International Conference on Budget Decisions and Economic and Social Rights, Queen’s University Belfast, 14-15 November 2009

This conference on ‘Economic and Social Rights and Budget Decisions’ links with ongoing international efforts to develop and deepen the relationship between economic analysis and the assessment of human rights compliance.  The aim of the conference is to bring together people who are doing work on monitoring state compliance with ESR obligations – with a particular focus on budget work. The conference will be international in focus, with presenters including UN experts, internationally renowned scholars and civil society practitioners.  Drawing on the expertise of participants with backgrounds in law, human rights, economics and development, this multidisciplinary event will enable practitioners and academics to share insights and experiences in order to expand and strengthen the research on budget decisions and ESR.

Confirmed speakers include:

Miloon Kothari (Former UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing)
Ann Blyberg (Executive Director, International Human Rights Internship Program, Washington DC)
Prof. Diane Elson (Human Rights Centre, University of Essex)
Martin Sigal (Director, Civil Association for Equality and Justice, Argentina)
Prof. Sigrun Skogly (University of Lancaster)
Michael Windefuhr (Brot für die Welt/Bread for the World, Germany).

For more information on the conference, including details of sessions and logistical arrangments, see here.

This conference forms part of a two-year research project on ‘Budget Analysis and the Advancement of Economic and Social Rights in Northern Ireland’,which is being undertaken by a number of members of the Human Rights Centre, School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast.