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

WCL Events

 

1. UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE PROJECT
Tuesday, February 10, 12:15pm - 1:15pm, Rm. 100
Come learn about the remarkable UN CAT Project, a one-of-a-kind experiential learning opportunity for selected upper-level students to deepen their knowledge of international human rights law and partake in the Project's field component: accompanying UN CAT Chair Dean Claudio Grossman to the Committee's official meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, in November. Also learn how to apply this spring for the fall 2009 Project. Panelists Dean Claudio Grossman (Chair of the United Nations Committee against Torture), UN CAT Project Coordinator Jennifer de Laurentiis, Professors Jamie Raskin and Darren Hutchinson, and student participants Alexandra Bradley, Anna Cabot, Gillian Chadwick, Amalia Greenberg, J. Hess and Solomon Shinerock, will discuss the UN CAT Project as well as the upcoming application process. Register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm. For more information, contact Jennifer DeLaurentiis at jdelaurentiis@wcl.american.edu.

2. PIZZA AND PUBLISHING FOR LLMs
Tuesday, February 10, 12:00-1:00, Student Lounges
Want to get published? Join Adeen Postar from the library to learn about how to get published in US law reviews and journals. The submission process is very easy, especially while you are enrolled at WCL. Other speakers will include Maheta Molango (LLM ’08), Nikola Koritz (LLM ’08) , and Parva Fattahi (LLM alumna and current JD) who have all gone through the publishing process. For more information, contact Alanna Wong at awong@wcl.american.edu.

3. GENDER AND LAW COFFEE HOUR FOR LLM STUDENTS
Tuesday, February 10, 4:00pm - 5:00pm, International Student Lounge
Come enjoy coffee and dessert and mingle with your fellow LLM students who share an interest in gender and the law. This is also a great opportunity to meet with Women & the Law Program staff and find out about future gender and law course offerings and hear about upcoming events.

4. RUSSIA AND THE RULE OF LAW: NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Wednesday, February 11, 9:00am - 5:00pm, Rm. 603
The International Law Review is proud to present this symposium. Topics of discussion will include the Artic Circle and Climate Change, Nuclear Nonproliferation, International Trade, and Practicing Law in Russia. Following the program there will be a dinner and keynote discussion on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in the August 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict. For further information, contact American University International Law Review at auilr@wcl.american.edu. Register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm.

5. LaLSA SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER BAKE SALE
Thursday, February 12, 9:00am - 5:00pm, WCL Lobby
Enjoy brownies, cookies, coffee, and other sweets, and support a local college-bound student! The Latino/a Law Student Association (LaLSA) asks for your support in our efforts to give back to the community. They are currently fundraising for a scholarship that will be awarded at the Hispanic Law Conference to deserving Latino high school student(s) in the area. They need YOUR help! Come support their upcoming bake sale! For more information, email lalsa@wcl.american.edu.

6. VAGINA MONOLOGUES AUDITIONS
February 12, 5:00pm - 6:00pm, Rm. 601
Are you interested in being a part of the 2009 production of the Vagina Monologues?  The WCL Women's Law Association is in the process of organizing its spring production of this exciting, irreverent, and important show to help raise money for a local organization that serves survivors of sexual violence. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. All female students, faculty, and staff are welcome to audition. Small parts are also available for those not interested in doing a full monologue. The Monologues will be held this year on March 27th and 28th at the Washington College of Law in Room 603. If you are interested but cannot make the meeting, please contact Caleb Medearis at caleb.medearis@american.edu.

7. CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION IN THE ROBERTS COURT ERA
Friday, February 20, 9:00am - 5:00pm, Rm. 603
One of the nation's leading experts on constitutional law and civil rights litigation, Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the new law school at UC-Irvine, will deliver a keynot speech on the future of 1983 and Bivins litigation. Register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm.

8. THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE AND OTHER ILL TREATMENT
Monday, February 23, 9:00am - 4:45pm, Rm. 602
This timely conference, co-sponsored by the Association for the Prevention of Torture, will convene a diverse group of high-level international experts, including policymakers, lawyers, civil servants, NGOs, and scholars to analyze key national, regional, and international legal frameworks and review detention practices that can prevent torture and other ill-treatment. Issues to be discussed include: whether adequate legal; frameworks are in place at the domestic level; how laws are applied and detention practices are reformed; and the access of independent experts to all places of detention. Register online at www.wcl.american.edu/secle/cle_form.cfm.

9. ILSP NEGOTIATION EXERCISE
Friday, February 27, 2:00pm - 6:00pm, Rm. TBA
Interested in practicing your negotiation skills? Want to improve your oral skills in English? Interested in working with JDs? The ILSP and the Legal Rhetoric Program are organizing a joint negotiation exercise on Friday, February 27th from 2pm-6pm. We will pair up LLM students with JDs and ask you to negotiate portions of an agreement against other teams of LLMs and JDs. The exercise will be followed by a short reception, and certificates of attendance will be awarded to all participants. If you are interested in this fun-filled activity, please contact Cathy Schenker at schenker@wcl.american.edu.

10. DOES SEXX REALLY MATTER? WHAT A DIFFERENCE A "Y" MAKES! SPRING 2009 HEALTH LAW SYMPOSIUM
Tuesday, March 3, 9:30am - 4:00pm, Rm. 603
This program will feature topical issues involving women’s health care research, genetics, and sexuality.  The program will feature leading speakers from academia, research institutions, government and private pharmaceutical and medical device industry companies. To register, please go to www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration.

Community Events

 

1. HEALING WAR WOUNDS AGAINST WOMEN: VIOLENCE AGAINST ARMED WOMEN IN CONFLICT AND THE EFFECT ON INTERNATIONAL LAW
Wednesday, February 11, Marrakesh Palace, 2147 P St. NW
Mercedeh Momeni has significant experience working on international legal issues related to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and women's rights. She has worked at the U.N. International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. She investigated the genocide in Darfur as a member of the Atrocities Documentation Team of the U.S. Department of State and has conducted workshops in Nigeria and Uganda on advocacy and the rule of law for women activists and lawyers. Mercedeh has also worked for Amnesty International USA and clerked at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. She sits on the boards of women's and human rights groups in the U.S. and abroad. Mercedeh currently practices law in Washington, D.C. RSVP requested to ypicafrica@unanca.org.

2. THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN A NEW ERA
Friday, February 13, Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200
Philippe Kirsch, President of the International Criminal Court, will reexamine the work of the Court and comment on preparations for the 2010 conference scheduled to review the Charter of the Court. The event will be moderated by Judge Patricia Wald, former Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and former Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. She will also introduce the speaker. RSVP by February 11 to RSVP@unanca.org with "ICC event" in the subject line.

3. SECURITY WITHOUT EMPIRE: NATIONAL ORGANIZING CONFERENCE ON FOREIGN MILITARY BASES
Friday, February 27 - Monday, March 2, Multiple Locations, American University
The United States has an astonishing 1,000 military bases located outside the 50 states and Washington, DC. In addition to increasing the likelihood of war, foreign bases undermine national autonomy, democracy, and human rights, cause enduring and sometimes deadly environmental pollution, result in increased crime including rape and other sexual violence, increase the risk of life-threatening military accidents, and are often built on property that has been seized from people living in "host" communities. Military bases are also expensive: At a time of economic crisis, U.S. bases overseas divert an estimated $138 billion a year from addressing human needs and revitalizing our economies in the United States and abroad.

To expand a growing national and international movement against foreign bases, The Project on Military Bases, a coalition of fifteen national and community based organizations, will be joined by leading anti-bases activists from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and Europe.  The conference will provide a unique opportunity to learn about the dangers and damage that come with foreign military deployments and to join in the process of organizing to win the closure and withdrawal of these bases.

Together the conference attendees will

*       Share information about U.S. military bases and resistance;
*       Develop strategies for and expand the U.S. anti-bases movement;
*       Raise the visibility of the U.S. and international anti-bases movements;
*       Apply pressure on Congress to close and reduce the number of foreign bases.

Speakers will include leading U.S. activists, scholars, and allies from the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Guam, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Okinawa, and South Africa. Additionally, we have arranged twenty workshops to allow participants to explore issues and campaigns more deeply and to develop new strategies.  Monday, March 2, will be a lobbying day on Capitol Hill when conference participants will meet with members of Congress to ask for the closure and withdrawal of foreign bases. For more infor mation, contact Genevie Gold at ggold@afsc.org or (617) 661-6130, ext. 137.

Announcements & Professional Development Opportunities

1. HELP IMPROVE THE CENTER'S WEBSITE
The Center is always looking for new ways to improve our website to help you get the information and resources that you need. Please take a moment to fill out our 6 question, confidential survey about the site. The survey should take no longer than five minutes to complete but your responses will greatly help us fulfill the needs of our diverse group of online visitors. To access the survey, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=3yCkXudsuSOB3Q0vnQiRng_3d_3d.

2. CLINICS SEEK VOLUNTEERS FOR TRANSLATION AND ROLE-PLAYING
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. Maribel or 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.

3. APPLY FOR THE UNROW HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACT LITIGATION CLINIC!
Are you interested in human rights? Did you come to law school to make a difference? Do you want to learn important litigation skills? The UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic is accepting applications for student attorneys for the 2009-2010 academic year.
To learn more about this unique opportunity, come to one of the informational sessions:  TUESDAY, February 10, 5pm-6pm in Room 601 and WEDNESDAY, February 11, 12:30pm-1:30pm in Room 524.

What is the UNROW Clinic?  The Clinic student attorneys work on complex human rights cases involving international and domestic claims in federal (and international) courts under the supervision of Professor Ali Beydoun.  The Clinic focuses on litigation with the potential for a broad impact on human rights law and policy.
What do students do?  Students are involved in all aspects of the cases including legal research, writing legal memoranda, developing case theories, drafting pleadings, managing discovery, preparing for depositions, oral arguments, and ultimately trials and appellate hearings.  We are accepting applications from 1Ls and 2Ls.

Meet and Greet with UNROW Members: Chat with current clinic members, get candy. In the Cafeteria from 12:30pm - 1:30pm on Thursday, Feb. 12, and Monday, February 16 through Wednesday February 18. 

Application Deadline and Interviews: Applications are due by e-mail to unrowclinic@wcl.american.edu on Thursday, February 19. Interviews will be held on Friday, February 27 and Saturday February 28.

Questions?  Send an e-mail to unrowclinic@wcl.american.edu.

4. PIJIP SEEKS INTERN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO MEDICINES LEGAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
The WCL Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP) offers one-semester internships related to our grant-funded research on human rights and access to medicine. PIJIP internships are open to all students, and 1Ls who are unable to receive Deans Fellowships are encouraged to apply. The intern will work on our Human Rights and Access to Medicines Legal Education Initiative - a joint project with the University of Pretoria which trains practitioners and Parliamentarians in Africa on the use of WTO-compliant use of generic medicines. Intern tasks related to this project will include compiling and reviewing documents for the syllabus of a short course to be co-taught in Pretoria by WCL professor Sean Flynn, as well as research into intellectual property issues associated with access to medicines internationally. For more information about this particular international health project, see PIJIP's webpage on it: www.wcl.american.edu/pijip/go/humanrights.

In Spring 2009, PIJIP will also begin a new collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization to study alternate funding mechanisms for medical research into diseases prevalent in Latin America. Intern tasks will include researching various existing proposals to address flaws in the current international patent system that lead to its failure to promote R&D into so-called "neglected diseases." For more information, or to apply, please contact Mike Palmedo mpalmedo@wcl.american.edu.

5. APPLY NOW FOR THE SUMMER LAW PROGRAM IN THE HAGUE!
The WCRO is accepting applications to the Third Annual Summer Law Program in The Hague, scheduled for June 1 - June 28, 2009.
Join us for this rare opportunity to learn and live in the heart of the international justice community. Examine critical issues of international criminal law and international legal approaches to terrorism while spending a month in the "International City of Peace and Justice" among the practitioners, courts and tribunals making history today. The Program has a maximum enrollment of 40 students. Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as we expect the program to fill up quickly.

Participants enroll in two courses, International Criminal Law: In Search of Accountability and International Legal Approaches to Terrorism in the 21st Century, and visit international tribunals like the International Criminal Court (ICC), International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In 2008, students had the opportunity to observe proceedings in the Charles Taylor case, the former president of Liberia who is being tried in The Hague by the Special Courts for Sierra Leone (SCSL).
The brochure and online application are available online at www.wcl.american.edu/hague.

6. THE ILSP LAW JOURNAL ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR ITS SECOND EDITION
ILSP Law Journal is a new WCL publication that exclusively publishes scholarly works of ILSP students and alumni, in the field of international law, including long articles (4000-5000 words) on any of the ILSP specialization areas (international business, trade, human rights, environment, gender and law, international organizations, intellectual property), short articles (1000-1200 words) on interesting legal issues that occur in the student's home country, or comments on books students might have written. Works should be submitted no later than February 15, 2009, to ilsplawjournal@wcl.american.edu (online submissions only). Submissions should be in double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font and written in Microsoft Word. A short author biography and supplemental materials such as photographs or graphics should also be submitted.

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