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Bartels World Affairs Fellowship

Joschka Fischer, the 2007 Bartels World Affairs Fellow, speaks at Cornell University.

Read more about Joschka Fischer and the Bartels World Affairs Fellowship.

Louise Arbour named the 27th Bartels World Affairs Fellow

Posted on: 8/19/2008

Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, will deliver the Henry E. and Nancy Horton Bartels World Affairs Fellowship Lecture on October 21st, at 5:00 p.m. in Call Alumni Auditorium, Kennedy Hall, on the Cornell University campus. Arbour’s talk, "Human Rights for All: Beyond Our Reach?" is free and open to the public.

The Honourable Louise Arbour recently completed her term of office as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.  She served in that capacity from 2004-2008. Ms. Arbour, a Canadian national, began her academic career in 1974.  In 1987, she was nominated Associate Professor and Associate Dean at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in Toronto, Canada.  In December of 1987, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Ontario (High Court of Justice) and in 1990 she was appointed to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.  In 1995, Ms. Arbour was appointed Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario. In 1996, she was appointed by the Security Council of the United Nations as Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda.  In 1999, she was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.  

Ms. Arbour graduated from College Regina Assumpta, Montreal in 1967 and completed an LL.L (with distinction) from the Faculty of Law, University of Montreal in 1970.  Following the Quebec Bar Admission Course, she was called to the Quebec Bar in 1971 and the Ontario Bar in 1977.  Ms. Arbour has received honorary doctorates from some thirty Universities and numerous medals and awards.  She is a member of many distinguished professional societies and organizations and serves on the Boards of the International Crisis Group and of the Human Rights Watch.

During her talk, Ms. Arbour will speak to Roosevelt’s vision of the four fundamental freedoms - freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. On the eve of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she will question whether these rights are still within our reach. Is the new Human Rights Council the theatre of choice for a cruel play of broken promises and political posturing? Are we on the way to a genuine globalization of human rights? Is this possible without an international rights enforcement institution?

The Henry E. and Nancy Horton Bartels World Affairs Fellowship was established in 1984, to bring prominent international leaders to Cornell. The mission of the fellowship program is explicitly educational—to foster a broadened world view among Cornell students by bringing to campus persons who have distinguished themselves as international public figures. In addition to delivering a major public lecture for the University and local community, Bartels Fellows spend two or three days on campus in close interaction with faculty and students, especially undergraduates. In classes, seminars, and informal gatherings, the Bartels Fellow discusses major issues of global concern as well as his or her own personal experience in international public service. The Bartels World Affairs Fellowship enables students to appreciate the opportunities and constraints of an international career.

Contact Information
Heike Michelsen
Einaudi Center
255 8926
hm75@cornell.edu

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