Forum on human rights in Sri Lanka

The Centre for Human Rights Education
Curtin University
is pleased to be supporting a free public seminar on:

Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Catastrophe

What is the real situation in Sri Lanka?

How and why it is being hidden?

What can be done about it?

On May 19 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka declared it had won the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers). However, with the war’s end, evidence of human rights violations & war crimes is emerging. Independent media (Times- UK) recently reported deaths of 1400 civilians per week in military run camps where 300 000 war refugees (including 80 000 children) are currently being interned indefinitely. This is amidst widespread reports of mass torture (including rape & starvation) of civilians in the camps and the blockade of humanitarian relief and medical supplies by Sri Lankan Govt Forces.

Date: Tuesday 29 September 2009

Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Venue: Lecture Theatre 101, Building 213, Curtin University (Bentley Campus)
RSVP: via email to ekumaran@gmail.com as seats are limited.

Guest Presentations By:

Dr. John Whitehall

Paediatrician & Associate Professor in Public Health at James Cook University, Queensland

Dr. Whitehall has done voluntary medical work in Sri Lanka in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006 was a finalist for Senior Australian of the Year for his work raising relief funds for victims of the Asian tsunami. He is the co-author of the book War and Medicine, a collection of short stories of the experiences of medical practitioners in North-East Sri Lanka.

Dr. Brian Senewiratne

Consultant Physician, Queensland

A Sinhalese Australian, Dr. Brian Senewiratne is a cousin of the former Sri Lankan president. Having witnessed the atrocities committed by members of his family, he has been an outspoken human rights activist and a key advocate for the protection of civilian rights in Sri Lanka for over the past two decades, having delivered numerous presentations at various forums including at the United Nations and also several conferences for the Prevention of Genocide. He has also been internationally recognised for his human rights work with an Educators Award from the Canadians for Genocide Education Organisation.