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How can human rights be championed in todayÂ’s complex global society? Whose human rights take precedence, if choices must be made? What are the practical implications of advocating the supremacy of human rights in the lives of ordinary people? Because these and many other related questions are of serious concern to both students and the Montreal public, ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ has invited feminist author and organizer Charlotte Bunch, Executive Director of the Douglass College Center for WomenÂ’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University, to speak on Monday, October 27 at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Alumnae Society and the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Centre for Research and Teaching on Women, Charlotte Bunch is this yearÂ’s Muriel Roscoe lecturer. Her talk, entitled "WomenÂ’s Rights as Human Rights: Directions for the Future," will be delivered in Room 232 of the Leacock Building (downtown ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ campus, corner of McTavish and Penfield Streets).

Charlotte Bunch, a professor at RutgersÂ’ Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy as well as director of the Center for WomenÂ’s Global Leadership, has published widely on feminism and human rights. Her latest books are Passionate Politics: Feminist Theory in Action and Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for WomenÂ’s Human Rights. Almost exactly one year ago she was inducted into the National WomenÂ’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

The Center for WomenÂ’s Global Leadership works to enhance the leadership of women on global issues and human rights. The Center coordinated the Global Campaign for WomenÂ’s Human Rights at the 1993 United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna and organized the womenÂ’s human rights caucus and other activities at the United Nations IV World Wide Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

The Center is currently coordinating a 1998 Global Campaign to celebrate and demand womenÂ’s human rights on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The study of human rights has long been an area of strength at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ -- one of its law professors, the late John Humphrey, actually helped to draft the declaration -- and the Faculty of Law has contributed to Charlotte BunchÂ’s visit. The timing is particularly appropriate, given that ±«ÓãÖ±²¥Â’s Faculty of Law, the oldest in Canada, will mark its 150th anniversary in 1998, and the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Centre for Research and Teaching on Women celebrates its own special anniversary, the first decade of its existence, next year as well.

With strong support from the women graduates who make up the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Alumnae Society, the Muriel V. Roscoe lectures were inaugurated in 1988 to honour a distinguished ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ faculty member who championed the cause of women for over 20 years.

The public is welcome to attend the lecture on Monday, October 27 at 6 p.m. Admission is free.