THIRTEENTH ANNUAL STUDENT HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE

Dealing with the Past: Human Rights and Transitional Justice

Saturday 18th February 2012, University of Nottingham

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Annual Student Human Rights Conference provides students with an opportunity to present their research to an international audience alongside leading practitioners, scholars and experts. In a post-conflict situation, transitional justice is a societys attempt to deal with and come to terms with large-scale human rights violations. This may include reparations for victims, perpetrator accountability, promoting participation of civil society, truth-seeking, as well as systemic reform. Transitional justice mechanisms must be grounded in, comply with and promote international human rights standards. The 2012 conference will explore and critically assess the fundamental interrelation of human rights and transitional justice. By encouraging multi-disciplinary participation, the conference seeks to present differing viewpoints on various aspects surrounding human rights and transitional justice. This conference aims to explore a number of issues such as: How can the most appropriate transitional justice mechanisms be identified in specific situations? How to ensure that civil society is included in transitional justice processes? What are the roles and responsibilities of international bodies and foreign states? What is the legal basis for transitional justice? What are the merits and limits of truth and reconciliation commissions? How to ensure that women and vulnerable and marginalised groups, such as refugees, children, and indigenous groups have a voice in the process of transitional justice? What issues arise surrounding criminal procedures in transitional justice? What is the role of international criminal justice mechanisms? How can transitional justice promote the rule of law and human rights in a post-conflict society? Papers are welcome on the subject of Human Rights in relation to one of the following themes: * * * * * * * * International Bodies and Foreign States in the Process of Transitional Justice Amnesties, Criminal Responsibility and Transitional Justice The Role of International Criminal Justice in Transitional Justice Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups within Transitional Justice Merits and Limits of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Contemporary Issues in Human Rights and Transitional Justice Legal Basis for Transitional Justice Moving Forward: Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Rights through transitional justice

The Conference Committee encourages submissions of papers from students in any discipline on any of the above themes. Authors of selected papers will be offered the opportunity to discuss their work in panels which will take place as part of the conference, alongside leading practitioners and academics working in the field. Applications are open to university students in any discipline enrolled at a recognised university. Papers and presentations should be in English. Submission Details: Using the application form available on the website, please provide a short abstract of no more than 500 words by Friday 2 December 2012, clearly stating the authors postal address, email, phone number and institution. The abstract should be submitted electronically to the following address: HumanRightsConference@nottingham.ac.uk. For further information, please see the Student Conference page of HRLCs website:

http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/hrlc