Glasgow Human Rights Network Bulletin 14 September 2011

Please send any items for the next e-bulletin to ghrnadmin@glasgow.ac.uk by Thursday 29 September

1. Events

We are in the process of finalising the GHRN Seminar Series for 2011/12.  More information, including times and venues will be posted on our events website in due course. In the meantime, please note the following in your diaries!

  • 25 Oct:  Helena Kennedy (barrister and an expert in human rights law, civil liberties and constitutional issues)
  • 3 Nov:  Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought Panel Discussion
  • 24 Nov:  Jennifer Welsh (Co-director, ELAC and Professor of International Relations, University of Oxford)
  • 1 Mar 2012:  Hugo Slim (Visiting Fellow, ELAC, University of Oxford)

Conference: "Victims of Trafficking and the Law"
Monday 19 September 2011, Glasgow Quaker Meeting House, 38 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow, G2 4PS

A FREE full day conference addressing key legal issues related to sexually exploited and trafficked young people.  This Conference is aimed at building individual and organisational capacity to identify victims of trafficking and respond effectively.  Specialist legal practitioners working in the field of human trafficking from London and Glasgow will lead practical and interactive sessions on identifying victims of trafficking and their rights under a range of protective measures.
For more information please download: 110919 Victims of Trafficking and the Law Conference Registration Pack

GRAMNet Seminar: The Palestinian bid for Statehood
Wednesday 21 September 2011, 16.00 – 18.00, University of Glasgow, Room 227 (2nd Floor) St Andrews Building, Eldon Street (E14 on campus map)

On the 20th of September, the Palestinian representatives in the United Nations will pursue recognition of Palestine as a state.  There will be coverage of the event on Al Jazeera and various other channels.  This seminar will review the event and look at the broader meaning and consequence from a number of angles.  The seminar will not be a dry legalistic exposition but rather go into a whole range of discussions that might follow the bid.

Discussion led by Michelle Burgis, School of International Relations, St. Andrews University.
Moderated by Keith Hammond, GRAMNet & University of Glasgow.

All are welcome – event is free of charge
Download: 110921 Palestinian Statehood Flyer

GCID Public Event: 1.4 Billion Reasons
Thursday 29 September 2011, 18.00, Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, 1 University Avenue (E15 on campus map)

1.4 Billion Reasons, is a thought provoking multimedia presentation that is travelling the world, inspiring and empowering audiences in its path.  Based on leading research, it clearly communicates the challenges and opportunities around tackling extreme poverty, working as a platform to inspire and enable individuals in the Global North to become actively involved in ending poverty.  The Global Poverty Project (GPP) is catalysing action to end extreme poverty through this presentation. Come along to this free public event to be informed, inspired and motivated.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session and the event will conclude with a reception in the Sir Charles Wilson Foyer.  All welcome, this event is free and open to the public.  Download the flyer: 110929 1.4 Billion Reasons

Please note that registration is essential: visit the GPP website to register - http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/events/attend/37100424

GCID Public Lecture - “International Development: Changes and challenges”
5.30pm Tuesday 4 October 2011, Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre, University of Glasgow, 1 University Avenue (E15 on Campus Map)

Priorities in International Development are constantly changing.  Our speakers will give an overview of the current UK and global priorities. They will then ask the audience to try their hands at being national decision makers having to spend aid funds…

Speakers:  Malcolm McNeil & Sue Kinn  - Department for International Development (DFID)

Event concludes with a reception in the Sir Charles Wilson foyer.  Free and open to the public.
For catering purposes please email Lauren Roberts at gcidadmin@glasgow.ac.uk or call 0141 330 1989 if you plan to attend.
Download: 111004 GCID lecture flyer 

GCID and CR&DALL Public Lecture: “Leprosy – challenges for public health policy and social justice”
5.30pm Tuesday 1 November 2011, Wolfson Medical School Building, Seminar room 1 (Yudowitz),  University of Glasgow (C8 on Campus Map) 

Speaker:  W Cairns S Smith, OBE (Emeritus Professor of Public Health, University of Aberdeen)

Professor Cairns will talk on the broad subject of social justice in relation to leprosy and his work, in that context, with the World Health Organisation.
Further details to follow.  Event organised in collaboration between Glasgow Centre for International Development (GCID) and Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning (CR&DALL)

The event will conclude with a reception in the Atrium.  Free and open to the public.
For catering purposes please email Lauren Roberts at gcidadmin@glasgow.ac.uk or call 0141 330 1989 if you plan to attend.

Theoretical and Philosophical Approaches to Human Rights Cluster Meeting
Tues 11 October 2011 11.30-13.00 
This cluster meeting will begin by creating some common ground, in a way that challenges both 'old' and 'new' researchers in this area alike.  Cluster members should read at least one of the four articles that appear in the recent Ethics (vol. 120, no. 4, July 2010) symposium on James Griffin's book On Human Rights.  Of course, feel feel to read more than one, or even to read all four, articles.  After a brief recap of the conclusions of the scoping meeting, we will spend most of the time in this meeting asking members to share (a) members' thoughts on the pieces that they read, and (b) members' thoughts on whether and how those thoughts can be plugged into their own research projects and/or professional careers.  The articles can be accessed here http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/603567 through most university libraries, but please contact us if you have any trouble.  A working sandwich lunch, tea and coffee will be provided. 
Should you wish to attend please email ben.colburn@glasgow.ac.uk and david.karp@glasgow.ac.uk who will advise of the venue and further details.
 
3rd Annual International Symposium on Preventing Human Trafficking: Integrating the European Knowledge
Thursday 24 November 2011, The Silken Berlaymont Hotel, Brussels

The problem of human trafficking is an increasingly disturbing phenomenon in Europe with terrible consequences for victims, the majority of which are forced into prostitution, street crime, domestic servitude or other forms of labour exploitation. With a new directive on trafficking in human beings adopted by the European Council in March this year, the 3rd Annual International Symposium on Preventing Human Trafficking offers a timely opportunity for local, regional and national authorities to gather comparative knowledge, discuss the latest challenges and share examples of cross-border best practices.
For further details, please see the event website: http://publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/BK24-PPE2.php



2. Opportunities & Funding

RCUK Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellows – Call for Expressions of Interest
The RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme is pleased to announce the call for Global Uncertainties Leadership Fellows, offering the opportunity for outstanding researchers to develop a suite of activities to maximise the value and impact of the Global Uncertainties Programme, alongside personal research.  The RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme brings together the activities of the seven UK Research Councils in response to global security challenges. The Programme helps governments, businesses and societies to better predict, detect, prevent and mitigate threats to security, focussing on six core areas:

  • Ideologies and beliefs
  • Terrorism
  • Transnational organised crime
  • Cyber security
  • Threats to infrastructures
  • Countering the proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) weapons and technologies

Deadline: Expressions of Interest by 28 September 2011

Centres and Large Grants competition
ESRC are pleased to announce the first call for outline proposals for the newly integrated Centres and Large Grant Competition 2011-12. This competition is for experienced researchers requiring longer term or extended support for research groups, inter-institutional research networks, linked-project programmes, medium-to-large surveys, other infrastructure or methodological developments, or any related larger scale projects. The Competition is for applications ranging from £2 million to £5 million (at 100 per cent full economic cost). 
Deadline: 13 October 2011.

ESRC: Follow on Funding Scheme
This scheme offers awards of up to £100,000 (at 80 per cent fEC) for a maximum of 12 months. Provides the opportunity to apply for knowledge exchange and impact generating activities that follow on from a specific piece of research. The scheme is designed to be flexible, applications for either a single activity or a combination of activities are welcomed, and applicants are encouraged to think creatively about the format of the knowledge exchange. Follow on funding should be thought of as an extension and complement to the 'Pathways to Impact' section of a research grant and should involve research users from the earliest stages of proposal development.
Deadline: 27 October 2011

ESRC: Knowledge Exchange Opportunities scheme
 Applicants can apply for any amount between £2,000 - £100,000 (non fEC-full economic cost) per application for knowledge exchange and impact generating activities.  The scheme provides the opportunity to apply for funding for knowledge exchange activities at any stage of the research lifecycle, and is aimed at maximising the impact of social science research outside academia. The flexibility built into the scheme is intended to encourage applicants to think creatively about knowledge exchange, and applications are welcomed for either a single activity or a combination of activities; be it setting up a network to help inform the development of a research proposal, arranging an academic placement with a voluntary or business organisation, or developing tools such as podcasts and videos aimed at communicating the results of research to non-academic audiences. Some examples of knowledge exchange activities can be found on the website.
Deadline: 27 October 2011


3. Call for papers

Call for Papers - Protecting Human Rights: Duties and Responsibilities of States and Non-State Actors
University of Glasgow 18-19 June 2012

The Steering Committee of the American Political Science Association (APSA) Human Rights Section, the Council of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) Human Rights Research Committee, and the Executive Council of the International Studies Association (ISA) Human Rights Section announce their second joint international conference on the theme “Protecting Human Rights: Duties and Responsibilities of States and Non-State Actors” to take place on 18-19 June 2012 at the University of Glasgow, hosted by the Glasgow Human Rights Network.  This conference is timed to coincide with the joint International Studies Association-British International Studies Association conference to be held immediately after in Edinburgh (20-22 June).

The conference format will be a mixture of small panels (no more than 3 papers) with plenary keynote sessions.  We hope that small panels will facilitate discussion and interchange among the participants, and the overall conference format will contribute to an intimate and relaxed two days.  Confirmed keynote speakers to date include:

  • Henry Shue, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
  • David Mepham, UK Director, Human Rights Watch

Submission information: Full details can be found on the ISA website - please note you will need to create a MyISA account if you do not already have one. 

For questions about paper submissions and other aspects of the program please contact the Program Chair, Clair Apodaca, at HR@isanet.org 
For all other queries related to the conference, please contact the Conference Chair, Kurt Mills, at ResponsibilityConference@glasgow.ac.uk

Deadline for submission of papers: 1 November.
Notification of acceptance will be sent by e-mail by 1 December. 
Registration, accommodation and facilities: Please see the Conference section of the GHRN website 

The Global Social Justice Journal
The Global Social Justice Journal invites the submission of original research articles for publication. For further details including full submission guidelines, please visit the journal website. Articles for consideration should be sent to the journal editor at jan_hancock@cbu.ca.

The Global Social Justice Journal is a new Open Journal System initiative published by the Centre for International Studies at Cape Breton University which disseminates peer reviewed research on all aspects of global social justice including issues of economic globalization, human rights, indigenous peoples, the environment, education, gender, class, poverty, inequality and race. The journal publishes research from disciplines including political science, philosophy, geography, economics, sociology, law, gender studies and indigenous studies. The journal welcomes the submission of articles analyzing the social impacts of markets and governments from normative or marginalized perspectives and specifically those originating in the global South. It especially welcomes the submission of articles that shed light on an otherwise neglected aspect of global social justice or that analyze alternative forms of social and political organization to the present structuring of globalization. The Global Social Justice Journal has a commitment to the Open Access model of research dissemination and provides free public access to articles accepted for publication.

Conference on Legal & Institutional Effectiveness
Dec. 4, 2011 is the 500th anniversary of a prophetic call by Antonio Montesinos for recognition and protection of universal human rights (from the genocide of the indigenous on Hispaniola).  On the weekend of Dec. 2-4, a coalition of organizations is sponsoring a conference and celebration in Washington, D.C. to review both the historic progress in defining and protecting human rights and to consider what change is needed to realize the fullest identification and protection of individuals and vulnerable populations from genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.   For more information on the conference, please go to http://humanrights500.org/  
We welcome both panel and individual presentations by scholars, practitioners, and students as well as the widest possible public participation in the final dialogue and celebration on December 4. 

New Developments, New Directions.  BSA Annual Conference 2012
The British Sociological Association's Sociology of Rights Study Group has issued a Call for Papers for the BSA Annual Conference, 11-13 April 2012, to be held at University of Leeds.  The Study group's Convenors include Matthew Waites (Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Glasgow Human Rights Network Steering group member, University of Glasgow), and they will have a collective role in selecting abstracts for the Law, Crime and Rights stream, which ran very successfully in 2011.
The submission deadline for abstracts of 250 words is 7 October 2011. 

To view the Call for Papers and make a submission, go to the BSA website.  Select 'Law Crime and Rights' to view the Call for Papers which includes a themed section 'The Sociology of Rights and Human Rights'. 
Please write 'Sociology of Rights/Human Rights' clearly at the top of your abstract to ensure it is directed to the correct section within the Law, Crime and Rights stream.
To join the BSA Sociology of Rights Study Group, see: http://www.britsoc.co.uk/specialisms/socrights.htm 
Anyone with questions about the stream or study group is welcome to contact Matthew Waites via email: Matthew.Waites@glasgow.ac.uk


4. News