The Social and Cultural Anthropology
Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies hosts a conference and film festival on Kurdish human rights, titled "Kurdish Human Rights: Statelessness, Resistance, and Survival". The event takes place on September 4 and 5, 2004, in San Francisco.

The Kurds and their allies have been engaged in diverse struggles for survival and cultural rights. The conference brings together prominent scholar-activists, across national boundaries and in diaspora, to discuss the politics of Kurdish nationalisms, ethnic identities and human rights. This conference will discuss issues of internally displaced persons, and diaspora communities, engaging dynamics of alliance and resistance, nation/statelessness, ethnicity, gender and class. The conference will also explore the impact of empire and neocolonialism in undermining the rights of Kurdish peoples, and the need to mobilize the international community to address these complex issues and provide support.

Individuals and organizations committed to human rights, cultural survival and alliance building are cordially invited.

Saturday features a day-long series of panel discussions and a cultural celebration with Kurdish food, music and dance in the evening. Sunday features a Kurdish film festival.

Confirmed speakers include: Tara Aziz, Angana Chatterji, Fredrick Cloyd, Ali Ezzatyar, Michael Gunter, Rashid Karadaghi, Brucek Khailany, Diane King, Soraya Mofty, Robert Olson, Mitchell Plitnick, Soraya Serajeddini, Richard Shapiro, Joseph Subbiondo, Birusk Tugan, Nicole Watts, Kani Xulam, and Stephen Zunes.

Films include: Innowhereland, Jiyan, Saddam's Mass Graves, Song for Beko, and Time for Drunken Horses.

Registration is required for this event. Registration fees are available on a sliding scale and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Early registration is highly encouraged due to space limitations.

For more information about the conference, please visit:
http://www.kurdishrightsconference.org or call (415) 575-6100, Ext. 456.