Heroes of Our Time Events

In this ninth 'Field notes' event, human rights defenders from Burma and the Democratic Republic of Congo discuss their experiences, accompanied by experts from Human Rights Watch.

As a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, Bo Kyi (pictured, top) works tirelessly to secure the release of Burmese people who have been jailed for their political independence and activism.  Bo Kyi shares his story to expose the brutal military junta's abuses, which have been on full display in recent months following the devastating cyclone in Burma.

As director of a woman's rights NGO, Mathilde Muhindo (pictured) empowers women to fight against pervasive discrimination and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo's recent bloody conflicts.  To address the crisis of tens of thousands of rapes in eastern Congo she founded a parliamentary committee to investigate rape as a weapon of war.

This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, email arts@lse.ac.uk or phone 020 7955 6043.

Ntarama Church Genocide Memorial Site, Rwanda
Andrew Sutton/Survivors Fund, October 2007

The Polis Media Dialogues

Media and Identity: Reporting the Rwandan Genocide
Tuesday 1 December 2009
5-6.30pm
New Theatre, East Building

Two survivors of the Rwandan genocide, Patrick Iregura and Serge Rwigamba, join Channel 4 News' World Editor Lindsey Hilsum to reflect on how the story was told before, during and after the brutal events.  It will examine the gaps between reality on the ground during times of mass atrocity and humanitarian crisis, and the public's perception of it, as gleaned from the media in the West.

Further details available from: www.polismedia.org

This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, email arts@lse.ac.uk or phone 020 7955 6043.

Broke: Voices from the edge
Hosted by the Centre for the Study of Human Rights in partnership with Ice and Fire UN International human rights day event
Thursday 10 December 2009
6.30-8pm
Old Theatre, Old Building

Using dialogue from real-life interviews with people living in poverty in the UK, the actors explore the dismal side-effects of such gross disadvantage - the homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, the unemployment, the debt, and much else besides.  The plight of the poor on its own doorstep mocks Britain's aspiration to be an ethical force in the world and a beacon of human rights standards at home.  Often unseen and unheard, this performance gives the poor a voice.

Throughout his long life Professor Peter Townsend - a great friend of the Centre, advocate of human rights, and emeritus professor at LSE - worked hard first to prove the existence of poverty in Britain and then to persuade our society not to take such deprivation for granted.  Peter Townsend died in June this year and this performance of 'Broke' by Actors for Human Rights, is dedicated to his memory.

This event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. For more information, email arts@lse.ac.uk or phone 020 7955 6043.