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

WCL Events

1. "A LA SOMBRA DE LA SOCIEDAD: SITUACION PENITENCIARIA EN LATINOAMERICA" (From the Shadow of Society: The State of Prisons in Latin America)
Wednesday October 29, 12:30 - 2:00pm, Room 500
The Human Rights Legal Education Project, the Latin American Prison Observatory and Ashoka invite you to attend a discussion on the state of prisons in Latin America led by representatives from the Latin American Prison Observatory (OLAP), which is poised to launch an unprecedented coordinated effort to demand that the governments of Central and South America respect the rights and dignity of their prisoners. The OLAP testified before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR) of the Organization of American States in March 2007. They are returning to the IACHR this month to present new cases and an update on the state of Latin America's prisons. Lunch will be served. For more information, please contact hrlegaledu@wcl.american.edu.

2. NINTH ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FILM SERIES CONTINUES!
Wednesday, October 15 - Thursday, November 14, 6pm, Room 603 and Main Campus
Like to go to the movies? This fall, the Washington College of Law's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, in conjunction with the American University's Center for Social Media, the Center for Global Peace, the Kay Spiritual Life Center, and School of International Service will sponsor the 9th Annual Human Rights Film Series. The film series explores ways in which film and media can be used to promote and protect human rights. This year's theme emphasizes human rights issues here in the United States, including a special event focused on the social and economic impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Gulf Coast. Films will be screened twice, first on Wednesday nights at the Washington College of Law and again on Thursday nights at the Wechsler Theatre on American University's Main Campus. All screenings are free and will feature post-screening discussions with award-winning filmmakers and human rights advocates. You may view a full schedule of the films at http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/humanrights_festival08.cfm. For more information, please call WCL at 202-274-4180 or e-mail humlaw@wcl.american.edu or the Center for Social Media at 202-885-3107 or socialmedia@american.edu.

This Week:
AT THE DEATH HOUSE DOOR (2008, 98 mins)
WCL: Wednesday, October 29, 6PM, Room 603; AU: Thursday, October 30, 5:30PM, Wechsler Theatre
A look at the death penalty in Texas through the eyes of Pastor Carroll Pickett, death house chaplain for 15 years at the infamous "Walls Unit" prison in Huntsville.  Special visit with filmmaker Peter Gilbert on October 30. To visit the official website, click here. Cosponsored by the WCL chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild.

3. THE COOL HUMAN RIGHTS WORK I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION
Thursday, October 30, 12:00pm-1:20pm, Room 602
Your fellow law students will discuss their summer experiences and give advice on working both here in the United States and abroad on human rights issues. Scheduled speakers include: Amalia Greenberg (3L), ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, San Francisco; Shiwali Patel (2L), Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington DC; Sara Ramey (2L), Reebok Human Rights Fellow, Amnesty International, Paraguay; Jabeen Reza (2L), Al-Quds University Human Rights Clinic, East Jerusalem; and Alvir Sadhwani (2L) , Centre for Human Rights and Peace Advocacy, Bemenda, Cameroon.

The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Office of Career and Professional Development, the Office of Public Interest, and the Women and International Law Program. If you have any questions, please contact Humlaw@wcl.american.edu.

4. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUTREACH TRAINING,
Saturday, November 1st, 9:30am-5:00pm, 6th Floor JD Student Lounge
This event gives students an opportunity to learn about domestic violence advocacy and how to do outreach to various communities in the DC area. The training includes: the basics of domestic violence, specific outreach needs of immigrant communities in DC, interactive exercises about barriers that survivors of domestic violence face, and more. Participants of the training will start the process of creating outreach plans and leave with various tools for getting started with those plans. This is a great way to promote safety for survivors of domestic violence, get connected to the local DC area, and provide a much-needed service to our community! **Breakfast and lunch will be provided** All WCL students are invited to be a part of this training, whether you are new to the issue of domestic violence or a seasoned advocate. RSVP to shiwali.patel@gmail.com no later than October 29th to reserve a spot. Co-sponsored by: Immigrant Rights Coalition, Domestic Violence Clinic, and Women and the Law Program.

5. SAVE THE DATE: KATRINA/RITA AWARENESS WEEK AT AU/WCL FEATURING THE KATRINARITAVILLE EXPRES,
November 10 - November 14, 2008
Beginning the week of November 10th, the 9th Annual Human Rights Film Series will shift its focus to the human rights concerns still plaguing the gulf coast area three years after Hurricane Katrina. Local New Orleans filmmaker Broderick Webb will screen his new film “Cut Off,” dealing with the massive public housing demolitions that followed Hurricane Katrina and will lead a discussion about ongoing access to housing issues.  On Thursday, AU’s Center for Social Media will screen the third part of When the Levees Broke and host a discussion with Oscar-nominated producer Sam Pollard at the AU Weschler Theater.  In addition to the two film screenings, several events are planned for the week, including a lunchtime discussion with four-time Emmy Award winner Mike Walter, an anchor/reporter with Channel 9 News, who documented the hardships news reporters at the Times Picayune, the local New Orleans newspaper, faced following the hurricane in getting the news out. 

During the last week of the series, gulf coast activist Derrick Evans, founder and executive director of Turkey Creek Community Initiatives (TCCI), a Mississippi Gulf Coast community settled by freed African-American ancestors in 1866, will bring a FEMA trailer from the gulf coast in order to educate the campus community as well as the broader DC community about the ongoing housing issues on the gulf.  More than 150,000 Americans lived in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Today, more than 36,000 remain in them three years later.  The tiny 8 ft x 30 ft (240 sq ft) trailers - found to have elevated and dangerous amounts of the cancer causing gas Formaldehyde - were intended to house families of up to 6.

We hope that you will be able to join us for this important week of activities.  All screenings are free and open to the public and will feature post-screening discussions with award-winning filmmakers and human rights advocates.  For more information contact Amelia Parker at aparker@wcl.american.edu or visit the Center's website at www.wclcenterforhr.org.

Cut Off (runtime - 45 minutes)
Event Date(s) and Time(s): Wednesday, November 12th at 6pm
Film Description: Public hospitals, schools, and housing in New Orleans are being eliminated and radically redefined.  How will this shape the “New City” and affect those who live there?  Special visit with filmmaker Broderick Webb. 

When the Levees Broke (runtime - 64 minutes)
Event Date(s) and Time(s): Thursday, November 13th at 5:30pm
Film Description: Join Oscar-nominated producer Sam Pollard for Part 3 of When the Levees Broke, an examination of the U.S. government’s role in the response to Hurricane Katrina and the disastrous series of events that devastated the city and its people. 

Community Events

1. NATIONAL EVENT FOR DARFUR,
November 7 - 9, 2008, The Gathering of Tents on the National Mall
Hundreds of activists groups including school children from 48 states will unite on the National Mall for three days of advocacy for the people of Darfur. In a unique convergence of advocacy and direct aid, these tents will be sent to Darfur to be used as classrooms for war-affected Darfuri children.

Why: Genocide has been raging in Darfur for almost six years. The government of Sudan has paid and equipped a proxy militia, known as the Janjaweed, to force local inhabitants from their traditional lands. At least 400,000 civilians have died, tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped and more than 2.3 million Darfuris now live in 150 deteriorating, poorly supplied camps throughout the region.
Peace negotiations have not been convened. Effective intervention has not materialized.

Who, What and Where: Americans of all ages, faiths and cultures are uniting around a unique symbol of hope: decorated tents used for public education about the genocide. In a unique convergence of advocacy and direct aid, these tents will be sent to Darfur to be used as classrooms for war-affected Darfuri children.

The weekend-long event on the National Mall features a "city" of 300 painted tents, a vigil at the Sudanese Embassy (see page 2), interfaith services, workshops for activists, a benefit concert, and a rally on the Mall.

For the complete information and program schedule: visit the event blog. Media queries: Susan@DarfurPeace.org 202-393-8150 (office) or 415-686-8819 (cell). The event is co-sponsored by Tents of Hope www.TentsofHope.org and Darfur Peace and Development Organization www.DarfurPeace.org.

Supporters: American Jewish World Service, Amnesty International, Change the World Middle School Initiative, China Please, Christian Church, Christian Reformed World Relief, Church World Service, Eco-Cell, Dear Sudan, Enough Project, Genocide Intervention Network, Genocide Watch, Global Grassroots, Global Ministries, Globe for Darfur, Investors Against Genocide, Lutheran World Relief, My Sister's Keeper, National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA,
Physicians for Human Rights, Save Darfur, STAND, United Church of Christ, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.

2. VIGIL FOR JUSTICE,
Friday, November 7, 2pm -6:30pm, Sudanese Embassy, 2210 Massachusetts Ave NW (near 22nd St)
The Sudanese community and Tents of Hope supporters will hold a public vigil that culminates in the delivery of a People' Arrest Warrant for Sudan's President Omer Al-Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, crimes against humanity and murder.

Abundant evidence from many sources confirms that the five-year genocide in Darfur has been planned and directed by the Sudan government led by President Bashir. It is the first time in history that a sitting President has been indicted for war crimes.

"It is time for President Bashir to pay for all of his crimes," says Mohamed Elgadi, a survivor of Sudan's infamous "ghost houses" of torture.

"Justice is above us all," states one Darfuri refugee. "Without justice, there can be no peace!" The international community must support justice and the ICC regarding Bashir."

The VIGIL will feature:
- The Human Cost: a reading of the names of murdered civilians; accounts from survivors;
- Villages Lost: stories by Sudanese of attacks and destruction of home villages; signs with the names of the villages lost;
- Camps Attacked, Humanitarian Aid Harassed: accounts of attacks on displaced persons camps and a reading of the list of aid workers murdered, "disappeared" and hijacked.
- The Peace Process Obstructed: a reading of list of UN Security Council resolutions, ceasefire agreements, and ICC directives ignored by the Bashir regime; a list of the indicted war criminals within the Sudanese government;
- Delivery of Arrest Warrant for Bashir to Sudanese Ambassador to US

Co-sponsored by Project Nur, the American Islamic Congress. Contact: Mohamed ElGadi 215-870-7809 mohamedelgadi@yahoo.com
Tragi Mustafa 905-317-4149 tragimustafa@yahoo.com.

Announcements & Professional Development Opportunities

1. HELP PEOPLE REGISTER TO VOTE! VOTER REGISTRATION VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT WCL AND IN THE COMMUNITY
There is a huge need for law students to get out and help protect the right to vote. You can get involved by either working in the field as a mobile legal volunteer and/or working as a hotline volunteer (the hotline is currently open and you can volunteer there weekdays from 9-5 pm and Saturday mornings; the hotline will also be open all day on Nov. 4).

Election Protection - Legal Field Deployment (VA and MD) and Voter Hotline (D.C.) - Now through Election Day - VA, MD, and Washington, D.C. The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law ("Lawyers' Committee") and Election Protection seek volunteer attorneys, paralegals and law students for Election Protection - the nation's largest non-partisan voter protection program. Election Protection is a national coalition that works throughout the year to break down barriers to the ballot box for traditionally disenfranchised voters.
Mobile Legal Volunteers (Field Deployment): Individuals may serve as Mobile Legal Volunteers ("MLVs"). MLVs work in teams of two and monitor a zone of 4-10 polling places, respond to incidents reported through the hotline, and assist voters at the polling place. Potential problems include dissemination of misinformation by poll workers, problems associated with voting machines (including new electronic ones), and potential intimidation of voters. If you sign up as an MLV, it is highly recommended that you fill out an absentee ballot so you don't rush yourself when it's time for you to cast your ballot!
Voter Hotline: If you've changed your mind about volunteering in the field on election day, you can still get involved from now until election day with our voter hotline - see the website to sign up to volunteer with the hotline.

Mobile Legal Volunteers must attend in-person a 1.5 hour - 2 hour training session and are asked to sign up for a 4-5 hour shift on election day. Materials and details regarding your shift will be provided at the training, or shortly thereafter. Individuals will volunteer for both a shift and training directly online. Make sure that the training corresponds to the type of shift you've signed up for (eg: if you signed up to work a 5 hour shift in Montgomery County, MD, please make sure to attend the training for Montgomery County election protection volunteers). The trainings at WCL are as follows (please make sure you sign up for these on the website - the WCL VA trainings may not be up yet, but make sure to check back in a few days to sign up if it's not up):

TONIGHT! Training for PG County/Montgomery County Volunteers (for any questions regarding volunteering in MD, contact Madhu: madhuri.s.singh@gmail.com) Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 7-9 PM, Room 503 at WCL

You are not required to attend the WCL trainings to volunteer - you may attend any volunteer training that works with your schedule (the list of other trainings are available on the website - see the links below) To first sign up as a volunteer, please fill out the information here (you will then be redirected to sign up for specific shifts and trainings): http://www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org/page/s/vol08ep If you have already signed up to volunteer as an MLV or hotline volunteer, please sign-up directly for trainings and shifts,: http://www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org/page/event/search_simple (Note: the list of opportunities is very long. Please make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the webpage to see a complete listing.) ***For volunteers with Asian language abilities, please visit http://www.aaldef.org/vote2008/ or contact Shiwali Patel for more details regarding WCL's involvement (shiwali.patel@gmail.com) For more information about Election Protection, please visit www.866ourvote.org. If you have any general questions, email Madhu Singh (madhuri.s.singh@gmail.com).

2. PROFESSOR MICHELLE PISTONE SEEKS DEAN'S FELLOW FOR RESEARCH ON IMMIGRATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Prof. Michele Pistone is seeking a dean’s fellow to help with research and scholarship on immigration, asylum, human rights. Apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to Professor Michele Pistone at mpistone@wcl.american.edu or stop by Room 428.

3. PROF. BRENDA SMITH AND THE NIC PROJECT ON ADDRESSING PRISON RAPE SEEKS DEAN'S FELLOWS
Dean’s Fellows will work 10-20 hours a week, and will provide research and assistance with projects on legal issues related to sexual abuse in correctional facilities and implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Excellent work ethic, and research and writing skills a must. Office hours required. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, transcript and writing sample to bvsmith@wcl.american.edu and jyarussi@wcl.american.edu.

4. THE CLINICAL PROGRAM (INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CLINIC) SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION, CASE INVESTIGATION AND SIMULATIONS.
The International Human Rights Law Clinic and other clinics in the Clinical Program seek student volunteers who are fluent (nearly bilingual, not just “conversational”) in another language for interpretation and translation work on clinic cases.  There are also volunteer opportunities clinic-wide to work as simulation volunteers (play the role of “clients” or “witnesses” in simulations) or case investigators (examples of case investigation tasks may include gathering documents, attending witness interviews, and visiting places and institutions relevant to the issues in a particular case).  Please see Maribel Yamat in the Clinic in Room 417 or email her at myamat@wcl.american.edu to complete a volunteer form.  The student attorneys in the clinic will contact you after you submit your volunteer form as needed.  Pro bono pledge credit is available for each type of volunteer activity.

5. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR THE WOMEN’S LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The application deadline for WLPPFP, which is for lawyers from the United States, is Friday,October 31. Thank you very much for helping us reach out to outstanding lawyers from the United States and Africa who are committed to advancing women's human rights and social justice. Please see www.law.georgetown.edu/wlppfp for more information.

6. SUMMER LAW PROGRAM IN THE HAGUE
June 2009
Informational Session Date TBA
Now in its third year, the Summer Law Program in The Hague is a six-credit program offered in collaboration with the T.M.C. Asser Institute, one of the most prominent institutes of international law in Europe. The program offered two three-credit courses: International Criminal Law and International Legal Approaches to Terrorism. During the 2008 session, program participants received course lectures from nearly thirty practitioners and other experts, including judges, prosecutors and other staff from legal organizations located in The Hague. Participants also visited the International Criminal Court, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Court of Justice and other institutions critical to the development and enforcement of these areas of international law. The 2009 program will be open to J.D. students who have completed one year of legal education, LL.M. students and graduates of ABA-accredited law schools. Stay tuned for information about applications and an in-depth information session, which will be offered this fall. In the meantime, past program information can be found on our website at www.wcl.american.edu/hague; interested students are encouraged to email hague@wcl.american.edu and request to be added to the listserv.

7. HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY AWARD! CALL FOR PAPERS
2009 Topic in English: 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: its contemporary normative impact
2009 Topic in Spanish: 60 anos de la Declaracion Americana de los Derechos y Deberes del Hombre: su impacto normativo actual
About the Award: This annual competition seeks to stimulate the production of scholarly work in international human rights law. Participants may choose any subject related to the assigned topic. The best articles may be published in the American University International Law Review. The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law grants two awards, one for the best article in English and one for the best article in Spanish. Each award consists of a scholarship to the 2009 Specialized Human Rights Program, travel expenses, housing at the university dorms, and a per diem for living expenses.*

Eligibility and Requirements

• Candidates must hold a law degree.
• Submissions must be unpublished legal papers in English or Spanish, written solely by the candidate.
• Articles must not exceed 35 pages, including footnotes, and must be double-spaced using 12-point Times New Roman font.
• Articles must be submitted via e-mail to hracademy@wcl.american.edu in Microsoft Word format.
• The deadline to submit articles is February 3, 2009, by 10 a.m. (EST).
• Winners will be announced April 1, 2009, on our Web site.
• A comprehensive list of rules is available at: www.wcl.american.edu/hracademy/hraward.cfm.

 

8. PARTICIPATE IN NEW PRO BONO INITIATIVE!
WCL’s clinics are currently featured on www.internationalprobono.com.  This new website, developed by the International Bar Association and its Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee, is intended to serve as a forum and resource for individuals and groups world-wide who are interested in pro bono legal work and broader matters of access to justice.  As its Welcome emphasizes, the site is designed to encourage submissions of material by and development of dialog among users.  Interested users can register on its Roster.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Robin Westbrook (rwestbro@wcl.american.edu), Practitioner in Residence in the Janet Spragens Tax Clinic, who serves on the IBA’s Pro Bono and Access to Justice Committee.

9. APPLY FOR THE 2009 HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES PROGRAM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
The application for the 2009 session of the annual Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Columbia University is now available. HRAP is designed to prepare proven human rights leaders from the Global South and marginalized communities in the U.S. to participate in national and international policy debates on globalization by building their skills, knowledge, and contacts.  The Program features a four-month residency at Columbia University in New York City with a structured curriculum of advocacy, networking, skills-building, and academic coursework. Since 2004, HRAP has concentrated its support on individuals and organizations that address issues broadly related to globalization. The four-month intensive capacity building program based at Columbia University in New York focuses on the following key issue areas:

• Environmental injustice
  
• Labor rights violations
  
• Ramifications of resource extraction
  
• Public health crises
  
• Unsustainable development
  
• Intolerance, xenophobia, and social exclusion related to globalization

Special attention is given to the above issues and their intersection with gender, race, ethnicity, sexual identity, and/or other sources of marginalization. Participants are selected on the basis of their previous work experience on human rights and globalization, commitment to the human rights field, and demonstrated ability to complete graduate-level studies.  Advocates must originate from and reside in either the Global South or the United States.  Fluency in English is required.  Advocates must secure institutional endorsement from their organizations for their participation in the Program and must commit to returning to that organization upon completion of the Program.  If accepted, they must also commit to participating in the program fully. This extremely competitive Program will admit approximately six participants.  We make every effort to provide full fellowships to cover program costs as well as travel and living expenses for selected Advocates each year. 

Completed applications are due by December 19, 2008.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  The 2009 HRAP will take place from the middle of August to the middle of December 2009.  For further information or to download the application, please refer to our website at: http://hrap.hrcolumbia.org/. Please contact cshr@cuvmc.ais.columbia.edu for more information.

10. STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION AT THE CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER
The Children's Law Center (CLC) (Washington, DC) invites applications for a full-time Staff Attorney to represent children and caregivers in complex custody matters. The Staff Attorney will primarily act as a court-appointed guardian ad litem for children and teenagers in complex custody proceedings in D.C. Superior Court. S/he will also represent third-party caregivers in custody cases.  The Staff Attorney will report to the Family Permanency Project Supervising Attorney. The Staff Attorney will also work with the Family Permanency Project (FPP) Director to train and mentor pro bono attorneys who serve as pro bono guardians ad litem in custody cases.

Position Responsibilities include:

• Carry a full caseload, primarily serving as a guardian ad litem representing children's best interests in complex custody cases, but also representing adult caregivers in third party custody proceedings.
  
• Coordinate referrals from judges for pro bono guardians ad litem.
  
• Support pro bono attorneys through regular training sessions and mentoring.
  
• Staff CLC Helpline and perform telephone intakes.
  
• Participate in pro bono tabling events, fairs, and law firm outreach.
  
• Participate in outreach activities to community members.

Qualifications:  

• A demonstrated commitment to ensuring that at-risk children have safe homes, a meaningful education and a healthy mind and body;
  
• At least one year of litigation or clerkship experience;
  
• Ability to handle diverse caseload, serving as a guardian ad litem and as an adult caregiver's attorney in complex custody matters;
  
• DC Bar license or eligibility to waive into DC Bar;
  
• Experience working directly with low-income children or adults;
  
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
  
• Excellent research and analytical skills;
  
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently;
  
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively; and
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Competitive salary structure and excellent benefits package. Applications should include a cover letter, current resume, legal writing sample, and three references (at least two of which must be from a superior) and should be submitted to:
FPP Staff Attorney Search Committee
The Children's Law Center
616 H Street, NW Suite 300
Washington, DC  20001
jobs@childrenslawcenter.org
For further questions, please contact Lise Adams, Director of the Family Permanency Project, at ladams@childrenslawcenter.org.

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