On March 11, the U.S. Government will release its annual Country Reports on Human Rights. On March 12 (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm), Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, will participate in a panel discussion on the trends in human rights for the year 2009.

State Department’s Top Human Rights Official to Discuss 2009 Country Reports at NYU Law School on March 12

Press opportunity for in-depth, second-day reporting on high-profile story

WHAT: On March 11, the U.S. Government will release its annual Country Reports on Human Rights. On March 12 (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm), Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, will participate in a panel discussion on the trends in human rights for the year 2009. The panel will consider how the findings of the Country Reports will influence the democracy and human rights goals of the Department for 2010, as well as those of non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.

Published annually and mandated by Congress, the Country Reports on Human Rights are considered to be an essential element of the U.S.’s effort to promote respect for human rights worldwide. They inform U.S. government policymaking and may serve as a reference to other governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, and journalists.

WHO:  Joining Michael Posner on the panel will be:

·         Philip Alston, Faculty Director and Co-Chair of NYU Law School’s Center for Human Rights and Global Justice; UN special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions

·         Larry Cox, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA

WHEN: Friday, March 12, 2010, 4:00 p.m.  – 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Lester Pollack Colloquium Room, Furman Hall, 9th Floor, NYU School of Law (245 Sullivan Street)

Note: Panelists may be available for interviews before or after the event. Media wishing to attend should contact Michael Orey at 212.998.6849 or e-mail michael.orey@nyu.edu

 

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