International Human Rights Regime in Crisis

Second International Human Rights Academy of the Aegean, Nesin Maths Village, Şirince, Izmir, Turkey, 2 till 4 November 2018

The programme

First Day Friday, November 2, 2018

09.00 – 09.30 Registration 09.30 – 10.00

Opening Speeches First Session: A Glance at Human Rights from Today’s Perspective

The aim of the opening session is to look at the ideological and historical background of the international human rights regime from a wide perspective, thereby presenting a general framework for the entire workshop. To this purpose, the panel is meant to address a number of major topics and problem areas, including the conceptual foundations of human rights, the variety of political contestations and ideological disputes that shaped their meaning and scope, and the institutional construction of the international human rights regime.

10.00 – 11.00 The Emergence of the Concept of Human Rights, Its Transformation and Ideological Construction Prof. Dr. Nilgün Toker Solidarity Academy of Izmir

11.00 – 11.20 Break

11.20 – 12.20 Institutional Construction of the Human Rights Regime, Dr.RadhaD’Souza, University of WestminsterSchool of Law

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch

Second Session: The Jurisdiction of International Human Rights

The aim of this session is to discuss whether the judicial or quasi-judicial mechanisms of the human rights systems that were formed after WWII provide the rights holders with an effective legal remedy. The subject will be discussed with the examples from the UN, ECtHR and African Human and Peoples’ Rights systems in order to give a holistic perspective.

13.30 – 14.30 The Protection of Human Rights by Judicial Mechanisms of the UN, Att. Micole Savia Representative of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers at the UN

14.30 – 14.40 Break 14.40 -15.40 How Successful is the African Human and Peoples’ Rights System? Abdulatif Kedir Idris, Addis Ababa University Center for Human Rights

15.40 – 15.50 Break

15.50 – 17.30 The Dilemma of the ECtHR
Att. F. Özgür Erol Board Member of the Platform of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHP)

Att. Fatma Demirer,Co-Chair of the Izmir Branch of ÖHP (Moderator)
Prof. Dr. Bill Bowring, President of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights(ELDH)
Att. Benan Molu, Member of Istanbul Bar

All Day Event : “Unsettled Lives” Photograph Exhibition Venue : Nesin Library

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Second Day Saturday, November 3, 2018

09.30 – 10.00 Registration

First Session: On the Verge of Human Rights, War and Refugees

War and asylum are widespread facts of the 21st century, despite the fact that human rights systems are established to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and specific groups in peaceful societies. The aim of this session is to discuss the competence of the international human rights regime in preventing wars and overcoming the refugee crisis.

10.00 – 11.20 What is the Place of Refugees in Human Rights? From 1951 Convention to the EU – Turkey Deal
Prof. Dr. Cem Terzi, President of the Association of Bridge of the Peoples
Att. Carlos Orjuela, Founder of Lesbos Legal Center
Cansu Akbaş Demirel, Solidarity Academy of Izmir

11.20 – 11.30 Break

11.30 – 12.45 Deterrent Effects of the Mechanisms of Humanitarian Law
Att. Eda Yakmaz, International Human Rights Academy of the Aegean
Dr. Carla Ferstman (*) University of Essex, School of Law
Att. Jun Sasamoto Secretary General of Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific (COLAP)

12.45 – 13.30 Lunch

First Session: Relation of the Human Rights Regime with Democracy
By focusing on the recent crisis of political legitimacy in constitutional democracies, this session aims to discuss the meaning of this crisis with regards to human rights in general and the international human rights regime in particular. The session will focus on three problem areas: The relations and the tensions between constitutional democracy and international human rights regime; the global rise of populism, its political meaning and effects on human rights; and the relation of democratic social movements to international human rights regime, their objections and expectations.

Moderator: Ass. Prof. Dr. Serdar Tekin Solidarity Academy of Izmir

13.30 – 14.30 Is International Human Rights Law Indispensable for Democracy?
Ass. Prof. Dr. Kasım Akbaş Signatory of Academics for Peace

14.30 – 14.40 Break

14.40 – 15.40 Populism: An Objection to the Established Order or the End of Human Rights?
Tanıl Bora Writer, Translator, Editor

15.40 – 15.50 Break

15.50 – 16.50 What are the Expectations of Democratic Social Movements from the Human Rights Regime?
Prof. Dr. Louis Lemkow Autonomous University of Barcelona, Department of Sociology

Evening Event: Theatre: Qırıq – Amed City Theatre Concert: Anadolu Quartet

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Third Day Sunday, November 4, 2018

09.30 – 10.00 Registration

10.00 – 13.00 Forum Future of the International Human Rights Regime: Alternatives or Reconstruction?
Prof. Dr. Nilgün Toker
Dr. Radha D’Souza
Prof. Dr. Bill Bowring
Dr. Carla Ferstman

13.00 – 13.10 Closing

Registration is necessary in order to participate to the events of IHRAA Autumn Workshop 2018. Participation is limited in certain numbers. All registration procedures will be made online. Participants will be given a certificate at the end of the workshop. The basic needs such as the meals (four times in a day), accommodation, participation to the events and internet connection will be supplied by the IHRAA and Nesin Village. Please check the web sites of www.egeinsanhaklariokulu.org  or www.nesinkoyleri.org  for application and more information.

Organisers:

  • Platform of Lawyers for Freedom ÖHP
  • International Association of Democratic Lawyers IADL
  • European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and  World Human Rights ELDH
  • Solidarity Academy of Izmir