Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

This year, the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law’s 2020 summer programs and initiatives hoped to enhance and increase communication in the human rights community. Over the past 25 years the Academy has developed key initiatives and programs that offer relevant, empowering training for scholars, practitioners, and students interested in the international human rights system and created key spaces for discussions of the most relevant issues in the human rights field. During this complex time, the Academy is determined to fulfill its mission for the promotion and awareness of human rights.

On March 24th, we commemorate the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. The purpose of this day is to promote the importance of the right to truth and justice by paying tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is proud to share that American University Washington College of Law, is ranked #4 in International Law Programs amongst all U.S. universities by the 2021 U.S. News and World Report ranking! Every year the U.S. News & World Report 2021 ranks law schools across the country based on specialty programs. For over 40 years, AUWCL has led the way in international legal education. Our innovative international programs have been consistently recognized as the top programs in the U.S. AUWCL shares the highest rank with New York University, Harvard, and Georgetown and tied with Columbia and Yale.

Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Professor Claudia Martin, and three other professors and lawyers specializing in international human rights law, filed an Amicus Curiae to the Constitutional Court of Peru related to the case of former Minister of Health Marino Costa Bauer and the right to be tried within a reasonable time.

Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, co-director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law participates in the 68th session of the United Nations Committee against Torture in Geneva, Switzerland from November 11 to December 6, 2019.  

The War Crimes Research Office, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and Women and the Program Law are thrilled to partner with UN Women on the “Documenting Good Practice on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Guatemala” Project.

American University Washington College of Law Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Claudio Grossman was elected associate member of the Institut de Droit International on Monday, August 26, 2019. This honor is a further tribute to Grossman’s impact on international legal scholarship in the Americas and around the world.

During the 67th session of the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, co-director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, participated in the seventh periodic report of Greece on State party efforts to comply with provisions in the Convention against Torture.

The oldest international human rights organization, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), recently published its evaluation of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP, by its initials in Spanish), the transitional justice court created by the Peace Agreement between the National Government and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC-EP).

The 11th Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition will take place from July 15-19, 2019, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

American University Washington College of Law’s Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted its 20th Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law May 28-June 14, welcoming participants from over 20 different countries.

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law proudly hosts the 24th Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition at the WCL Tenley Campus from May 19 – 24. The topic for this year's competition is "The Protection of Migrants under International Human Rights Law." 

During the 66th session of the UN Committee against Torture, Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón participated in a two-day review of Mexico regarding the torture and mistreatment of detainees by the state. The meeting was held from April 25-26, 2019, in Geneva.

Professor Robert K. Goldman, President of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Co-Chair of the Academy on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, gave the opening speech of the ICJ’s 18th World Congress that took place on March 23 and 24 in Tunis, Tunisia.

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is proud to highlight the distinguished group of women professors and guest lecturers that enrich our courses with diverse experiences and provide a critical gender perspective essential to the advancement of human rights.

Professor Claudia Martin, Co-Director of the Academy on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and Professor Susana SáCouto, Director of the War Crimes Research Office, co-authored the Expert Opinion before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) for the case of Women Victims of Sexual Torture in Atenco v. Mexico, previously known as the the case of Selvas Gomez et al. v. Mexico.

Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Member of the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT), participated in the seminar, Ratification and implementation of the UN Convention against Torture in the Pacific: Supporting Pacific States with processes of legislative review and drafting anti-torture laws or amendments, convened by the Convention Against Torture Initiative (CTI), in partnership with the Universal Rights Group and the Regional Rights Resource Team of the Pacific Community.

In follow up to the round table "Hemisphere in Crisis? The Dire Human Rights Situation in Venezuela and Nicaragua" the Academy recorded a series of interviews with some of the panelists who attended the event. In these interviews our speakers address some important questions such as actions that can be taken at the international level, the role that the OAS can play in these situations, and what has been the role of civil society both at the domestic and international levels.

On December 18 the United Nations celebrates International Migrants Day. The purpose of the day is to remember people who have been displaced due to armed conflict, famine and other natural and man-made disasters. Given the growing importance of the issue, the Academy has elected “The Protection of Migrants under International Human Rights Law” as the topic for two of our programs in 2019: the 24th Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition and the Human Rights Essay Award.

Last week, Academy’s Co-Chair, Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman was honored by Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, and the Jewish community of Chile with the “Espíritu Maccabí Award”. The award was given in recognition for his work in defense of human rights. The Senate of Chile also recognized Professor Grossman’s work at the ICJ during a plenary session held on December 11.