Carter Center Plans Human Rights Defenders Forum Focused on Peace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org  

ATLANTA — More than 60 activists, scholars and community leaders will come together June 18-21 to discuss ways to end violence in all its forms during the Carter Center's annual Human Rights Defenders Forum, "A Time for Peace: "Rejecting Violence to Secure Human Rights."

Among the themes of this year's event are the economics of peace, unlearning violence, and nonviolent approaches to security and law enforcement.

The second half of the forum — which will include a keynote speech by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 20 — is open to the media. The Monday afternoon and Tuesday sessions also will be webcast live for those who cannot attend.

This year's participants include:

• Rana Allam, an outspoken Egyptian journalist and an adviser with the Women Alliance for Security Leadership.
• Murairi Bakihanaye Janvier, the president of the Association pour le Développement des Initiatives Paysannes, who works to fight slavery and exploitation of mineral resources in Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Rodolfo Manuel Domínguez Márquez, director of Mexico's Justice, Human Rights, and Gender Civil Association, which monitors and sometimes litigates cases of femicide and works to protect women in situations of violence.
• Deeyah Khan, a music producer and the documentarian behind the films Banaz: A Love Story, about so-called honor killings, and Jihad, which investigates the motives of Western-born Islamic extremists, convicted terrorists, and former jihadis.
• Sylvie Kinigi, the only woman to serve as prime minister of Burundi (July 1993 to February 1994).
• Fatima Akilu, an expert in countering violent extremism who helped design Nigeria's countering violent extremism program, which takes a multipronged approach that includes PTSD training and education.

Media interested in attending the forum or interviewing some of the participants should contact Soyia Ellison by June 15. For more information, see the draft agenda below.

Monday, June 20

1:30 ˗̶  3 p.m. A Time for Peace, keynote speech by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, followed by a moderated Q&A. (The session includes a report on the earlier forum workshops and musical performances by renowned global musicians.)

3:30  ̶  4:45 p.m. The Economics of Peace: Investing in a Just and Equitable Global Economy

Tuesday, June 21

9  ̶  10:30 a.m. Unlearning Violence: Re-educating Society for Peace and Human Rights

11 a.m.  ̶  12:30 p.m. Securing the Peace: Advancing Nonviolent Approaches to Security and Law Enforcement

2  ̶  3:15 p.m. Building a New Peace Movement: Rejecting Violence to Secure Human Rights

3:45  ̶  4:45 p.m. A Call for Peace, Dignity, and Justice

Note: Schedule subject to change.

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.