OTTAWA — Millions of people cross borders every year. Transnational migration, especially forced migration, has become one of the compelling academic issues of the 21st Century. To address these issues, the Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS) will hold its second annual conference at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law from June 1 – 2, 2009 in the Gowlings Moot Court Room (FTX 147).

Bringing together academics, activists, NGOs, policy makers, government representatives as well as forced migrants, the CARFMS conference will feature a series of interdisciplinary dialogues in order to explore, debate and understand the varied aspects of forced migration. Conference themes include Forced Migration, Global Politics, and the International Arena; Settlement, Security and Social Justice; Interdisciplinary Approaches to Forced Migration Research.

The conference will open with a keynote address given by Professor Peter Showler, Director of the Refugee Forum at uOttawa’s Human Rights Research and Education Centre. He will present, “Imperfect Storm Warnings” on June 1 at 9:30 a.m. Other speakers include Mr. Abraham Abraham, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Canada, who will present, "Mixed Migration, Global Politics and the International Arena" at 9:00 a.m. on June 2.