Panels 2025

May 28th

Human Rights and the Global Governance: Assessing Multilateralism in Times of Crisis

Elizabeth Salmon, ASpecial Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen, Professor of Public Law at the Sorbonne Law School
Gloria Gaggioli, Former Director of the Geneva Academy and Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of the Law Faculty, University of Geneva
Fausto Pocar, Professor Emeritus, University of Milan, Ad-Hoc Judge of the International Court of Justice; Former Judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and former member of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

Moderator: Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon, Former Member, Committee Against Torture (CAT) UN; Former Ad-Hoc Judge of the Inter-American Court in Human Rights; Co-Director and Professorial Lecturer in residence, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.

The panel focused on reviewing the historic relevance of multilateralism as a tool to overcome humanity’s challenges - among them strengthening an international system of human rights governance- and on how current discourses and approaches are jeopardizing the future of that system. It addressed how key international bodies have been called into question, demanding fresh proposals to revitalize the institutions created after the end of the Second World War and to demonstrate their continued relevance. To meet these challenges, the Academy brought together a panel of exceptional caliber, including a former ICJ judge, a former member of the UN Committee Against Torture, the current UN Special Rapporteur on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and two distinguished international law scholars from Paris and Geneva.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/jYVK20E6lK4

May 29th

Independent Panel to Evaluate Candidates to the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) Bodies Final Report Presentation

Ariela Peralta, Member of the United Nations Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua and former member of the Board of Directors of the National Human Rights Institutions and Ombudsman of Uruguay
Robert Goldman, Professor of Law and Louis C. James Scholar at American University Washington College of Law (WCL); Academic Director of the War Crimes Research Office, Co-Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and Co-Chair of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Margarette May Macaulay, Former member and President of the IACHR; Former Judge of the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
Juan E. Mendez, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; AUWCL Professor of Human Rights Practice
Alejandro Chehtman, Dean and Full Professor at the Law School of Universidad Torcuato Di Tella; Executive Director of the Latin American Society of International Law (SLADI-LASIL)
Gabriela Rodriguez, Law Professor from the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM)

Moderator: Claudia Martin, Co-Director and Professorial Lecturer in residence, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.; Founding member of GQUAL Campaign.

Please note that throughout 2025, Academy Co-Director Claudia Martin supported the work of the Independent Panel to Evaluate Candidates to the Inter-American System. Professor Robert Goldman, Co-Chair, also served as one of its members.

The mission of the Independent Panel to Evaluate Candidates to the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS) Bodies is to enhance the standards and transparency governing the elections of commissioners and judges to the IACHR and the IACtHR. This initiative highlights the commitment to refining the nomination and election procedures of commissioners and judges through the facilitation of an Independent Panel of Experts. These experts meticulously assess the qualifications of candidates aspiring to serve within the Inter-American Human Rights System. The American University Washington College of Law plays a pivotal role in supporting the Independent Panel’s work by serving as its Secretariat.

Watch the panel final report presentation here: https://youtu.be/htrkvT1K_Cc

May 30th

Cinema and Human Rights: Documenting the Horror of Argentina's Military Dictatorship - Screening of "The Trial" and a Discussion on New Forms of Art and Activism in Transitional Justice Contexts

Ulises de la Orden, Argentine filmmaker; Director of "The Trial"
Isabel Mignone-del Carril, Former Officer World Bank Group (Ret.); Next of kin of a disappeared victim in Argentina
Juan E. Mendez, Former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; AUWCL Professor of Human Rights Practice

Moderator: Federico Gaitan Hairabedian, SJD Candidate at AUWCL and President of the Argentine-Armenian NGO Luisa Hairabedian Foundation

The process of transitional justice in Argentina stands as one of the most comprehensive and sustained examples of accountability for state crimes. From the Trial of the Juntas to current prosecutions of military and civilian perpetrators of crimes committed during the 1976–1983 dictatorship, Argentina has shown the central role of documentation—judicial, historical, and artistic—in advancing truth and justice.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Trial of the Juntas, the Academy hosted a special event featuring a screening of El Juicio, directed by Ulises de la Orden, the first publicly accessible digital audiovisual record of this historic trial. The program included a roundtable discussion on the importance of judicial archives and artistic expressions - such as film and other forms of cultural activism—in preserving and sharing collective memory as a democratic exercise and a cornerstone of transitional justice.

As a central part of the commemoration, the Academy also held a formal donation ceremony of historic documents from the Mignone family to the Pence Law Library at American University Washington College of Law. These materials, including original transcripts and key records of the Trial of the Juntas, offer invaluable testimony to the pursuit of justice and historical memory and strengthen AUWCL’s commitment to the preservation and study of human rights.

Watch the film projection and subsequent discussion here: https://youtu.be/4t6gMC9nAoo

June 3

The International Court of Justice as a Forum to Pursue State Accountability for the Systematic Discrimination of Women and Girls in Afghanistan

Helen Duffy, Founder, Human Rights in Practice; Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Leiden University, and Honorary/Visiting Professor at Glasgow, Oxford, Melbourne American Universities
Fatema D. Ahmadi, Lead of Rawadari's Accountability Initiative - Afghanistan case before the ICJ
Shadi Mokhtari, Professor at the School of International Service at American University; Author, "After Abu Ghraib: Exploring Human Rights in America and the Middle East"
Manuela Londoño, Senior Legal Advisor, Victim Advocates International (VAI) and Rawadari

This panel examined the potential case against Afghanistan before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that had been announced in September by Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. The case was to be brought under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and would have marked the first time a country was taken to the ICJ for violating this pivotal women’s rights convention.

The initiative to hold Afghanistan accountable for its treatment of women and girls stemmed from the tireless efforts of international lawyers and Afghan civil society, who worked to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, where national avenues for accountability were unavailable. Panelists explored the intricacies of this potential landmark case and the impact it could have on advancing women’s rights in Afghanistan and around the world.

The Academy has continued communication and maintained contact with Rawadari to support the ICJ claim while encouraging greater involvement of OAS member states in the initiative.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/DzbxxhlXzBY

June 5th
Current Challenges and Opportunities in the Inter-American Human Rights System

Roberta Clarke, Commissioner and former President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Carlos Ayala, International Commission of Jurists President and AUWCL Visiting Scholar
Ciro Colombara, President of the Kamanau Foundation; Partner, Colombara Law Firm
Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director, Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL)

Moderator: Claudio Grossman, UN International Law Commission member and Dean Emeritus of AUWCL

The Inter-American System has faced multiple challenges throughout its history, finding ways to overcome and adapt to complex political realities that impact its effectiveness. However, the current context entailed unprecedented setbacks. Problems regarding the Commission’s internal procedures for deliberation and decision-making—such as the publicity of dissenting opinions in non-contentious documents like thematic reports or even press releases—raised the discussion to a major reflection. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to enhance the processing of claims and promote faster procedures was at the center of debate.

For these reasons, the Academy gathered two former Presidents of the Commission who currently teach at AUWCL, Professor Claudio Grossman and Professor Carlos Ayala, together with the then-acting President of the Commission, Roberta Clarke. We also invited distinguished advocates historically connected to the Commission’s work, such as Ciro Colombara and Viviana Krsticevic, both of whom have litigated some of the system’s most emblematic landmark cases.

The panel’s conclusions helped build a clearer understanding of how to strengthen both the Commission and the Inter-American Court, and several concerns raised during the event were later addressed by OAS member states during the annual General Assembly of the OAS in the election of new Commissioners.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/smuaXk4q2tQ

June 6th

An examination of the Humanitarian Response and Human Rights Considerations in relation to the Armed Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

David Crane, Founding Chief Prosecutor of the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone
Symphorien Bikubusyo, Founder of the Centre de Recherche JURISCONSULTE

Moderator: Kayley Rönnkvist, Program Officer at JSI

The Academy screened the documentary “A Silent War: Stories of Human Suffering and Resilience in Congo” by Voice of America (VOA) Africa to foster a meaningful discussion on one of the world’s most severe and complex humanitarian crises. By early 2025, conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo had sharply escalated following an offensive by the M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda. M23 had seized key cities, including Goma and Bukavu, sparking a new wave of violence that resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 1.15 million people in North and South Kivu provinces. Human rights organizations documented summary executions - including at least 21 civilians killed in Goma in February 2025 - along with widespread sexual violence, abductions, and attacks on healthcare facilities.

The accompanying panel explored how the international community could respond to this crisis—supporting efforts to end the violence, address mass displacement, and promote a sustainable path to peace. The event drew significant online participation from across the Democratic Republic of the Congo, underscoring both the urgency of the discussion and the importance of amplifying local voices in shaping international responses.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/JINJghwUmG0

June 9th

Special Event at Tillar House, ASIL Headquarters: ASIL Special Event: Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction (ISO) and Sea Level Rise (SLR) in the UN International Law Commission (ILC): Perspectives from the ILC's Special Rapporteur of ISO Claudio Grossman and of the Co-Chair of the Study Group on SLR Juan Jose Ruda Santolaria

Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon - Opening Remarks, Former Member, Committee Against Torture (CAT) UN; Former Ad-Hoc Judge of the Inter-American Court in Human Rights; Co-Director and Professorial Lecturer in residence, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C.
Claudio Grossman, UN International Law Commission member and Dean Emeritus of AUWCL; former President and member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Juan Jose Ruda Santolaria, UN International Law Commission member; Full-time Professor, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

The Academy continued its long-standing partnership with ASIL by delivering an exclusive panel with leading international law makers. Over the years, the Academy has collaborated with ASIL to bring distinguished professors from our Program of Advanced Studies in Washington, D.C., to present special lectures on topics of major relevance in international law. In the past, the Academy hosted figures such as ICJ Judge Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo and former UN ILC member Concepción Escobar, among many other experts.

In this regard, ASIL and the Academy co-hosted a panel addressing current topics under consideration by the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). This long-standing collaboration during the Program of Advanced Studies in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law has consistently allowed us to deliver high-quality events featuring experts of exceptional caliber.

This year’s panel was especially significant, as two current UN ILC members presented their observations on the latest developments regarding critical issues of international accountability,immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction and sea level rises.

No recording of the event is available due to logistical reasons on Tillar House. Nonetheless, the event is well documented on the summer program's pictures and news.

June 10th

Authoritarianism, Emergency Powers, and the Rise of Absolute Rule: A Threat to Global Human Rights

Katya Salazar, Executive Director of the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)
Adam Isacson, Director for Defence Oversigh, Washington Office of Latin America (WOLA)
Gerald Staberock, General Secretary, World Organization Against Torture
Santiago Canton, Secretary General, International Commission of Jurists

Most international human rights courts and monitoring bodies have established a close connection between the concepts of democracy and human rights. The Academy expressed concern that, in different regions of the world, civic spaces have been severely diminished and eroded. A conversation on these issues is crucial to ensuring the full protection of everyone’s human rights, and this panel addressed precisely that concern.

We convened experts with diverse roles, most of them working in civil society. Gerald Staberock, Secretary General of the OMCT, offered a unique insight into the European context, where several countries are facing significant setbacks. Katya Salazar, Director of DPLF, provided a perspective on Latin America, focusing on countries such as El Salvador, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, where clear authoritarian tendencies from their governments are evident. Adam Isaacson, Director for Defense Oversight at WOLA, discussed the restriction of fundamental rights in the United States, highlighting instances where the Trump administration adopted approaches that at times bypassed customary and legally binding procedures. Finally, Santiago Canton from the International Commission of Jurists shared a perspective from the UN human rights system, emphasizing that the global decline of democracy as a form of government is alarming and demands a strong response from civil society to ensure that open government and free societies are fully preserved.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/5yjGjbsH-58

June 11

Safety at What Cost? The Rise of Private Security in Latin America

Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Associate Director of Investor Alliance for Human Rights
Margaret Ellen Roggensack, Executive Director of Business and Human Rights Lawyers Association
Gary Corn, Director of the AUWCL Technology Law & Security Program
Inés Echevarría Hayem, Specialist in the Security and Justice Section at the OAS

Moderator: Jamie Williamson, Executive Director, International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers' Association

From Haiti to El Salvador, Colombia to Yemen, Ukraine to the Central African Republic, and Qatar to Mexico, private security and military contracting have long dominated headlines - too often for the wrong reasons. Names like Blackwater and the Wagner Group are infamous, but they tell only part of the story. Behind the headlines lies a vast, complex, and rapidly growing industry that touches every corner of the globe.

Valued at over $250 billion and projected to surpass $350 billion by 2032, the global private-security sector employs more than 20 million people - including about 2 million in Latin America, where guards frequently outnumber police forces. From mining sites to refugee camps, oil fields to shipping lanes, private security personnel increasingly shape the front lines of global risk management. When well governed, private security can protect lives, support businesses, and strengthen state capacity. When left unchecked, it can undermine human rights, fuel instability, and expose global supply chains to serious risks.

To confront these realities, the Academy convened a dynamic panel of experts in law, international relations, human rights, investment, and technology to examine how investors, multinational corporations, regulators, and emerging technologies can help turn the tide in Latin America. The discussion posed the hard questions: Who is responsible? What does accountability look like? And how can private security become part of the solution?

We were especially delighted to have as moderator Jamie Williamson - one of the Summer Program’s most frequent professors—who heads the Secretariat of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA).

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/v5Rfq3RvCi0

June 12

Human Trafficking - Perspectives from Experts and Essay Award-Winning Voices

Valentina Díaz Figueroa, First Honorable Mention Essay Winner (Spanish), Colombia
Yamid Enrique Cotrina Gulfo, Best Essay Winner (Spanish), Colombia
Natalia Gherardi - Closing remarks, Executive Director of the Latin American Team for Justice and Gender (ELA)

Moderator: Gabriel J. Ortiz Crespo, AUWCL Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Program Coordinator

For the first time in the history of the Advanced Program on Human Rights and the Human Rights Month initiative, the Academy was delighted to host young attorneys who received the Best Essay and First Honorable Mention in the 2025 Human Rights Essay Award. In an academic setting, these students presented the conclusions from their winning papers, which will soon be published in Volume 41 of the American University International Law Review.

As noted earlier, the Academy selected Human Trafficking and Human Rights as the 2025 theme. Despite widespread recognition of equal dignity, millions worldwide continue to be treated as commodities - whether through labor or sexual trafficking. Legal standards are still evolving, and urgent attention is required. The winning essays addressed several of these concerns, and providing young lawyers the opportunity not only to write but also to present their conclusions proved vital and empowering, strengthening our effort to raise awareness of the challenges posed by human trafficking.

We also had the privilege of welcoming Professor Natalia Gherardi, Executive Director of the Latin American Team for Justice and Gender (ELA), who offered insightful comments and reflections on the essays and their broader implications.

Watch the panel here: https://youtu.be/pG2eMZNX9CM