President's Message - December 2007

From the Consortium President

Message Posted December, 2007

Dear IHREC members,

It has been too long since I’ve written to our members. The events and activities since my last message have been considerable. I offer my apologies for the long delay in writing, but I am pleased with the number of positive activities that have happened in the last months.

Our Consortium has been active. In July, I visited Osaka, Japan. While there I attended a meeting of human rights educators arranged by Jefferson Plantilla of HURIGHTS OSAKA. I am please to inform you that there are conscientious and talented human rights educators doing interesting and innovative work in the Japanese institutions. Our exchanges were most rewarding. I was impressed with the program of HURIGHTS Osaka and had the pleasure to meet with Osamu Shiraishi, Director of the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Center.

I also had the opportunity to visit our IHREC member, the Baraku Liberation and Human Rights Institute (BLHRRI), which also hosts the Osaka Liaison Conference for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They have regular meetings with business and governmental leaders. I had the honor of presenting to this distinguished group a speech entitled: “Roles and Efforts of Local Governments and Corporations in the Implementation and Protection of Human Rights”- The Exigencies of an Emerging New International Order Demand Functional Initiatives Beyond State Power to Implement the Promise of Universal Respect of Human Rights - ( An English copy of the presentation is available. The presentation was translated into Japanese and can be found at: http://www.blhrri.org/info/koza/koza_0153.htm  )

From Osaka I traveled with Jefferson Plantilla to Manila, Philippines where we met IHREC members, Professor Aurora J. De Dios (Miriam College, Quezon City) and Flora C. Arellano (Polytechnic University of the Philippines {PUP}, Manilla). Under Prof. De Dios leadership, Miriam College has created a Masters of Arts in Migration Studies, an innovative program that began in 2006. I gave presentations to the students and faculty at Miriam College and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. PUP is one of the largest universities in Asia and has an active Center for Human Rights Research and Education. I also had the opportunity of speaking at the Philippines Normal University (Manila) and the Liceo de Cagayan University (Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao). In each instance I met with enthusiastic students and faculty committed to human rights education.

While in Manila I met with Professors Arellano, and De Dios, and their staff to begin planning for an Asian wide human rights educators’ conference. Agreement was reached that the conference will be held in Manila in January 2009. A Committee made up of Vice Presidents Allwyn D’Silva (Mumbai, India), Mab Huang (Taipei, Taiwan), and our Philippine colleagues are now preparing a concept paper for the conference. IHREC members who wish to contribute ideas and thoughts as to the topics that should be on the agenda are encouraged to contact Dr. D’Silva.

In September, Vice President Reetta Toivanen (Helsinki, Finland) helped to arrange and co-chaired a conference on the protection of minority cultures and languages. A positive outcome of the event, (held in Lovozero, Russia on the Kola Peninsula), was the creation of “Poga: a language Survival network” Martin Scheinin (Abo Akademi, Finland) and I participated in the proceedings, discussing with the participants (European academics, activists, linguists, and educators) strategies to protect minority cultures and “dying languages”.

The workshop report is now ready and can be obtained by contacting Reetta at Reetta.Toivanen@helsinki.fi.

Poga will hold its next meeting in Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia, from the 25-28. September 2008. A home page for Poga was established: http://www2.hu-berlin.de/poga   

IHREC BOARD MEETING SUMMARY 

On October 5-7 the IHREC Executive Board met at the Atlantic Human Rights Centre, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. The Board reviewed the progress of the Consortium and made administrative decisions that will improve the operation of the Consortium. A complete set of minutes are now being prepared and will be forwarded to the membership in the near future. In the meantime here is a summary of the Board’s actions:

§ It was decided that regional reports about Consortium activities should be sent to the Secretariat a month in advance of the Executive Board meetings by each Vice Pres.

§ Discussion of the Proposed Conference on Anti-Terrorism and Human Rights in Europe was held. The concept was presented by Reetta Toivanen. A possible date would be the end of 2008 or possibly May of 2009. Currently funding is being sought and themes and issues which should be addressed at such a conference are being considered. Some themes that were suggested were:

• How can human rights education be a tool or a means in the promotion of anti-terrorism?
  
• How anti-terrorism concerns have conflicted with human rights education.
  
• How the understanding of terrorism has impacted Human Rights.
  
• Educating military personal in human rights law and theory.
  
• Dealing with “terrorists” in classroom settings (bullies, racism etc.)
  
• Ethnic and religious profiling in times of exigencies.

§ The Atlantic Human Rights Center at St. Thomas University had produced a training DVD and CDs addressing “why we have human rights” (ex. The UDHR set to music etc.) If you would like a copy you can contact Michael McGowan: mmcgowan@stu.ca.

§ The Governance Committee made up of Steve Lockwood, Rita Maran (Chair) and Liam Gearon will review the proposed By-Laws and have recommendations made no later than January 2008 Upon the completion of the review the membership copy of the proposed By-Laws will be forwarded to the IHREC membership for review and comment.

§ A change in the dues policy was proposed and accepted. The following structure has been approved (This structure is only for the 2007-2008 year. This policy will be reviewed annually by the Executive Board):

• (US) $25 for students
• (US) $50 for individuals
• (US) $100 NGO
• (US) $250 Institutional
• Fees may be waived in exceptional circumstances upon Board approval

§ An ad-hoc committee made up of Shayna Plaut, Ted Orlin , Liam Gearon with Michael McGowan and St. Thomas University staff taking the lead, will organize the content and structure of an online magazine to be put up by February 2008, available to members only.
 
§ By becoming a member of the IHREC you will have access to an online magazine, full calendar of Human Rights events, list of speakers/consultants (complete with each member’s biography and their specialty), course syllabi, peer consultancy focusing on workshops or student internship exchange, research/grant opportunities, help in creating university programs.

§ St. Thomas University and Utica College and possibly other Consortium institutions will be organizing IHREC events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the UDHR.

§ It was agreed to establish a South Asian Desk of IHREC with Allwyn D'Silva assuming the responsibility of this Desk. The South Asian Desk will be used as the template for the future when there is a need to add new desks.
 
§ Marcel Kitissou was named Special Representative for African Affairs and will be asked to assist in the development of our African activities working along with the Board. We noted that St. Thomas has begun the process and Marcel will be in touch with Michael and Ted in the development of African activities.

§ A plan was created to alter the web page with Utica College staff assisting in the process.

§ Ted Orlin, Reetta Toivanen and Allwyn D’Silva will comprise the nominations committee for new board members. All nominations should be sent to the Secretariat by September 2008 so that a slate can be considered by the Board at the 2008 Executive Board meeting to present to the membership in 2009. If members are interested in serving on the Board they should send a message to the Secretariat to be presented to the nominating committee: ihrec@utica.edu.

§ Executive Board Members should also make a list of potential new members from their region to help expand the Consortium.
The next Executive Board meeting will be held at Utica College, Utica New York, USA with tentative dates being October 9-11 2008.

Important Announcement

 

MEMBER NEWS AND EVENTS:

In these letters to the Consortium members I attempt to inform our members of IHREC activities. It would be very useful if members can send me information that I can include in this message as to what is happening at their institutions and with their human rights education activities. Information such as the publication of new books, lectures, awards, promotions, training programs, etc. that you feel would be of interest to Consortium members are welcomed. While the Secretariat will of course continue to post the information on the web page, it would be useful if I could include it in this message.


Below is some recent information I have received:

Asia:

 

• Publication of Human Rights Dictionary (Bilingual-Chinese /English)
  Executive Board member Prof. Mab Huang of Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan, led a team of international human rights law experts (Danial Yu, John Balzano, James Seymour, Theodore Orlin, Li Yang-huan, Jessie Yeh and others in authoring a Human Rights Dictionary (Bilingual-Chinese /English) divided into four sections: “International”, “Mainland China”, “Hong Kong” and “Taiwan”. If you are interested in obtaining a copy please contact the Secretariat and your request will be forwarded to Prof. Huang.
  
  
• The IHREC Sponsoring a Roundtable in Pune, India, 7-8 2008
  On the 7-8th of January 2008 there will be a roundtable discussing human rights education in India held in Pune, India. If you are interested in participating please contact: IHREC Board member Allwyn D’Silva at icor@mtnl.net.in  and/or shwetashalini@yahoo.com.
  
  
• A International Seminar on Human Rights in Conflict Situations to be held: Sri Lanka 11th and 13th January 2008
  The CSHR of the University of Colombo has organized a international seminar to be held at the Hotel Renuka, Colombo, Sri Lanka for the 7th and 8th of January 2008. IHREC member Prof. Ravindra Fernanado along with others from Sri Lanka, have organized the event with participation coming from India, the USA and elsewhere.
  
  
• Miriam College, Philippines Inaugurates Masters of Arts in Migration Studies
  As mentioned above, Consortium member Miriam College, Quezon City, Philippines has launched a new masters program. For information contact: graduate@mc.edu.ph

Europe:

• Marubi Film and Multimedia School, Tirana Albania, Leads Organization of Albanian Third Human Rights Film Festival.
  Kujtim Çashku of the Marubi School is leading a coordinated effort made up of Albanian and international NGOs, international organizations, embassies and other IHREC members to host the Third Annual Human Rights Film Festival to be held in Tirana in March (19-22) 2008. For more information contact: Klesta Alikaj, klesta@ihrffa.net  and/or Kujtim Cashku kujtim@marubifilmschool.com.
  
• Finnish Human Rights Educators Begin Meetings. About future Cooperation
  In an October meeting twenty interested Finnish educators met to begin to discuss cooperation for the advancement of human rights education. An IHREC roundtable is planned for the 24 January 2008 at the University of Helsinki. The working language will be Finnish. The host of the meeting is the Department of Applied Sciences of Education at the University of Helsinki. For more information contact: Reetta Toivanen rtoivan@mappi.helsinki.fi.
  
  
• Basque/English Human Rights Dictionary Planned
  An outcome of the POGA meeting held in Russia this last September (see earlier discussion) was a tentative agreement to prepare a Basque/English Human Rights Dictionary. IHREC President Ted Orlin will be visiting the Basque country to meet with human rights educators and governmental officials to begin this project in the spring 2008.

North America:

• University of Dayton, Ohio, USA, is to begin a BA in Human Rights Studies
  IHREC co-founder, Mark Ensalaco, announced that the University of Dayton will offer a BA in human rights studies. You can read newspaper report of this important development at: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEWS0102/710200349/-1/all .
  
  Congratulations!! are due to the University of Dayton and Mark for this achievement in human rights higher education.
  
  
• W. Laurier University, Brantford, (Ontario, Canada) Invites IHREC President to Lecture
  Andrew Robinson and his human rights students have invited Ted Orlin to lecture at the Brantford campus in February 2008. Also in attendance will be IHREC member Prof. Rhoda E. Howard-Hassman of the Waterloo campus.
  
  
• Utica College (Utica New York, USA), Invites Bulgarian Professor to Serve as Visiting Professor for Spring 2008 Semester
  IHREC member, Dr. Tania Marinceska will be serving as a visiting professor of human rights and Government at Utica College beginning January 2008. Tania, a member of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and lecturer at the University of Sofia and other Bulgarian institutions will be teaching several courses, and assisting the IHREC Secretariat in a number of projects. She will also begin research for a proposed Bulgarian/English human rights dictionary.
  
  
• IHREC Members Will Present at the International Studies Association (ISA) Conference in San Francisco, California March, 2008
  IHREC members Mark Ensalaco (Dayton, Ohio), Nancy Flowers (California) Rita Maran (Berkeley, Cal.), Ted Orlin (Utica, New York), Felisa Tibbitts (Cambridge Mass.) will present a panel on human rights education at the ISA Annual conference in San Francisco, 25-28 March, 2008.
  

New IHREC Members

Since my last message we are proud to welcome a new IHREC member:

Miriam College- Women and Gender Institute (WAGI)
Quezon City, Philippines

Upcoming - IHREC EVENTS:

Pune, India, January 7-8, 2008

IHREC roundtable for human rights educators.

For more information contact: Allwyn D’Silva at icor@mtnl.net.in  and/or shwetashalini@yahoo.com  

Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 11-13, 2008

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS

Hotel Renuka, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
For more information contact: Meloney Palihakkara mpalihakkara@yahoo.com  or shwetashalini@yahoo.com  

Helsinki, Finland January 24, 2008

IHREC roundtable for human rights educators

Hosted by the Department of Applied Sciences of Education at the University of Helsinki. For more information contact: Reetta Toivanen rtoivan@mappi.helsinki.fi  

Tirana, Albania, March 19-22, 2008.

Third Annual Human Rights Film Festival

For more information contact: Klesta Alikaj, klesta@ihrffa.net  and/or Kujtim Cashku kujtim@marubifilmschool.com  

Utica, New York, October 9-11, 2008

IHREC Executive Board meeting

The next IHREC Executive Board meeting will be held at Utica College, Utica, New York, USA. Being planned, in honor of the 6oth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, will be a seminar dealing with the UDHR in a contemporary context. For more information contact: ihrec@utica.edu

Manila, Philippines, January 2009

IHREC Asian meeting/conference

Planning is now in the process for the next IHREC Asian meeting/conference. Contact: ihrec@utica.edu  


As we approach the end of this year I want to thank all of you for your support and cooperation.

I wish all our members a Happy New Year. I look forward to continuing to work with you in the promotion of human rights education. Please feel free to contact me with your questions, concerns and ideas.



Sincerely,

Ted Orlin




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