AUWCL established the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law as part of its long-standing commitment to international human rights and the rule of law. For 30 years, the Center has worked with students, faculty and the international legal community to provide support for human rights initiatives in the U.S. and around the world through teaching, scholarship and service. The Center engages in exciting innovations in human rights education and advocacy by way of training, complementary education, outreach, workshops and conferences, and research and publications. All Center programming promotes the value of service, thereby grounding the Center as a core resource to the NGO community and a bridge between academia and civil society.
On March 4th, 2026, the Program on Gender, Theory, Law & Practice, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, and the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted a panel at AWCL on advancing global gender justice...
On March 25th, 2026, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, in partnership with the Washington Office on Latin America and the Organization of American States, hosted a conversation...
On January 28th, 2026, in celebration of Data Privacy Day, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted the one-day symposium “Neurotech on Trial: Hacking for Healing and Guarding Privacy.”
On October 30, 2025, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, in partnership with the Program on Environmental and Energy Law (PEEL) and the International Legal Studies Program (ILSP) at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL).
Washington, D.C., October 2025 — The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (CHRHL), in partnership with the American University International Law Review (AUILR) and the War Crimes Research Office (WCRO), hosted an international symposium...
September 10, 2025: The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law hosted its annual Student Welcome Event, a tradition that marks the start of the academic year by introducing students to the Center’s work and community.
September 2, 2025: The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law was delighted to welcome students, faculty, and colleagues back to campus with the first Coffee and Human Rights conversation of the semester.
July 3, 2025 – Professor Eduardo Bertoni, Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, spoke at the Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression (CELE) at the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires.
July 2, 2025 – Professor Eduardo Bertoni, Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, met with Professor Leonardo Filippini, Director of the Center for Human Rights at the Buenos Aires University School of Law
June 2025 – Center Director Professor Eduardo Bertoni, attended the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025, the annual global meeting of the IGF’s year-round process on digital policy and governance.
June 19, 2025 – Our Director, Prof. Eduardo Bertoni, participated in the 48th Plenary of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Convention 108 in Strasbourg from June 17–19.
June 2025 – Director Professor Eduardo Bertoni, met with colleagues at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) at the University of Oslo...
May 2025 – Director of our Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Prof. Eduardo Bertoni, was invited to be part of a workshop in May in Berlin organized by the research group PRIVETDIS...
May 2025 – Center Director Prof. Eduardo Bertoni was invited to participate on a panel at the Privacy Symposium in Venice in May.
The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law and the Program on Gender, Theory, Law & Practice at (AUWCL) hosted an impactful discussion on Tuesday, April 8, 2025...
March 5, 2025 – In honor of International Women’s Day, the Kovler Project Against Torture, a program of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted the conference “Women, Torture, and the Law: International Human Rights Responses”...
On April 7, 2025, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law (CHRHL), in collaboration with War Crime Office at American University Washington College of Law and other partners-...
The Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) hosted another thought-provoking session of its Coffee and Human Rights series on March 25, 2025...
On February 25, 2025, the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) hosted a dynamic installment of its Coffee and Human Rights series...
The final Coffee and Human Rights event of the fall semester took place on November 18, 2024, and featured Katya Salazar, Executive Director of the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF).
Read moreOn October 31, 2024, the Center hosted an engaging event titled Exploring Human Rights in the Metaverse: Challenges and Opportunities for a Digital Future.
Read moreOn October 23, 2024, the Center hosted an event titled Paint Your Target: How Remote Weapons Have Changed International Humanitarian Law...
Read moreThis fall, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law launched an exciting new initiative: the Coffee and Human Rights series.
Read moreOn October 21, 2024, the Center hosted an engaging session with Macarena Saez, the former Director of the Center, as part of its Coffee and Human Rights series.
Read moreThe Center hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “The impact of neurotechnologies on human rights - why neurodata might be the new epicenter of data protection” on October 10, 2024.
Read moreThe Technology and Human Rights Symposium commenced on October 3rd, 2024, with its first event, Fair Chips: Addressing Human Rights Issues in the Semiconductor Industry and Supply Chain.
Read moreOn September 26th, 2024, the Center hosted an enlightening panel discussion on the upcoming International Tribunals’ Advisory Opinions on the Obligations of the State in Respect of Climate Change.
Read moreOn September 23rd, 2024, the Center had the honor of hosting a book launch event for Disinformation, Misinformation & Democracy, a piece to which our Director, Professor Bertoni, made significant contributions.
Read moreOn September 19th, 2024, an impactful event took place at the intersection of environmental justice and human rights advocacy, hosted at the American University Washington College of Law.
Read moreOn September 12, 2024, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, in collaboration with the Academy on Human Rights, hosted an insightful panel discussion on La Oroya v. Peru
Read moreJuan Mendez, Professor of Human Rights Law in Residence and Faculty Co- Director at the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law was admitted as Research Fellow between September 10 and December 15 of 2023 at Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
Read moreOn September 4, 2024, the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law proudly hosted its first initiative in a renewed chapter of activity.
Read moreOn July 2024, Anita Sinha was appointed as the Director of the newly established Program on Gender, Theory, Law & Practice at America University Washington College of Law
Read moreThe Permanent Missions of Austria and Kenya to the United Nations in Geneva co-hosted a panel discussion with members of the International Law Commission.
Read moreThe Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Eduardo Bertoni and Marcello Ienca
Read moreOn June 25th and 26th 2024, experts in the Justice field, senior government officials, International and civil society Organizations, private sector representatives,
Read moreOn June 21st 2024, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations (HLER), Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq. of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and an International Fellow of the United States Federal Trade Commission,
Read moreMay 2025 – Following our work on the impact of technologies in human rights, the Center's Director, Prof. Eduardo Bertoni, finished in June the course "Human Rights & Technologies".
Prof. Eduardo Bertoni, recently appointed Director of the Center of Human Rights And Humanitarian Law, was invited by the Council of Europe's BUREAU OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH REGARD TO AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA (Convention 108)
Read moreOn February, 2024, a relevant Conference on Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction took Place at Washington College of Law.
Read moreAmerican University Washington College of Law is pleased to welcome Eduardo Bertoni as Director of the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law.
Read moreJuan Méndez's book is referenced and used in decision-making by Brazil’s highest court, the Federal Tribunal Superior de Justica (TSJ)
Read moreOn March 24, 2026, Impact Litigation hosted the event “Child Trafficking in Latin America: The Relevance of Impact Litigation in Human Rights.”
