Press Release: Bar Council Human Rights Debate - “UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”

Contributed by Ambiga Sreenevasan

Saturday, 11 October 2008 05:31pm

This year, in conjunction with International Human Rights Day on the 10th of December 2008 and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the Bar Council will host the inaugural and unique ‘Human Rights Debate’ tournament which seeks to attract participants from international and local universities and schools, as well as members of the public. The theme of the Debate is “UDHR @ 60 and still not all is right”. This Debate is probably the first in the world to be hosted by a statutory body of legal professionals. The key objective of the tournament is to provide a platform for discussion of human rights norms, standards and issues as well as to promote human rights awareness in our country. The Bar Council hopes that the Debate will help bridge ethnic, linguistic and cultural gaps to foster respect and understanding on various rights-related issues. More than 300 debaters around the world are expected to participate in the Debate. The Debate will run based on the ‘British Parliamentary Debating Format’ where there would be four positions on the particular debate topic - the opening government, closing government, opening opposition and closing opposition. Each position will be represented by a team of two members. As such, there will be eight debaters for each debate topic. Each speaker is allocated 7 minutes to present his/her arguments, and a ‘Point of Information’ is allowed to be given after the first and sixth minute of each speaker’s argument. Participants may participate in this Debate either as debaters or adjudicators. For those who do not wish to participate in the Debate, they may join the Public Speaking Competition to speak on any topic of their choice. Attractive prizes await the winners. We look forward to a lively and thought-provoking Debate that will challenge and deepen our understanding of human rights principles and issues. Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan President Malaysian Bar APPENDIX The applicable fees in respect of the Debate Tournament and Public Speaking Competition are as follows: I. Debate Tournament For participants RM250 per person (for debater) RM250 per person (for adjudicator) RM250 per person (for officer/ observer) (Fee includes food and hotel accommodation) Every team must have 2 debaters and 1 adjudicator. (For participating institutions, the maximum number of teams permitted is 5 per institution) For ‘Stay At Home’ participants RM180 per person (for debater) RM180 per person (for adjudicator) RM180 per person (for officer/observer) (Fee includes food) Every team must have 2 debaters and 1 adjudicator. (For participating institutions, the maximum number of teams permitted is 5 per institution) II. Public Speaking Competition RM50 per person (Fee includes food) Registration Process Kindly send the requisite fee(s) to us via wire transfer by 10 November 2008, in accordance with the following details: Bar Council HSBC, No 2, Leboh Ampang, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Account No: 301-022166-001 SWIFT Code No: HBMBMYKL (Please pay all bank charges so that the Bar Council receives the full amount of the fees.) Alternatively, send your cheque(s) written in favour of the ‘Bar Council’ to us. After transferring or sending your fee, email us at hrdebate08@malaysianbar.org.my, and tell us your name, institution, and the amount of money you transferred/sent. Attach a copy of the transfer slip/cheque and the registration form to the e-mail you sent. We will not cover transaction costs. Contact us through e-mail at hrdebate08@malaysianbar.org.my or call Khaizan Sharizad (Sherrie) at 019-695 8939 or Chin Oy Sim at 03-2031 6367. Please fill in and return the respective registration forms by 10 November 2008.