Lee Swepston, "Reflections on a Lifetime in the UN Human Rights System"

Lee Swepston, "Reflections on a Lifetime in the UN Human Rights System"

Tuesday, October 30^th, 2007

12:30-2:00 p.m.

Flavelle Dining Room

*A light lunch will be provided*

Lee Swepston

Lee Swepstonrecently retired as Senior Adviser on Human Rights, and Director of the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Department in the International Labour Office inGeneva. He was formerly the Chief of the Equality and Employment Branch, and Human Rights Coordinator, in the International Labour Standards Department. After one year with the International Commission of Jurists, a human rights non-governmental organization inGeneva, he joined the ILO in 1973. He served as Regional Adviser on International Labour Standards in English-speaking Africa and in theCaribbean, and in other standards-related posts during his ILO career. His most recent responsibilities included coordination of the ILO's relations with other intergovernmental organizations concerning human rights questions, and responsibility for the Annual Review procedure under the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Mr. Swepston is the author of a number of books and articles on international human rights, international labour standards, indigenous and tribal peoples, child labour and related subjects. He graduated from theUniversityofNorth Carolinaat Chapel Hill, and took his legal degree atColumbiaUniversityinNew York.

For more information, contact Prof. Kerry Rittich at kerry.rittich@utoronto.ca