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International Human Rights Conference



UNIVERSAL RIGHTS AND HUMAN VALUES:
A BLUEPRINT FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

An International Conference to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary
of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

November 26-28, 1998
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

The focus of the conference is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -
that the world understand and appreciate the principles and values it
expresses.

The General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights
as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the
end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this
Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to
promote respect for these rights and freedoms

        - Preamble to the Universal Declaration

The Declaration envisions a world where peace, justice and freedom can be
enjoyed by all. Human rights leaders will reflect on the accomplishments of
the Declaration since 1948 and modern challenges to human rights.

The Conference honours the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration,
the 30th anniversary of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, the 25th
anniversary of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission and the
20th anniversary of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Distinguished Guests

Her Excellency Mary Robinson
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Former President of Ireland

The Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu
Archbishop Emeritus of Capetown
Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa
(As of July 20, Archbishop Tutu's place in the program is still to be
determined)

The Sponsor

The Canadian Human Rights Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization, dedicated to the defence and promotion of human rights
through education and the support of training and development initiatives
in Canada and abroad. Professor John Humphrey (1905 - 1995), a Canadian and
principal author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was a
founder of the Foundation.

To request information or return completed registrations contact:
International Human Rights Conference
Box/CP 11661 * Edmonton, Alberta * Canada T5J 3K8
Tel (403) 453-2638 * Fax (403) 482-1519
e-mail: hrc@tnc.com * www.tnc.com/hrc

WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE?

For a program update, consult the conference internet site:  www.tnc.com/hrc

Thursday, November 26

18:00 Registration

19:00 Welcome

Yves Lafontaine, President, Canadian Human Rights Foundation
Shirley McClellan, Minister of Community Development, Government of Alberta
Bill Smith, Mayor, City of Edmonton

The Declaration 50 Years Later: Vision and Reality

Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Government of Canada

Friday, November 27

7:30 Registration

8:30 Concurrent Sessions:

A. The Challenge of Different Cultures, Different Religions: "A Common
Standard of Achievement for All Peoples and Nations?"

Soli J. Sorabjee, Former Attorney General of India
Max Yalden, United Nations Human Rights Committee
Nancy Hannemann, Global Education Program Coordinator, University of
Alberta, Canada, Chair

B. The Economy, the Environment and Human Rights: Cross Currents or
Parallel Streams?

Cindy Kenny-Gilday, Uranium Committee, Deline Dene Band Council, Canada
Eric P. Newell, Chairman and CEO, Syncrude Canada Ltd.
David Schindler, Professor, University of Alberta, Canada
Jim Edwards, President and CEO, Economic Development Edmonton, Canada, Chair

C. Global Security and Human Rights: The Case for Disarmament

Douglas Roche, Former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament, United Nations
Maj-Britt Theorin, President, International Peace Bureau, Belgium
M.N. Venkatachaliah, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, India,
Chair

10:15 Concurrent Sessions:

A. Human Rights and Transnational Corporations: People or Profits?

Margot Franssen, President and Partner, The Body Shop Canada
Owens Wiwa, Nigerian human rights activist
Warren Allmand, President, International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development, Canada, Chair

B. Are We Our Brother's and Sister's Keepers? The Role of Individuals and
Non-Governmental Organizations

Roger Clark, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada
Huguette Labelle, President, Canadian International Development Agency
Anne McGrath, Canadian Program Officer, OXFAM Canada
David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa), Government of
Canada, Chair

C. Bioethics and Biotechnology: Building a Human Rights Framework

Solomon Benatar, Professor, University of Cape Town Medical School, South
Africa
Bartha M. Knoppers, Professor, Universite de Montreal, Canada
Eric M. Meslin, National Bioethics Advisory Commission, USA
Tim Caulfield, Research Director, Health Law Institute, University of
Alberta, Canada, Chair

12:00 Lunch

Human Rights and Foreign Policy

Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Canada

13:45 Recognizing the Inherent Dignity and Rights of Women: A Mirage in the
Distance?

Fatoumata Sire Diakite, President, Association pour le progres et la
defense des droits des femmes maliennes, Mali
Michelle Falardeau-Ramsay, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Roberta Jamieson, Ombudsman of Ontario, Canada, Chair

15:30 Crimes Against Humanity and Their Punishment

Lieutenant General R.A. Dallaire, Assistant Deputy Minister (Personnel),
Department of National Defence, Canada
Jules Deschenes, Former Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia, Canada
L. C. Green, Professor, US Naval War College, USA
Indai Lourdes Sajor, Executive Director, Asian Centre for Women's Human
Rights, Philippines
David Last, The Lester B. Pearson Canadian International Peacekeeping
Training Centre, Chair

18:30 Reception and Banquet

Keynote Speaker: Her Excellency Mary Robinson, United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights
Dignitaries including The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, P.C. Chief
Justice of Canada

Saturday, November 28

8:30 Concurrent Sessions:

A. Human Rights and Responsibilities

J. Edward Broadbent, Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Steven Lee, National Director, Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy
Development, Government of Canada, Chair

B. Protecting Refugees from Persecution: The Right to Sanctuary

Anne Bayefsky, Director, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Canada
Mary Jo Leddy, Romero House, Toronto, Canada
Francisco Rico-Martinez, President, Canadian Council for Refugees, Canada

10:15 Concurrent Sessions:

A. Effective Remedies for Violations of Fundamental Rights: The
Responsibilities of the State

Rosalie Abella, Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Canada
M. N. Venkatachaliah, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, India
Charlach Mackintosh, Chief Commissioner, Alberta Human Rights and
Citizenship Commission, Canada, Chair

B. Freedom of Expression in a Multi-Media Universe: Rights, Limits and Dangers

Frances de Souza, Executive Director, Article 19, International Centre
Against Censorship, England
Goenawan Mohamad, Writer and journalist, Indonesia
William Thorsell, Editor-in-Chief, Globe and Mail, Canada
Satya Das, Columnist and foreign affairs writer, The Edmonton Journal,
Canada, Chair

12:00 Lunch

Universality of Human Rights and Education for Human Rights

Francine Fournier, Assistant Director-General, Sector for Human and Social
Sciences, UNESCO

13:45   Human Rights and Indigenous People: A Global Search for Justice

Juan Leon, Defensoria Maya, Guatemala
Doreen Spence, Executive Director, Canadian Indigenous Women's Research
Institute
Willie Littlechild, Advisor to the United Nations on Indigenous Issues,
Canada, Chair

15:30 Meeting the Challenges: Disability, Poverty and Children in Need

Ana Bastos Costa, Children's rights activist, Brazil
Midge Cuthill, Project Coordinator, Poverty In Action, Alberta, Canada
David Lepofsky, Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario, Canada
Zuhy Sayeed, President, Alberta Association for Community Living, Canada
Naomi Segal-Bronstein, Children's rights activist, Canada
Gary McPherson, Chairperson, Premier's Council on the Status of Persons
with Disabilities, Alberta, Canada, Chair

Summary and Conclusion

Gerald L. Gall, Professor, University of Alberta, Canada

13:00 - 17:30

Youth Session - Leaders of Tomorrow - Awakening the World to Human Rights

Craig Kielburger, Founder, Free The Children, Canada
Darren Lund, Founder, Students and Teachers Opposed to Prejudice, Canada

Conference proceedings will be published.

Conference Site and Hotel

The conference is being held in the heart of downtown Edmonton. A special
room rate of $80 per night (plus applicable taxes) has been negotiated for
delegates at the Sheraton Grande Hotel. To ensure this rate, reservations
must be made by November 1 with the Sheraton reservation system,
1-800-325-3535 toll-free worldwide, or directly with the hotel at
403-428-7111, or toll-free in Alberta at 1-800-263-9030.

For tourist information, consult the conference internet site: www.tnc.com/hrc

Registration Fees (Canadian funds)

                                Received before         Received after
                                October 1, 1998         October 1, 1998
Regular                         $250                    $300
Youth* or Full-time Students    $95                     $120

* Youth are those aged 25 years and under

Conference fees include Friday and Saturday luncheons and Friday evening
banquet. Early registration is advised, as space is limited.

Youth Conference only, Saturday afternoon

Received before November 10, 1998       $10
Received after November 10, 1998        $15

Cancellation Policy

Written requests for cancellation, received by November 1, 1998, will
receive a refund (less $50 per delegate handling fee). Registration fees
will not be refunded after November 1, 1998.

Airline Sponsor

Canadian Airlines is the official carrier for the conference. Please quote
file number MJ02541 to obtain special conference rates. For detailed
information consult the conference internet site: www.tnc.com/hrc

Registration Form

To request information and to return completed registrations contact:

International Human Rights Conference
Box/CP 11661 * Edmonton, Alberta * Canada T5J 3K8
Tel (403) 453-2638 * Fax (403) 482-1519
e-mail: hrc@tnc.com * www.tnc.com/hrc
Charitable registration number: 0322461-59

___Regular      ___Youth/Full-time Students     ___Youth Conference only

Name _________________________________
Agency ________________________________
Address _______________________________
Country _______________________________
Postal Code ____________________________
Tel: ___________________________________
Fax: ___________________________________
e/mail _________________________________
Payment Method
___MC   ___VISA ___Cheque       ___Money Order
Cardholder Name ________________________
Credit Card # ___________________________
Card Expiry Date ________________________
Signature _______________________________
Date ___________________________________
Amount $ Cdn ___________________________

Co-Sponsors and Contributing Sponsors

Alberta Association for Community Living
All Provincial Human Rights Commissions in Canada
Amnesty International Canada
Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd.
Canadian Airlines (official carrier for the Conference)
Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists
Canadian Council for International Cooperation
Canadian Council of Churches
Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation
Canadian Teachers' Federation
Clifford E. Lee Foundation
Department of Justice, Government of Canada
Edmonton Chinese Lions Club
Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund, Government
of Alberta
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
International Commission of Jurists - Canadian Section
Power Industry
Quality Color Press Inc.
Syncrude Canada Ltd.
TELUS
The City of Edmonton
The Edmonton Journal
The Lester B. Pearson Canadian International Peacekeeping Training Centre
TransCanada PipeLines Limited
United Nations Association in Canada - Edmonton Chapter
University of Alberta:
* Centre for Constitutional Studies
* Faculte Saint-Jean
* Faculty of Law
* International Centre
* Office of Human Rights

Conference Executive Committee

Mr. Gurcharan S. Bhatia, CM, Conference Chairperson, Former Commissioner,
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Mr. J. S. (Jack) O'Neill, Conference Co-Chairperson, Former Chief
Commissioner, Alberta Human Rights Commission
Professor Patrick Bendin, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
The Honourable James S. Edwards, PC, Former President, Treasury Board of Canada
Mr. Bob Fagan, Regional Director, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Senator Jean B. Forest, OC, LLD, DD, Former Member, Alberta Human Rights
Commission
Professor Gerald L. Gall, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta
Ms. Nancy Hannemann, Global Education Program Coordinator, International
Centre, University of Alberta
Mr. Robinson Koilpillai, CM, Commissioner, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Ms. Cathy Anne Pachnowski, Human Rights Officer, Office of Human Rights,
University of Alberta

***

Conference brochures are available from the International Centre, 492-2692
or the International Conference on Human Rights, 453-2638.




===================
Robin Collins
email: lothcol@magi.com



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