Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Human Rights News & Events

WCL Events


1. PRO BONO HONORS PLEDGE PROGRAM “GETTING INVOLVED IN PRO BONO” SESSION, Thursday, October 11, 2007, 12:00-1:20pm, Room 254
WCL’s volunteer pro bono program encourages students to complete 75 hours of pro bono and community service work at organizations assisting underprivileged and underrepresented populations. While at least 50 hours of the pro bono work completed must be with an organization engaged primarily in law-related or legal work, students may complete up to 25 of their 75 hours in non-legal community service work, enabling first-year law students to begin participating in the program immediately. The “Getting Involved” session is an opportunity to hear from current students about the advantages of participating in the pledge. For more information contact Charlene Gomes at (202) 274-4099 or email her at cegomes@wcl.american.edu.

2. ALTERNATIVE SPRING/WINTER BREAK INTRODUCTORY MEETING, Thursday, October 11th, 12-1pm AND 5:30-6:30pm, Room 601
It’s not too early to think about Spring break! WCL´s annual Alternative Spring Break provides students a unique and compelling hands-on learning and community service opportunity. ASB enables students to travel into the field to engage in a particular legal theme by interacting directly with the actors involved, including affected individuals and families, government officials, attorneys, advocates, and other civil society representatives. The students also participate in significant community service activities, both during the trip and upon their return to WCL. Last year, WCL sent the largest student delegation in the US to help with relief in New Orleans and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Another group of students traveled to the Navajo Nation in Arizona to provide pro bono legal service to the nation’s largest non-profit Native American legal service organization. Past trips have focused on immigration/ border issues and gender violence. The 2008 Alternative Winter/Spring Break program is in the planning phase. If you would like to help or if you are interested in going, please contact Ian Harris at socialution@gmail.com and put “ASB Planning” in the subject line.

3. MUNCHING ON HUMAN RIGHTS: ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS: INALIENABLE RIGHTS OR NEW CONCEPTS? Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 12:00-1:20pm, Room 401
Interested in human rights but stuck studying civil procedure and torts? Munching on Human Rights is an introductory program designed to educate and engage students, especially 1Ls, about basic issues in international human rights and humanitarian law. Held once a month, munching gives you a great opportunity to informally interact with WCL's internationally- known faculty and get a "taste" of international law. All students are welcome. Pizza will be served.

Join us on Tuesday, October 16th as Professor Rick Wilson, Director, International Human Rights Law Clinic, discusses economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to food, health, education, housing, social security, work and culture, and how these rights are applied in the international context. For information, please visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center or contact Amelia Parker at (202) 274-4180 or email her at humlaw@wcl.american.edu.

4. EIGHT ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FILM SERIES: DEVIL’S MINER, Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 6:00pm, Room 603
Like to go to the movies? This Fall, the Center, in conjunction with the AU Center for Social Media, the Center for Global Peace, the Kay Spiritual Life Center, and School of International Service will sponsor the Eighth Human Rights Film Series. The film series explores ways in which film and media can be used to promote and protect human rights. Films will be screened twice, first on Wednesdays at WCL and again on Thursday nights on AU Main Campus.  Out of respect for those breaking the Ramadan fast, light refreshments will be served at each screening. Each film will be followed by a discussion with a guest speaker from local NGOs and institutions. For more information contact the Center’s Program Coordinator, Amelia Parker, at humlaw@wcl.american.edu.  A complete list of films featured in this year’s film series is listed below or for additional information, please visit the Center’s website at www.wclcenterforhr.org.

DEVIL'S MINER (2006)
Fourteen-year-old Basilieo and his younger brother work in the mines of Cerro Rico in Bolivia, where devout Catholic miners sever their ties with God upon entering the mountain. Winner, Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary Special Mention.
WCL: Wednesday, October 17, 6:00pm, WCL Room 603
Main Campus: Thursday, October 18, 6:30pm, Wechsler Theatre, 3rd floor, Mary Graydon Center

SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL-STARS (2005)
An inspiring story of survival and rebirth in the wake of the horrors of Sierra Leone’s Civil War, and a triumphant testament to the power of music. SXSW 2006 Film Festival Winner.
WCL: Wednesday, October 24, 6:00pm, WCL Room
Main Campus: Thursday, November 1, 6:30pm, Wechsler Theatre, 3rd floor, Mary Graydon Center

SPECIAL EVENT: HUMAN RIGHTS IN A TIME OF WAR: AN EVENING WITH GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB PRODUCER LIZ GARBUS!
Join us for a screening of the film Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and discussion with award-winning human rights film pioneer Liz Garbus as she shares her experiences and answers your questions about the making of this provocative film.  Ghosts of Abu Ghraib is a beyond-the-headlines look into the psychological and political contexts of the torture at Iraq’s infamous prison. An HBO Documentary, also featured at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.  There will be a one-time showing for this film.  This event takes place against the backdrop of Fernando Botero’s startlingly barbaric exhibit, Botero: Abu Ghraib.
Katzen Arts Center: Thursday, November 8, 5:30 pm

Community Events


1. IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE, Friday, October 12, 2007, 8:30a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Georgetown University Law Center, McDonough Hall, Room 200, 600 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20001
You are cordially invited to a one-day symposium with some of the world's leading scholars and practitioners on innovative uses of human rights norms and strategies for the advancement of non-citizens' rights. The titles of the three panels are as follows: Immigration Law and International Human Rights, The Rights of Noncitizens Beyond Our Borders and A Comparative Approach to Human Rights and Immigration Law. Food will be provided. RSVP and for more information, please contact Seema Ahmad at sa386@law.georgetown.edu. There is no fee to attend the conference.

2. JOIN CASA AND THE COALITION TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC WORKERS TO DEMAND RIGHTS FOR ALL DOMESTIC WORKERS, Saturday, October 13, 2007, 12:30pm, meet at the State Department, 22nd and C Streets NW, Washington DC
Domestic Workers do important work and provide essential help to millions of families across the country – this work deserves RESPECT. We will gather at the State Department and march to the Organization of American States to end diplomatic immunity in cases of Domestic Worker Abuse. Closest Metro is Foggy Bottom (Orange line). For more information call Alexis De Simone at 301-257-6034

3. SOUTH AMERICA: UNTOLD STORIES, A DISCUSSION AND DOCUMENTARY SCREENING, Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 6:30-8:00pm, Choate Room, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace building, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Kelly Hearn, a Buenos Aires-based freelance reporter, Gabrielle Weiss, a videographer and photojournalist, can Charles Lane, a radio journalist, will host the discussion and documentary screening. The event will be followed by a reception. Discussion Topics: Peru's Petroleum Play: A gas and oil boom is transforming some of the country's environmentally sensitive regions. Soybean Wars: Booming demand has fueled a soybean frenzy, bringing wealth, poverty, and environmental risk. Argentina's "Ghost Train": Buenos Aires trash-collectors fight for their jobs. For more information about the DC event on October 16th, or to RSVP, contact Janeen Heath at jheath@pulitzercenter.org. **Space is limited so please RSVP early. ***

4. A PUBLIC ADDRESS BY THE 14th DALAI LAMA OF TIBET, Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 11:00a.m., West Lawn of the U.S Capitol Building.
The International Campaign for Tibet and the Tibetan community will host a public address by his the Dalai Lama on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building following his receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal. Closest metro stops are Capital South (Orange and Blue) and Union Station (Red).All attendees and bags will be subjected to security screening.  For more information visit www.dalailamadc.org. The schedule for the event is as follows:
11:00am – 1:00pm     Tibetan Cultural Program
1:00pm – 2:30pm       Gold Medal Ceremony Simulcast
2:30 – onward             Address by the Dalai Lama 

5. REGISTER NOW FOR THE SEMINAR ON “USING INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE IN THE U.S,” Wednesday, October 31, 2007, Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 NJ Ave., NW, Washington DC 20001
Please join us for a day of nuts-and-bolts instruction from international law experts and activists. You do not need to be a lawyer to get valuable information from the seminar, and non-lawyers receive a substantial discount. Please note that Ajamu Baraka of the US Human Rights Network is scheduled to be one of the presenters. Panelists: John Brittain, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Ajamu Baraka, US Human Rights Network; the Hon. Claudia Morcom (ret.), former Wayne County Michigan Circuit Court Judge; Lance Tapley, journalist for the Portland, Maine Phoenix; Ann Fagan Ginger, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute; Curtis Cooper, National Lawyers Guild International Committee; Marjorie Cohn, President, National Lawyers Guild; Bruce Zagaris, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe, LLP. Registration fees postmarked by October 10, 2007 are $150 for lawyers, $for students, $80 for all others. Registration fees postmarked after 0ctober 10, 2007 are $175 for lawyers, $60 for students, $100 for all others. Make checks payable to "MCLI", P.O. Box 673, Berkeley, CA 94701-0673. Register now for better rates! More information is available on the NLG International Committee website: www.nlginternational.org/event/current.php#59

Announcements & Professional Development Opportunities

 

1. FEMINIST LEGAL THEORY AND FEMINISMS CONFERENCE CALL FOR PAPERS, Abstracts for the papers due October 15, 2007 at 5 p.m.
This call for papers seeks submissions for the University of Baltimore School of Law’s upcoming Feminist Legal Theory and Feminisms Conference. The conference will begin with a keynote address by Gloria Steinem the evening of Thursday, March 6, 2008. On Friday, March 7, 2008, the conference will continue with a day of presentations by legal academics, practitioners and activists regarding current scholarship and/or legal work that explore the evolution of feminism and feminist legal theory and its application to current legal theory and practice. This conference begins with three questions: What wave of feminism currently exists, how is it affecting society and effectuating change, and how is it linked to the past waves? This conference will attempt to address these questions from the perspectives of activists, practitioners and academics. The conference will provide an opportunity for participants and audience members to exchange ideas about the current state of feminist legal theories and feminisms and how those theories are being actualized in practice. From the conference, we hope that a new discourse about the future of feminist legal theories and feminisms will begin. In addition, the conference is designed to provide presenters with the opportunity to gain extensive feedback on their papers. Abstracts for the papers should be sent to Professor Margaret E. Johnson (majohnson@ubalt.edu). Abstracts should be no longer than one page. We will notify presenters of selected papers by November 15, 2007.

2. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – GLBT STUDIES COLLOQUIUM, Due: October 15, 2007
The colloquium works to build capacity for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) studies at AU by creating opportunities for interdepartmental networking, learning, and showcasing of research, creative, and practice-oriented works within the American University community. Sessions should be related to GLBT issues or people or to concerns around sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Proposals should come from AU community members (students, faculty, staff). If possible, you are encouraged to collaborate with people from other departments or colleges within AU in your proposed session. Sessions that examine issues or include presenters of diverse and intersectional identities are encouraged. Please note that if your session is selected you will be asked to help out in bringing an audience to your session and not to rely solely on the other organizers to get a turn-out. The colloquium will be held on Tuesday, November 13 from 12:45 to 9 pm You can find details on the Request for Proposals on our website at www.glbtstudies.org. Please send your proposals to Nick Sakurai at sakurai@american.edu by Monday, October 15th. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Ally Resource Center at 202 274 3347 or send an email to glbta@american.edu.

3. SUMMER 2008 REFUGEE WOMENS RIGHTS LAW CLERK POSITIONS. Send in applications now! The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), one of the nations leading refugee advocacy organizations, is seeking full- time Judith Stronach Womens Rights Fellows for Summer 2008. The Center, which is based at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, works to advance womens human rights by focusing on gender-based asylum and broader migration and refugee policies, both in the U.S. and internationally. The law clerks will be involved in the full range of CGRSs work, including research and writing on key legal issues, appellate advocacy, the development of detailed country conditions information, the preparation of expert witness affidavits, and national policy work. Experience or background in immigration or asylum law is required. Experience with related areas, such as international human rights law should be mentioned. Spanish language desirable, but not required. Position runs from June 2 to August 8, 2008. Please indicate eligibility for work study, as well as your prospects for securing external funding. For more information on CGRS visit http://cgrs.uchastings.edu/.  All applications must be received by November 16, 2007.  Interested applicants should mail or fax a cover letter and resume to:
Diana Rodriguez
CGRS Summer Law Clerk Position
UC Hastings College of the Law
200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Fax: 415/581-8824
The cover letter should include how the applicants background is relevant to an organization committed to diversity in all respects. CGRS is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified persons including people of color, women, lesbians and gay men, are encouraged to apply.

4. OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE LEGAL INTERN POSITION. Send in applications now!
The OSI Washington office seeks to hire a Legal Intern to work on United States civil liberties issues and immigration policy. Specifically, the qualified applicant shall research and prepare reports on civil liberties and immigration policy issues with particular attention to human rights and national security. The Legal Intern will work under the supervision of the Senior Policy Analyst for Civil Liberties and Immigration Policy, and his or her duties will include: (1) Performing legal research (including LexisNexis and other research tools); (2) Drafting legal memoranda, background papers, and other advocacy materials; and (3) Attending hearings or meetings and drafting summaries and analysis. For additional information about OSI, please visit www.soros.org.  Apply Immediately.  Interested applicants should mail or fax a cover letter and resume to:
Lynthia Gibson-Price
Administrator
Open Society Institute- Washington Office
1120 19th Street, N.W., 8th Floor
Re: Human Resources
Fax to: (202) 530-0128; or e-mail: osidcresume@osi-dc.org .

 

Top of Page

 

NOTE: If you would like to submit a human rights-related event or announcement to the Center’s listserv, please send an email to humlaw@wcl.american.edu.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Center’s listserv, please follow instructions at: http://roster.wcl.american.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=chrhlupdate&A=1.

The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law compiles a newsletter at the start of each semester and distributes it to all students, faculty and staff as a resource for upcoming human rights events and opportunities at WCL. We hope you find it useful and look forward to seeing you at the many events that the Center and other offices and student groups have planned throughout the Fall. To access the Fall 2007 newsletter, please visit the following site: http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/newsletter/fall07_newsletter.cfm

 

4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20016 | humlaw@wcl.american.edu | 202-274-4180
WCLCenterforHR.org