| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, February 5, 2016 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM | The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, Munk School of Global Affairs 1 Devonshire Place |
| Saturday, February 6, 2016 | 9:30AM - 5:30PM | The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, Munk School of Global Affairs 1 Devonshire Place |
The first-ever World Humanitarian Summit is happening in May 2016 in Istanbul at the initiative of the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. Given this upcoming summit and the challenges of various humanitarian projects, particularly those in the Syrian crisis and the Ebola epidemic, our conference will provide for the most opportune time to incite a critical examination of the field of humanitarianism in the context of global and complex crises. Our conference, Humanitarianism Exposed, aims to move beyond thematic and idealistic discussions of humanitarian goals and paradigms, and will closely assess the role of private corporations and local as well as international nongovernmental organizations in the humanitarian sector. Humanitarianism Exposed will confront and deconstruct, head-on, the practical dilemmas that impact humanitarian aid and humanitarianism around the world.
The conference will begin with a keynote presentation focusing on the idea of humanitarianism as a general concept. Scheduled for the evening of February 5, the keynote will serve a dual function. First, it will set the stage for the following day’s discussions by addressing the importance of NGOs and the private sector in matters of peace, conflict, and justice. Secondly, it will prove to be a valuable opportunity for our esteemed speakers to meet their fellow academics and practitioners.
The next day, February 6, will feature two separate panel presentations and a debate. Each panel consists of 3 to 4 experts who will address an overarching theme. These themes, centered around the conference’s main theme, include, the private sector and humanitarianism, and the real impact of NGOs and humanitarian organizations. The debate segment will engage the conference audience through a formal debate
venue that works through the following motion: Humanitarian organizations should be implicated in the post-conflict development process of global crises. The debate promises to be an energetic and compelling conversation that raises poignant questions on the role of humanitarian organizations.
Speakers:
Janice Stein – keynote – founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs; Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management, Department of Political Science
Marcy Vigoda – UNOCHA
Carole Devine – MSF
Renee Provost – Centaur Jurisprudence Project
Susan Woodward – CUNY
Nidhi Tandon – OXFAM
Zeib Jeeva – International Development and Relief Foundation
Vasu Mohan – International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Jules Porter – Right to Play
Judith Teichman – University of Toronto
Conn Nugent – President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
February 5th, 2016
5:00PM – 6:00PM – Opening Remarks and Keynote Address
6:00PM – 7:00PM – Reception
February 6th, 2016
9:30AM – 10:00AM – Continental Breakfast
10:00AM – 12:00PM – Forum 1
12:00PM – 1:00PM – Lunch
1:00PM – 2:30PM – Debate
2:30PM – 3:00PM – High Tea
3:00PM – 5:00PM – Forum 2
5:00PM – 5:30PM – Closing Remarks
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