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YORK UNIVERSITY CO-HOSTS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN ASIA TORONTO, May 14, 1997 -- As the Asia Pacific region continues to gain prominence on the world economic and political stage, more questions are arising about the region's record on human rights and the emergence of democratic structures. These issues will be at the centre of the International Conference on Human Rights and Democratic Transition in Asia, to be held on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17. It will take place in the Governing Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall, 27 King's College Circle, University of Toronto. The conference has been organized by the Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies (JCAPS), a co-operative research enterprise between York University and the University of Toronto. It is one of many events scheduled in 1997, the year designated as Canada's Year of Asia Pacific. The conference, which will feature more than 20 speakers from universities and institutes in Canada, the United States, and Asia, will examine the relationship between development and political change, exploring questions such as:
The aim of the conference is to increase Canadian awareness of the Asia Pacific region and to promote better international relations, said York political science professor Bernard Frolic, conference co-organizer and JCAPS director. "The tremendous economic growth and development in the Asia Pacific region, along with Canada's increased links to it, has opened up the region to closer scrutiny from this part of the world," said Frolic. "As well, the countries in this region are beginning to look more intensely at themselves in relation to the rest of the world. In this context, there are opportunities to talk about human rights and the transition to democracy, and we believe this conference will provide an excellent forum for these discussions to take place." The presence of speakers from such Asia Pacific countries as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines will enrich the conference greatly, Frolic said. "We will be able to learn more about these issues from an Asian perspective, and to discuss the ways that Asia Pacific countries deal with them, rather than just approaching the issues from our own Western perspective," he said. "The mix of academics, specialists from the region, policy makers, and representatives of NGOs will provide a unique forum for the first in-depth Canadian analysis of these issues," said Frolic. The Honourable Warren Allmand, a former federal cabinet member and current president of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, will give an address on "Human Rights and Democracy in Asia" on May 16 from noon to 2 p.m. The centre supports organizations working for human rights and democratic development within developing countries. "We hope that this conference, which is one of the initiatives for this special year, will contribute to a clearer understanding of the Asia Pacific region and its importance to Canada," Frolic added. The conference is funded by: the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (based in Montreal), CIDA (the Canadian International Development Agency) and JCAPS. For directions or a complete agenda, call Carol Irving, Joint Centre for Asia Pacific Studies, (416) 736-5784.
For more information, call:
Prof. Bernard Frolic
Prof. Amitav Acharya
Mary Ann Horgan |
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