Visiting Speakers

Human Rights Internet initiated its Visiting Speaker Series in the autumn of 2004 to introduce Ottawa-based NGOs, academics, journalists, diplomats and Canadian government officials to outstanding international experts in human rights and peace building and to engage them in dialogue on cutting edge issues. In February 2007, HRI hosted a presentation from Harim Peiris, a Senior Researcher from the Sri Lankan think tank, Council for Public Policy. He presented an overview of the Sri Lankan peace process as well as some of the work that the Council is doing to move this process forward.

Harim Peiris served as an advisor to and spokesman for the President of Sri Lanka from 2001 to 2005. He also additionally functioned as the Director General for Relief and Rehabilitation in which capacity he was responsible for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts of the conflict affected regions, including in the LTTE held areas under the ceasefire agreement. He was a member of the Government of Sri Lanka’s negotiating team with the LTTE for the post tsunami reconstruction agreement (PTOMS). Currently he is attached as a Senior Researcher with the Council for Public Policy, a private think tank, based in Colombo.

Also in 2007, HRI celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2007 by hosting a screening and Canadian-premieres of both “Wars and Waves” (2007, 28 minutes) and “The Black Road“(2005, 52 minutes). “The Black Road” addresses the conflict in Aceh leading up to and following the tsunami and the subsequent negotiations of peace; it was the winner of the Best Documentary and Best Film of the 2006 Mumbai International Film Festival. “Wars and Waves” treats the situation of displaced persons in Sri Lanka as a result of the conflict and tsunami; it was recently screened in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The discussion was be led by John Packer who has worked in both situations including with regard to the matters addressed by the films.

In 2006 HRI held two such events. On April 27th and 28th, 2006, HRI was pleased to host Gay McDougall, the first United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues. Ms. McDougall spent two days visiting and meeting with NGOs and academic representatives and having informal discussions with the Canadian Government.

Ms. McDougall is a human rights lawyer and until very recently the long-serving Executive Director of the international human rights advocacy group, Global Rights, Partners for Justice (USA). Ms. McDougall was in Ottawa at the invitation of HRI to speak about her role and priorities as UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues and to share insights on the transition from the former UN Human Rights Commission into the new Human Rights Council.

The second of the 2006 Speakers Series took place on July 19th, 2006. HRI was honoured to host Her Excellency Narmeen Authman Barzinji, Iraqi Minister of Environment, and Maysoon al-Damluji, Iraqi Member of Parliament. The two women gave a talk entitled: Women’s Rights in Iraq: Challenges and Prospects. Mrs. Authman is a senior Iraqi politician (member of the Kurdish Alliance), having been in the last Government as Minister for Women’s Affairs and Acting Minister for Human Rights. She is a long-time human rights activist who fought against the past regime and established human rights and women’s rights organizations in her native Kurdistan.