Welcome to the BCC Human Rights conference blog. Our intention is to begin some conversations well in advance of the conference on a variety of topics concerning human rights and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We invite presenters, those planning to attend, and anyone interested in joining the conversation to contribute.
It has already been a very interesting experience planning for March 28. Scheduled presenters and panel members come from varied backgrounds and perspectives. I am struck in particular by how often the issue of vulnerability has come up. Victim rights, the rights of rufugees, women, children, the poor. It seems to me as though the rights we have simply as human beings are clearest when all priviledge and societal protections are stripped away.
In the initial planning, I thought we would be exploring the origin of rights. The panels that have formed will not be directly talking about this, so I welcome any thoughts you have on this question. My own perspective if heavily influenced by Emmanuel Levinas, but I will save that for a later post.
Please feel free to initiate new topics and respond as frequently as you wish. Presenters- if you would like to give a preview of your presentation or talk to other panel members, we welcome that as well.
michael