Government and Politics Department Discussion Explores Human Rights

The Department of Government and Politics in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Reaching Independence through Social Engagement (RI-SE), will explore critical issues of human rights during a roundtable discussion on Thursday, September 23, in Suite D of the University Center on St. John’s University’s Queens, NY, campus, at 3:30 p.m.

The discussion, “Lessons Learned: Countering Human Rights Violations and Antidemocratic Backlash,” examines nonviolent movements around the world and explores efforts to counter human rights violations and antidemocratic backlash. Scheduled to coincide with the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting, it features scholars, foreign policy experts, and those directly involved in the global fight against human rights violations.

RI-SE is a nonprofit organization that promotes, mediates, and facilitates nonviolent movements at local and national levels around the world.

Invited speakers include the following:

Farida Bouattoura ’08C, ’17GEd, educator and human rights activist

Azzedine Layachi, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Government and Politics, St. John’s University

Ambassador John W. Limbert is a retired Foreign Service Officer and academic. In 2018, he ended 12 years as Class of 1955 Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the US Naval Academy. During a 34-year diplomatic career, he served mostly in the Middle East and Islamic Africa (including two tours in Iraq), was Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for Iranian affairs. Beginning in 1964, he worked in Iran as a university and high school teacher and later served at the US Embassy in Tehran, where he was held hostage in 1979–81.

Pamela Kay Struss, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University

The discussion will be mediated by Fred P. Cocozzelli, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Government and Politics, and Hamid Lellou, RI-SE President.

Please register and be advised that all attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, regardless of vaccination status, the University requires that all attendees wear masks inside campus buildings. Please have a photo ID and proof of vaccination for entry.