CPCM events
Recent events
Human rights and justice in Malaysia
Professor Aruna Gopinath, Dept of Politics and International Relations, HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur, 26 June 2008, Magill Campus.
Malaysia, unlike many authoritarian regimes, provides for fundamental rights in its constitution. Yet there are also constitutional limitations on these rights, based on religion or national security. The executive has imposed restrictions on fundamental liberties. Recent events have changed the relationship between the state and civil society in Malaysia. First, a section of the new middle class is demanding devolution of control and increased democracy. Second, the average Malaysian, now exposed to ideas from around the world via the Internet and blogs, reads alternative views and does not blindly accept what the government or mainstream newspapers write. Malaysian NGOs are also actively promoting human rights. The recent peaceful demonstrations in Malaysia in the lead-up to the general elections were expressions of civil society's opposition to the government's oppressive and draconian laws.
Professor Aruna Gopinath graduated from the University of Malaya with a BA degree in 1974, was awarded a MA degree in 1978, and completed her doctorate in Philippine Studies at the University of the Philippines as an ASEAN scholar. Until 2007, Professor Gopinath taught in the Department of History at the University of Malaya; she is currently the Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, HELP University College in Kuala Lumpur. Her areas of expertise include Philippine politics, Southeast Asian politics, gender studies, minority problems, ASEAN studies, peace processes and conflict resolution. Professor Gopinath has travelled extensively and taught at several universities as a visiting Professor in Southeast Asian Politics and Conflict Studies. She conducted fieldwork in the dangerous rebel areas of South Philippines, for which she was honoured by the International American Educational Biographical Board as one of the Great Women Leaders of the 21st Century in 2005. Other awards received include the prestigious British Chevenning Award in 1997, the Southeast Asian Visiting Professor's grant to teach at the University of Hanoi, Vietnam in 2002, as well as several other awards for her contribution to the fields of history, political science and international relations. Her extensive publication record includes 6 books, 80 articles and 90 international conference presentations.
Shared parental responsibility in Australian family law and the impact on children
Seminar 13–15 April 2008
Dale Bagshaw and Alan Campbell conducted a very successful seminar at the Hawke Centre, examining in depth the consequences for children of some of the recent changes to the Australian Family Law Act. There were 15 speakers and around 150 participants from around Australia. Dale and Alan received a HRISS grant and a DRPF grant for this and related activities and are negotiating with the Australian Institute for Family Studies for the papers to be published in a refereed book.
Related conferences
Asia-Pacific Mediation Forum conferences
The 4th Asia-Pacific Mediation Forum conference 'Mediation in the Asia-Pacific: Constraints and Challenges' was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16–18 June 2008. The conference was a great success. It was opened by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Minister of Law, attracted participants from 24+ countries and more than 50 papers were presented. Dale Bagshaw and Alan Campbell conducted a 5-day mediation workshop prior to the conference for 27 participants from different countries. The papers are available here.
The Fifth Asia-Pacific Mediation Forum Conference will be held in India at the Brahma Kumaris Conference Centre, at Gurgaon (near Delhi) on 20–27 November 2010. Firdosh Kassam is the Conference Convener.
The call for papers will be on the APMF website in early 2009.
National Mediation Conference
Adelaide, Australia, 7–9 September 2010. The theme for Australia's next National Mediation Conference is 'Celebrating the past – embracing the present – creating the future'. The program will encompass theoretical, historical and practical elements of mediation practice, with a broad range of streams including, but not limited to, family dispute resolution, commercial and legal, aged and special needs, sport and recreation, industrial and workplace, cultural diversity, environment, Indigenous and community mediation, and accreditation and training.
Conference advance
notice (PDF 242 kb)
Conference website
World Mediation Forum
The 6th International Conference of the World Mediation Forum was held in Jerusalem, Israel, 8–11 October 2007.
Activating Human Rights and Peace Conference
Byron Bay, 1–4 July 2008. Prof Elisabeth Porter and CPCM co-hosted the conference and organised a plenary session titled 'Peace, Conflict and Mediation'. Prof Aruna Gopinath, Head of the School of International Studies at HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was the Keynote Speaker for the CPCM-sponsored section of the conference.
Mediation:
Transforming the Landscape
9th National Mediation
Conference
10–12 September 2008, Hyatt Regency Perth Hotel, Perth, WA
This conference is widely acknowledged as the leading Australian gathering of mediation practitioners, researchers and trainers. Delegates from industry, the community sector and government joined eminent Australian and international mediation professionals to continue the development of mediation and related processes in Australia and beyond. The conference theme 'transforming the landscape' included transformation of mediation practice, with diversity, of related professional practices, to promote peaceful resolution of conflict, and of the justice system.
Network for Dialogue and Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific
Networking conference:
Beyond Blame: Dialogue and Reconciliation – Japan, Korea, China and the
Asia-Pacific
27–28 November 2008, Hawke Centre, City West Campus
Presented by Flinders University (School of International and Political
Studies; American Studies Dept.); University of South Australia (School of
International Studies, Japanese Program); University of Adelaide (Centre for
Asian Studies).