See below an important article about human rights in North Korea.

https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/politics/23435-michael-kirby-agitates-for-north-korea-to-be-confronted-on-human-rights-record?utm_source=LawyersWeekly&utm_campaign=14_06_18&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1

The world is less peaceful today than at any time in the last decade.

The 2018 Global Peace Index, released today, reveals a world in which the tensions, conflicts, and crises that emerged in the last decade remain unresolved, resulting in a gradual, sustained fall in peacefulness. The largest contributors to the deterioration in the last year were the escalations in both interstate and internal armed conflicts, a rise in political terror and reduced commitment to UN peacekeeping. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia are the least peaceful countries whilst Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal and Denmark are the most peaceful countries.

For more information see: http://visionofhumanity.org/reports/

I would like to draw your attention to this year’s Venice Academy of Human Rights which focuses on “Migration, Mobility and Diversity: New Horizons for Human Rights”, under the coordination of François Crépeau, former U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants and Hans & Tamar Oppenheimer Chair in Public International Law, with the distinguished opening lecture held by Rainer Münz, Adviser on Migration and Demography to the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC).

The programme is specifically open to academics, practitioners, Ph.D./J.S.D. and master students.

Online applications are accepted until 23 May 2018 through the online form available from: https://eiuc.org/education/summer-shools-and-training-programmes/summer-school/venice-academy-of-human-rights/application.html 

I would be grateful if you could help us disseminate to colleagues, fellows and researchers who may be interested in attending.

I delivered a keynote at the three days long Conference for National Human Rights Institutions of South Asia in Kathmandu titled “Identifying Challenges, Assessing Progress, Moving Forward: Addressing Impunity and Realizing Human Rights in South Asia.”

My keynote has dealt with human rights and social cohesion – see attachment below.

In addition, I delivered lectures at:
. The School of Arts, Kathmandu University (organised by Dean Sagar Raj Sharma);
. Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies of Tribhuvan University (by A/Prof. Bijaya Dahal);   and
. a lecture organised jointly by the National Law College affiliated to Tribhuvan University (invited by NaLC Executive Director Dr Ram Krishna Timalsena) and the School of Law, Kathmandu University (by Dean Bipin Adhikari)

My visit to Kathmandu was a great opportunity to advertise the 9th ICHRE and re-fresh/establish contacts with key leaders of human rights organisations in South Asia, and some countries from South-East Asia, participating in the conference.

Many thanks for hospitality extended to me by our Ambassador to Nepal, Mr Pete Budd and Dr Surya Dhungel (Chair of the Board of National Law College, Senior Advocate to Supreme Court and former long term legal adviser to President of Nepal).

It was great to talk about human rights advances in Nepal since 2006 with Mr Manohar Prasad Bhattarai, Secretary General, Legislature Parliament; Hon. Surendra Pandey MP, former Minister of Finance and current member of the Standing Committee CPN (UML) and many others.

2018-05-08 Kathmandu Nepal Conference Paper 

Emeritus Professor Laksiri Dharmasoka Jayasuriya (1931 – 2018) passed away on April 20th 2018 in Perth. Laksiri was Professor of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Western Australia.

I have worked with Laksiri on a number of multicultural project, including on his contributions to the National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia when I have worked in the Office of multicultural affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet during the prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Laksiri was a great man, outstanding scholar and great contributor to multicultural Australia. He was a friend and a true gentlemen. We will miss him.

I offer my deepest condolences to his family.

I attach a short note written by Dr. Siri Gamage of Sydney, Australia commemorating Professor Laksiri Jayasuriya’s life and achievements.

In memorium 

The 9th ICHRE is now live! See: http://ichre2018.com.au        

I write now to invite you to attend the 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education (9th ICHRE) which I will be convening at Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus, Sydney, Australia on 26-29 November 2018. The working title is: 9th International Conference on Human Rights Education – Unleashing the Full Potential of Civil Society.

The call for papers has been isssued – ‘save the date’ and consider putting your proposal forward now especially if you are involved with human rights education as academic thinker, international and government official, NGOs and human rights and education practitioner or if you work with grass-roots human rights issues in developing countries.

The 9th ICHRE will coincide with and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 25th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration which highlighted the value of human rights education.

The Conference will consider the range of human rights education issues such as national and international curricula, pedagogy and best practices. It will address contemporary challenges and how to effectively address them. Attention will be given to the most effective ways of maximising the potential of civil society through human rights education. The delivery of lasting solutions and strengthening the practical knowledge and skills of participants, including through human rights education workshops, will be the key objectives.

Looking forward to seeing you at the 9th ICHRE in Sydney this November.

This April marked the fourth year of the ongoing war in Ukraine between the Ukrainian military and Russian backed separatists in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine, also known as the Donbas region. Prior to the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, Russia annexed Crimea.

Russia’s aggression into Ukraine came in direct violation of its obligations under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Under the memorandum, in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons, Russia reaffirmed its “obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine” and promised that none of its weapons would ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defence or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

To learn more, please join me at the Western Open Forum with Special Guest Speaker His Excellency Dr Mykola Kulinich, Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia. The Forum will be held on 16 May 2018 5:30pm for 6pm start at Female Orphan School (Building EZ, West Wing), Western Sydney University, Parramatta South Campus

Do you wish to learn more about the current challenges to freedom of speech in Australia?

Join us for discussion about the current federal legislative initiatives such as:
• Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017;
• National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign influence) Bill 2017
• Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017
• Identity Matching Services Bill 2018; and
• Australian passports Amendment (Identity Matching Services) Bill 2018.

Our experts include Dr Tamsin Clarke, Ms Valerie Heath and Ms Angela Chan of the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.

WHERE: Female Orphan School, Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney university

WHEN: Thursday 26 April, 5.30 for 6.00 PM start.

This is a free event and open to the general public.

Members of the International Advisory Committee of the International Coalition To End Transplant Abuse In China (ETAC) wrote to the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) to express concern that the Vatican conference “Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking, and Access to Justice for the Poor and Vulnerable” held from March 12-13 included among its attendees and speakers Dr. Wang Haibo, the head of the China Organ Transplant Response System (COTRS).
Read the letter below to understand why this is concerning.

ETAC_Letter-re-Vatican-Conference-2018

Best wishes to all women – let’s celebrate your success and achievements! Particular wishes to my wife, daughter, daughters-in-law, grand-daughters and all women friends and co-workers.

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This Day also provides us an opportunity to reflect on and recognise the important and ongoing work still needed in progressing gender equality both locally and globally.

This International Women’s day we are encouraged to #PressforProgress by motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive. It is important to acknowledge success and promote a culture which values the importance of equity and inclusion and recognises the role women and gender diverse individuals play in the continued growth and development of the world.

International Women’s Day URL – http://www.internationalwomensday.com.au/