Local Human Rights Lawyering Project
NEW! Introducing Maryland Legal Aid and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid human rights coordinators.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law developed the Local Human Rights Lawyering Project to promote human rights at the local level right here in the United States. The Local Human Rights Lawyering Project provides training, coaching and resources to legal aid attorneys to integrate the human rights framework into their daily work. The project encourages legal aid attorneys to integrate human rights arguments into advocacy before judges and policy makers, as well as to integrate human rights principles into the client-lawyer relationship and into organizational decision-making systems. The Center aims to develop targeted case studies to assist others in undertaking similar initiatives, and to create a cadre of experienced legal aid attorneys who will use human rights arguments and strategies in their future work.
The project expands on nearly ten years of work by the Center promoting human rights law in the U.S. Through trainings, workshops, mentoring and research, the Center seeks to enhance understanding of international law and its applications to domestic social justice work. The Center aims to bridge the disconnect between our nation’s promotion of human rights abroad and its recognition of international law and standards within the U.S.
In early 2012, following a competitive selection process,Maryland Legal Aid and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid were selected as the first partners for the Local Human Rights Lawyering Project. As part of a two-year partnership, both organizations will participate in periodic trainings, consultations, ongoing mentoring and specific litigation support supplied by the Center. The Center has drafted a written handbook to get practical and useable human rights information into the hands of each and every legal aid attorney at each Project Partner organization. Both organizations also receive funding through the project to hire human rights coordinators to serve as “point people” and promoters of the use of human rights in their organizations. The process and outcomes of the project will be evaluated, and case studies and data will be developed to help encourage additional legal services organizations to adopt human rights arguments and strategies in their work. This project is funded by the Ford Foundation.
The Center has formed an Advisory Board which provides guidance and resources for the Local Human Rights Lawyering Project. The Advisory Board consists of human rights practitioners and legal aid attorneys, many of whom have experience making human rights arguments in U.S. courts and before U.S. policymakers. Meet our current Advisory Board members.
Read the full project description.
For more information, please contact Lauren E. Bartlett, Local Human Rights Lawyering Project Director, by email at bartlett@wcl.american.edu or by telephone at (202) 895-4556.
Local Human Rights Lawyering Project Director Lauren E. Bartlett speaks during a demonstration in New Orleans.
