Human Right to Culture Debated in Derry/Londonderry

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will host a major international event on Human Rights and Culture from 1 to 3 July 2013 as part of Derry/Londonderry City of Culture 2013.
NIHRC Chief Commissioner’ Professor Michael O’Flaherty’ said:
‘The Commission is pleased to be playing its part in the City of Culture activities. We will host a world class gathering of experts on the human right to culture’ including the top UN specialist on the topic’ Farida Shaheed. Today’ the experts will participate in a day-long public symposium.’
The focus of the event will be on the challenges of protecting and promoting our right to culture in the particular context of societies emerging from conflict. Themes to be discussed include how we teach history and memorialise our past. Speakers will also explore the role of art and culture in promoting reconciliation. During their stay in Derry/Londonderry the experts will adopt a set of recommendations that will be tabled at the United Nations.
Professor O’Flaherty added:
‘Derry/Londonderry City of Culture is providing an opportunity for us all to recall how fundamental questions of culture are to our personal and shared identities. It is by knowing and celebrating who we are and where we have come from and by cherishing the diversity of those histories and stories that we ensure a strong thriving community. That is why culture is considered a legally binding human right.’
ENDS
Further information:
For further information please contact Claire Martin on: (028) 9024 3987 .
Notes to editors
1. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body first proposed in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement (1998) and established in 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act (1998). It is answerable to Parliament at Westminster.
2. The International Conference will take place on Monday 1 July from 9.30-17.30am at the Great Hall’ University of Ulster at Magee.
All Media Are Welcome To Attend (Contact Claire Martin on:(028) 9024 3987.
3. Conference Agenda:
09:30: Registration
10:00: Welcome address from NIHRC and presentations from partner organisations.
Michael O’Flaherty’ Chief Commissioner NIHRC
10:45: Keynote address from UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights’ Ms. Farida Shaheed
11:15: Refreshments
11:30: Workshop 1: What do cultural rights mean to you?
13:00: Lunch
13:45: Workshop 2: The challenges of interpreting’ memorialising and passing on the past.
Contributors: Mumsy Malinga (Apartheid Museum)’ Emma McDermott (The Nerve Centre – Teaching Divided Histories project)
15:15: Refreshments
15:30: Workshop 3: Artistic expressions and creations as a bridge between divided communities.
Contributors: Willie Doherty (Artist)’ John Johnston (Director of the Centre for the Arts and Learning’ Goldsmith’s University)
17:00:Closing remarks / summing up
4. Projected supported by: