Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights
September 21, 2022
Michael Fahkri, SJD
The Right to Food
Dr. Michael Fakhri, a UN Special Rapporteur and Professor at the University of Oregon School of Law, teaches at the intersection of international economic, commercial and food law. In his UN role and as director of the Food Resiliency Project, Dr. Fakhri advances global change through environmental and policy issues impacting all stages of the food system.
This year's VLHR event is a signature U of A Days 2023 event.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Timms Centre for the Arts, Main Stage
Cost: FREE
Join us for an enlightening and thought-provoking lecture exploring one of humanity’s most fundamental rights: the right to food.
A reception will follow the presentation; a cash bar will be available.
Registration is required.
Michael Fahkri, SJD
UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and Professor of Law at the University of Oregon, Michael Fahkri, has a distinguished career of service and scholarship and advancing issues of food justice in communities around the world. An advocate for agroecology as a path forward, Dr. Fahkri champions solutions to the global food crisis.
As Special Rapporteur, his reports to the UN have focused global attention on the impact of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition, the need to address biodiversity and human rights in seed systems and to reconsider how international trade law impacts the right to food.
Dr. Fahkri directs the University of Oregon’s Food Resiliency Project, which advances policy and environmental issues at all stages of the food system, from production to consumption. He is recognized as an outstanding educator, receiving the student-selected Margie Paris Award and the University of Oregon Fund for Faculty Excellence, one of the university’s highest awards.
The University of Alberta Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights is envisioned as one of the preeminent annual events held at the University.
Individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the field of human rights and human rights protection are invited to deliver a major public lecture in Edmonton. They also participate in other significant events at the University of Alberta, the City of Edmonton and the Province of Alberta during their visit.
The first Lectureship, held in the fall of 1998, coincided with the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights proclamation.
The University of Alberta Visiting Lectureship in Human Rights aims to:
- Offer the people of the Province of Alberta a significant and educational way of annually celebrating the commitments we undertook as signatories of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.
- Support and nurture Albertans' continuing interest and illustrious involvement with human rights at home and abroad.
- Demonstrate the University of Alberta's commitment to helping students and Albertans understand complex human rights issues. This is especially important as the University and its graduates pursue economic, social and political alliances with peoples around the world. In creating these linkages, it is important that we are aware of and sensitive to situations involving the exploitation of others.
- Serve as an annual reminder to the people of Alberta of the need to protect human rights within our own province.
- Continue the University of Alberta's tradition of providing a safe environment to discuss controversial and difficult subjects and by doing so, provide students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to learn, question and participate in events shaping the world in which we live.
The University of Alberta invites you to submit nominations for individuals or organizations who would make outstanding lecturers.
We gratefully acknowledge the hard work of the donors and volunteers who help make the Lectureship a success.