Newswise — Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, an internationally recognized human rights expert and criminologist, will offer insights on the challenges women face in war-torn parts of the world in a presentation at Westfield State College 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Garden Room at 333 Western Avenue. She is also available for interviews.
Shalhoub-Kevorkian, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, will present "Palestine and Rwanda: A Feminist Critique of Legal Systems in War Zones." The presentation, rescheduled from an earlier date, is part of the college's spring Guest Lecture Series, which is free and open to the public.
"Her expertise has made her one of the most sought after scholars and activists in regard to resolving conflict in war zones," said Elise G. Young, professor of history, who arranged Shalhoub-Kevokian's appearance. "She is in a unique position to discuss the war over Palestine in a geo-political perspective."
Young said Shalhoub-Kevorkian offers a fresh perspective on international conflicts — looking at the broader regional issues that are common to the warring states.
"We have been viewing international conflicts through the lens of political boundaries and national interests," Young said. "This has resulted in a stalemate, especially in the case of Israel and Palestine. To start to resolve these conflicts, we need to look at the whole region, its history and problems that extend across political borders, whether they be natural resource issues, such as water, or social issues such as women's rights."
Shalhoub-Kevokian's main research interest focuses on women in conflict zones. She studies juxtapositions between ethnic, class, and gender issues and their interactions with formal and informal legal systems in the context of nation building.
She is the recipient of many prestigious awards and is on the board of many human rights organizations, including the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. She is active in many projects and organizations in support of Palestinian women.
She is currently a senior lecturer at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Law Institute of Criminology and its School of Social Work and Public Welfare. She earned her doctorate degree in education at The Hebrew University, as well as degrees in criminology and social work.
The presentation is co-sponsored by the departments of History, Criminal Justice and Communication.
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