International Law Faculty Honored by the Presidents of Colombia, Chile

Dec. 10, 2018

In December, Professors Robert K. Goldman and Claudio Grossman were honored by the Presidents of Colombia and Chile, respectively. As long-standing member of the American University Washington College of Law international law faculty, and leaders in the field of international human rights, both were recognized for their outstanding work.  

Professor Grossman Honored by the President of Chile and the Jewish Community of Chile

President of the Jewish Community of Chile, Shai Agosin, presents Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman with the
President of the Jewish Community of Chile, Shai Agosin, presents Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman with the "Espíritu Maccabí Award."

Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman was honored by the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, and the Jewish community of Chile with the “Espíritu Maccabí Award” for his work in defense of human rights, diversity, equality, and universal values. The Chilean Ambassador to the U.S. and numerous diplomats were in attendance at the event for the Jewish community held at the government headquarters at the Patio de los Cañones.

Grossman was also recognized for his successful role as the chief lawyer representing Chile before the International Court of Justice in a case brought by Bolivia on border disputes. The ICJ recently decided the case in favor of Chile, rejecting all eight of Bolivia’s arguments claiming that Chile had an “obligation to negotiate” sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean.

President of Chile Sebastián Piñera lights menorah during the event.
President of Chile Sebastián Piñera lights menorah during the event.

In presenting the award to Professor Grossman, President Piñera told the crowd that he saw Grossman working on the case with commitment, dedication, and intelligence, but also with prudence and strength and that allowed him to inspire the whole team.

Following the award given to Professor Grossman in La Moneda with the attendance of the President of Chile Sebastian Pinera, the Senate of Chile recognized Professor Grossman’s work during a Dec. 11 plenary session. All political parties intervened, and Grossman became the first private individual in the history of Chile invited to address the plenary of the legislative body. Both the current and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the session.

Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman will speak at the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco on Dec. 17.
Dean Emeritus and Professor Claudio Grossman will speak at the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco on Dec. 17.

Read more about the case, and the ICJ decision, here.

On his current trip to Chile, Grossman undertook a series of recruiting activities for the law school. He opened the International Jessup Moot Court Competition on Dec. 12 and gave a keynote addresses at the National School of Strategic Studies also on Dec. 12, the law school at the University of Chile on Dec. 13, the Universidad de La Frontera in Temuco on Dec. 17, and he will speak at the annual meeting of the Chilean Society of International Law on Jan. 4, 2019.

Professor Goldman Honored by President of Colombia

President of Chile Sebastián Piñera lights menorah during the event.
Professor Robert Goldman, right, being awarded the Order of San Carlos by President of Colombia Ivan Duque Marquez.

Professor Goldman was recently honored by the President of Colombia, President Iván Duque Márquez – a 2004 graduate of AUWCL’s LL.M. Program in International Legal Studies.

President Duque awarded Goldman the Order of San Carlos, a state order granted by Colombia to honor citizens, including foreign civilians, who have made outstanding contributions to the nation of Colombia, especially in the field of international relations.  The event was broadcast by national television and attended by hundreds of people. You can watch a video of the ceremony here.

In August, Goldman was elected as president of the International Commission of Jurists, one of the oldest and most respected NGOs in the world. At AUWCL, Goldman serves as the Louis C. James Scholar, faculty director of the War Crimes Research Office, and co-director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. A member of the AUWCL faculty since 1971, Goldman was the law school’s acting dean from 1979-1980.

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