11 December, 2008

UNU Lecture Series 'Emerging Thinking on Global Issues (II)': Human Rights: The Second 60 Years

On the occasion of 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Dec 10, '08), United Nations University organized a lecture by Dr.Thomas Pogge addressing the just evolution of human rights and their implementation in coming 60 years. The title of the lecture was "Human Rights: The Second 60 Years." This lecture was second in the series "Emerging Thinking on Global Issues" that the UNU has recently inaugurated (October 2008).

WHEN: Thursday, December 11, 2008 | 3:00pm to 4:30pm

WHERE: Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters, New York

Photographs and audio of the event:

Photos by Durlabh S. Maharishi

Watch the interview with Dr. Thomas Pogge

Available for download: Dr. Pogge_Presentation.PPT

UNU's objective with this lecture series is to generate and nurture global thinking and call upon a variety of views from experts who have a long association with the UNU. The lectures are delivered with the aim to make way for a substantial debate with the audience.

Following is an abstract of Dr. Pogge's lecture that was presented on December 11, '08;

"Various human rights are widely recognized in codified and customary international law. These human rights promise all human beings protection against specific severe harms that might be inflicted on them domestically or by foreigners. Yet, international law also establishes and maintains institutional structures that greatly contribute to these human rights not being fulfilled: Fundamental components of international law systematically obstruct the aspirations of poor populations for democratic self-government, civil rights, and minimal economic sufficiency. And central international organizations, like the WTO, IMF, and World Bank, are designed so that they systematically contribute to the persistence of severe poverty. Continuous efforts by many good people can counteract these systemic forces to some extent. But our aim should be to remove these forces through global structural reforms toward an "international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized" (UDHR 28)."

Dr. Thomas Pogge holds a Phd. in philosophy from Harvard University. Presently he is Leitner Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs at Yale University and Research Director at the Oslo University Centre for the Study of Mind in Nature (CSMN).

The spirit of this UNU series (Emerging Thinking on Global Issues) is to promote global thinking through specialized lectures delivered by experts and scholars who have a working relationship with UNU. These experts are leaders in their respective fields (Eg. Thomas Pogge - writes and teaches on moral and political philosophy at Yale University). Thus, with this series we try to showcase the world renowned experts who make the 'knowledge bank' of UNU.