—Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, and Jan Kavan, president of the 57th U. N. General Assembly, are keynote speakers.

Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jan Kavan, president of the recently concluded 57th United Nations General Assembly, and a number of prominent academics will address the effect of globalization on the individual during a two-day conference at William Paterson University in Wayne on October 30 and 31. Admission is free and open to the public.

Co-sponsored by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, the conference, titled "Globalization with a Human Face," is part of an ongoing collaboration between William Paterson and John Jay designed to provide faculty and students with a unique opportunity to explore issues of global importance through a series of discussions, conferences and joint research projects in the areas of politics and economics, among others.

The conference demonstrates an effort to bring policy makers and scholars together to discuss the many important issues connected to globalization. "Economic policies are at the heart of most globalization issues, and it is important to discuss the impact of decisions by nations and corporations on the individual," says Michael Principe, an associate professor of political science at William Paterson and an organizer of the conference along with George Andreopolous, a professor of government at John Jay College, and Guiliana Campanelli, associate professor of economics, finance and global business at William Paterson.

Mary Robinson, director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, based in New York City, will present the conference keynote address on Thursday, October 30 at 6 p.m. in the 1600 Valley Road Auditorium. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002, she gave priority to integrating human rights concerns into all activities of the United Nations. She joined the U.N. following a seven-year tenure as president of Ireland, during which she developed a new perception of Ireland’s economic, political and cultural links with other countries and cultures.

Conference events on Friday, October 31, which will be held in the Martini Teleconference Center in Hobart Hall, will include two panels. The first panel discussion, to be held at 9:30 a.m., is "Globalization in Historical Perspective: Anything New and for Whom?" George Andreopoulos, professor of government at John Jay, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Joaquin Almunia, Member of Parliament, Spain; Beth Stephens, professor of law, Rutgers Law School, Camden; Richard Franke, professor of anthropology, Montclair State University; and Immanuel Ness, associate professor of politics, Brooklyn College.

Jan Kavan, president of the 57th session of the United Nations General Assembly, will present the luncheon keynote address at 1 p.m. An advocate of democracy and human rights, he served as the Czech Republic’s Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and Security Policy from 1999 to 2002, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2002.

"Globalization’s Challenges and Opportunities: The Next Phase," convenes at 2 p.m. Giuliana Campanelli, associate professor of economics, finance and global business at William Paterson, will moderate. Participants include Peter Juviler, professor of political science, Columbia University; Juan Corradi, professor of sociology, New York University; Azza Karam, director, Women’s Program, World Conference on Religion and Peace, New York; Stephen Smith, professor of economics, George Washington University; and Nadia Hijab, director, Development Analysis and Communications Services.

A roundtable discussion, co-chaired by Maya Chadda and Martin Weinstein, professors of political science at William Paterson, to summarize and discuss issues and questions, will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

For additional information about the conference, please call Michael Principe
at 973-720-3619.