Monday 1 December 2008: Tibet: A New Roadmap to Resolution
The Human Rights Forum along with the Australia Tibet Council hosted a discussion on the future of the Tibet movement on December 1 2008.
Dr. Lobsang Sangay (Harvard Law School) was joined by Professor Baogang He (Deakin University), who is an expert on democratisation in China, for a unique public talk that provided a rare opportunity to hear two acclaimed authorities on Sino-Tibet relations - one Tibetan and one Chinese – outline a path to the resolution of the Tibet issue.
Friday 12 September - After the Apology: A Dialogue on Reconciliation
In conjunction with the Social Justice Initiative and Trinity College, the Human Rights Forum hosted a dialogue on the topic of Reconciliation. Speakers including Professor Larissa Behrendt (Professor of Law and Director of Research, Jumbanna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney), Commissioner Tom Calma (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner), and Professor Ian Anderson (Director, Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit and the Centre for Health & Society, and Deputy Head, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne) discusssed the recent Rudd Government apology to the Stolen Generations and the extent to which that policy marks the beginning of a new relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians? Kylie Belling (actor and Artistic Director for Ilbijerri Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Theatre Cooperative) moderated the event.
5 June 2008 Indigenous People and the State: Perspectives from Canada, the US and Australia
In conjunction with ANTaR Victoria and the New Worlds New Sovereignties Conference, the Forum hosted this discussion on indigenous rights. Speakers included Kent McNeil (Distinguished Research Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University), Robert J Miller (Professor at Lewis and Clarke Law School (USA) and Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Grand Ronde Tribe) and local Gunai/Mara man Robbie Thorpe.
1 April 2008 Hina Jilani: Defending Human Rights
Hina Jilani was the Human Rights Forum's International Visitor for 2008 and delivered a public lecture on the role that human rights defenders play in promoting the international human rights framework. Ms Jilani is the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Human Rights Defenders. She is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and founded the Women's Action Forum, the Human Rights Commission of pakistan, and the first legal aid centre in Pakistan. Ms Jilani was a member of both the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur, established by the UN Security Council, and the United Nations Expert Group on Darfur.
Ms Jilani is the recipient of a number of awards including the Human Rights Award of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, the Millennium Peace Prize for Women, and the Human Rights Litigation Award of the American Bar Association.
Ms Jilani was introduced by The Hon. Justice Lex Lasry of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
28 February 2008 Uganda: From Child Soldiers to Human Rights
Archbishop John Odama discussed the human rights issues of Uganda. Archbishop Odama is renowed for his peace building efforts in the brutal conflict that has raged for over twenty years in nothern Uganda. Child soldiers, sexual slavert and forced labour are all common occurences in Uganda. His Grace has played an instrumental role in negotiations between the two main warring parties: the Lord's Resistence Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government forces.
4 December 2007: Public forum: Social Change - Climate Change
The Human Rights Forum and the School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology hosted a forum on social change and climate changed, chaired by Dr Juliet Rogers from Criminology. Speakers included Charles Berger (Australian Conservation Foundation), Fiona Haines (University of Melbourne) and Adam Bandt (Seat of Melbourne candidate for the Greens).
11 October 2007: Public Lecture - Burma: Prospects for Democracy
The University of Melbourne Human Rights Forum and the School of Political Science, Criminology and Sociology presented a forum on the current crises in Burma. Dr Garry Woodard (Senior Fellow, School of Political Science, Criminology & Sociology, Australian Ambassador to Burma, 1973-75, Australian Ambassador to China, 1976-80), Alison Tate(International Officer, ACTU, Former Program Officer for South-east Asia for Union Aid Abroad, Former Burma Research and Information Officer, AUSTCARE) and U Teddi Buri (Member of Parliament, National League for Democracy, Burma, exiled in Australia) discussed the prospects for democractic change in Burma.
Photos and a write-up of the event can be found here:
2 October 2007:
Public Lecture: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
The Human Rights Forum hosted a public lecture by Professor Mick Dodson, Director of the National Centre for Indigenous Studies, on the topic of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Photos and a write-up of the event can be found here:
21 August 2007: Public Lecture:
History, Memory and Denial - Reflections on the Irving-Lipstadt Libel Trial
The Human Rights Forum in conjunction with the School of Historical Studies in the Faculty of Arts hosted a public lecture by Professor Richard Evans, the major specialist witness for the defence of Professor Deborah Lipstadt when she was sued by David Irving over her accusation that he was a Holocaust-Denier.
28 June 2007: Public Lecture:
Children of lesbian and gay parents - what do they really need?
Professor Charlotte Patterson from the University of Virginia presented an overview of 25 years of empirical research about children growing up with lesbian and gay parents. This public lecture was part of a symposium on the topic of gay and lesbian parenting.
The final report from the symposium can be found here:
15 May 2007: Law Week Oration: Does Australia Need a Bill of Rights?
The Hon Michael McHugh AC, Former Justice of the High Court of Australia, discussed the need for a Bill of Rights.
This event was held in association with The Victorian Law Foundation, The Victorian Bar, The University of Melbourne Faculty of Law and the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies.
Click here to view photos from this event.
7 May 2007: Public Lecture: Human Rights in Zimbabwe
Archbishop Pius Ncube, Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) discussed the catastrophic human rights issues facing Zimbabwe. Archbishop Ncube is a vocal critic of the Mugabe regime. This lecture was held in association with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Caritas Australia.
There is a write up of the lecture, including photos and links to the Archbishop's speech and powerpoint presentation here: Archbishop Pius Ncube Lecture
Wednesday October 4 2006 Public Forum: "Crisis in Darfur"
Dr David Dorward (La Trobe University), Dr Alex Bellamy (University of Queensland) and Dr Idris Abdulmolla (Secretary of the Darfur Community Association of Australia) spoke at this public forum aimed at highlighting the ongoing crisis in Darfur, which has displaced over 2 million people and has lead to the deaths of an estimated 200,000.
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