Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law Celebrates
30th Anniversary

In honor of the Center’s 30th anniversary, AUWCL invites students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the community at large to participate in a weeklong event series celebrating its education, research, and advocacy. For over 30 years, the Center’s numerous and dynamic collaborations with expert faculty, cross-campus colleagues, and global civil society partners have served as a testament to its mission of serving as a bridge between academia and civil society. The challenges faculty and staff have tackled in their research, the opportunities our students have embraced in the classroom, and the solutions our alumni have brought to complex human rights problems over the past three decades are real-life examples that illustrate the Center’s legacy of enriching and influencing global, national, and local conversations on human rights.

30th Anniversary Schedule of Events

  • Wednesday, March 31; 12:00-1:00pm ET
    • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet: The Human Rights Challenge
  • Thursday, April 1: 6:00-7:00pm ET (Email humlaw@wcl.american.edu, if you have not received your invitation)
    • 25 Years of the Human Rights Brief: Celebrating its Legacy with an Alumni Mixer
  • Friday, April 2
    • Join us on social media throughout the day to hear how we #ChampionWhatMatters after 30 years!

Event Registration

Celebrating the Center
  • 30
    years in Human Rights Education
  • 25
    years of the Human Rights Brief
  • 19
    Student Advisory Board Cohorts

Monday, March 29

Judith Heumann, Robert Dinerstein
Judith Heumann, Robert Dinerstein

Advocating for Change: A Conversation on Disability Rights & Human Rights

The Center has long sought to examine the important intersections of disability rights and human rights, through the adoption and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, conferences, specialized fellowships, and collaboration with leading NGOs.  To kick off its 30th anniversary celebration, the Center will release a fireside chat with Acting Dean and Professor of Law Robert Dinerstein and legendary disability rights activist Judith Heumann

Register today to make sure you get the link!

Tuesday, March 30

Creating connections: A Career panel on Opportunities in Human Rights

AUWCL students are invited to an alumni panel discussion and Q&A featuring Center alumni who have gone on to work in human rights and/or have integrated human rights perspectives into their careers.  Students interested in exploring career pathways in human rights will have the opportunity to connect with AUWCL alumni who will share experiences about how to navigate different careers with a human rights perspective.  Participating panelists engage in human rights and justice work in diverse settings, including government agencies, private foundations, public defender services, and international human rights and humanitarian law organizations. 

This event is only open to AUWCL students; register here.  

Wednesday, March 31

Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet: The Human rights challenge

Co-sponsored by a network of human rights centers at U.S. law schools, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet will speak about current challenges to and opportunities for the protection of human rights and how human rights institutes in U.S. law schools could most effectively address these issues.  Ms. Bachelet assumed the role of Commissioner in 2018, following her tenure as President of Chile from 2006-2010 and 2014-2018. Ms. Bachelet is the seventh Commissioner since the Office's creation in 1993.  Register here. 

Thursday, April 1

Human Rights Brief
Human Rights Brief

25 Years of the Human Rights Brief: Celebrating its Legacy with an alumni mixer

The Center launched the inaugural issue of the Human Rights Brief just over 25 years ago, envisioning a forum for broadening the understanding of challenges facing human rights around the world.  This year, we will celebrate the Brief with an alumni and student virtual happy hour to provide opportunities for current staff and alumni to meet, share experiences, and celebrate its enduring legacy of furthering human rights scholarship.  Hear from current staff and connect with faculty, students, and alumni in different breakout rooms. 

If you are a Brief alum and have not received your invitation, email humlaw@wcl.american.edu!   

Friday, April 2

After 30 years, hear how we #ChampionWhatMatters!

In these uncertain times, communities like ours continue to come together to navigate the challenges to human rights we all face.  As we celebrate 30 years, we hope you will connect with us virtually throughout the day on our social media platforms and learn how our human rights faculty #ChampionWhatMatters.