Panel discusses human rights at York’s new School of Public Policy & Administration

Atkinson’s School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA) at York University, in conjunction with the Iranian Students Association, the MCRI Diaspora Project and the Atkinson Dean’s Office, will host a panel discussion today on human rights.


Titled, “Human Rights: Does Any One Culture Own the Concept?”, the panel will take place today, from 6 to 7:30pm, in the Harry Crowe Room, 109 Atkinson Building. Panel participants will de-construct the origins, history and social context of human rights as they pertain to culture.


Following the panel, there will be a reception and informal discussion from 7:30 to 9pm, in the Harry Leith Room, 004 Atkinson Building.


Panel participants include:


Hirad Abtahi, author and legal adviser to the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, will present “Cyrus of Persia’s 538 BCE Proclamation: A Case for Human Rights Universality”.


The presentation titled, “Origins of Human Rights and their Precursors in Various Cultures.”, will be given by University of British Columbia Professor Maurice Copithorne. Copithorne is the former UN special representative on the human rights situation in Iran.


Professor Annie Bunting, coordinator of the Law & Society Program, Division of Social Sciences, in York’s Faculty of Arts, will present, “Cultural Contests over Women’s Human Rights: Feminist Perspectives.”


For more information, contact Professor Saeed Rahnema, director of the SPPA and moderator of the event, at srahnema@yorku.ca or by telephone at ext. 66624.