HUMAN RIGHTS SEMINAR SERIES: Each academic year, CIHR invites five to six renowned scholars and/or practitioners to address cutting-edge human rights topics including humanitarian law, economic rights, women's rights, and immigration. The focus of the 2011-2012 Seminar Series are: "Assessing Compliance: The Role of Human Rights Monitoring Mechanisms" and explores how monitoring mechanisms are utilized to assess compliance with international human rights norms and standards. Additionally, the seminars will examine how these monitoring mechanisms can be used more effectively for accountability and advocacy purposes. The seminars usually takes place at the CUNY's Graduate Center located at 365 Fifth Avenue, are co-sponsored by the PhD/MA Program in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center and the Global Studies Collective/Network.
Thursday February 16, 2011 - CUNY Graduate Center - 365 Fifth Avenue - Room 9207 - 6:00-8:30pm
Ron Russel, Executive Director of Epic Theater, "Theater as a Tool for Civil Empowerment" - FLYER
Thursday April 19, 2011 - CUNY Graduate Center - 365 Fifth Avenue - Room 630H - 6:00-8:30pm
TBA
International Women's Day Event Celebration (March 15th 2012)
TIME: 6:00-8:30pm
LOCATION: John Jay College of Criminal Justice - New Building - Conference Center L61, Floor L
The Center for International Human Rights Celebration of International Women’s DayInternational Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality, and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. Celebration of this event and a reflection of women's rights in the global arena are especially important in light of the recent creation of UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The UN designated theme for this year's IWD is: "Connecting girls, Inspiring futures”. Currently, all societies face challenges in providing sustainable options for the younger generation. However, the lack of such options is particularly acute for women and young girls in societies in conflict situations, and in societies transitioning from such situations. There is a growing consensus in the international community that the participation of women in peace and stabilization efforts helps to reduce the incidence of conflicts and hostilities, promotes better access and support for women affected by war, and renders such processes more legitimate. As Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women, noted, “the reconstruction process for those territories that are recovering from situations of conflict are based on three pillars: economic recovery, the reestablishment of social cohesion and the recovery of political legitimacy. And women have a great deal to contribute to these three pillars, not only with regard to the issue of rights and social justice but also because, thanks to our participation, the results of the reconstruction of communities are more effective, legitimate and participatory.”Women’s political participation is a human right whose promotion in a sustained manner can contribute to good governance and to greater opportunities for empowerment. Moreover, greater participation of women in such processes acts as an incentive for the younger generation to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become more actively engaged in transformational initiatives; initiatives that seek to ensure a more inclusive and just social order. In this context, Michelle Bachelet reiterated that “We are bound by a common goal--to open the way for women to participate in all decisions affecting not only their own lives, but the development of our world, at the global, regional and local levels. By making full use of half the world's intelligence--the intelligence of women--we improve the chances of finding real and lasting solutions to the challenges that confront us." To contribute to this ongoing discussion, and consistent with the theme for this year’s IWD, the Center for International Human Rights (CIHR) at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York is organizing an event to address the critical issue of women’s participation in post-conflict peacebuilding processes. Participants will be asked to address the following focal issues and questions: What are some of the main challenges confronting the younger generation of women? What can be done to enable young females to advance to the maximum of their potential, and contribute more effectively to public life? What kinds of initiatives, geared towards young females, are being developed to that effect in post-conflict societies? Who are the key stakeholders in these undertakings and how effective are they? We very much hope that you can join us for this important event. For more information, please contact Aferdita Hakaj at afhakaj@jjay.cuny.edu.
·Thursday, November 3, 2010, CUNY Graduate Center, Rm C 203, 6-8pm
Elsa Stamatopoulou, Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs Program; Former Chief of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, The Monitoring of Cultural Human Rights.
·Thursday, December 8, 2011, Rm 615/616 6-8pm
(John Jay College - BMW Builing - 555 W. 57th Street 6th Floor, between 10th and 11th Avenues)
