Alison Des Forges International Symposium

April 16, 2026

Alison Des Forges 2026 Symposium.

April 16, 2026: The Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee presents its annual symposium, Peace and Justice in the Taiwan Strait. This symposium will explore the complex cultural, historical and political interactions among the Republic of China, People’s Republic of China and the United States with a view to maintaining de facto peace and defending human rights on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. This symposium, honors the life and work of human rights activist Alison Des Forges (1942-2009). Visit the ADFMC event page.

Contact: Ellen Dussourd
 dussourd@buffalo.edu

The symposium is organized by the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee.  The group is dedicated to honoring the memory of Dr. Alison Liebhafsky Des Forges, an inspirational and tireless crusader for human rights around the world. The Committee seeks to continue Alison’s quest "to educate people about the injustices in the world and the part we all must play as members of an increasingly interdependent global community."

2026 Symposium Sponsors: Alison Des Forges Memorial Committee; University at Buffalo: Asian Studies Program; The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy; CAS Departments of Comparative Literature, Global Gender and Sexuality Studies, History, and Political Science; Gender Institute; Humanities Institute; James Agee Chair in American Culture; Office of the Vice Provost for International Education.

Zoom image: Poster: Symposium April 16, 2026: The Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee presents its annual symposium, Poster: Symposium April 16, 2026: The Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee presents its annual symposium,.

Related Content

  • Magazine feature — Alison Des Forges: A passion for justice
    5/27/21
    Even now, it is difficult to grasp how the courageous activism of Alison Des Forges continues to inspire people. This article seeks to add context to Alison's interdisciplinary scholarship in the global arena of law and social policy. Perspective is provided by Roger Des Forges, Helene Kramer, and Irving Massey. Together, they became key components in forming an educational enterprise that would do justice to Alison’s memory. Today, that enterprise is a solid foundation for sustaining community activities, one of which has become an annual international symposium.
  • Podcast discussion — Roger Des Forges, Ellen Dussourd, and Shaun Irlam
    4/21/21
    Episode 14 of our podcast series is about the work of the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee, and its international symposia held at the University at Buffalo. Beginning in 2012, the symposia has been sponsored, in part, by The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. This episode features Roger Des Forges, the group's co-founder. He is joined in discussion with the Committee co-chairs, Ellen Dussourd and Shaun Irlam. Together, they offer insight on aspects of sustaining the Alison Des Forges International Symposia.