President of HREOC, the Hon John von Doussa QC will chair the Seminar.

Time: Friday, 23rd May 2008 , 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue: The Hearing Room, Level 8, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Level 8 Piccadilly Tower, 133 Castlereagh Street Sydney

Entry is free but places are limited. Please RSVP to associate@humanrights.gov.au

Monday, 7th April 2008

HREOC Law Seminar:'Homelessness and Human Rights'7 April 2008, 12.30-2.00pm

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) Legal Section is pleased to present its next Human Rights Law Seminar on homelessness and human rights. The Seminar will feature three distinguished speakers:

·         Cassandra Goldie, Director of the Sex Discrimination Unit at HREOC: Cassandra has recently completed a PhD on this issue and will examine how to implement a rights-based approach to housing and homelessness.

·         Robin Banks, Executive Director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC):  Robin will discuss the advocacy work that PIAC has been involved with in this area.

·         Sue Cripps from Homelessness NSW: Sue will speak about the legal and policy reforms that are needed to deal effectively with homelessness.

The Seminar will be chaired by the Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes.

Time: Monday, 7th April 2008 , 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue:

The Hearing Room, Level 8

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Level 8 Piccadilly Tower

133 Castlereagh Street Sydney

Entry is free but places are limited. Please RSVP to associate@humanrights.gov.au

Tuesday, 11th March 2008

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies invites you to a lunchtime seminar and discussion on
Building a Sustainable Peace in Northern Uganda with Archbishop John Baptista Odama

Time: Tuesday 11 March 2008, 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Venue: Education Lecture Room 424
Education Building, Manning Road
University of Sydney

Archbishop John Baptista Odama, of the Gulu Diocese in northern Uganda, is renowned for his peace building efforts in the horrendous twenty-year conflict in the region. As the senior leader of the Catholic Church in the area the Archbishop has played an instrumental role as negotiator between the two main warring parties, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan Government forces. During this period of conflict Archbishop Odama has initiated and led an organisation of religious leaders promoting peace in northern Uganda; offered himself for arrest if there was any chance it would help those suffering from the war; and at one point was condemned to death by LRA rebels for his attempts to restore peace. His briefing of the United Nations Security Council on the conflict culminated in a UN
resolution (1653) and the beginning of peace talks between the two parties that led to the recent
ceasefire.

Archbishop Odama has given voice to those suffering as a result of the twenty year conflict, with a
particular emphasis on the ‘night commuters’, predominantly women and children. “A war that now has grandchildren”, is how Archbishop Odama has famously described the conflict. “We see they (children) are both the victims, and at the same time, the heroes of this war,” he said.
The peace pact in more recent times has seen the LRA undertake a mission of seeking forgiveness from people in the region. Archbishop Odama plays a key role in guiding this process. Under the guidance of Archbishop Odama, Caritas Australia has been working with Caritas Gulu and Caritas Uganda on a range of humanitarian activities including psychosocial support and trauma management for children and adults affected by the conflict, rehabilitation services for returned child soldiers, income generating
activities to assist families fight the poverty caused by internal displacement, family reunification
services, emergency shelter and feeding, and the strengthening of educational services for children. Archbishop Odama will address interested University of Sydney students, staff and visitors about his experiences of the violent conflict, its resolution and its aftermath, with a focus on what is needed to support reconciliation and a sustainable peace for the people of Uganda.

For further information contact:
Leah Chan or Aletia Dundas, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Tel. 9351 7686 arts.cpacs@usyd.edu.au

Tuesday, 11th March 2008

Sydney Ideas International Public Lecture Series: Ken Roth

‘Despots Masquerading as Democrats: Why are they doing so, and why are we letting them’

Time: Thursday 13 March 2008, 6pm
Venue: Seymour Theatre Centre
Cost: $20/$15 concession
Bookings: Seymour Box Office 02 9351 7940

Sydney Ideas International public Lecture SeriesIn conjunction with Sydney Ideas, the team of Sydney University’s new Masters of Human Rights wishes to extend a warm invitation to attend the lecture that Ken Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, will be giving on March 13, as part of the Sydney Ideas International Public Lecture Series.

Ken will be formally introduced and welcomed on the night by the Director of the Masters in Human Rights, Danielle Celermajer, and will speak on the topic of – ‘ Despots Masquerading as Democrats: Why are they doing so, and why are we letting them’.

Sydney Ideas is the University of Sydney's public lecture series that features leading international and national academic, writers and leaders.

Archived Events 2007

Friday, 20th July 2007

Indigenous Law Centre (ILC) National Forum: Howard's NT Plan and it's implications

This important National Forum originally planned to consider the legacy of 1967 will hear speakers also discuss the implications of Howard's NT Plan for indigenous rights and constitutional reform. The Australian Constitution, forty years on from the “watershed in Indigenous and non-Indigenous relations”, has been put to use in arguably the most wide-reaching and controversial manner to date in relation to Indigenous peoples.

Panel discussions and individual presentations will draw on the expertise of prominent non-Indigenous legal practitioners, researchers and political figures. Speakers include:

·         Mr Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

·         Ms Jackie Huggins, Co-Chair, Reconciliation Australia

·         The Hon Ian Viner QC, former Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

·         Professor Larissa Behrendt, Director Research, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney

·         Professor George Williams, Anthony Mason Professor and Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre for Public Law, University of NSW

·         Ms Megan Davis, Director, Indigenous Law Centre and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of NSW

·         Fr Frank Brennan, Professor of Law, Institute of Legal Studies, Australian Catholic University

HURRY, seats are filling fast!! To open this important forum to a wider audience, registrations are now $99.00 ($49.50 discount registrations for students and unwaged) For further information on registration, visit ILC website or please call Denise Lester on 02 9385 9623 or email her at denise.lester@unsw.edu.au.

Thursday, 28th June 2007

Don Chipp Foundation: Silencing Dissent

How much diversity of opinion does a democracy need? Is Australia's current political climate conducive to democtratic debate? How do NGO's and political advocates make themselves heard?

The panel includes:

• Dr Sarah Madison, Senior Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, UNSW
• David Marr, Journalist & Author SMH and ABC
• David Bernie, Barrister and Vice-President NSW Council for Civil Liberties

and will be chaired by:

• Senator Lyn Allison, Leader of the Australian Democrats