ILSP Global Network

The ILSP Global Network is a biannual newsletter created by the ILSP alumni coordinator, and distributed to all ILSP alumni worldwide. The Global Network shares news of developments within the program, alumni news and profiles, faculty, and program affiliates. It includes articles by alumni on issues of law, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas.

Previous issues can be accessed by with the links below:

Global Network Calls for Submissions!
Deadline: October 2, 2009

Submit an Article

Share your Accomplishments

The International Legal Studies Program is now accepting submissions on the theme of International Trade for the Winter 2009 issue of Global Network. Please e-mail your article (2000 words or fewer) as well as a recent photo to gevers@wcl.american.edu. All alumni, current students, faculty and staff of the International Legal Studies Program are welcome to submit articles to the magazine. Questions regarding the Global Network may also be directed to gevers@wcl.american.edu.

All ILSP alumni are welcome to submit recent accomplishments for inclusion in the Winter 2009 issue of the Global Network. Have you received a professional promotion? Started work with a new employer? Have you recently married or had children? Please e-mail your recent accomplishment, including the date of the event, to gevers@wcl.american.edu to be shared with the global community of alumni via the Winter 2009 issue of Global Network. Photos are also welcome.

In the Spring 2009 Issue:

Alumni involved in politics in their home countries
Two new faculty profiles
A student's view of the events from the past semester
An interview with the Spring 2009 LLM Board
Alumni updates and dinners

Spring Letter from the Director

Dear Alumni,

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE to be addressing you from the Global Network and in my capacity as the Interim Director of the International Legal Studies Program. Since January 2009, it has been my privilege to work with the ILSP staff while getting to know our diverse student body. The problems facing humanity today are immense. We at ILSP, however, are energized by the knowledge that the comparative, international, and transnational perspectives that we teach and promote are essential for addressing the challenges that we face such as climate change and the near collapse of the international financial system. We continue to adjust our curriculum and programs in order to address our present day global challenges.

This edition of the Global Network is dedicated to ILSP's gender specialization, and the highly talented students and alumni that have taken classes on the subject and continue to do incredible work in this area in the U.S. and overseas. Andrea Teixeira de Souza from Brazil writes about the new ‘Maria da Penha' law to prevent domestic violence and how it was achieved, Valentine Khaminwa from Zimbabwe writes about the intersection between marriage and AIDS in Zimbabwe, Chiseche Mibenge from Zambia/the Netherlands writes about how her experience of being sexually harassed in a Lusaka marketplace has changed her outlook on gender relationships, Sarah Morison from the United States writes about her efforts supporting women leaders through the Women's Campaign Forum, Rawia Abu Rabia, a Palestinian student from Israel, writes about Palestinian Bedouin women and the phenomenon of polygamy in Israel and Ichinnorov (Nora) Manjaa from Mongolia writes about her efforts to push for a domestic violence law by highlighting a disturbing case through the release of a film.

This spring semester has once again been full of activity, and the ILSP has been busy organizing events such as the "Succeeding as an LLM" panel to help new students learn from tips given by recent graduates. Visiting Professor Sadiq Reza gave a presentation to our students titled, "What is Islamic Law and What Isn't?" in an attempt to clarify the assumptions about Islamic Law. Professor Balakrishnan Rajagopal spoke about "International Law and the Current Global Economic Crisis" with our LLM students. Both Professors are profiled on pages 14 and 15. I was also thrilled to welcome the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to the 11th Annual Grotius Lecture as part of the annual American Society for International Law conference. And I am also very proud of the launch of the ILSP Law Journal, the first journal of its kind written, edited and produced entirely by ILSP students. The ILSP Journal was also the winner of the American University "Striving for Excellence" award for its very first issue. Alumni should feel welcome to submit articles to the ILSP Law Journal by emailing ilsplawjournal@wcl.american.edu.

Finally, the ILSP will be experiencing changes in staff over the summer as we say goodbye to Philippa Moore, Claire Shoolin and Alanna Wong. Philippa will be leaving to work at Johns Hopkins University, Claire will be taking some time to travel around the world, and Alanna will be getting married and moving back to Boston to continue her studies in philosophy. We will miss them and wish them all the very best in their future endeavors and look forward to welcoming some new faces in the fall.

Sincerely,

Padideh Ala'i

Read more in the complete Spring 2009 Global Network