International Conference on Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region
27 November 2009 to 28 November 2009
International Conference on Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region: Towards institution building
Registrations have now closed
About the Conference
The Australian Network for Japanese Law (ANJeL), Sydney Centre for International Law (SCIL), and The Centre for Asian and Pacific Law in the University of Sydney (CAPLUS), in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Centre (AHRC) will host an international conference on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November 2009 at Sydney Law School. The theme of the conference is Human Rights in Asia-Pacific: Towards Institution-Building.
In the 1990s, the "Asian values" debate - with its attack on the discourse of the universality of human rights - presented a challenges to building human rights capacity in the Asia-Pacific region. Since then, however, a growing number of inter-governmental networks and non-governmental organisations have emerged, sharing human rights concerns throughout the region. As Asia-Pacific becomes inextricably enmeshed in global markets, its human rights record is also coming under increasing international scrutiny.
On 4 June 2008, Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced his vision for the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Community. Subsequently, the Human Rights Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has undertaken an inquiry into international and regional human rights mechanisms and possible models for the Asia-Pacific region.
Will such a regional institution include a function to monitor and protect human rights across the region? If so, will it success in effecting policy change in the face of the strong assertion of state sovereignty away of degradation of domestic political legitimacy?
The time is ripe to consider the extent to which existing or potential institutional arrangements might advance human rights record and facilitate the development of a regional community in the Asia-Pacific region. This conference brings together the experts in this area to explore how current practices might be effectively harnessed to realise a truly effective and integrated regional community based on the norms and spirit of human rights protection.
Click here for a copy of the program.
Registration Fees (GST included):
Full rate: $220
Early bird rate: $110 (before 30 September)
Academic rate: $110
Student rate: free (with the production of evidence, ie a student card)
Conference dinner (optional): $60
Time: Friday: 8.30am-5.30pm Saturday 9.00am-1.00pm
Location: Sydney Law School, Building F10, Eastern Avenue, University of Sydney
Cost: Please refer to the above mentioned details
Contact: Events Coordinator
Phone: 02 9351 0238