Upcoming Events

The Global Queer Research Group &

Transitional Justice Network
Presents

Dr. Chris Dolan

Dr. Chris Dolan is Director of the Refugee Law Project (RLP), a community outreach project of the School of Law, Makerere University, Kampala. Chris is also the project coordinator for the RLP’s work on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence & Persecution, a position which brings him into regular contact with survivors of sexual violence, sexual minority groups, and refugee sex workers (male and female). Chris has worked in Uganda for six of the last 11 years, as well as spending a year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2005), a year in Mozambique (1996), and five years in South Africa (1992-1996). His recent book, Social Torture; The Case of Northern Uganda, 1986-2006 (Berghahn Books, 2009), is widely regarded as one of the essential references for those interested in understanding the situation in Uganda as well as gender dynamics and masculinities in conflict and post-conflict settings. Chris has also served as a country expert for LGBT asylum cases from sub-Saharan Africa since 2002, and currently chairs the Ugandan Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights & Constitutional Law, established initially to combat the notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was tabled in October 2009, and more recently extending its focus towards sexual rights advocacy more broadly.

The TJN and GQRG will be hosting two public events with Dr. Chris Dolan

“Queering Transitional Justice?”
Engaging and Exploring Transitional Justice with Sexual and Gender Minorities Workshop
Lead by Chris Dolan

Monday, February 27 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
3rd Floor Board Room Liu Institute for Global Issues

Violence against sexual and gender minorities in periods of conflict, instability, and social unrest has gotten increased attention by the international media. While much has been written on anti-queer violence and oppression of sexual and gender minorities around the world, this awareness is not reflected in the field of transitional justice. This gap is particularly alarming since homophobia, anti-queer violence, hegemonic masculinities, mass militarisation and sexual violence in conflict settings all intersect. This workshop is an amazing opportunity for scholars and activists who are interested in identifying the obstacles sexual and gender minorities face in overcoming embedded homophobia, homonormativity and heteronormativity in transitional justice processes, and aims to generate some entry points to addressing these challenges. The workshop is free and open to the public, but is limited to only 20 participants.

Please RSVP here

http://queeringtransitionaljustice.eventbrite.com/

“They Slept With Me”
A Film Screening and Special Talk With Chris Dolan

Gender Violence Against Men in the Great Lakes region and the Challenges it poses for Transitional Justice

Monday, February 27
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Multipurpose Room
The Liu Institute for Global Issues

Chris Dolan will be presenting a brand new Refugee Law Project documentary on sexual violence. Entitled “They Slept With Me”, the film builds on the earlier “Gender Against Men” (2009), to further expose and explore the hidden world of sexual and gender-based violence against men in the conflicts of the Great Lakes Region. The pain and anger in the testimonies of several male survivors of sexual violence in the northern Uganda conflict raise burning questions about the prospects of success in their search for justice.

After the film presentations, all are invited to join Chris in a discussion about the critical issues raised by the documentaries, as well as to ask further questions about the Refugee Law Project’s day-to-day work with male survivors of sexual violence.

This event is free and open to the public.

Please RSVP here
http://theysleptwithme.eventbrite.com/

Living Through Violence:
 Indigenous Ceremony, Story and Art

February 22, 2012, 5:30 PM-8:00 PM

Liu Institute for Global Issues
6476 NW Marine Dr, UBC

This special panel brings together Indigenous elders, scholars and
practitioners to consider how Indigenous peoples in Canada use their own
culturally specific ceremonies, protocols, storytelling and art to address
the violent history and legacy of Canada's Indian residential school system.
Living through violence in this context involves reclaiming and revitalizing
memory practices and performances of social repair that are rooted in
Indigenous knowledge and governance systems, law ways and oral traditions.

Panelists:

Dr. Andrea Walsh (Associate Professor at the University of Victoria,
Anthropology).

Sulsa'meeth (Cultural Protocol Liaison, First Peoples House)

Tousilum (Elder in Residence, First Peoples House)

Qwul'sih'yah'maht, Dr. Robina Thomas (Associate Professor at the University
of Victoria, School of Social Work).

Gregory Younging (Assistant Professor at UBC, Indigenous Studies, and
Assistant Director of Research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
of Canada).

Opening by: Rose Point (Musqueam elder).

Moderated by: Brenda Ireland (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada,
Research Manager).

Comments by: Elizabeth Jelin (Senior Researcher, National Council of
Scientific and Technological Research, CONICET - IDES, Argentina) and Jeff
Corntassel (Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, Indigenous
Governance)

***Reception to follow***

Please RSVP to:

http://app.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/liuinstitute/register-living-through-violence/

*This public event is part of a Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies
exploratory workshop organized by Pilar Riaño-Alcalá, Erin Baines and
Paulette Reagan. The workshop is designed to bring together leading UBC,
Canadian, and international experts to examine the ways in which victims and
survivors of gross atrocities renew their lives and relations to each other
in the context of the everyday.

http://www.transitionaljustice.pwias.ubc.ca/

Supported by First Nations House of Learning, the Peter Wall Institute for
Advanced Studies, The School of Social Work, and the Liu Institute for
Global Issues.