Patrick Thornberry lecture series
The Patrick Thornberry lecture series in International Law and Human Rights is an annual lecture established in 2015 by the Keele Law School and the School of Social, Political and Global Studies. The lecture is named in honour of Patrick Thornberry – an alumnus and Emeritus Professor of International Law at Keele – and brings to the University leading academic, thinkers and experts on major current international law and human rights issues.
About Patrick Thornberry
Patrick Thornberry is a graduate of Keele University, where he currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of International Law. He is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prominent experts on minority and indigenous rights, having published more than 100 books and papers on race, indigenous rights and minority questions in international law. Until 2015, Professor Thornberry was a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, serving as rapporteur of the Committee from 2002-2008. He has advised a variety of governments, international and European organisations on matters of human rights and minorities. He has also been chairman of Minority Rights Group, the international human rights NGO, and maintains links with a range of NGOs and organisations of indigenous peoples.
Patrick Thornberry has been honoured in the Queen’s 2006 New Year list as a Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG), his name having been presented by the Foreign Secretary on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The citation in the list is specifically for services to international human rights.
Past lectures include
26 April 2017
Professor Fareda Banda (School of Oriental and African Studies): 'Gender, Race and Human Rights - From margin to centre with Patrick Thornberry' lecture
19 April 2016
Mark Lattimer (Executive Director of Minority Rights Group International): 'Two Concepts of Human Rights' lecture
22 April 2015
Professor Dapo Akande (University of Oxford): ‘The Application of Human Rights in Time of Armed Conflict’ Inaugural lecture