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Call for Papers Theme: Universality in Human Rights Subtitle: 500 Years Anniversary of Antonio de Montesinos Type: Universal Human Rights Conference Institution: Public Affairs Institute and Center for Responsible Leadership, Alma College School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University Osgood Center for International Studies Location: Washington, DC (USA) Date: 2.–4.12.2011 Deadline: 17.10.2011 __________________________________________________ Working with international partners, Alma College’s Public Affairs Institute and Center for Responsible Leadership, George Mason University's School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, the Osgood Center for International Studies and the Fundacja Centrum Solidarnosci are hosting a conference focused on assessing what has been achieved in 500 years of human rights advocacy. The conference will include Sunday, December 4, 2011, the conventionally identified date in 1511 when Antonio de Montesinos delivered a sermon in Santo Domingo calling for reform of Spanish policy toward the indigenous. That sermon launched a Spanish debate about the human rights of the Indians, which in turn contributed to later advocacy of the principle that human rights apply to all people, regardless of nationality. The new Spanish film "Tambien La Lluvia" (Even the Rain) has as its core purpose considering the legacy of Montesinos. While concerned with the history of human rights, the conference will have as its primary focus assessing current institutional and legal approaches to move forward in protection of human right. The 500th anniversary is the ‘rationale’ for the conference. Given many contemporary experiences with problems in the global human rights regime, a review of universal definitions and protections of human rights would be justified even without the 500th anniversary. While we have created in the last century many formal human rights statements and enforcement institutions, from the ILO to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various courts built on the Nuremberg model, egregious violations of defined standards continue. For example, despite great progress in defining indigenous rights, there are many cases where specific native communities are being displaced or forced to adapt to norms imposed by outside dominant societies. The movement of millions of migrants as a companion to economic globalization has spawned numerous failures to protect labor and other human rights. Imbedded in this migration is the smaller but more appalling abuses arising from involuntary human trafficking. While many religious institutions and traditions provide models for justifying and defending human rights, of which Montesinos is a stellar example, movements linked to many religious traditions have been tempted to approve suppression of rights in the name of conformity. Consequently, the general purposes of this conference are two: 1. To review as many as possible of the dimensions of the history and current state of human rights protections; 2. To develop consensus from participants about the current state of human rights and the steps needed to build positively on the legacy of people such as Antonio de Montesinos. Topics Papers/presentations would be invited on the following topics: 1. The history and philosophy of universal human rights, especially in the Americas, Spain and other colonizing nations 2. The institutional structure and processes for protecting universal human rights (including the responsibility to protect) 3. The relationship of human rights to issues such as sovereignty, migration, labor, gender, development, and security/terrorism 4. The relationship of universal rights to different local, historical, and indigenous cultures 5. Religion and human rights Venues The conference will be held in Washington, D.C., from December 2, 2011 to December 4, 2011. 1. A professional and graduate conference, for which papers are invited, will be held at George Mason University's Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday and Staurday, Dec. 2-3. 2. A seminar focused on religion and human rights will be held at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and Foreign Affairs on Friday, Dec. 2. 3. An undergraduate conference, for which papers and panel proposals are invited, will be held at the Osgood Center for International Affairs in Washington on Dec. 2-3. 4. A celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Montesinos Homily will be held at St. Matthews Cathedral, Washington, on Dec. 4. Submissions If you would like to organize a session or presentation a paper at the conference, please follow the steps below: 1. Email your Name, Employer/University/College/Organization, and contact information to <[email protected]>. 2. Include the title and an abstract of 300 words or less. 3. If proposing a session, include the subject, the names of all presenters, and abstracts of each individual presentation. We will respond to you promptly. We plan publication of selected papers in a conference proceedings. If you have questions, please email <[email protected]> or call 1.989.463.7203. You may fax proposals to Edward Lorenz at 1.989.463.7277. Schedule May 2011: Finalize partnerships October 2011: Finalize program November 2011: Registration deadline December 2-4, 2011: Conference August 2012: Proceedings published Contact: Edward Lorenz Phone: +1 989 463-7203 Fax: +1 989 463-7277 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.humanrights500.org __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
