The democratisation process in Burma and the impact on human rights is the focus of a major conference being held in London and Essex from Thursday 6 June to Friday 7 June.

This year’s Human Rights in Asia Conference organised by students from the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex will look at the various human rights issues still facing Burma following recent reforms including freedom of expression, refugees, ethnic minorities plus the impact of development, investment, and business.

The keynote speech on Asia, human rights and universalism will be given by UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran and Visiting Professor at the Human Rights Centre Dr Ahmed Shaheed.

Other speakers include University of Essex graduates who are now working for organisations working on the frontline in Burma and international human rights organisations plus leading experts on the Burma situation.

The first day will be held at the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation in central London and speakers will include:

• Ko Aung from London South Bank University.
• Oliver Spencer from ARTICLE 19.
• Ayako Kikuchi from the Shanti Volunteer Association.
• Aung Myo Thein from The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
• Amal DeChickera from The Equal Rights Trust.
• Mark Farmaner from the Burma Campaign UK.
• Sanae Fujita from the University of Essex.
• Salil Tripathi from the Institute for Human Rights and Business.
• Human rights expert Chris Kip.
• Anna Bulzomi from the International Peace Information Service.

The second day being hosted by the University of Essex’s Colchester Campus will focus on other human rights issues in Asia including nuclear power in Japan after the earthquake in 2011, the death penalty abolition campaign in Taiwan, freedom of expression in Thailand, the right to health in Nepal and business and human rights in Bangladesh.

Speakers will include postgraduate students from the University of Essex. Many Essex students speaking on the day have extensive experience of working in Asia on human rights issues including Yasuyuki Kitagawa from the Japan Federation of Bar Association and Tsung-Li Yang from the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty.

For more details and to book a place go to: www.human-rights-asia2013.jp/