The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, will speak about “The Universality of Human Rights and the Work of the Council of Europe” in the context of the Thirty-fourth Lecture Series of the Americas, that will take place on March 18th, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C.

Davis was elected as Secretary General of the Council of Europe by parliamentarians from 45 Member States in June 2004. As a leading member of the United Kingdom Delegations to the Council of Europe and Western European Union Assemblies from 1993 to 2004, Davis worked to protect human rights, extend democracy and promote the rule of law, serving in the Council’s Parliamentary Assembly’s Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee; Political Affairs Committee; and chairing the Economic Affairs and Development Committee.

In 1999, he was appointed to Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council in recognition of his services to the Council of Europe. Before embracing public service, Mr. Davis worked in the private sector. For three years he was an internal auditor for Esso Oil Company, eventually incorporating into the automotive industry, where his experience includes 5 years as a manager for Chrysler Parts UK (1968-71), General Manager of Jaguar Rover Triumph Parts Division (1972-74) and Senior Manager at Leyland Cars (1974-79).

Secretary General Davis is a graduate of University College of London where he received a LLB degree and of University of Michigan's Ross School of Business where he obtained a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).

A questions and answers session will follow Mr. Terry’s presentation at the Lecture Series of the Americas. The event will be webcast live at (www.oas.org).


WHAT: Lecture Series of the Americas with Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

WHEN: Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

TIME: 3:00 p.m. EST

VENUE: Hall of the Americas
OAS Organization of American States
17th Street & Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006

Reference: AVI-016/09