Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

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.

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and the War Crimes Research Office of American University Washington College of Law reaffirm their commitment to end impunity for sexual violence through the project “Ending Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Latin America.”

On the occasion of 2018 Human Rights Day, AUWCL's Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law would like to highlight what our Co-Directors, Co-Chairs, and the diverse faculty of our programs have done in 2018 to promote international human rights worldwide. We look forward to continue the work in 2019, and invite you to join us in advancing this worthy cause!

The Academy is proud to announce that our Co-Chair, Professor Robert K. Goldman, will be honored at the second Inter-American System on Human Rights (IASHR) Forum, organized by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Bogotá, Colombia.

 In observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Academy is proud to bring you another episode of our "Human Rights Voices" podcast series that brings you prominent human right advocates sharing their experiences and insights about the most relevant and recent human rights topics and issues.

Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, co-director of the Academy on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, participated in the 65th session of the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva.

Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman will participate in a conference celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Organization of the American States (OAS)

Professor Claudia Martin, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, with the cooperation of American University Washington College of Law students Santiago Martínez Neira and Zuleika Rivera submitted an amicus brief before the Supreme Court of Peru, Sala Penal Especial, in the appeal to review the pardon granted to Alberto Fujimori by former President Pedro Kuczynski.

Join Claudia Martin, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, at the ArbitralWomen Full–Day Conference and Launch of AW Diversity Toolkit! The event will take place on Thursday, November 8, and will feature multiple panel discussions and a networking reception.  

Claudio Grossman, Dean Emeritus of American University Washington College of Law and Co-Chair of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, led the delegation of Chile as an agent before the International Court of Justice to hear the ruling on the dispute between Chile and Bolivia regarding access to the sea.

December 2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and member of the UN Committee Against Torture, spoke at the conference, “70 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, how have human rights evolved?," which was held in conjunction with the 50-year anniversary of the Universidad de los Andes School of Law in Bogotá, Colombia.

August 30 marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. In light of that date, the Academy would like to recognize Professor Maria Clara Galvis, Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED).

Claudia Martin, Co-director for the Academy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and Susana SáCouto, director of the War Crimes Research office, presented an amicus curiae before the San Francisco Court of First Instance in Mozote, El Salvador, on Friday, August 24, where 18 military commanders were accused of having participated in the massacre of El Mozote and neighboring areas in December of 1981.

American University Washington College of Law congratulates Professor Robert K. Goldman on his election as president of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The ICJ is one of the oldest and most respected NGOs in the world.

The Academy would like to highlight the participation of Professor Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon, Co-Director for the Academy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, in the 64th session of the United Nations Committee against Torture. Professor Rodriguez-Pinzon began his term with the UN Committee in January 2018 as a Committee Expert, and participated in the country review of Chile as Co-Rapporteur of the Committee. Please click on the link below for a video of Professor Rodriguez-Pinzon at the most recent session in Geneva.

On July 25 2018, Professor Claudia Martin and CEJIL’s Executive Director Viviana Krsticevic appeared before the UN Working Group on the issue of Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice at UN Headquarters in NY to present on the GQUAL Campaign and explore avenues of cooperation.  

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law is proud to request the submission of papers for the Human Rights Essay Award. Submission deadline: February 1, 2019.

Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is pleased to announce the topic for the 2019 Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition.

On Sunday, Colombia elected a new president, Iván Duque Márquez, a 2004 graduate of American University Washington College of Law’s (AUWCL) L.L.M. Program in International Legal Studies (ILSP).