Group photo from the conference
 

Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Holds Conference on Sexual, Gender Based Violence in Mexico

Sept. 21, 2018

American University Washington College of Law’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, in conjunction with the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria Law School, the Network of Latin American Scholars on Gender, Sexuality and the Law ALAS, and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, presented a two-day conference in Mexico City, Mexico this week to discuss issues of sexual and gender based violence.

The conference, “Global Transformation Towards Gender Equality and Agenda 2030: A Conversation About Innovative Approaches to Break the Cycle of Violence Against Women,” was held Sept. 16-18 and featured 46 scholars, activists and government officers from around the globe.

AUWCL Professor Macarena Sáez, faculty director of the Center and fellow in the International Legal Studies Program, presented the conference’s welcoming address, as well as a presentation entitled “Gender-Based Violence and the Economic Regulation of Sex.” Melissa del Aguila, associate director of the Center, presented “Technology and SGBV: Advances, Pitfalls, and Trends.”

The conference featured a keynote speaker conversation between the Swedish Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Annika Thunborg, and representatives from United Nations Women, United Nations Population Fund, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Participants from various countries were in attendance, including Algeria, Argentina, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, México, Nigeria, Perú, South Africa, Sweden, The Gambia, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe.

The conference was funded by the partnering institutions and by a grant obtained from the Ford Foundation. Learn more about AUWCL’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law here.

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