Events endorsed by the AHRC are posted here. These events are not organised by the AHRC but are within the subject area of Human Rights.

Coming Up

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

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 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.

Archived Events 2007

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