Are New Rights the Right Answer?

A discussion on the proliferation of individual rights brought about by social changes and new technology

A discussion with Marta CARTABIA, Research Fellow, Straus Institute for the Advanced Study of Law & Justice, New York University and David KRETZMER, Professor Emeritus of International Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Professor of Law at the Academic Centre for Law and Business, Ramat Gan

Presented by Crossroads Cultural Center

It is a common experience of contemporary life that more and more, political and social issues are framed in the language of "rights." Whereas our culture is usually very uncomfortable with any kind of appeal to universal moral truths or to a "natural law," it is quite willing to recognize all sorts of "human rights," both of individuals and of social groups. Hence, the "proliferation of rights" mentioned in the title, which is not at all an academic question, but a social trend that we all can encounter in our daily circumstances, i.e. at our workplace, or at school. This evening's discussion is an attempt to ask some fundamental questions, such as: why are there rights in the first place? What determines what they are and who enjoys them? Can this process be abused? What role should rights play in our legal system? To address these and other related questions, we are fortunate to have two outstanding scholars who have done extensive work on the role of "rights" in our society.

About this Event

Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Columbia University, Faculty House
Presidential Room 1, Third Floor
64 Morningside Drive, NYC
Directions to Faculty House

About the Speakers

Marta Cartabia
Professor of Law, University of Milan, Italy

David Kretzmer
Prof. Emeritus of International Law at the Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem, Prof. of Law at the Academic Centre for Law and Business, Ramat Gan

Invitation

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Transcript

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Report

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Photos - click on image below