News

Academics, diplomats, and corporate representatives from the United States and Europe will gather at Northwestern University's Chicago campus on Jan. 24 and 25 for the fourth annual Transatlantic Dialogue conference titled "Reforming the United Nations."

The conference, organized by Northwestern Law Professor Douglass Cassel and co-sponsored by the Bluhm Legal Clinic's Center on International Human Rights with the Northwestern University Journal of International Human Rights and the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, is open to the public and free of charge. All events will take place at Northwestern University, Wieboldt Hall, 340 East Superior.

In 2003 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan convened a High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, composed of 26 "eminent persons," in response to UN debates over military interventions in Rwanda and Iraq. The panel's December 2004 report, "A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility," makes scores of recommendations to reform the UN, the most important of which will be discussed by the UN General Assembly in 2005.

Sir David Hannay, a member of the High Level Panel and former permanent UN representative of the United Kingdom, will share his perspective on the panel's recommendations during his keynote address at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 24.

Conference participants will discuss how the United States' decision to act without Security Council authorization in the war with Iraq has impacted the future role of the UN, and what role the UN should play in protecting human rights. Topics will focus on panel recommendations in three inter-related areas: the use of force to preserve international security and to safeguard human rights, and restructuring the UN Security Council.

Established in 1998, Northwestern Law's Center for International Human Rights is dedicated to fostering the use and study of international law as a means to defend human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Likewise, the Northwestern University Journal of International Human Rights is dedicated to providing a dynamic new forum for the vigorous discussion of human rights issues among scholars of all disciplines and perspectives.

This event is part of the Northwestern Law's continued focus on international human rights and the globalization of business as it prepares both domestic and international students for practice in the changing world.

View conference brochure

• Categories: