Human Rights Day: Hallam hosts event with UN Special Rapporteur

5th December 2022

Sheffield Hallam University will welcome the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Contemporary Forms of Slavery for a free event to mark Human Rights Day.

On December 7, the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice will be hosting a talk from Tomoya Obokata. He will be sharing an overview of the work of the special rapporteur as well as insight into recent reports and actions of the UN on the issue of forced labour. 

Tomoya is an internationally renowned scholar, who currently serves in the UN to provide his special expertise and research on the scope, scale, and severity of slavery around the world today.  

The talk will be followed by a conversation with Professor of Human Rights, Laura Murphy, focussing on recent developments in the global response to modern slavery.  

Speaking about the event, Professor Murphy said: "It’s an honour to host Mr. Obokata at Hallam. He’s an inspiring example of how applied research can really make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering human rights violations. I’m thrilled that he'll be able to speak to our students and to the community about his journey from scholar to global leader in the fight against modern slavery." 

Professor Murphy conducts research in the field of trafficking, contemporary slavery, and forced labour globally. She is currently working on several research projects about the Chinese government’s intertwined systems of internment and forced labour that has been inflicted on the people of the Uyghur Region.  

Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10 — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being.  

The event is free to attend and will take place in Room D008, Main Building, Collegiate Campus (4pm-5.30pm) register your place at the event.