We like to view counterterrorism as an essential policy to keep innocent people safe, and electoral politics as a way to protect human rights. Yet, counterterrorism measures can result in immigration policies and military tactics that violate human rights, and elections and referenda may provide opportunities for racist demagoguery, nativist discrimination, and violence against civilians. This symposium explored the counterintuitive relationships, and sought ways to mitigate the unwanted side effects resulting from such policies and institutions.

PROGRAM

A full program with a summary of each presentation and biographical details of each speaker is available here. The Symposium poster is available here.

9:00 Registration and Welcoming Remarks

9:30 - 11:00 Africa

Human Rights in the Context of Elections in Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda
Sarah Jackson, Deputy Regional Director, Amnesty International (via Skype)

International Responses to Human Rights Crises in Sudan and Southern Sudan
Jehanne Henry, Senior Researcher, Africa Division, Human Rights Watch

Political Process, Inclusion and Citizen Satisfaction with Governance in West Africa
Ryan Dalton, Program Officer, Central and West Africa, National Democratic Institute

11:00 - 12:00 Lunch

12:00 - 1:30 Europe

Recasting Refugees as Terrorists: Populist Exploitation of the National Security Narrative in European Electoral Politics
Julia Hall, Expert on Counterterrorism and Human Rights, Amnesty International

European Complicity in U.S. Drone Attacks and Mass Surveillance
Eric Topfer, Senior Researcher and Policy Advisor, German Institute for Human Rights

Turkey’s AKP after the July 15 Coup Attempt: Moving Towards End Game
Howard Eissenstat, Associate Professor, St. Lawrence University

2:00 - 3:30 United States

National Security and Human Rights in the U.S. 
Naureen Shah, Director, Security with Human Rights, Amnesty International

U.S. Counterterrorism and Human Rights Post Presidential Election
Laura Pitter, Senior U.S. National Security Counsel, Human Rights Watch

National Security and Recent Changes in U.S. Immigration Policy
Nicole Hallett, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Community Justice Clinic, University at Buffalo School of Law

3:30 - 4:00 Wrap-up General Discussion

Sponsors: Alison Des Forges Memorial Committee; University at Buffalo Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy, Community for Global Health Equity, Department of Comparative Literature, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Department of History, Humanities Institute, James Agee Chair in American Culture, Department of Philosophy Samuel P. Capen Chair, Department of Political Science, Office of the Vice Provost for International Education.

This symposium honors the life and work of human rights activist Alison Des Forges (1942-2009).  For more information, email Roger Des Forges at rvd@buffalo.edu, Ellen Dussourd at dussourd@buffalo.edu or Shaun Irlam at irlam@buffalo.edu.