1998 Conference Programme
Genetics, Identity and Justice
Merton College, Oxford
27 March - 4 April 1998
Senior Fellow
| Professor Ronald Dworkin | Professor of Jurisprudence, Oxford University, Frank Sommers Professor of Law, New York University |
Speakers
Genetic science - looking ahead
| Professor Sir David Weatherall | Regius Professor of Medicine, Oxford University |
Dolly - the implications of cloning
| Dr Alan Colman | Research Director, PPL Therapeutics, Roslin, Edinburgh |
Genetic engineering - a brave new world?
| Professor John Harris | Sir David Alliance Professor of Bioethics, University of Manchester |
Commentary on Aspects of the Senior Fellow's Paper
| Derek Parfit | Philosopher, All Souls College, Oxford |
Science driven by commerce
| Dr Nick Scott-Ram | Independent Biotechnology Consultant; Dr John Padfield, CEO, Chiroscience Group plc |
Social policy
| Sir Colin Campbell | Chairman of the UK Human Genetics Advisory Commission; |
| Janet Radcliffe-Richards | Moral and Political Philosopher, The Open University Medical Ethics |
| Professor Theresa Marteau | Professor of Health Psychology and Director of the Psychology and Genetics Research Group, Guy's and St Thomas's Medical School, London |
| Professor Sheila McLean | Professor of Law and Ethics in Medicine, University of Glasgow |
Religious perspectives
| Revd Dr Michael Reiss | Senior Lecturer in Biology, Homerton College, Cambridge |
| Professor Ziauddin Sardar | Visiting Professor of Science Policy, Middlesex University and consulting editor of Futures |
| Revd Dr Anthony Fisher OP | Lecturer in Ethics and Moral Theology, Australian Catholic University |
Genetics and Risk Management
| Dr M A Patton | Consultant Clinical Geneticist, St George's Hospital Medical School, London International policy making |
| Professor Alain Pompidou MEP | Professor of Medicine, Réné Descartes University, Paris |
An Overview
| Professor Steven Rose | Professor and Chair, Department of Biology, The Open University |
A Circumscribed Plea for Active Euthanasia and Mercy Killings
| Dr Rafi Cohen-Almagor | Political Scientist and Bio-ethicist, Haifa University |
Love's Labours Lost? Self-ownership, Left-Libertarianism and Cloning
| Justine Burley | Philosopher, University of Manchester and Exeter College, Oxford |
Patents or Conundrums
| Dr Harriet Strimpel | Senior Scientist and Patent Agent, Bromberg and Sunstein Attorneys, Boston |
Advertised Synopsis
In recent years scientists have made astounding progress in identifying human genes and their functions - using embryonic tissue to predict physical structure, predisposition to disease, and perhaps personality - and even in manipulating genes so as to change that structure, predisposition and personality.
The cloning of a sheep from adult tissue was only the most dramatic example of this progress, and the extraordinary reactions, which included calls for legislation banning further research into human cloning, demonstrate a strong, if inarticulate, sense that genetic research has seismic implications.
This conference aims to promote better informed debate on these issues beyond purely scientific circles, examining
- the state of the art in genetic mapping and manipulation, and prospective fresh discoveries and techniques
- the need for legislation covering research into cloning or other aspects of genetic manipulation, and the use of genetic information for "eugenic" purposes or in setting insurance policies
- broader questions of culture, such as the effect of genetic developments on our sense of identity or our moral and ethical convictions.
Will genetics turn out to have the impact on our intellectual, religious and moral life that evolution and relativity had? Or even greater impact?
The 21st Century Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of SmithKline Beecham plc for the holding of this conference.
New Debates in Disarmament: Nuclear and Other Weapons
Klingenthal Castle, near Strasbourg
29 May - 6 June 1998
Senior Fellow
| Dr Lynn E. Davis | US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs 1993-1997, now with the RAND Corporation |
Speakers
Current Disarmament Issues : An Overview
| Carol Giacomo | Senior State Department Correspondent, Reuters |
Land Mines: Accomplishments and Tasks Ahead
| Simone Wisotzki | Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt |
Land Mines: Accomplishments and Tasks Ahead
| Simone Wisotzki | Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt |
The Case for Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
| Field Marshal Lord Carver | formerly UK Chief of Defence Staff |
The Case for Retaining Nuclear Weapons
| Sir Michael Quinlan | Director, The Ditchley Foundation, formerly Permanent Under Secretary at the UK Ministry of Defence |
The View From America
| Jan Lodal | United States Deputy Under Secretary of Defense |
The Small Arms Debate
| Prof Virginia Gamba | Institute for Security Studies, Johannesburg |
Responding to the Proliferation Threats Posed by Uncooperative States
| Oksana Antonenko-Gamota | International Institute for Strategic Studies, London |
Advertised Synopsis
This conference will examine attempts since the end of the Cold War to move beyond the reduction of armaments levels to the elimination of entire types of weapons.
The focus will be on the new debate over the future of nuclear weapons arising out of the work of the Canberra Commission, but will also look at the problems of the proliferation of other weapons, including land mines and small arms.
Particular issues that will be covered include the political requirements for successful disarmament; the role of advanced weapon systems in increasing or decreasing international security; the practical difficulties in achieving disarmament, such as verification; and the appropriate policies for dealing with rogue states.
Corruption and Its Victims - Business, Government, Society The Search for Higher Standards
Queens' College, Cambridge
10 -18 July 1998
Senior Fellow
| George Moody-Stuart | Chairman of Transparency International (UK) |
Speakers
Combatting corruption - the role of the international community
| Dhan Singh | freelance consultant and until recently with The World Bank |
What are the responsibilities of multi-national corporations?
| Mark Moody-Stuart | Chairman and Chief Executive, Shell International |
The crisis of cronyism: the significance of corruption in Japan
| Professor Ron Dore | Johns Hopkins University, Bologna campus |
Combatting corruption - the domestic front
| Jeremy Pope | Director of Planning, Transparency International UK |
| Bertram de Spéville | formerly of Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption |
Combatting corruption the US position
| Jonny Frank | Co-leader of Price Waterhouse's Business Integrity and Investigative Service Practice, New York |
Corruption in municipalities - the case of La Paz
| Lindsey Parris | consultant to the World Bank |
The arms trade
| Joe Roeber | freelance journalist |
The drugs trade and organised crime
| Alison Jamieson | freelance author and consultant |
Case Study: Kenya
| John Githongo | freelance journalist |
Case Study: Uganda
| Augustine Ruzindana MP | member of the Ugandan Parliament and formerly Inspector-General of the Ugandan Government |
Advertised Synopsis
Corruption, an ancient phenomenon defined as the misuse of public power for private profit, has grown alarmingly in recent years.
The old-fashioned view of corruption as endemic to exotic cultures has been overturned by the emergence of major scandals in the developed world; but the main victims are still the less privileged nationals of developing countries.
In collaboration with Transparency International, the international not-for-profit organization dedicated to curbing corruption world-wide, we aim at this conference to examine the problem at both the international and the national level, and to consider how best to promote the adoption of higher standards.
The International Community and its Role in Preventing, Managing and Resolving Conflict
Madingley Hall, Cambridge
17 - 25 September 1998
Senior Fellow
| Sir Marrack Goulding | Warden of St. Antony's College, Oxford, and until recently Under-Secretary-General at the United Nations where he was responsible for peace-keeping (1986-1993) and Political Affairs (1993-1997) |
Speakers
The problem of consent: when can the international community insist on playing a role in conflicts? When should it?
| Professor Adam Roberts | Professor of International Relations, Oxford University |
| Major Jane Holl | Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict, Washington DC |
Political will and material resources: how far does the international community really want to play a role?
| M. Jacques Andréani | Ambassadeur de France, French Ambassador to the United States 1989 to 1995 |
What is the impact of the media on policy making by the international community?
| Nik Gowing | International TV news presenter and consultant on the media in conflict situations |
Responses to conflict (l) The effectiveness of the United Nations, regional organizations and ad hoc coalitions of states
| Dr Michael Williams | Senior Consultant, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva |
Responses to conflict (ll) Possible roles of non-state actors, NGO's and transnational corporations
| Nick Butler | Group Policy Adviser, British Petroleum |
| Professor Thomas Weiss | Distinguished Professor of Political Science, City University of New York |
| Bill Yates | Director of the Great Lakes Programme, International Alert |
Case studies of the use of troops to protect humanitarian operations: Bosnia and Somalia
| General Sir Rupert Smith | General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland, formerly Commander of UNPROFOR in Bosnia, Deputy SACEUR-designate |
Kosovo
| Tim Judah | Freelance Journalist |
Advertised Synopsis
If the popular reaction to crises in remote parts of the world during the nineteenth century was "Send a gunboat!", it now seems to be "The International Community must act!"
This conference is designed not to question the latter sentiment, but to examine what it means, specifically what the international community is, and what it - or portions of it - can, cannot, or should do in response to conflict and humanitarian crisis.
It will look at constituent parts of the international community (the United Nations, regional bodies, national governments, non-governmental organizations, the media, transnational corporations) and consider in what sense they constitute a "community".
Using recent case studies, we will also examine whether their respective roles could be better defined or coordinated in the different forms of international response to crisis diplomatic action (preventative diplomacy, peace-keeping) military action.
1998 Fellowship Programme
Implementing Human Rights in the 21st Century
(In Conjunction with Wilton Park)
Wiston House
26-30 October 1998
Speakers
Europe's Role in Promoting Human Rights
| Jeremy Lester | Deputy Head, Human Rights and Democratisation Unit, DGIA, European Commission |
To What Extent Should Foreign Policy Seek to Promote Human Rights?
| Professor Fred Halliday | London School of Economics |
What Can Be Done to Improve National Implementation and International Supervision?
| Kassie Neou | Executive Director, Cambodian Institute of Human Rights |
| F Pearl Eliadis | Director, Public Policy and Public Education, Ontario Human Rights Commission |
Legislative, Administrative and Practical Problems of Implementing Human Rights at the National Level
| Professor Alexander Manov | Co-ordinator, Centre for International Protection, Moscow |
Has the Vienna Conference Improved Respect for Human Rights?
| Andrew Anderson | Director, Campaigning and Crisis Response, Amnesty International |
Does Advocating Human Rights Undermine the Stability of States?
| Professor Rein Müllerson | King's College, London |
Building a Successful Human Rights Campaign: Lessons from Slave Trade Abolition
| Dr Paul Kielstra | Director of Studies, 21st Century Trust |
International Financial Institutions and Human Rights Conditionality
| Ambassador Dr Itekhar Ahmed Chowdhury | Vice Chairman, United Nations Human Rights Commission |
To What Degree Should and Can Human Rights Determine Trade and Investment Decisions
| Dr Vincent Cable | Member of Parliament and former Chief Economist, Shell International |
The Role of International NGOs
| Professor Kevin Boyle | University of Essex |
The Role of Corporations in Promoting Human Rights
| Sir Geoffrey Chandler | Chair, Amnesty International UK Business Group |
Workers' Rights in China
| Professor Wu Yu Zhang | Law Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences |
Human Rights and the Practice of International Relations
| Professor Marilyn McMorrow | Georgetown University |
To What Extent Should and Can Aid and Development Policy Promote Human Rights?
| Julia Häusermann | President, Rights and Humanity |
What Should and Can the Electronic Media do to Promote Respect for Human Rights?
| Zeinab Badawi | Broadcaster and Consultant |
Implementing Human Rights in the 21st Century
| Tony Lloyd | Member of Parliament, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office |
Advertised Synopsis
December 1998 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fifth anniversary of the Vienna Human Rights Conference. This conference will examine how governments, business, and NGOs in the post-Cold War world can best ensure international respect for human rights. To what degree should and can foreign policies in the developed world be determined by human rights criteria? Should and can developed countries link human rights considerations to aid-giving and lending consistently? To what extent should and can trade policy and other instruments be used to promote human rights? This conference will be held in conjunction with the Wilton Park conference organization.