Literary Festival 2011 - This House Believes that the Future of Rights is Left not Right

Speakers: David Davis MP, Professor Conor Gearty
Chair: Professor Francesca Klug
This event was recorded on 17 February 2011 in Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building

For the past twenty weeks Conor Gearty has been writing a collaborative book online, at www.therightsfuture.com, with an essay appearing weekly alongside regular longer items and occasional brief remarks on current affairs, with each post being open for comment from the general public. Many have replied with dedication and commitment. The result is a series of essays, discussions and critical engagements addressing such issues as the meaning of human rights, the relationship between human rights and political action, and the role of religion in human rights. Essays have included 'Do trees have rights?' and 'Up with the Unions!'. The project started with a manifesto and it will end with will end with this debate about what the right or best future for human rights might be.

David Davis is Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden and is a noted defender of civil liberties. Conor Gearty is professor of human rights law at LSE and was for seven years the director of LSE's centre for the study of human rights. He has written many books on civil liberties and human rights, the next one being (with Virginia Mantouvalou) Debating Social Rights, published by Hart. He is also a Barrister at Matrix Chambers.

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