The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, in conjunction with its upcoming 2009 lecture series featuring Hans Joas, is offering Georgetown students—graduate and undergraduate—the opportunity to participate in an essay competition on the topic of “the origins and significance of the idea of universal human rights.” From the Berkley Center website:
The essays can take any number of approaches, but should engage the ideas that Hans Joas lays out in his lectures. The topic is vast. Under the broad heading “Universal Human Rights?” entrants are encouraged to develop a specific argument. Issues that might be addressed include: the existence or non-existence of universal human rights, their religious and/or secular origins, and whether and how to realize them in world affairs.
See here for details about submission, judging, and prizes.