Conference: A Critical Exploration of Global Health Law

A two-day conference at the University of Birmingham, 21-22 November 2014

Current international developments in relation to cross-border disease transmission (e.g. Ebola) and healthcare treatment make this a timely opportunity to bring together a range of scholars to reflect critically on the growing legal and ethical challenges arising from the globalization of health.

This conference will bring together an internationally respected interdisciplinary group of scholars working at the cutting edge of global health law. We use the publication of Professor Lawrence O.Gostin's recent book entitled Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014) as a framework structure for the event. Professor Gostin, one of the proponents of The Joint Action and Learning Initiative on National and Global Responsibilities for Health, has agreed to deliver the keynote public lecture.

Along with this public lecture the conference will consist of five panel discussions on topics including Philosophies of Public Health Law; The Role of Global Health Institutions; and The Relationship between National, International, and Global Health Law. The editors of Public Health Ethics have agreed to publish the conference proceedings in a special edition of that journal.

Provisional programme

Conference Day 1: G17 Nuffield Building

1 – 2 pm: Registration, Lunch & Welcome

2 – 3.30 pm: Panel Session A: The Political Philosophies of Global Health Law

• Richard Ashcroft (QMUL)
• Adrian Viens (Southampton)
• Heather Widdows (University of Birmingham)
• Chair/ Discussant: Angus Dawson (University of Birmingham)

3.30 – 4 pm: Coffee

4 – 5.30 pm: Panel Session B: From Domestic to International to Global Health Law

• Jean McHale (University of Birmingham)
• Jonathan Montgomery (UCL)
• Keith Syrett (Cardiff)
• Chair/ Discussant: Sheelagh McGuinness (University of Birmingham)

Public Lecture, LT1 Law Building: 

5.30 – 6 pm: Wine & Nibbles

6 – 7.30 pm: Public Lecture: Ebola: Towards an International Health Systems Fund

• Lawrence O. Gostin (Georgetown University)

Assemble for Conference Dinner @ 8pm

• Bank Restaurant, Brindley Place

Conference Day 2: LT3 Law Building

9.30: Coffee

10 – 12: Panel Session C: Global Health Institutions

• John Harrington (Cardiff)
• Claire Lougarre (UCL/ Southampton)
• Allyson Pollack (LSHTM)
• Sridhar Venkatapuram (KCL)

12-12.45: Lunch

12.45-2.45: Panel Session D: Social Justice and Resources

• John Coggon (Southampton)
• Ryoa Chung (Montreal)
• Stephen Latham (Yale)
• James Wilson (UCL)

 2.45: Closing Remarks