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

WCL Events

1. EXAMINING THE CLIENT AND THE CAUSE IN THE IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS MOVEMENT, Wednesday, April 9, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, WCL Rm. 603
Advocates, like those at the WCL International Human Rights Law Clinic, face the discomfiting question: are we working for clients and against the cause? Or is this a false or unrealistic dichotomy? This panel discussion will explore the meaning and impact of these contradictions, particularly as they relate to the work of immigrants' rights advocates who frame their work within a broader movement for social change. Sponsored by the International Human Rights Law Clinic. The faculty sponsor is Jayesh Rathod, Practitioner in Residence, International Human Rights Clinic. 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.

2. JD/MA COFFEESERIES PRESENTS: PROFESSOR LOUBNA SKALLI HANNA
Wednesday April 9, 5-6pm, Room 310
The JD/MA Student Advisory Board invites you to coffee and with Professor Hanna, international development Professor at American University’s School of International Service. Take this opportunity to chat with an international development expert in a casual environment about a career in international development, your education and hot topics in development today. Professor Loubna Skalli Hanna is an esteemed professor in international development with foci including communication, and gender and development. She currently serves as Editor and Communication Coordinator for the Chaml Association for Research on Women and Family; she is a member of the Coordinating Committees of Scholars and Writers; and is a member of the Scientific Committee of the UNESCO Chair: “Woman and Her Rights.” Her recent publications include: “Women and Poverty in Morocco: The Many Faces of Social Exclusion,” in Feminist Review (Winter, 2001). Coffee and pastries provided. Space is limited due to the intended intimate nature of the forum. Please RSVP to jdmapeeradv@aol.com. First-come-first-served, with preference given to JD/MA students.For more information contact Chelsy at chelsy.castro@hotmail.com.

3. 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.

4. WAR CRIMES SPEAKERS SERIES: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT ALUMNI TOUR
Friday, April 18, 12:30pm, Large Conference Room, Suite 16, Lower Level, 4910 Massachusetts Avenue.
On Friday, April 18th, WCL alumna Chante Lasco will discuss her experience as an intern at the International Criminal Court, the world’s first permanent court set up to try persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern.This talk is being presented by the War Crimes Research Office in conjunction with Amnesty International’s ICC Alumni Tour. The talk will take place at 12:30 PM in the Large Conference Room, Suite 16, Lower Level, 4910 Massachusetts Avenue (in one of the brick building across from Bagel City). Please e-mail warcrimes@wcl.american.edu for directions and to RSVP.

5. THE ROLE OF THE LAW SCHOOL IN PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
Monday, April 21st and Tuesday, April 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. THE ZIMBABWE WE WANT: REPORTING THE VIEWS AND VISIONS OF ZIMBABWE’S GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES
Thursday, April 10, 4:30 - 6:30 PM, TransAfrica Forum’s Arthur R. Ashe, Jr. Foreign Policy Library, 1629 K Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC
Africa Action and TransAfrica Forum sent a small delegation to Zimbabwe to interview elements of Zimbabwean civil society and to observe the elections. We hope you will join us for a reception where Briggs Bomba, Imani Countess and Roxanne Lawson will share their analysis of the situation in Zimbabwe and an account of their experiences. For more information contact Africa Action at (202) 546-7961 or TransAfrica Forum at (202) 223-1960 or visit www.africaaction.org.

2. WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO GOVERNANCE: FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH IN RWANDA
Friday, April 11, 11:30-12:30pm, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 6th Floor Boardroom, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC
The Initiative for Inclusive Security is pleased to release its path-breaking research on how women's leadership contributes to the development and stabilization of society. Rwanda has the highest percentage of female parliamentarians in the world. Elected in 2003 to 48.8% of seats in the lower house of parliament, female legislators are helping shape post-conflict Rwanda. Based in Rwanda from 2004 to 2007, Project Director Elizabeth Powley collaborated with local partners to examine the impact of women’s leadership on legislative priorities and to document the Rwandan model of bolstering women’s role in government. The panel discussion will include His Excellency James Kimonyo – Rwandan Ambassador to the US; Ambassador Swanee Hunt – President of Hunt Alternatives Fund and Chair of The Initiative for Inclusive Security; and Elizabeth Powley - Director of The Initiative for Inclusive Security’s Director, Rwanda Project. Please RSVP by e-mail to Africa Program assistant Roseline Tekeu at africa@wilsoncenter.org with your full name, title, organization/department, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and email address by COB Thursday, April 10, 2008.

3. WITNESSING GENOCIDE: A FORUM FOR REFLECTION, COLLECTIVE LEARNING, MOBILIZATION AND ACTION
Friday, April 11, 7-9pm, Blackburn Center, Howard University 2397 6th St., NW, Washington, DC
This forum seeks to reframe the Darfur crisis by taking a comprehensive approach that looks at Darfur within the broader context of Sudan, lifts up voices of local Sudanese and reintroduces the people of Sudan in an exhibit and artistic performances. We invite you to join us afterwards for an informal social gathering at nearby East African restaurant/lounge Safari DC, 4306 Georgia Avenue, NW. The event is presented by Africa Action in conjunction with The African Studies Graduate Student Association of Howard University. Co-Sponsors include: Amnesty International USA, Darfur Peace and Development, Darfur Rehabilitation Project, Foreign Policy in Focus, ONE Campaign AU, Pan Afrikan Youth Empowerment Network, STAND AU, and the Washington Office on Africa. For question please contact Briggs Bomba at (202) 546-7961 or via email at briggs@africaaction.org; or for further information visit www.africaaction.org. 

4. AN AMERICAN FORUM: THE MEDIA AND ISLAM
Monday, April 14, 8-9pm, Ward 1, Ward Circle Building, American University Main Campus
In Western media today, the term "Islam" or "Muslim" often is linked inextricably with the word "terrorist." Since the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11, 2001 and the Iraq war, media coverage and commentary in the U.S. often has focused on Islamic political fundamentalism rather than on reporting on the Muslim faith or Muslims around the world. At the same time, Al-Jazeera and other news outlets say that they are providing a broader picture of the Arab Muslim world, while their critics say they're producing anti-American news. In this American Forum, we'll examine media coverage of Islam, in the U.S. and abroad, and the impact of media of coverage of Islam on politics and policy. Panelists include: Ambassador Akbar Ahmed Ibn Khaldun - Chair of Islamic Studies American University; Peter Bergen - Journalist and Terrorism Analyst; Liz Cheney - Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; and Abderrahim Foukara - Bureau Chief/Managing Editor for Al Jazeera. For more information, contact the School of Communication at 202-885-2074 or visit www.soc.american.edu.

Announcements & Professional Development Opportunities

1. CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SEEKS A FEW GOOD SUMMER DEAN'S FELLOW
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. 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.

3. SUMMER SESSION HEALTH LAW AND POLICY INSTITUTE, June 16-20
American University Washington College of Law (WCL) announces the first Annual Health Law and Policy Institute, providing JD and LL.M. students and practitioners, with an opportunity for intensive training in various aspects of health law and policy over a one-week period.The Summer Session offers a broad range of custom-developed courses taught by leading practitioners from private practice businesses, health care organizations, government and non-governmental organizations, specifically for an intensive learning format. The courses are designed to enhance the preparation of legal professionals for practicing health care law, and focus on both theoretical and practical aspects of health law and policy. For students, the Summer Session at the Health Law and Policy Institute can complement a summer internship or externship in exciting Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, where opportunities for an enriched health care law-related experience abound. Both day and night courses are available. Students can choose among several 1 credit classes and can take up to 3 credits. Courses in the Health Law and Policy Institute can be taken for law school credit or for Continuing Legal Education (CLE). The credits can also be used toward an LL.M. Program on Law and Government degree with a Health Law Specialization, from WCL. A Certificate of Attendance will be presented to participants who do not wish to take courses for academic credit. For more information email cparver@wcl.american.edu or visit www.wcl.american.edu/llmlawandgov/health/institute.cfm . 

4. WOMEN’S LAW ASSOCIATION SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP, DUE APRIL 9.
The Women’s Law Association invites you to apply for the 2008 WLA Summer Scholarship. All 1L, 2L, or 3L part-time WCL students with an unpaid internship in gender issues are welcome to apply. This scholarship, raised entirely by the WLA Board and Membership, will be in excess of $1,000 and is compatible with an EJF Grant. The scholarship application is posted on the WLA website http://www.wcl.american.edu/org/wla , uploaded to the WLA TWEN and YahooGroups sites, and available in hardcopy in the WLA Mailbox (C12) in the SBA Lounge. There are more detailed instructions and information in the application packet, but please feel free to direct any questions about the scholarship to me, Cori Racela: racela@gmail.com . Also, please continue to support the WLA summer scholarship by helping us fundraise. We have a bake sale on Tuesday, April 1- please bring something for us to selland/or sign up to table, via the sign-up sheet on the WLA TWEN site.Applications are due by 8:00pm on Wednesday, April 9.

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 .