Call for papers: International Conference "Looking beyond the 50th Anniversary of the Covenants. What Interdependence and Indivisibility of Human Rights?", Padova, 13-14 December 2016

The Call for paper closed on Monday 10th, October 2016.

Acceptance notification will be sent by Monday 17 October 2016.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UN covenants on economic, social and cultural rights and on civil and political rights, the International Conference aims to nurture a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral debate on the present and especially the future of human rights promotion, protection and implementation.

A particular focus is set on the evolution and state of realisation of the principle of interdependence and indivisibility, the linchpin of the human rights paradigm, and on how human rights are put to the test by the challenges and crises emerging at multiple levels today and up to 2030, also in light of the UN Agenda for sustainable development.

The conference adopts an inter-disciplinary approach which will enhance interactions among the various scientific standpoints that can contribute addressing the issue, and their respective methodologies. 

Using the principle of interdependence and indivisibility as the main thread, prospective papers are expected to explore sets of questions that result particularly relevant for a future “sustainable development” of the human rights machinery, as well as for evaluating the impact of human rights on national policy and legislation.

A specific attention in this call for paper is set on contributions presented by the new generation of human rights scholars, including Ph.D Candidates. Preference will be given to sound proposal which contribute addressing, from different disciplinary perspectives, one of the following issues:

1. An agenda 2030 for the International Bill of Human Rights: how can the Covenants and their Protocols catalyse advancements in law, policy and case-law?
2. Foreign policy of states and of the European Union: can human rights and soft power be (still) a major asset in the future of world politics?
3. Tackling human rights global issues at the city level: what challenges for local authorities in light of the principle of subsidiarity?
4. Human rights and new technologies: what risks and/or opportunities? Pragmatic and paradigmatic challenges
5. The rights of persons with disabilities: what persistent and prospective challenges for diversity and inclusiveness?
6. Quality education as a key towards global citizenship: what place and role for human rights education?

The Conference will include key-note speeches by: 

Alfred de Zayas, Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, United Nations; 

Magali Fricaudet, Coordinator of the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights, United Cities and Local Governments; 

Katharina Pabel, United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, University of Linz);

Mauro Palma, Guarantor for the rights of persons detained or deprived of personal liberty, Italian Ministry of Justice.

Scientific Committee: Paolo De Stefani, University of Padua; Roberto De Vogli, University of California, Davis, and University of Padua; Livia Holden, Institut d'étude avancées de Nantes and University of Padua; Antonio Marchesi, University of Teramo, President of Amnesty International - Italy; Angela Melchiorre, University of Padua, Human Rights Education Associates (HREA); Antonio Papisca, UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, Democracy and Peace; Fabrizio Petri, President of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; George Ulrich, E.MA Programme Director, European Inter-University Centre for Human Rights and Democratisation.

The International Conference is organised by the Human Rights Centre of the University of Padova, in cooperation with the UNESCO Chair “Human Rights, Democracy and Peace” of the same university.