Strategies for the Future:
Protecting Rights in the Pacific

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About Programme Contacts

27-29 April 2008
National University of Samoa
Apia

A symposium jointly hosted by
National University of Samoa,
New Zealand Centre for Public Law,
International Centre for the Legal
Protection of Human Rights

About

The symposium aims to identify:

• key human rights challenges in the Pacific and
• strategies for strengthening national, regional and international mechanisms for enhanced protection of human rights in the region.

The event will bring together eminent human rights jurists and activists from across the region with international human rights experts to examine cutting edge human rights issues, including environmental rights; custom and women’s rights; and HIV and poverty, and how they can be addressed through innovative approaches at the national, regional and international level. It will include discussions on the potential value of a regional mechanism for the Pacific in contributing to enhanced rights protection, together with how UN treaty ratification can be improved in the region.

The event will not only offer an unparalleled opportunity to discuss and share experiences on a range of human rights issues, it will also offer concrete and practical recommendations for strengthened human rights protection which can inform both the regional Pacific Plan and the work of national human rights institutions. Other potential outcomes include continued civil society cooperation on securing improved ratification of UN treaties and the development of a regional mechanism.

This symposium is by invitation only.

Programme

Sunday 27 April 2008

18:00 Welcome and Drinks Reception

Monday 28 April 2008
Why Have a Regional Mechanism?

Introductory Session

9.00 Welcome (tba)

9.15 Opening Address by Keynote Speaker

• Judge Fatsah Ouguergouz, African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (tbc)

10.00 Introductory Remarks

• "Why do we need a Regional Mechanism
  in the Pacific?"
  Imrana Jalal, Human Rights Advisor, Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT)

10.45 Morning Tea

Human rights matters arising
out of country reports

• Chairperson: Natalie Baird, Lecturer, University of Canterbury

11.00 Culture and Language

• Professor Lau Asofou Soo, The National University of Samoa

12.00 Health

• (tba)

13.00 Lunch

• Chairperson: (tba)

13.45 Education

• Freda Talao, Senior Program Officer, Papua New Guinea

          Environment

• Justice Susan Glazebrook, Court of Appeal of New Zealand

15.45 Afternoon Tea

16.00 Rule of law

• Tupou Vere, Pacific Concerns Resource Centre

18.15 Summary of Sessions and Expert Panel Discussion

• Chairperson: Sasha Holden, Assistant Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
• Dr Jennifer Corrin, Executive Director - Asia Pacific Law, Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, Associate Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland
• Ms Tina Takashy, Gender and NGO Affairs Adviser, FSM Alliance of NGOs, FSM Women Action Network
• Ms Merilyn Tahi, Coordinator, Vanuatu Women’s Centre

20.00 Conference Dinner

• After dinner speaker: Professor Tony Smith, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Government Relations) and Dean of Law, Director, NZ Centre for Public Law, Victoria University of Wellington

Tuesday 29 April 2008
What Would a Regional Mechanism Look Like?

9.00 Coffee

Building a Regional Mechanism:
Associated Challenges

• Chairperson: Iain Byrne, INTERIGHTS

9.15 WTO and Human Rights

• Professor Sarah Joseph, Monash University

9.45 Human rights and custom in Samoa

• Unasa Vaá , The National University of Samoa

10.15 The Pacific mechanism: specific requirements and challenges

• Kathryn Hay, Massey University, New Zealand

10.45 Morning Tea

Regional Systems

• Chairperson: Tanya Smith, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Fiji

11.00 America’s Experience

• Mr Felipe González, OAS's Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

11.45 Africa’s Experience

• Professor Jacques Frémont, Université de Montréal

12.45 Lunch

• Chairperson: Caroline Bilkey, High Commissioner to Samoa

13.45 Europe’s Experience

• Professor Kevin Boyle, University of Essex

14.45 Asia’s Experience

• tba

15.45 Afternoon Tea

16.15 Drawing together the threads: Closing Panel Discussion and Outlook for the Future

• Chairperson: Ms. Andie Fong-Toy, Director of the Political and Security Programme (TBC)
• Susan Farran, University of Dundee
  Professor Kevin Boyle, University of Essex
• Imrana Jalal, Human Rights Advisor, Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT)

17.15 Closing remarks

• Dr Petra Butler, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington, Associate Director, New Zealand Centre of Public Law

Contacts

Conference Organisers

• Unasa Vaá, The National University of Samoa
• Petra Butler, New Zealand Centre for Public Law / Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington
• David Geer, International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights

Conference Administrator

• Yana Khatchian, Conference Administrator
  
  Faculty of Law / New Zealand Centre for Public Law
  Victoria University of Wellington
  PO Box 600,
  Wellington,
  NEW ZEALAND
  
  Phone: +64 4 463 6344
  Fax: +64 4 463 6365
  E-mail: yana.khatchian@vuw.ac.nz