Presently, our world is beset by conflicts more serious than at any time since World War II. Fuelled by great power rivalries, these conflicts have severely weakened the effectiveness of the international human rights system and international law. Governments and armed groups are increasingly emboldened to act with impunity, while humanitarian emergencies and mass displacement reach unprecedented levels.

How best can human rights be protected? What are the prospects for a better educated and more engaged citizenry, more effective international human rights collaboration, and concrete preventative action through a reformed United Nations system capable of controlling the use of force?

Join human rights lawyer and Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger and international human rights law scholar Emeritus Professor Spencer Zifcak, in conversation with Professor Emeritus Joe Camilleri, for a timely discussion about the challenges facing human rights—and the possibilities for rebuilding a more effective system of global accountability, justice and peace.

The conversation will explore the prospects for meaningful reform, the role of citizens and civil society, and what can be done now to protect human dignity in an increasingly dangerous world.

SPEAKERS

Caitlin Reiger

Caitlin Reiger is CEO of the Human Rights Law Centre and a human rights lawyer. She has spent the past 25 years working globally on transitional justice for mass human rights violations, international criminal law, and justice system reform. Caitlin’s work has addressed truth-telling, reparations, criminal justice and institutional reform efforts, including in Timor Leste, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Colombia. Most recently, Caitlin served as Director of Strategic Policy and Research at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, after supporting the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria in the design of the Commission and its mandate.

Spencer Zifcak

Emeritus Professor of Law at the Australian Catholic University, specialising in International Human Rights Law and Constitutional Law. During his career Spencer has been Visiting Professor at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, Visiting Scholar at New York University, and Benjamin Meaker Professor at Bristol University (UK). He is a former President of Liberty (Victoria), Vice-President of the International Commission of Jurists (Australian Section), Chair of the Accountability Round Table, Director (for a decade) of the Australia Institute, and Deputy Chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria. He writes periodically for Pearls and Irritations and The Conversation.

MODERATOR

Joseph Camilleri

Professor Emeritus in International Relations, La Trobe University; Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, in Australia; He has authored or edited some thirty-five books and written over 120 book chapters and journal articles, covering such areas as peace and security, geopolitics, governance, the role of culture and religion, intercultural dialogue and conflict resolution, multiculturalism in Australia, and the politics of the Asia-Pacific region. He is the Convener of Conversation at the Crossroads and Co-Convener of SHAPE (Serving Humanity and Planet Earth).

DATE: Wednesday 30 September

5.45 pm: Doors open: 5.45 pm

6.00 pm: Refreshments, informal conversation, networking

6.30 – 8.30pm: Forum

VENUE: The Wheeler Centre

The Performance Space

176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 3000

TICKETS: Attendance in person and online

In person:  General Admission $27  Concession $18

Online:  General Admission $15  Concession $10