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

WCL Events

1. COLOMBIA: THE HUMAN IMPACT OF TRADE, WAR, AND THE RULE OF LAW
Thursday, March 27, Room 603, 9am - 5pm, JD & LLM Lounges, and Faculty Dining Room
Students, practitioners, and members of the wider community are encouraged to learn about some of the complex and often contentious issues confronting Colombia, providing a lens through which to analyze trade, war, and the rule of law in other contexts. The event will include a live video feed of speakers from the Universidad de los Andes Law School - Bogota, Colombia. The event will be moderated by Professors Henrik López Sterup, PhD and Pablo Rey Vallejo, PhD and is partnered with the Immigrants' Rights Coalition: Refugee and Asylum Committee, International Trade Law Society, Latino/a Law Students' Association, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Business Law Society, Program on Law and Government. To Register visit http://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration or for more information contact Sara Ramey at sara.ramey@american.edu.

2. INTERNATIONAL AND US PERSPECTIVES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW UN DISABILITY RIGHTS CONVENTION
Monday, March 31, 2008, 12pm - 5:30pm, Room 603
Join us for a panel discussion and strategy session to build support for United States ratification of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). CRPD is expected to come into force as binding international law on March 31, 2008. To celebrate and think about ways to ensure rapid implementation, please join us for a discussion with experts from around the world. The event will be followed by a reception.  To register or for additional information, please contact the Office of Special Events & Continuing Legal Education at (202) 274-4075 or register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration.cfm. To view a live webcast of the event visit www.wclcenterforhr.org. 

3. RESHAPING AND RETHINKING THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Wednesday, April 2, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm,  Room 603
Recently, the country has seen a regression in many of the celebrated civil rights triumphs of the previous century in society and throughout our legal system. Moreover, hot button issues such as the Jena 6 imprisonment have reminded many who identify with the civil rights movement that despite the many successes that have come to fruition during the past century, there are still many battles that remain not won. At the recent Jena 6 protest, Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton discussed the need of a Civil Rights 2.0. The goal of this symposium is to explore what that statement means and to analyze the changing face of the civil rights movement. Given that it is almost 2008 and race politics still dominate society, is the way that we have thought about diversity and civil rights in the past even relevant anymore? What new strategies or approaches do we need to bring the focus back to ensure that all peoples within the borders of this country are guaranteed their civil rights and that diversity policies hold more of a top priority? For more information contact SECLE at  202.274.4075 or register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm.

4. MURKY WATERS: FIGHTING WORLD BANK-FINANCED WATER PRIVATIZATION
Tuesday, April 15, 12-1:30pm, WCL Room 602
Join us for a panel discussion on how to challenge World Bank (MIGA) financed water projects. In 2001 the World Bank gave Bechtel, the largest engineering company in the U.S, a guarantee for its investments in the water system in Guayaquil, Ecuador. After years of mismanagement, including water cut-offs, a Hepatitis B outbreak, and ongoing flooding, an Ecuadorian-based civil rights group, Observatorio Cuidadano de Servicios Publicos, has initiated a World Bank investigation into the water project. Bechtel also has a prior history of involvement in oil and water sources overseas, and has recently become the focus of criticism from growing environmental movements. Featured speakers include: Marcos Orellana, Center for International Environmental Law; Cesar Cardenas Ramirez, Observatorio Cuidadano de Sercicos Publicos; and Agosto Parada Campos, Legal Counsel, Observatorio Cuidadano de Sercicos Publicos. The event is hosted by the WCL Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Center for International Environmental Law and Food & Water Watch. Lunch will be served. For more information please contact Maj Fiil at 202.683.2453 or via email at mfiil@fwwatch.org.

5. SAVE THE DATE: THE ROLE OF THE LAW SCHOOL IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS,
April 21st and 22nd, WCL Room 603
Please join us on April 21-22 to discuss the Role of Law Schools in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights. This event will be the first national convening of law school Centers for Human Rights and will provide a forum for discussion, sharing of information and thinking about the challenges and successes of law schools engaged in human rights work.

The conference will open with a dinner on April 21 with a keynote address by Prof. Michael Tigar "Four Levels of Understanding in Clinical Human Rights Teaching." The day-long conference on April 22 will start with a discussion of various forms of teaching human rights in law schools to be followed by interactive facilitated roundtable discussions on specific aspects of research, training, advocacy and teaching. An afternoon panel will explore funding human rights in law schools and the day will conclude with a high level discussion of what law schools should be doing but are not. Confirmed speakers include Ken Roth (Human Rights Watch), David Weissbrodt (University of Minnesota), Doug Cassel (Notre Dame), and Dean Claudio Grossman (AU WCL). Registration for both the dinner and the conference is required.  To register or for additional information, please contact the Office of Special Events & Continuing Legal Education at (202) 274-4075 or register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm.

Community Events

1. TORTURE: WHAT IS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY?
Wednesday, March 26th, 12:00pm, Kay Spiritual Life Center Lounge, AU Main Campus
Join Devon Chafee, an Associate Attorney from Human Rights First, and Stephen Rickard, the Director of the Open Society Institute in Washington, for a discussion on the Bush Administration's policy on torture. Buffet lunch will be provided. A donation of $5 each is requested from faculty, staff, and community members to help offset the cost of the program. Free to students. The event is sponsored by the Office of the University Chaplain and the Center for Global Peace. Please RSVP at 202-885-3321 or email kslc@american.edu by Monday, March 24th.

2. THE FUTURE OF UN PEACEKEEPING
Thursday, March 27, 1:00- 2:30 pm, 1800 K Street, NW, CSIS B1 - Conference Center, Washington DC, 20006
Join Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, for a discussion on the future of UN peacekeeping. UN peacekeeping is today the flagship enterprise of the United Nations and has become a central element of the international community's response to complex emergencies. During his eight year tenure as chief of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Guéhenno has seen the number of deployed UN troops double to over 100,000 with an annual budget of around $7.5 billion in order to protect vulnerable populations and help local communities transition from a post-conflict to a development environment. Coffee, tea and soda will be served. For more information contact Sierra Stanczyk at 202-887-0200 ext. 3946 or via email at SStanczyk@csis.org.

3. WORKING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: CHALLENGING POVERTY THROUGH LAW, Friday-Saturday, 4-5 April 2008, University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law cordially invites you to attend the Third Annual "Working in the Public Interest: Challenging Poverty Through Law" conference on April 4-5, 2008. This two day event features panels and roundtable discussions with speakers drawn from all parts of the country. The conference will be held in Athens, Georgia, at the University of Georgia School of Law, which is approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta. We will be offering CLE credits for a small registration fee. We can also arrange free housing for student attendees who would like to stay with other students here in Athens. Registration and other information will soon be available online at www.law.uga.edu/wipi. If you have questions or concerns, please email us at: wipi.publicity.2008@gmail.com.

Announcements & Professional Development Opportunities

1. CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SEEKS A FEW GOOD SUMMER DEAN'S FELLOWS
The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is looking for a few good Summer Dean's Fellows to join us for a fun summer and to help us make our exciting human rights programming happen!!! You will assist in planning the Center's Annual Human Rights Film Series and other Fall Semester activities. The position also includes administrative tasks such as developing the Center's website and promotional materials. And, most importantly, you will help plan the Center's ANNUAL SUMMER PICNIC, which has been brought back by popular demand! To apply, please send a resume and short cover letter to aparker@wcl.american.edu, with the subject line “Summer 2008 Dean's Fellow.” The position will remain open until filled.

2. PIJIP SEEKS RESEARCH ASSISTANT FOR SPRING AND SUMMER 08 TO WORK ON ACCESS TO MEDICINES IN AFRICA
The Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property seeks a spring and summer research assistant to support a teaching and clinical project on access to medicines in Africa. The project involves the intersection of international human rights law, intellectual property law and access to medicines in Africa. PIJIP will be teaching a short course on the topic in South Africa and then assisting the development of a student advocacy project filing a submission on the right to access to medicines to the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. Background in human rights, intellectual property and/or medicines law and policy helpful. The position requires 20 hours a week and may be extended into the fall term. Academic credit through independent study may also be available. For more information or to apply, please contact Mike Palmedo at 202-274-4442: mpalmedo@wcl.american.edu.

3. OFFICE OF PUBLIC INTEREST SEEKS SUMMER DEAN'S FELLOW
The Office of Public Interest is seeking a Summer Dean's Fellow to work 20 hours/week on a number of projects including: outreach to public interest employers and WCL alumni, writing the Public Interest Wire newsletter, development of pro bono initiatives and the Public Interest Loan Repayment Assistance Program (PILRAP). Some additional research and writing may be required. This is a great opportunity for a student taking summer classes. Sense of humor, excellent writing, computer and interpersonal skills are required, a passion for social justice issues is a plus. Interested candidates should submit a current resume and brief cover letter to Charlene Gomes, Public Interest Coordinator at cegomes@wcl.american.edu . Resumes will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

4. NSALSA PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP, DUE APRIL 1st
The North American South Asian Law Students Association (NASALSA) and the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA) Foundation are proud to jointly announce our second annual Public Interest Fellowship.  The fellowship will continue to advance the mutual goals of NASALSA and the NASABA Foundation, including: (1) Protecting the interests of the South Asian American community in North America, (2) Increasing opportunities for law students to engage in meaningful public interest work, and (3) Elevating the status of the South Asian bar in the North American legal community. We will be awarding fellowships to the law students who best meet our eligibility criteria.  Recipients must be engaged in unpaid summer public interest work in North America that relates to the South Asian American community.  He or she must attend an American Bar Association-approved law school and have already secured a reputable summer internship of at least ten weeks in duration.  He or she must also complete and e-mail the fellowship application by April 1, 2008. To get a copy of the application visit www.nsalsa.org  or for more information email nasalsa@gmail.com.

5. CALL FOR PAPERS: GLOBAL WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS IN CHANGING SOCIETIES
Women for Women International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, seeks submissions for the Fall 2008 issue of its bi-annual academic journal, Critical Half. This issue will focus on global women's movements and women's movements globally in various contexts, including politics, women's rights, social change, religion, and economic endeavors. Women's movements may be global in their organization or effects, as in the international feminist movement, or they may be global in their concerns but local or ‘grassroots' in their organization and immediate impact. Papers might consider the genesis and logistics of women's movements; the underlying ideological concerns which give rise to and sustain, or counteract, these movements; or the interaction of women's movements with local, regional, and global organizations, such as religious groups, political parties, or local or international local women's groups.Papers which address issues of women's movements in conflict and post-conflict societies, developing countries, and trans-national contexts are particularly encouraged. Articles should be 2,000-2,500 words long. The deadline to submit the article is June 16th. For further information, including topic suggestions, article possibilities, and submission guidelines, please visit http://www.womenforwomen.org/cfpapers.htm or for more information email criticalhalf@womenforwomen.org.

6. AYUDA, INC.'S PROJECT'S SEEKS LEGAL INTERN FOR SUMMER 2008
Ayuda, Inc. seeks a Spanish-speaking law student or summer 2008 to work with the Children's Project in providing immigration services to unaccompanied immigrant children. Preferably this is a full time position, but part time applicants will be considered. The internship is unpaid, although Ayuda would happily support any efforts to secure outside funding. The Children's Project represents both detained and non-detained unaccompanied immigrant children before the Immigration Service, the Immigration Courts and the Maryland Courts. Whenever possible, the Project assists children to obtain lawful immigration status in the United States by applying for asylum or for “green cards” or visas through special laws that protect victims of domestic violence, victims of child abuse, abandonment and neglect, victims of trafficking, and victims of serious crimes in the U.S. In addition to direct legal services, the Children's Project attorneys regularly conduct trainings and outreach, and engage in national policy initiatives.  Specifically, the law student would work with two Children's Project attorneys on preparing a wide variety of immigration law cases for children, and would assist with screening interviews of potential clients, both in the office and at area detention centers. If interested, there may also be opportunities to give outreach presentations. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Christina Wilkes, Esq. at Christina@ayuda.com.