UB to Celebrate International Education Week with "Human Rights in Perspective: A Tribute to Alison Des Forges"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The life of Alison Des Forges, known internationally for her expertise on the Rwandan genocide and her advocacy for human rights and who died in the crash of Continental Flight 3407, will be remembered as part of the University at Buffalo's International Education Week (IEW), which this year will focus on "Human Rights in Perspective: A Tribute to Alison Des Forges."

Keynote lectures in honor of Des Forges will be presented Nov. 15 by Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch, and Susan Thomson, Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Contemporary African Politics at Hampshire College. Dicker will speak on "Rwanda, Darfur and Guantanamo: The Struggle for Human Rights and Justice." Thomson, a specialist on state-society relations in contemporary Africa, will address "Challenges of Justice in Central Africa."

The lectures will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater on UB's North Campus. They will be preceded by "Confronting Evil," a short Human Rights Watch documentary that features Des Forges, sheds light on the 1994 genocide and looks critically at the Western response.

Des Forges will also be remembered at the forum "The Woman behind the Scholar-Activist: Perspectives on the Life of Alison Des Forges," to take place on Nov. 18 from 3-4 p.m. in 210 Student Union, North Campus. The event is organized by the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Fund Committee, which is raising funds to establish a scholarship in Des Forges' memory.

Keynote films for IEW 2010 will also focus on themes of human rights and justice. "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," a riveting documentary about the unsung heroines of Liberia who, armed only with white t-shirts and courage, helped bring down the dictator Charles Taylor and end Liberia's long civil war, will be screened on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater. Commentary on the film will be given by Melinda Adams, associate professor of political science at James Madison University.

The new International Criminal Court's efforts to prosecute crimes against humanity as it fights to establish international legitimacy are the topic of the film "The Reckoning: The Battle for the International Criminal Court," to be shown Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. in 220Natural Sciences Complex, UB North Campus. Claude Welch, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Political Science, will provide commentary on the film.

Other IEW 2010 events will highlight UB's international student population and feature the international efforts of UB faculty members.

Helping the community understand the perspectives and traditions that international students bring with them to Buffalo is the goal of "Understanding Cultures: China," "Holidays Around the World: Korea" and "Nigeria and Tanzania," an MBA Cultural Forum.

The annual "Without Borders" lecture series, which highlights UB's global reach, will feature "Research of Climate and Cultural Change in the Past and Present," "Supporting Victims of Sex Trafficking in Macedonia" and "Global Health Research and Rehabilitation in Resource Poor Settings."

Noontime performances by international student groups and community organizations will take place in the Student Union lobby Nov. 15, 16 and 19, and include lively Korean drumming and dance on Monday and conclude on Friday with a thrilling Tae Kwan Do demonstration, the popular International Fashion Show and an exciting Indian fusion dance.

UB international students will take IEW on the road on Nov. 19 as they visit Bennett Park Montessori, Buffalo School No. 33 and City Honors. Students from Russia, Turkey, China, Egypt, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will present their cultures through story-telling, simple language lessons and informational cultural sessions.

At "World View: Study Abroad Photo Contest and Exhibition," a vibrant display of photos taken by UB students studying in all corners of the world, will highlight the wide range of study abroad programs offered at UB.

IEW events at UB are made possible through generous support from AT&T, Bank of America, Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc., HSBC Bank, M&T Bank, and UB's Office of International Education. The week's events are organized by UB's Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

With a total of 3,884 international students, the University at Buffalo ranks in the top 20 of 2,700 accredited U.S. universities in international enrollment, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE). The university has exchange agreements with more than 60 institutions in over 25 countries.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system, and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.