Reflections on UN Special Procedures - Rhona Smith
Location:
Edinburgh Law School
Date/time
Thu 4 November 2021
16:00-17:30
The Global Justice Academy and the Edinburgh Centre for Global and International Law present
Reflections on UN Special Procedures
Prof Rhona Smith, Newcastle University, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Cambodia
About the seminar
Behind the scenes in Geneva and OHCHR field offices: work as a UN Special Rapporteur. Reflecting on six years as a UN Special Rapporteur serving a country mandate, the talk will provide an insight into the reality of working as an (unpaid) Special Rapporteur. Whilst many elements of the role secure a high media profile, a lot of work is ‘behind the scenes’ with advocacy of permanent missions of states both in Geneva and in the field. Working with the OHCHR can also pose challenges as Special Procedures remain independent of the office but reliant on it for technical logistical support.
About the speaker
Rhona Smith joined Newcastle University in August 2016 as Professor of International Human Rights. She was Head of School from 2016 through to 2020. She has previously worked in various universities in the UK and held visiting positions at a number of institutions overseas. Her principal areas of interest are international human rights, human rights/civil liberties and public law. Much of her previous work has focussed on human rights capacity building in education and justice sectors.
Dr Smith's research covers a range of international human rights and public law. International monitoring of human rights standards, particularly by the UN and applied research in human rights education have been recent foci.
This event is free and open to all but registration is required.
Image credit: Photo by Jon Tang on Unsplash