For two days in October, the Office of Global Learning will sponsor a major symposium on human rights and conflict resolution. The free symposium opens Tuesday, October 17, at the College at Florham. The second day of presentations and discussions, Wednesday, October 18, will be held at the Metropolitan Campus.

More than 50 leading human rights practitioners and academics from several universities will present. “Through keynote addresses, plenary lectures and multiple workshops, this symposium will deepen knowledge and inspire activism concerning the most compelling issues of our times,” said Elise Salem, associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor).

Topics to be addressed include human rights and the war on terrorism, child soldiers, the realities of torture, religious values and human rights, peacemaking strategies for Israel/Palestine, genocide in Darfur, international and local aspects of sex trafficking, the truth and reconciliation process, health issues and human rights and obstacles to political asylum, among many others.

“The protection of human rights and the resolution of violent conflict are urgent concerns in today’s world,” said Joseph Chuman, the symposium organizer and philosophy (Metro). “Recognizing these concerns, FDU’s Office of Global Learning is sponsoring this symposium. This is the first time Fairleigh Dickinson has hosted an event of this magnitude on this topic,” he said.

Keynoter Ibrahim Agboola Gambari

Keynote addresses will feature Kenneth Roth, executive director, Human Rights Watch, on “Is Justice an Obstacle to Ending Wars and Toppling Dictators?” and Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, under-secretary-general for political affairs, United Nations, on “Conflict Resolution.”

Keynoter Kenneth Roth

FDU faculty and staff are session participants. They include Chuman, discussing “The Significance of Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Today”; David Rosen, anthropology (Flor); Vanessa Shields, alumna, BA’03 (Flor); and Peter Woolley, political science and director of PublicMind (Flor), discussing “Child Soldiers”; Sindhuri Prakash, student representative of Amnesty International, talking about “Creating a Vital Campus Chapter of Amnesty International”; Ahmad Kamal, founder and president, Ambassador’s Club at the United Nations; former ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations; and Petrocelli College (Metro), discussing “The Truth and Reconciliation Process”; Leonard Grob, philosophy (Metro), with Riad Nasser, sociology (Flor), discussing “Strategies for Peace-making in Israel/Palestine; Fr. Jack Baron, director, campus ministry (Metro); with Sheik Ibrahim Abdul-Malik, University College (Metro), discussing “Human Rights and Religion: A Religious Trialogue”; Peter Benson, English (Metro); Austin Ogunsuyi, Core (Metro); and Bamidele Ojo, political science (Metro), addressing “Women, Students and Democratization in Africa”; Kathleen Motacki, pediatric nurse and nursing (Metro), discussing “Health Issues and Human Rights”; and Willard Gingerich, University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (Metro/Flor); Elise Salem, associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor); Chuman, in addition to teaching at the Metropolitan Campus is also leader, Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County; and Salina Singleton, student coordinator, Office of Global Learning (Metro), discussing “Where Do We Go From Here? Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in the Future of Fairleigh Dickinson University.”

Reed Brody, alumnus (BA’74, Flor) and advocacy director, Human Rights Watch, will address the war on terrorism and its consequences for human rights, while Kenneth Cain, author and former U.N. Peacekeeper in Somalia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Liberia, will focus on “Peacekeeping Without Illusions: My Role as a U.N. Peacekeeper.” Former child slave Simon Deng, a spokesperson on Darfur genocide, will share his experiences and expertise. He has served as an adviser to President George W. Bush.

Attendees will be able to select workshop presentations that range from Carol Prendergast, director of operations, Bellevue/New York University Survivors of Torture Clinic, on “The Realities of Torture, Personal and Political” to Michael Santoro, professor of international business at Rutgers University on “China, Censorship and Internet Freedom.” Ed Barocas, legal director, ACLU of New Jersey, will lead a workshop on “The War on Terrorism and the Erosion of American Freedoms.”

Keyla Rodriquez, victims specialist, Victims Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark, N.J., Office and Carol Smolenski, executive director, ECPAT-USA (End of Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking), head a session on international sex trafficking, while Anna Kushner, Freedom to Write Program, PEN American Center; Gambian journalist Alagi Yorrow Jarrow, currently a Nieman fellow at Harvard University; and Pierre Mujomba, award-winning Congolese playwright, focus on the persecution of writers.

Student groups on both campuses are gearing up for active involvement. Salina Singleton has taken the lead in bringing together student groups and student volunteers to play an active role in this major two-day event: “The conference is something that I believe in. It’s great that this is happening at our University. When I began to recruit volunteers, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive,” she said.

At the Metropolitan Campus, more than 25 students are already signed up to generate relevant programming before the event, to help with logistics and to moderate symposium workshops. Student organizations involved include the African Heritage Club, Asian Club, Business Leaders of Tomorrow, Equinox, Global Scholars, International Students Association, Residence Hall Association and Student Government Association. An Amnesty International Chapter has been established on the Metropolitan Campus.

Valerie Colotov and Katie Kleinschuster, global learning student assistants, are helping Singleton generate College at Florham student involvement. Activities include a Human Rights Movie Night and an online Human Rights and Conflict Resolution community on http://www.facebook.com. Campus Amnesty International activities center around Darfur, and film students are recording aspects of the symposium. Other organizations that are involved include The Metro, Student Government Association, Green Club, United Nations Club, Association of Black Collegians, English Honors Society, Greek Clubs and Interfaith Club.

Four of the workshops will be run by students and for students: “Creating a Vital Campus Chapter of Amnesty International,” “Student Activism Against Exploitation in the Developing World,” “Making Student Voices Count in the Global Arena” and “Student Activism and Human Rights in the Developing World.” The symposium will encourage students to join new clubs, sign petitions and look for internships.

All events are free to all University students, faculty and staff. To register and for up-to-date information, call 201-692-7360 or visit the Web site at http://www.globaleducation.edu .

October 2006

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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