Background

What does it mean to teach and do research on human rights in Asia? Since the time of the Bandung Conference, which ‘declared its full support of the fundamental principles of human rights’, the Asian region has a long history with International Human Rights Law. While many Asian countries have ratified the core human rights treaties, the role of human rights in society is often controversial and contested.  Many human rights issues have beset Asian countries in the last few years—violence related to military coup and political chaos, curtailment of freedom of expression, abuse of migrant workers, refugee crises across different Asian societies, climate displacement, discrimination against vulnerable groups (women, children, minorities, indigenous peoples, LGBTQI et al.), inequalities brought by COVID-19 pandemic, and many others. Teachers of human rights must contend with all these factors. At a practical level, teachers of human rights in Asia often face challenges because of limited time, materials and resources. Further, human rights is a continuously expanding subject—now extending to areas such as the environment, foreign investment, technology and artificial intelligence. Accordingly teachers have to select topics to cover and materials very carefully. Teachers of human rights have used technological advances—and the COVID-19 experience—to develop innovative ways in which to teach and engage a new generation of students whose interests in the subject have evolved and who learn in different ways.   This Webinar Series seeks to explore the opportunities, potentials and challenges faced by teachers of international law in this rapidly shifting environment. Future events will focus on researching and writing on human rights.

The NUS Centre for International Law is delighted to organise this Webinar Series on Teaching and Researching International Human Rights Law in Asia (‘TRILA Human Rights’), which will be held via Zoom on 02, 09, and 16 March 2023, from 4:00PM to 6:00 PM Singapore Standard Time.

Phase One (1) of the series will focus on teaching IHRL, particularly on the following topics:

• Teaching Human Rights in Asia: Prospects and Potentials
• Formulating a Human Rights Syllabus: Topics and Materials
• Teaching Techniques and Human Rights

Programme

Please refer to the draft programme at the side panel. The programme will be updated and finalised as the webinar approaches.

Registration

Registration is free and by selection only. To enable a greater degree of engagement between the speakers and the participants, the maximum number of participants shall be limited.

The webinar is intended for teachers, researchers  and postgraduate students (Masters and PhD) on human rights. Priority will be given to those who have participated in previous TRILA events.

Applicants must register their interest through the online form below.

Deadline of registration is on 14 February 2023. Successful applicants will be informed via e-mail on or before 25 February 2023.

Format of the Discussion

To replicate as closely as possible the intimate setting of an in-person workshop, the format will be a Zoom Meeting. Thus, participants are required to have their cameras on throughout.

The webinar will be interactive. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the Speakers, and ask questions or raise comments through their cameras and microphones.

Inquiries

Should you have any questions, please send an email to the TRILA Team (ciltrila@gmail.com).