Call for Participation: The role of the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council in the development and promotion of international human rights

The Centre for International Governance at the University of Leeds has issued a call for expressions of interest in participation in a research workshop on "The role of the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council in the development and promotion of international human rights," June 24-25, 2010. Here's the call:

Call for expressions of interest in participation

"The role of the Special Rapporteurs of the Human Rights Council in the development and promotion of international human rights norms"

Research workshop, June 24 and 25, 2010

Centre for International Governance, University of Leeds, UK

The importance of the Special Rapporteur system appears evident, yet there is no consensus on good or best practice in the way that mandates should be carried out or the extent or limits of the responsibilities of governments to assist Special Rapporteurs. Moreover, there is limited systematic scholarly examination of the nature and impact of the role of the Special Rapporteur in international law. It is then timely to examine the role of the Special Rapporteurs in the development and promotion of international human rights norms. The research workshop brings together existing and previous Special Rapporteurs, civil society actors and academics working in this area to examine the role (or roles) of the Special Rapporteurs.

Key themes include the following:

• The Working Methods of a Special Rapporteur
• The Human Rights Council and the Special Rapporteurs
• The role of country mandate holders
• The role of Special Rapporteurs in developing international law

If you would like to participate please be in touch (there is limited capacity). There are also a limited number of places available for PhD students. In both cases, please contact Mr. Steven Wheatley (Director of the Centre for International Governance) for further details: s.m.wheatley@leeds.ac.uk.

Confirmed participants

Professor Vitit Muntharborn (Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and Rapporteur for North Korea, formerly Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography)

Professor Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro (Sao Paulo and Brown Universities, Commissioner and Rapporteur on Children, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, formerly Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the Situation of Human Rights in Burundi from 1995 to 1998 and on Myanmar from 2000 to 2008)

Professor Manfred Nowak (Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Vienna and Special Rapporteur on Torture)

Professor Surya Subedi (Leeds University and Special Rapporteur for Cambodia)

Professor Sir Nigel Rodley (Essex University, formerly Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment)

Professor Javaid Rehman (Brunel University)

Mr. Paul O'Connell (Leicester University)