Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Completes Successful Summer Program, Collaborates with ASIL to Host CLE Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 19, 2012 - The Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, held May 28-June 15 by American University Washington College of Law’s Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, offered courses taught by more than 30 visiting world-renowned scholars and practitioners in the field of human rights.

The Program also emphasized the concurrent observance of Human Rights Month, which included conferences, workshops, and a film festival that were held May 31-June 14. This series of events addressed both achievements and challenges in human rights law, and featured the expertise of legal practitioners, scholars, and activists. More about Human Rights Month.

In addition, the Academy joined The American Society of International Law (ASIL) to host a collaborative three-part continuing legal education (CLE) series. The series encouraged understanding and discussion of human rights and humanitarian law theory. The three courses included: “The Case of Hissène Habré: The Role of International Law and Courts in the Victims’ Quest for Justice” (May 30); “The UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions and the Challenges of Monitoring Gross Human Rights Violations: An Overview of his Work in Sri Lanka, India and Syria” (June 6); and “International Criminal Court Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo," which was moderated by the dean of American University Washington College of Law, Claudio Grossman (June 13). More about the CLE series.

Among the Program’s expert instructors were:

  • Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, deputy executive secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Organization of American States - OAS)
  • Victor Abramovich, director of the master’s program at the Universidad Nacional de Lanús, Argentina
  • Elizabeth Andersen, executive director and executive vice president, American Society of International Law (ASIL)
  • Carlos Ayala Corao, member of the Board of the International Commission of Jurists and International Human Rights Institute of the IBA
  • Catalina Botero, special rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
  • Reed Brody, counsel and spokesperson, Human Rights Watch, Brussels
  • Antonio Cançado Trindade, judge, International Court of Justice, Brazil
  • Santiago Cantón, executive secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Organization of American States - OAS)
  • Roberta Cohen, nonresident Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution
  • Rebecca Cook, faculty chair in International Human Rights, University of Toronto; co-director, International Program on Reproductive and Sexual Health Law
  • Christian Courtis, human rights officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Mac Darrow, chief, Millennium Development Goals Section, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN/OHCHR)
  • Catarina De Albuquerque, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation
  • Olivier De Schutter, professor of law, University of Louvain (UCL) and College of Europe (Natolin)
  • Robert Goldman, Louis C. James Scholar; co-director, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law; faculty director, the War Crimes Research Office; and professor of law, American University Washington College of Law
  • Felipe González Morales, president and rapporteur on Migrant Workers and their families, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; professor of international and constitutional law, Diego Portales University, Chile
  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law; chair, U.N. Committee against Torture
  • Christof Heyns, UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions; dean of the faculty of law, University of Pretoria
  • Viviana Krsticevic, executive director, the Center for Justice and International Law
  • Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression
  • Margarette Macaulay, judge, the Inter American Court of Human Rights
  • Julissa Mantilla, professor, Law School and the Gender Diploma of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP)
  • Claudia Martin, professional lecturer-in-residence; co-director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law
  • Gay Mcdougall, former executive director of Global Rights, Partners for Justice
  • Juan Mendez, visiting professor of law, American University Washington College of Law; UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
  • Manfred Nowak, professor of International Law and Human Rights, University of Vienna; director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights
  • Fausto Pocar, law professor; former International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia's President
  • Carlos Portales, founder, Program on International Organizations, Law and Diplomacy, American University Washington College of Law
  • Bertrand Ramcharan, former Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights; elected President, UPR
  • Monica Roa, programs director, Women´s Link
  • Diego Rodriguez Pinzón, professorial lecturer -in-Residence; co-director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law
  • Harry Roque, professor and director,Institute of International Legal Studies Centre, University of the Philippines
  • Pablo Saavedra, executive secretary, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Costa Rica
  • Sylvia Steiner, judge, International Criminal Court (ICC)
  • Phillipe Texier, member, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Committe
  • Rodrigo Uprimny Yepes, director, Centro de Estudios de Derechos, Justicia y Sociedad (DeJuSticia)
  • Alejandro Valencia Villa, attorney; advisor, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Colombia
  • Jamie Williamson, legal advisor, Washington Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
  • Leo Zwaak, senior researcher, Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM); university lecturer, Utrecht University

###

About American University Washington College of Law

In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu