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International conference to address human rights and democracy in Asia

Leading Asian and Canadian human rights advocates gather in Toronto
June 14-15

For immediate release – The myriad democratic challenges facing Asian countries and options for Canadian involvement in the promotion of human rights and democracy in Asia are the subjects of Rights & Democracy's annual international conference, which takes place June 14 and 15 at the Radisson Admiral Harbourfront hotel in Toronto .

Human rights advocates, civil society representatives, academics, legal experts and policy makers from across Asia and Canada will take part in the conference’s seven scheduled sessions. These sessions will address topics including: the role of civil society in promoting democratic change; globalization, emerging markets and the promotion of human rights; the effect of Asia-Canada trade and investment on human rights; and the role of regional and sub-regional institutions in democratization.

Panellists include many of Asia and Canada’s most prominent human rights advocates, including: Burma’s Charm Tong, founder of the Shan Women’s Action Network ; Malaysia’s Irene Fernandez, a leading campaigner for labour rights and an authority on HIV/AIDS in Asia; Han Dongfang, Hong Kong-based labour rights expert and celebrated journalist for Radio Free Asia; the Hon. Flora MacDonald, Canada’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs; T. Rajamoorthy, legal authority for the Third World Network, the world’s leading voice on the issue of trade and development; Claire L’Heureux-Dubé, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada; Kem Sokha, founder of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights; and Vitit Muntarbhorn, lawyer, professor and renowned advocate for the rights of children and women in his native Thailand and across Asia.

Keynote presentations will be delivered by Dr. Sein Win, Prime Minister of Burma’s government-in-exile, and Patrick Brown, CBC Television’s Asia correspondent. Dr. Sein Win will address international support for the struggling democracy movement in Burma and Mr. Brown will discuss the digital revolution’s effect on the promotion of human rights and democracy in China. Janice Stein, Chair of Rights & Democracy’s Board of Directors and Jean-Louis Roy, President of Rights & Democracy, will provide the conference’s opening remarks.

See also: Rights & Democracy’s Annual International Conference