A special conference is to be held next month to mark the 180th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in Bermuda.

Chief Justice Ian Kawaley will be the keynote speaker at the event, which will also examine the development of human rights since the British Government ordered an end to slavery in 1834.

A spokeswoman for the Centre for Justice, which is organising the event, said the deadline for essays on the conference themes of equality and justice had been extended due to “higher than anticipated interest.”

Successful entrants will also be invited to take part in the conference, which will feature local and overseas experts in the human rights and justice field, and make short presentations on their essays.

The spokeswoman added: “The Centre for Justice is organising this conference as part of its mandate to promote education in the areas of human rights, civil liberties and administration of justice and to foster civic engagement.”

Members of the public are also welcome to attend as part of the audience, but due to limited space, they must sign up by Monday, July 7 by e-mail at info@justice.bm.

The all-day conference will be held on Thursday, July 10, at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) on Crow Lane, starting at 9.30am.

Essay entries — which will be judged by a panel on an anonymous basis — must be submitted by Monday, June 30 and winners will be announced on Friday, July 4.

For more information on essay requirements and entry conditions, visit www.justice.bm or e-mail info@justice.bm.