GNSI Policy Dialogues: Endandered Freedoms

Agenda

Time Event
8:30am Check-In and Registration
9:00am Conference Open and Introduction
9:05am
Eric Eisenberg, PhD, Senior VP for University Community Partnerships, USF
Welcome Remarks
Eric Eisenberg, PhD
Senior Vice President for University Community Partnerships, USF
9:10am
Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project
Featured Speaker
Omer Kanat, Executive Director, Uyghur Human Rights Project
9:50am

Morning Break

10:00am

Panel 1:
Threads of Oppression: the Global Impact of Transnational Repression

This panel will focus on understanding transnational repression by the CCP. The panelists will discuss democratic values, national security, and the global implications of the CCP’s actions. The panel will conclude with analysis and policy recommendations for international responses and effective mitigation of transnational repression and a moderated question and answer session

  • Transnational Repression (TNR) is growing across the world: what are we seeing and how are nations addressing?
  • How is/will social media and the rise of AI affect TNR across borders? What can international organizations do to uphold national sovereignty?
  • We’ve seen the infiltration of the CCP in American and Canadian society – as well as society across the world – from police outposts to the taking of family members. What recourse do those targeted have? How can they protect themselves?
  • What should the U.S. role be on this issue? What should Congress be doing? What should the FBI and/or DHS and other federal agencies be doing from a policy standpoint? 
David Oakley, PhD, Academic Director, GNSI

David Oakley, PhD (Moderator)
Academic Director, Global and National Security Institute




Allison Quatrini, PhD

Allison Quatrini (Panelist)
Associate Professor of Political Science, Eckerd College




Laura Harth, Safeguard Defenders

Laura Harth (Panelist)
Campaign Director, Safeguard Defenders




Lynette Ong, PhD, University of Toronto

Lynette Ong, PhD (Panelist)
Associate Professor of Political Science, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto

 

11:15am

Lunch Break and viewing trailer for This movie tells the stories of Jewher, a Uyghur teen from China who was violently separated from her father after he was detained by Chinese authorities at the Beijing airport, and Abduweli, a linguist and poet who was imprisoned and tortured for teaching the Uyghur language to 6-year-old children.

12:30pm

Conference Discussion / Q&A of All Static and Noise

1:15pm Break / Networking
1:30pm

Panel 2:
The Human Toll: Living with Transnational Repression

This panel will explore the impact on individuals and communities, as well as the unique challenges faced by victims and advocates. Panelists will discuss the means and methods used by the CCP and reporting mechanisms for families of transnational repression. The panel will conclude with an interactive audience question and answer session.

  • How has the CCP reached you here in the United States/Canada?
  • How expansive is TNR in your community? Examples?
  • Do you feel that you have any legal recourse? This is akin to silent persecution, is it not?  
  • What have targets of TNR witnessed (legal, financial, or emotional) and what remedies are there for those being targeted? 
Amy Mitchell, former Senior Advisor, Office of Global Women's Issues

Amy Mitchell (Moderator)
Former Senior Advisor, Office of Global Women's Issues and former Senior Official U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Defense

 

Sarah Teich, International Human Rights Attorney

Sarah Teich (Panelist)
Senior Fellow at MacDonald Laurie and International Human Rights Attorney



• Other Panelists TBA

2:45pm

Closing Remarks

3:00pm

Conference End