Prof. Claudio Grossman

On March 5, 2025, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Kovler Project Against Torture (KPAT), a WCL program of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted the conference, “Women, Torture, and the Law: International Human Rights Responses” - a compelling event that examined the intersection of gender, torture, and international human rights law. The event featured two thought-provoking panels – “Hostage-Taking, Torture, and Women: Perspectives Under International Law” and “Torture and Detention in Latin American: Challenges and Responses of International Human Rights Law.” Professor Grossman, founder of the KPAT, sat on the first panel, “Hostage-Taking, Torture, and Women: Perspectives Under International Law” with Professor Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon acting as moderator. The KPAT and its corresponding class on Torture Prohibition in International Law are taught by Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman, former Chair of the UN CAT, and supported by Assistant Director to the Project Marta Treviño-Leyva. Kovler Student Scholars engage in a “deep dive” on the prohibition of torture in international law and on the professional skills and considerations instrumental to effective lawyering in international settings. Read more about the KPAT here.

On June 5, 2025, Professor Claudio Grossman participated as a panelist in a comprehensive discussion analyzing the significant institutional challenges currently facing the Inter-American Human Rights System. The event brought together leading experts to examine pressing issues including fluctuating state commitment across the region, persistent case processing delays, and systemic difficulties in implementing the System's decisions and recommendations. Professor Grossman contributed his substantial expertise to propose concrete institutional responses and strategic approaches to strengthen the System's effectiveness and authority in protecting human rights throughout the Americas. Watch the event here.

On June 9, 2025, Professor Grossman participated as a panelist in "Current Issues in the International Law Commission: The View from Inside," an event co-hosted by the American Society of International Law and the Academy. In his capacity as the Special Rapporteur on Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction at the ILC, he provided a detailed analysis of his groundbreaking work on this complex topic. Professor Grossman presented his latest report, which advances the progressive development of international law by proposing meaningful limits to immunity for severe international crimes, including slavery and aggression, sparking vibrant discussion among attendees. Read more here.

On September 6, 2025, Professor Grossman was interviewed by El País, where he stated that the Government of Chile should apologize to the victims of child abductions that took place between 1970 and 1990.

Professor Grossman became involved in Chile’s irregular adoption cases after meeting a student in his class who discovered he had been trafficked from Chile as an infant. Deeply moved, Grossman agreed to take the case and went on to represent dozens of similarly affected individuals as a plaintiff before Chilean courts. He has since played a central role in pushing for progress in the investigations, arguing that the systematic theft of children between the 1970s and 1990s constitutes crimes against humanity. Grossman advocates for a comprehensive national response that includes not only criminal accountability but also reparations, recognition, and an official apology from the State of Chile for failing to protect the victims. Read the article here.

On September 9, 2025, Impact Litigation, a program of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law hosted the “Advocating for Human Rights from the Classroom: Reflections on Impact Litigation in the Inter-American System.” Professor Grossman, the Center’s Dean of Faculty, sat on the panel, and he shared his thoughts on Impact Litigation within the Inter-American System as well as encouraged students to get involved in strategic litigation efforts and to deepen their passion for human rights.

Prof. Robert Goldman

In the summer of 2025, Professor Goldman served as one of the experts on the Independent Panel to Evaluate Candidates for the Bodies of the Inter-American Human Rights System. These experts meticulously assessed the qualifications of the candidates seeking to serve as commissioners within the Inter-American Human Rights System. Read more about the panel here.

In the summer of 2025, Professor Goldman was a member of the Independent Expert Panel responsible for evaluating candidates for the bodies of the Inter-American Human Rights System. On this occasion, the Panel reviewed the qualifications of seven candidates nominated to fill three vacancies on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), in accordance with the procedures established in the American Convention on Human Rights.

This Panel was created in 2015 at the request of civil society and is mandated to strengthen transparency, visibility, and suitability in the nomination and election processes for commissioners and judges of the Inter-American System. The panelists presented their report at the OAS, before the EU Delegation to the United States, and to students and guests at WCL during the Program of Advanced Studies. Read the Panel’s 2025 Final Report here.

On 14 November 2025, Professor Goldman was interviewed by DW News about his analysis of a report presented by Max Sander concerning the legality of Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals under false pretenses and their use in the war in Ukraine. He explained the legal criteria for determining whether to consider persons like prisoners of war, mercenaries, or criminals, and outlined the obligations the governments have regarding repatriation and protection. He also clarified how the individuals have the right of being treated with proper management under International Humanitarian Law. Watch the interview here.

Prof. Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón

In January 2025, Prof. Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon published, with International Visiting Scholar Prof. Andres Gonzalez, the research essay “El BOOM de la delincuencia organizada y de los grupos armados tras de las economías ilícitas ha mantenido niveles extremos de violencia en el 2024: Balance en materia de homicidios, afectaciones de derechos humanos y enfrentamientos armados en Colombia durante el 2024” (The BOOM of organized crime and armed groups that maintains high levels of violence in 2024: Assessment of homicides, impact on human rights and armed confrontations in Colombia in 2024). Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon was invited to participate in this research initiative, which is part of the academic cooperation agreement between AUWCL and the Universidad Externado de Colombia in Bogotá. The essay was released on December 2024. You can find the text of the essay in Spanish and a conversation of the authors here.

On February 28, 2025, Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon participated in the panel discussion “Drug Policy in Colombia and the U.S.: Outcomes, Impacts, and Human Rights.” The Academy on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, in collaboration with the Universidad Externado de Colombia and the Embassy of Colombia in the United States, hosted the event at AUWCL. Other experts participating were: Ambassador Daniel García-Peña, Ambassador of Colombia to the U.S.; Irene Cabrera, Professor, Universidad Externado de Colombia; Viancy Ortiz, former Colombian Prosecutor and Consultant the American Bar Association (ABA); Juan Pappier, Deputy Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch; and John Walsh, Director of Drug Policy and the Andes, WOLA. The panel was moderated by Andrés González Díaz, Professor of Universidad Externado de Colombia, and former Ambassador of Colombia to the OAS.

On March 10, 2025, Prof. Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon delivered a key note lecture at Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, Spain, titled the “Trump Administration and the United States’ international Human Rights agenda.” The presentation was part of the cycle of conferences on Global Law offer by that academic institution.

Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon was invited to deliver the course “The Inter-American Human Rights System and the rights of indigenous peoples” in the European Masters Program (EMA). The course took place on March 10 and 11, 2025 in the law school of the University of Deusto, in Bilbao, Spain. The EMA is a consortium of more than 40 European universities that provide postgraduate education in human rights, that include, among others, the Global Campus in Venice that coordinates the European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation, University of Leuven, University of Vienna, University of Helsinki, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Queen’s University, University of Nottingham, Lund University, University of Coimbra, University of Hamburg, University of Strasbourg, University of Padua, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, University of Bologna, University of Sarajevo, University of Belgrade and the University of Lucerne.

Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon was invited by the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law to serve as a lecturer at the Regional Course in International Law for Latin America and the Caribbean, held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, from April 23 to May 16, 2025. On April 28 and 29, he delivered the course "International Human Rights Law" to an outstanding group of participants — international law officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Spain, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

The Regional Course program also covered a wide range of topics including Introduction to International Law, Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, International Environmental Law, Law-Making at the United Nations, International Humanitarian Law/International Criminal Law, International Trade Law, International Investment Law, Law of the Sea, Inter-American International Law, the legal work of ECLAC, Law of Treaties, and International Peace and Security.

On May 28, 2025, Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon moderated the panel titled “Human Rights and Global Governance: Assessing Multilateralism in times of crisis.” The panelists included Laurence Burgorgue-Larsen (Professor of Public Law in the Sorbonne Law School), Gloria Gaggioli (Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of the Law Faculty, University of Geneva), Fausto Pocar (Porfessor Emeritus in the University of Milan and Ad Hoc Judge international Court of Justice), and Elizabeth Salmon (Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).

On June 9, 2025, Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón provided the opening remarks for a significant panel discussion titled "Current Issues in the International Law Commission: The View from Inside," co-hosted by the Academy and the American Society of International Law. His introductory comments framed the importance of the International Law Commission's ongoing work and set the stage for a detailed examination of contemporary international legal challenges. The panel featured distinguished ILC members who provided expert analysis on cutting-edge topics including the complex legal questions surrounding state official immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction and the urgent international law implications of sea-level rise in the context of climate change. This event offered attendees unique insights into the Commission's current deliberations and its role in shaping the future of international legal norms. 

On June 10, 2025, Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon hosted, as Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the Annual Conference offered jointly with American Society of International Law in the Tillar House. The event was titled “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 José Ruda Santolaria”.

On September 18 and 19, 2025, Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon was invited as a panelist to the academic conference “Impact of International Human Rights Bodies and High Courts in Latin-America,” hosted by Ghent University (Belgium), the Max Plank Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Germany) and the Universidad de Los Andes School of Law (Colombia), held in Bogotá, Colombia. He delivered a presentation about the “Impact of the United Nations Convention against Torture on the recognition of the rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty” based on his experience as former member of the UN Committee against Torture. The conference was attended by experts from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States and Venezuela.

From October 14 to 16, 2025, Prof. Rodriguez-Pinzon was invited as key note expert to lead the regional workshop “Strengthening safeguards during the initial stages of police detention – Best practices from Latin America and the Caribbean”, which took place in Santiago, Chile. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of the Government of Chile, and the Convention against Torture Initiative (CTI), among other institutions. Representatives from States parties and non-States parties to the United Nations Convention against Torture had the opportunity to learn about measures that reduce risks and support the prevention and prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment at the initial stages of detention and investigation. The event provided a forum to explore best practices and to discuss challenges for cooperation between relevant national stakeholders to reduce and address the risks of torture during investigation and early detention at the national level, as well as State cooperation between Latin American and Caribbean States. 

The event included government officials from Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Indonesia, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Uruguay, as well as experts from Chile, Denmark, France, Norway, Seychelles, and Switzerland.

October 7, 2025 — Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-Director of the Academy, delivered the opening remarks for the event “Assessment of the Human Rights Situation in Colombia – A Conversation with Alberto Yepes.” In his introduction, Professor Rodríguez-Pinzón underscored the importance of examining Colombia’s human rights landscape at a critical moment marked by ongoing risks for social leaders, challenges in implementing the Peace Accord, and shifting regional dynamics. He highlighted the significance of Mr. Yepes’s decades-long work documenting human rights violations and the value of fostering dialogue between academia and civil society. His remarks set the stage for a substantive discussion on accountability, access to justice, and the structural factors affecting peace and human rights in Colombia. Through his leadership, the event reinforced the Academy’s mission to promote informed, evidence-based debate on human rights in the Americas.

On November 11, 2025, Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, opened and led the panel discussion “Ensuring Human Rights in Times of Crisis and Corporate Power: Colombia and the World Face the Same Challenge.” Under his leadership, the event provided an academic space to examine the growing risks faced by human rights defenders amid corporate influence, persistent violence, and weakened protection mechanisms. Professor Rodríguez-Pinzón framed the conversation and emphasized the importance of regional dialogue in strengthening accountability and safeguarding fundamental rights. The panel featured prominent human rights defenders from Colombia and was co-sponsored by Global Witness, Asociación Minga, the Somos Defensores Program, and the Colombia Human Rights Committee (CHRC). His role was essential in guiding the discussion and advancing the Academy’s mission to promote rigorous analysis and meaningful engagement on pressing human rights challenges.

On December 5, 2025, the Centro de Paz y Seguridad of Universidad Externado de Colombia released the report “Analisis comparativo de las muertes por homicidios durante el trienio Petro con respect al trienio Duque. (Comparative analysis of homicides during the three years of Petro and three years of Duque). ” The report was authored by Prof. Diego Rodríguez-Pinzon, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law of AUWCL, Prof. Andrés González, Director of the Centro de Paz of Universidad Externado, and Ms. Carolina Saldaña, Director of the Centro de Tecnología y Analítica of Universidad Externado. The document presents comparative statistical data of homicides in Colombia (disaggregated by regions and cities) and identifies the statistical trends during the first three years of the presidential term of Gustavo Petro (August 7, 2022 to August 6, 2025), and the first three years of the presidential term of Ivana Duque (2018-2021). The analysis also includes data from the first three years of the presidential term of the second administration of Juan Manuel Santos (2014-2017). Read the report here.

Prof. Claudia Martin

On February 6, 2025, Professor Claudia Martin moderated a pivotal discussion examining the selection process for the next OAS Secretary General. This special event convened leading experts and diplomats to analyze the essential qualifications and leadership qualities required for this crucial regional position. The conversation particularly emphasized the strategic importance of gender parity in the organization's highest leadership levels, exploring how diverse representation could strengthen the OAS's effectiveness in addressing contemporary hemispheric challenges.

On February 16, 2025, Professor Martin delivered the inaugural class for an advanced course on compliance with Inter-American Court judgments, hosted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the MERCOSUR Institute. Her session provided a comprehensive examination of the reparations mechanisms ordered by the Court and their practical implementation across different national contexts. She analyzed how these judicial decisions translate into concrete public policies and explored the measurable impact of compliance on both institutional reforms and individual victims' lives, drawing from extensive research and practical case studies.

On March 10, 2025, Professor Martin moderated a critical side event during CSW69 marking the 10th anniversary of the GQUAL Campaign. The discussion, titled "The Tipping Point: Why Women's Leadership in International Decision-Making Spaces Can't Wait," brought together experts to assess the progress made and persistent barriers in achieving gender parity in international tribunals and organizations. Participants shared strategic insights on accelerating women's representation in global governance, emphasizing the urgency of structural reforms to overcome systemic biases in selection processes.

On April 21, 2025, Professor Martin contributed as a panelist in an in-depth exploration of women's equal participation in international leadership and decision-making. The event examined the evolving legal foundations for equal representation within international law frameworks, with particular attention to CEDAW's General Recommendation 40 as a transformative development. Discussion focused on practical steps required to safeguard recent gains in women's participation and strategies to counteract resistance to gender equality in international spaces.

On April 30, 2025, Professor Martin moderated a vital virtual dialogue examining the systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence as a repression tool against social protests in Latin America. The event brought together experts to analyze recurring patterns of state-perpetrated violence and share comparative responses across different national contexts. Participants developed collective strategies for prevention, protection, and eradication of these human rights violations, emphasizing the need for strengthened accountability mechanisms and survivor-centered approaches.

On May 29, 2025, under Professor Martin's supervision as head of the Secretariat, the Independent Panel released its comprehensive Final Report evaluating candidates for three vacant positions at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The public presentation event detailed the Panel's rigorous assessment methodology and findings regarding candidate qualifications and experience. This transparent evaluation process represented a significant contribution to strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Inter-American human rights system's principal monitoring body.

On June 9, 2025, Professor Martin moderated an expert panel co-hosted by the Academy and the American Society of International Law featuring current members of the International Law Commission. The discussion provided unique insights into the Commission's ongoing work on pressing international law issues, including state official immunity from foreign criminal jurisdiction and legal responses to sea-level rise. Panelists shared behind-the-scenes perspectives on the progressive development of international law through the ILC's drafting processes and diplomatic consultations.

On June 10, 2025, Professor Martin moderated a timely panel examining the global trend toward authoritarianism and the misuse of emergency powers as threats to human rights protection. The discussion analyzed how states increasingly invoke emergency powers to justify democratic backsliding and human rights restrictions, drawing examples from multiple regional contexts. Experts from international law and civil society perspectives proposed strategies to reinforce democratic resilience and maintain human rights safeguards during periods of declared emergencies.

On June 25, 2025, as part of the OMCT Global Week Against Torture, Professor Martin presented the conclusive findings of a comprehensive mapping report on sexual violence in social protests across Latin America. This joint Academy-REDRESS project documented systematic patterns of torture and sexual violence used to suppress dissent and intimidate protesters. The event highlighted the intersection between gender-based violence and political repression, proposing specific interventions to protect demonstrators and ensure accountability for perpetrators.

On August 2, 2025, Professor Martin participated as a panelist in a GQUAL side event during the 7th Biennial Conference of the Latin American Society of International Law, focusing on equal and inclusive representation of women in international organs and courts. The dialogue assessed regional progress and remaining challenges in achieving gender parity in key international spaces, including the Inter-American System and United Nations bodies. Participants identified concrete steps that states, civil society, and international organizations could take to accelerate the inclusion of qualified women in international decision-making positions.

On August 6, 2025, Professor Martin contributed as a panelist in an open masterclass session introducing the new Certificate in Business and Human Rights program. She provided a critical examination of the evolving relationship between corporate actors and human rights obligations, addressing both regulatory developments and practical implementation challenges. The session explored innovative approaches to ensuring business respect for human rights across global supply chains and extractive industries, particularly in vulnerable communities.

On September 26, 2025, Professor Martin, as Co-Director of the Academy, helped organize and participated in a profound dialogue with Argentine Judge Pablo Salinas and human rights defender Viviana Beigel examining judicial complicity in crimes against humanity. The event focused specifically on the prosecution of judicial accomplices to sexual violence during the Argentine dictatorship, analyzing both criminal liability and civil responsibility frameworks. Discussion incorporated essential gender perspectives in crimes against humanity trials, exploring how legal systems can better address gendered violence within repressive regimes.

On October 30 and 31, 2025, Prof. Martin, Co-Director of the Academy a co-founder of the Latin American Network for Gender-Based Strategic Litigation (ReLeG), co-hosted the 4th Discussion Roundtable on Strategic Litigation on Gender-Based Violence in Latin America at AUWCL. The event, organized with the War Crimes Research Office and supported by UN Women’s ACTUEMOS initiative and the European Union, brought together ReLeG members, partner organizations, and experts from across the region. Prof. Martin presented findings from her report on the implementation of reparations in the Inter-American Human Rights System, contributing to a broader dialogue on emerging challenges, best practices, and opportunities for regional collaboration. The roundtable strengthened efforts to advance gender justice, promote strategic litigation, and support policy and legal reforms across Latin America.