The Advocates for Human Rights will host its seventh annual human rights law and policy conference, Refugee Protection around the World: Durable Solutions or Durable Suffering?

The Advocates for Human Rights brings together local, national, and international experts and advocates to examine the current international refugee protection system, its shortcomings and possible durable solutions. Morning sessions will address topics such as international refugee law, the outsourcing of refugee protection, refugee "warehousing" local integration, forced repatriation, and refugee resettlement.

Dr. Sima Samar, chairperson of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan from 2005 to 2008, will lay a framework for the afternoon in a plenary session about the Sudanese refugee situation. In afternoon working sessions participants will discuss viable alternatives regarding the Sudanese and Liberian refugee situations.

In addition to Dr. Samar, conference speakers include: Mark Hetfield, Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs, HIAS; Jessica Eby, Protection Officer, Immigration and Refugee Program, Church World Service; Ellen Kennedy, Interim Director, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Bradley H. Lehrman, Attorney at Law, Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg, P.A.; and, Ahmed K. Sirleaf II, Program Associate, Jennifer Prestholdt, Deputy Director, and Laura Young, Staff Attorney, with The Advocates for Human Rights.