Saturday 7 November: 11:00 - 12:30 The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London

Insurmountable obstacles to pursuing justice for victims of human rights abuses arise in many parts of the world. With the introduction of the new African Court of Justice and Human Rights, adding to the work of the Inter-American Court, the European Court and the International Criminal Court, an additional layer of protection seems to be on the horizon. This workshop will examine how effectively these regional and international institutions work to protect human rights; the likely contours of future interchange between the different systems to break down obstacles to pursuing justice; and the role the Bar of England and Wales can play in the development and support of these court structures.

Moderator: MARK MULLER QC - Chair of BHRC

Speakers include

• SIR JUDGE ADRIAN FULDORD QC - President of Trial Division International Criminal Court
• CLARE OVEY - Head of a Legal Division European Court of Human Rights
• SONYA SCEATS - International Law Associate Chatham House

Bar Conference 2008: Multinationalism and Multiculturalism - Tomorrow's World?

BHRC presents a highly successful Bar Conference workshop with speakers:

• Senator David Coltart
• Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC
• Joe Hingston - Reprieve Investigator and
• Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Please click here to download the flyer.

BHRC also wins the 2008 Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award for its Access to Justice in Afghanistan project - click here for more details.

Bar Conference 2007 - Defending those who defend human rights: Human Rights Defenders

On 3rd November 2007, BHRC presented a workshop entitled “Defending those who defend human rights: Human Rights Defenders” at the 2007 Bar Conference.

The keynote speaker for the BHRC workshop was Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the situation of Human Rights Defenders and a prominent Supreme Court lawyer in Pakistan. Also on the panel were, Mandira Sharma, a Nepali human rights defender and recipient of the Human Rights Watch Human Rights Defender award as well as Abdul Raouf Al- Shayeb, a Bahraini human rights defender and Director of the National Committee of Martyrs and Victims of Torture, Bahrain. The Panel was chaired by Mark Muller QC, Chair of the BHRC.

The panellists spoke of the indefatigable work which they carry out on a daily basis to uphold and promote human rights and the rule of law in the face of constant persecution and harassment. Ms. Jilani gave an overview of the situation of human rights defenders across the world.

American Bar Association, Section of International Law annual meeting 2007

On 4th October 2007, the BHRC presented a showcase programme on “Using evidence obtained by torture / extraordinary renditions” at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The programme was chaired by Zubair Ahmad & Mark Muller QC - the speakers were:

• Tim Otty QC
• Jonathon Jones (Attorney-General’s Office, London)
• Brian Mizer (US Military defence attorney at Guantanamo)
• John Pavich (US lawyer and ex CIA agent)

Bar Conference 2006 - Justice Reconstruction in fragile or post conflict states

On 4th November 2006, BHRC presented a workshop on the theme of Justice Reconstruction in fragile or post conflict states.

The workshop was moderated by Judge Howard Morrison QC with the panellists including Dr Kamal el Gizouli, Sudanese advocate, writer and human rights activist; Mr Geoffrey Robertson QC, Head of Doughty Street Chambers on Sierra Leone and Cambodia and Mr Nicholas Stewart QC, Ely Place Chambers, on the international justice efforts in Bosnia.