Uyghur repression – systematic, brutal, but is it genocide?

What are we going to do about it? Packer and Schabas. Two different opinions.

A joint René Cassin / Coalition for Genocide Response event

Free online event – book your place via our Eventbrite page

Over recent months, two experts on genocide, Professor John Packer and Professor Bill Schabas made their opinions on the situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Packer recognised the persecution of Uyghurs as genocide. Schabas did not. Both published pieces in support of their opinions. However, until now, they have not come face to face to discuss their positions and seek common ground.

The evening will begin with remarks from Rahima Mahmut, executive director of Stop Uyghur Genocide campaign on why the conversation matters to Uyghur communities.

Professor William Schabas is professor of international law at Middlesex University in London, distinguished visiting faculty at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, and emeritus professor at the National University of Ireland Galway and Leiden University. He is the author of more than twenty books in the fields of human rights and international criminal law. Professor Schabas is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He is also a member of the René Cassin Advisory Council.

Professor John Packer is Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa. He was appointed the Inaugural Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution in April 2018. He has been widely published and contributes to the editing of a number of scholarly journals. He also serves on the boards of a number of NGOs and is a Member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the Shared Societies Project of the Club de Madrid comprising almost 100 former Heads of State or Government of democracies.

Free online event – book your place via our Eventbrite page