Festivals
The Human Rights Law Centre occasionally organises human rights festivals in Nottingham which seek to address a contemporary human rights challenge through arts and discussion. We work closely with local community groups, national NGO’s and Broadway Cinema.
4 - 14 March 2009
Celebrating a decade of student-run human rights initiatives of the HRLC, the Freedom of Expression Festival aimed to provide a lively and interactive festival for students and the regional community on freedom of expression and its contemporary challenges. Events included cine-forums, theatre, Master classes, discussions and live art, culminating in the 10th Annual Student Human Rights Conference Beyond Words: Freedom of Expression and Its Contemporary Challenges, aiming to enhance appreciation of this fundamental human right through a variety of media.
The Festival provided a multi-cultural forum for students, staff and the broader community to engage with the diverse experiences of film directors, artists, actors, practitioners, academics and human rights defenders in exercising the right to Freedom of Expression.
Cinefora
Leaving Fear Behind – a documentary shot by Tibetans inside Tibet about the reality of their lives. Introduced by Dechen Pemba, who helped to obtain the film footage. Hosted in partnership with the Human Rights Film Series.
Zakia did Stand Up – A documentary about the death of Zakia Zaki, who was the founder of one of the first community radio stations run entirely by women in Afghanistan (radio Sada–e–Sulh [Peace] in Jabul Seraj), killed in June 2007. The film was followed by a discussion on Afghanistan by Kamran Mir Hazar, editor of Kabul Press; Horia Mosadiq, Afghanistan Researcher for Amnesty International and Farid Hamidi, Commissioner at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
An Independent Mind – A feature-length documentary by Bafta award-winning director Rex Bloomstein featuring eight characters attempting to exercise their right to freely express themselves, followed by a Q&A session with the director. Hosted in partnership with the Human Rights Film Series.
A Jihad for Love – the world’s first documentary film on the coexistence of Islam and homosexuality was introduced by Imam Muhsin Hendricks whose personal story features in the film. Hosted in partnership with the Human Rights Film Series.
Theatre
The Asylum Monologues, performed by Actors for Human Rights, was followed by a lively discussion on the tragedies facing asylum seekers in the UK, with Alice Edwards, Head of HRLC’s Forced Migration Unit, and Eamon Collins, legal representative for refugees.
Discussions
Defending Human Rights and Freedom of Expression – a presentation by Bekele Debela Woyecha, Human Rights Defender Fellow, and Emilie Hunter, HRLC Research and Programmes Co-ordinator, on the Centre’s work supporting human rights defenders and scholars at risk.
Master-Classes
Understanding Freedom of Expression – led by Dr Daniel Moeckli, Head of HRLC’s Counter-Terrorism Unit, helping undergraduate students to become familiar with the issues surrounding this precious right.
Human Rights Protection Strategies - led by Professor Chris Sidoti, Adjunct Professor, University of Western Sydney and former Director of the International Service for Human Rights (2003-2007), for postgraduate students.
Art Work
Conscience – Produced by Chris Lucas of Arun Productions, a pen and ink piece reflecting upon the human rights issues of our time inspired by themes raised in the festival and conference (see picture, above).
Organizers and Supporters
The Festival was organised by law students (Sanyu Awori, Steven McCauley, Vanja Hamzic, Sean Hennelly, Jamie Turner and Daria Davitti, with the input of Rebecca Lindsay, PhD in American and Canadian Studies) under the guidance of the Human Rights Law Centre (Emilie Hunter, Professor David Harris, Professor Michael O'Flaherty and Tina Finch). The Festival was supported by the UoN Annual Fund.
Broadway Cinema, October 2008
The Festival aimed to explore how issues of international concern such as terrorism, foreign policy and migration affected civil liberties in the UK. The Festival was inspired by recent experiences of counter terrorism strategies and was held in partnership with the School of Geography, the Study of Social and Global Justice, the Centre for the Study of Post Conflict Cultures, as part of the HRLC Film Series. Our Film Series page gives the full list of films and introductory speakers.
Broadway Cinema, March 2008
Following its on-campus success HRLC joined with the award winning Broadway Cinema in Nottingham city centre to produce an exciting season of award winning films, highlighting contemporary human rights issues of national and international importance, The films were introduced by expert speakers, from backgrounds that range from the film industry to the field of international law, giving the broader public a chance to engage with, and develop an awareness of, current human rights challenges. You can see the full list of films and experts who spoke at the film festival on our Film Series page.