Call for Papers: Corruption and Human Rights

                            CALL FOR PAPERS

                      CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

                   Maastricht Centre for Human Rights
                         Maastricht University
                             Faculty of Law
                          22 & 23 October 2009


      CONFERENCE THEME:

      Corruption, generally defined as 'the abuse of public
      office for private gain', is one of the greatest social
      evils of our time. In the words of former UN Secretary
      General Kofi Annan, 'Corruption hurts the poor
      disproportionately by diverting funds intended for
      development, undermining a government's ability to provide
      basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and
      discouraging foreign investment and aid.' The adoption of
      several international anti-corruption treaties such as the
      United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2003 put
      the problem on the international agenda, and it is likely
      to stay there. Research on corruption is conducted by
      scholars in several academic areas and the problem is
      addressed by the major international financial institutions
      and NGOs. However, from the human rights perspective,
      corruption has not been studied extensively. This two-day
      conference aims to bring together researchers in various
      disciplines to further examine the links between corruption
      and human rights.


      CONFERENCE FORMAT:

      This interdisciplinary conference will host several keynote
      speakers as well as the six workshops described below. In
      order to offer all participants the opportunity to take
      part in the entire programme, workshops will be held
      simultaneously, while each workshop is offered on both the
      first and the second day of the conference. The workshops
      have an interactive character since participants will be
      given the opportunity to download and read the conference
      papers in advance and are thus encouraged to engage in
      discussions with the presenters.


      WORKSHOP TITLES:

      1. Corruption as a Violation of Human Rights?
      2. Causes of Corruption: a Human Rights Perspective
      3. Researching Corruption: Methodological and Cultural
         Challenges
      4. Corporations, Corruption and Human Rights
      5. Towards a Fundamental Human Right to a Corruption-Free
         Public Service?
      6. Safeguarding Human Rights while Fighting Corruption


      PAPER SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

      The Centre for Human Rights of Maastricht University
      invites academic researchers in various disciplines to
      submit papers for presentation at the conference. Papers
      should relate to the topic of one of the six workshops
      mentioned above. Please note that, given the format of the
      conference, presenters must be available on both days, in
      order to participate in two sessions of the same workshop.

      Proposals for papers (abstracts of max. 500 words) should
      be submitted before 15 April 2009. First versions of
      accepted papers (max. 10,000 words) must be submitted by 1
      October 2009, since they will be made available online
      (only to registered conference participants). Before 15 May
      2009, the organisers of the conference will decide which
      papers will be accepted. Accepted papers will be published
      after the conference in the Maastricht Series in Human
      Rights by Intersentia Publishers (Antwerp). Travel expenses
      and costs for accommodation of authors of accepted papers
      will be paid for by the organisers. Abstracts should be
      sent by email to:

      Email:       MAILTO:humanrights@law.unimaas.nl


      REGISTRATION FOR PARTICIPANTS:

      Registration for participation in the conference is
      possible online. Please visit:

      http://www.law.unimaas.nl/humanrights >  Conferences

      for more information.
Posted 2/25/09