The Annual International Day Human Rights Conference is a one-day event and has been held annually since 1997. The conference is designed to educate middle school students on topics related to both local and global human rights issues.
Annual International Day Human Rights Conference
Fall 2023 Theme: Free and Equal
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Iowa Memorial Union
The Annual International Day Human Rights Conference is a one-day event designed to educate middle school students on topics related to both local and global human rights issues. The theme for this year’s International Day is Free and Equal! The day will include keynotes by JJ Kapur, AmeriCorps Lead for America Fellow, currently serving with CultureALL. The day includes breakout sessions hosted by University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students related to the conference theme. Lunch is included at no cost to participants.
Registration has closed.
2023 Schedule of Events
|
Time |
Details |
|
8 - 8:50 am |
Check-in, IMU Ballroom |
|
9 - 9:10 am |
Welcoming Remarks |
|
9:10 - 9:50 am |
Keynote by JJ Kapur |
|
10 - 10:50 am |
Breakout Session I |
|
11 - 11:50 am |
Breakout Session II |
|
12 - 12:50 pm |
Lunch |
|
12:50 - 1:05 pm |
Transition |
|
1:05 - 1:35 pm |
Afternoon Activity |
|
1:35 - 1:45 pm |
Closing Remarks |
2023 Keynote Address
JJ Kapur
In 2017, JJ became the first turbaned Sikh to win the most prestigious high school speech and debate competition in the U.S. After graduating in 2022 from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Performance Studies with Honors, JJ returned to his hometown of Des Moines, where he currently serves as an AmeriCorps Lead for America Fellow with CultureALL. His mission is to help Iowans build bridges with their diverse neighbors by cultivating a human library across his home state called “Open Book”.
Keynote: Thinking Outside the Box
Adolescence is a critical time for self-discovery. Most students are forming their “culture” without knowing what “culture” means. The term “culture” is often used synonymously with words like “race”, “religion” or “nationality.” However, “culture” encompasses so much more than faith or race. It can include a student’s favorite sports team, what a student eats according to the season, and even whether or not a student takes their shoes off when they enter their home. “Thinking Outside the Box” will equip students with tools to learn about themselves deeply rather than superficially and to meet others’ differences with curiosity rather than with judgment.
More than 300 students participate in International Day 2019
