Law Society Annual Human Rights Conference 2017 – 7 October 2017

Date: 7 October 2017

Time: 10:00-14:00

Venue: Law Society of Ireland

This conference is organised by the Law Society Human Rights Committee in partnership with Law Society Professional Training and the Irish Probation Service, with the aim of bringing together legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, members of the public, as well as academics, policy makers, human rights organisations and civil society organisations to explore these issues. An extensive panel discussion and question and answer session will take place following the plenary sessions. 

The aim of this year’s conference is to critically explore the role of prison in the Irish criminal justice system, whilst examining the impact that prison has on offenders, their human rights and society as a whole. The Conference offers an important assessment of the function of prison and the social justice issues it may raise including cyclical problems of poverty, unemployment and drug abuse. The objective of the Conference is to provide an incisive analysis of these issues from both social and legal perspectives. It will also allow the audience to engage with the rights considerations around same. 

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Law Society’s Human Rights Committee Annual Conference series. The principal aim of the conference series is to promote awareness of human rights law and practice among both lawyers and the public, and also to encourage consideration of how human rights can be promoted and protected.

Topics and Issues covered will include:

• Historical and legal context of prison in society.
• Balancing Act? Victim and offenders’ rights in the Irish penal system.
• Respect and protection of offenders’ rights.
• Social and legal implications of prison.
• Personal accounts of life in prison and following release. 

Speakers will include:

• Minister Charlie Flanagan,TD, Minister for Justice and Equality.
• Vivian Geiran, Director of the Irish Probation Service.
• Professor Mary Rogan, Associate Professor in Law, Trinity College Dublin.
• John O’Keeffe, Criminologist, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology and Garda Representative Association Spokesperson.
• Deirdre Malone, Executive Director, Irish Penal Reform Trust.
• Ex-offenders, The Saol Project.

For more information contact the Professional Training team at: lspt@lawsociety.ie.

The conference brochure can be accessed here.CPD Hours: 4 by General Hours by Group Study

Book online here.

Postal applications can be downloaded here.