BLM Talk and the 2020 Human Rights Conference

This post highlights two specific events the Durham Justice Society organised in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic year. These are respectively the "Racism: A Violation of Human Rights" panel discussion and the Annual Human Rights Conference.

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"Racism: A Violation of Human Rights"

On the 10th of July 2020, leading experts, current and former students as well as key activists engaged in an interesting discussion through an online event to discuss racism as a violation of fundamental human rights. This event was organised by the Durham University Justice Society, as student division of the JUSTICE Organisation. This event was inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement in the United States and the protests which were taking place all over the UK. As a society, we felt bound by a duty towards justice and fairness as well as the need to educate others on the matter.

The event aimed to look at systemic and institutionalised racism within the context of the UK and the US through a human rights lens. From the interesting discussion, we learn that Deep-rooted racism is incumbent across all key areas including the UK's economic structure, judicial and law enforcement systems, academic institutions and workplace. We also gained an insight into how racism could be curtailed by changes in the way we do things.

Professor Leslie Thomas QC spoke at the event. He powerfully spoke about the impact of racism and advised members of society to be proactive:

“You have to put your tweets where your mouth is.”

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Annual Human Rights Conference

The Durham University Justice Society hosted its first annual Human Rights Conference in January 2020. It was jointly hosted by other DU societies: the Amnesty International Society and the Law Society.