The Use of Human Rights Law in Local and State Advocacy in the U.S.

Monday, April 22, 2013
08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC


Presented by the American University Washington College of Law (AU/WCL) Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute, and the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy at Northeastern University School of Law

This day-long conference will focus on the growing use of human rights law in local and state advocacy by legal aid attorneys and juvenile public defenders in the U.S.  Panels will range from clients and advocates sharing their experiences of fighting for human rights protections in the U.S., to a discussion of how to spread and strengthen the movement to use human rights law in local advocacy.

Draft Agenda

Agenda and Current Updates can be found at http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/center/april22.cfm

10:00am-10:15am      Welcome & Introduction
                                    Dean Claudio Grossman, AU/WCL
                                    Hadar Harris, Executive Director, AU/WCL Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
10:15am-10:30am      Opening Remarks
                                    Professor Martha F. Davis, Northeastern University School of Law
10:30am-12:00pm      Session 1 – The Local Human Rights Lawyering Project
An introduction to the Project, including an overview of local human rights resources and trainings available to legal aid attorneys and public defenders.
  • Lauren Bartlett, Local Human Rights Lawyering Project Director, AU/WCL Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
  • David Hall, Executive Director, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
  • Wilhelm Joseph, Executive Director, Maryland Legal Aid
  • Nelson Mock, Human Rights Coordinator, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
  • Reena Shah, Human Rights Project Director, Maryland Legal Aid
Moderator: Hadar Harris, Executive Director, AU/WCL Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law

12:00pm – 12:15pm   Break/Lunch Served

12:15pm-1:45pm       Session 2 – Stories from the Ground Floor: Fighting for Human Rights Protections in the U.S.
Clients and attorneys share experiences with human rights at the local level.
  • Client, Maryland Legal Aid
  • Tim Curry, Managing Attorney, National Juvenile Defender Center
  • Nathaniel Norton, Farmworker Attorney, Maryland Legal Aid
  • Eric Tars, Director of Human Rights and Children’s Rights Programs,
    National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
Moderator: Professor Richard J. Wilson, Human Rights Clinic Director, AU/WCL

1:45pm-2:00pm         Break

                                               

2:00pm-3:30pm         Session 3 – Where Do We Go From Here?

Group discussion focused on how to spread and strengthen the movement to use human rights law in local advocacy in the U.S.
  • Kevin Cremin, Director of Litigation for Disability and Aging Rights, MFY Legal Services, Inc.
  • Maha Jweied, Senior Counsel, DOJ Access to Justice Initiative
  • Risa Kaufman, Executive Director, Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School
  • Nelson Mock, Human Rights Coordinator, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
  • Reena Shah, Human Rights Project Director, Maryland Legal Aid
Moderator: Lauren Bartlett, Local Human Rights Lawyering Project Director, AU/WCL Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law

3:30pm-5:00pm         Reception

Prorgram Flyer

WCL Alumni, AU & WCL Students, Faculty & Staff – No Charge
General Public - No Charge
(registration is required)

For further information, please contact:
Office of Special Events & Continuing Legal Education
American University Washington College of Law
Phone: 202.274.4075; Fax: 202.274.4079; or secle@wcl.american.edu

 

 

 

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