The Inter-American System and Freedom of Expression Conference

American University Washington College of Law

4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20016

March 26-27, 2012

Monday, March 26

 

8 - 8:30 a.m. - Registration

 

8:30 - 9 a.m. - Opening and Introduction to the Inter-American System of Human Rights and Freedom of Expression
  • Milton Coleman, president, Inter American Press Association (IAPA); senior editor, The Washington Post
  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
  • Nathan Chapman, executive director, Stanford Constitutional Law Center, Stanford University

9 - 10:15 a.m. - Panel 1: Inter-American System of Human Rights - Structure, theory, successes, and challenges presented from a variety of perspectives.

Panelists:

  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
  • Carlos Ayala, Consultores Jurídicos Ayala Dillón Fernández Linares, Venezuela

Moderator:

  • Ana Christina Núñez, Stanford Law SPILS Program, Stanford University

10:15 - 10:30 a.m. - Coffee Break

10:30 - 11:45 a.m. - Panel 2: Inter-American Freedom of Expression - Provisions, key cases, and challenges.

Panelists:

  • Pablo Saavedra, secretary, Inter-American Court on Human Rights
  • Santiago Cantón, executive secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

Moderator:                              

  • Gustavo Mohme, chair, Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, IAPA; publisher, La República, Peru

 

11:45 a.m. - Noon - Coffee Break

Noon-1:30 p.m. - Panel 3: Relating to the Inter-American System - Litigation versus settlement, domestic enforcement, domestic and international political constraints, etc.

Panelists:

  • Mauricio Herrera Ulloa, press coordinator, Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, IACHR
  • Claudia Martín, professor, American University Washington College of Law

Moderator:

  • Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, assistant executive secretary, IACHR

1:30 – 2 p.m. - Lunch at American University Washington College of Law

 

2 - 2:15 p.m. - Board Bus to Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

 

2:45 - 5 p.m. - Visit to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Room 604, GSB, 6th floor, OAS) - Observe the Commission at work, with 45 minutes to discuss afterward.

 

Discussion Moderators:

  • Santiago Cantón, executive secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
  • Catalina Botero, special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, IACHR

Presenters:                                  

  • Milton Coleman, president, Inter American Press Association (IAPA); senior editor, The Washington Post
5 -7 p.m. - Board Bus to hotel of American University Washington College of Law (depending on time visit ends)
7 -9 p.m.  - Welcome Dinner hosted by Dean Claudio Grossman at American University Washington College of Law Residence

 

Tuesday, March 27    

Comparing Domestic Rights and Inter-American Protections

 

8:45 – 10:15 a.m. - Panel 4: Comparison of Defamation Norms in Light of the Inter-American System: U.S.A., Inter-American regime.

Panelists:

  • Peter Messitte, judge, United States District Court, District of Maryland
  • César Pérez, publisher, El Universo, Ecuador
  • Ignacio Álvarez, Álvarez Martínez Law Firm LLC

Moderator:

  • Edward Seaton, Publisher, The Mahattan Mercury, Kansas

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. - Coffee Break

10:30 – Noon - Panel 5: Universities’ Recommendations on Public Policies to Combat Impunity

Panelists:

  • Representatives from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia; Centro Universitario Metodista, Brazil; Universidad Iberoamericana, Dominican Republic; Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico; and Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Peru.  

Moderator:

  • Ricardo Trotti, director, Freedom of the Press, IAPA
Noon - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch

Keynote Speaker:

  • Michael Shifter, president, Inter-American Dialogue                            

Presenter:

  • Julio E. Muñoz, Ph.D., executive director, IAPA
1:30 – 3 p.m. - Panel 6: Comparison of Freedom of Information Norms in Light of the Inter-American System: U.S.A., Inter-American regime

Panelists:

  • Garrett Epps, professor, School of Law, University of Baltimore
  • Juan Méndez, special rapporteur on Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, United Nations

Moderator:

  • Miguel H. Otero, chair, Chapultepec Committee and Publisher, IAPA; El Nacional, Venezuela
3:00 – 3:15 p.m. - Coffee Break

3:15 – 4:45 p.m. - Study Groups - Mixed groups of students and media lawyers respond to questions based on conference content.

Moderators:
  • Claudia Martín, professor, American University Washington College of Law
  • Diego Rodríguez, professor, American University Washington College of Law

Presenter:

  • Nathan Chapman, executive director, Stanford Constitutional Law Center, Stanford University
4:45 – 6:15 p.m. - Conclusions

Panelists:

  • University students
6:15 – 6:30 p.m. - Closing remarks
  • Milton Coleman, president, Inter American Press Association (IAPA); senior editor, The Washington Post
  • Claudio Grossman, dean, American University Washington College of Law
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. - Closing Reception

 

More information.

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