The Schaeffer Center for the Study of Genocide, Human Rights and Conflict Prevention at the American University of Paris will be co-hosting a conference on May 2-3, 2024, for Education for Co-existence: creating a university platform from theFaith for Rights community of practices, with a special emphasis on the role of academic hubs and networking to promote research and dialogue on the relation between religion and human rights.
The event is organized by 91Թprofessors Susan Perry and Waddick Doyle, with Tanya Elder in collaboration with 91Թstudents Daniel Carter, Ally Poehailos, Jordan Haschke, and Justin Kaeppi and with support from the Schaeffer Center
This two-day event, organizedby the American University of Paris in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,brings together leading university scholars and educators from across the world to cultivate a shared platform working within the OHCHR's Faith for Rights mission.
In a world driven by polarization and violence, academics, practitioners and religious leaders have developed the Faith for Rights framework to explore the positive relationship between religions, beliefs and human rights. Scholars of the interstice between human rights and religion or belief are invited to submit a short abstract of their research to be presented. Civil society actors are invited to submit a brief paragraph on their work in this area to be presented.
As emphasized in the Rabat Plan of Action of 2012, religious leaders have a crucial role to play in speaking out firmly and promptly against human rights violations ranging from hate speech and mass violence. In 2017, the Beirut Declaration on “Faith for Rights” added that individual and communal expression of religions or beliefs flourish in environments where human rights, based on the equal worth of all individuals, are protected. Similarly, human rights may benefit from the deeply rooted ethical and spiritual foundations provided by religions and beliefs. The Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments reach out to theistic, non-theistic, atheistic or other believers in all regions of the world to enhance cohesive, peaceful and respectful societies on the basis of a common action-oriented platform.
This event is a continuation of June 2023: Peer-to-Peer Learning Center for Excellence
For any questions feel free to reach out to schaeffercenteraup.edu
Thursday May 2, 2024 -7thfloor of Quai
8:45-9:15- Coffee and pastries
9:15-9:45-Introductions Faith 4 Rights – How far we’ve come in 15 years
Opening by Drs. Brian Schiff andConstance Pâris de Bollardièreof the Schaeffer Center for the Study of Genocide, Human Rights and Conflict Prevention
Remarks by Dr. Ibrahim Salama and Dr. Michael Wiener, OHCHR
9:45 to 10:45 - Reflections on Faith 4 Rights
10:45 -12:15-Design Thinking for launch of the Inter-university F4R Platform (with coffee)
Lead by 91ԹProfessor Susan Perry
12:15 -12:45 - Lunch break
13:30-14:30- Tour (in English) of Notre Dame Cathedral external worksitewith the Association CASA
15:00-17:00- Ghandi King Global Academy: Instructor-led courseon “Religions, Beliefs and Human Rights: A Faith for Rights Approach”.Chair Susan Perry
Friday May 3, 2024 -7thfloor of Quai
9:00– 10:30- Religious actors and human rights in different contexts
11:00-12:00 - Workshop on the role of academic hubs
Facilitatedby Waddick Doyleand Michael Wiener
12:00-13:00- Guest Speaker 91ԹProfessor Ziad Majed
13:00-14:00 -Lunch
14:00-16:00-Quarterly exchange of the Faith 4 Rights CommUNity of Practices (hybrid at 91Թand online)
16:00-17:00- Concluding remarks and Plans for future actions