Legal scholarship on the relationship between private law and human rights is dominated by (i) ‘constitutionalisation’; the idea that private law will absorb human rights norms over time  (ii) the instrumental use of private law to enforce compliance with human rights norms. But in many respects private obligation stands apart from human rights law, and as an alternative to it, because it encompasses notions of interpersonal care, reliance and responsibility over time (and indeed, of blunt economic efficiency) which may sit uneasily with traditional liberal conceptions of human rights. How should  we conceive of the relationship between private law and human rights? In thinking through these problems, our focus will be on the use of private law to seek reparations for human rights abuse.

Speakers include:

Daniel Leader (Barrister, Leigh, Day & Co), Kat Craig (Reprieve), Maeve O’Rourke (Justice for Magdalenes, Barrister at Four Paper Buildings), Carolina Olarte (CERAC, Bogota), Fiona De Londras (University of Durham), Nicky Priaulx (University of Cardiff), Nikki Godden (University of Newcastle), Andrew Williams (University of Warwick), Tsachi Keren-Paz (Keele University)

Details

For further details, previous papers and recordings of the first theories seminar, please go to the site. This seminar will take place on the 22nd of March, at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Milburn House, the University of Warwick. Coffee will be served from 9.30, with panels starting at 10am. To register your interest in attending the seminar please use the registration form here.