News & Events

Myanmar and Accountability for Grave Crimes

Since August 2016, Myanmar's security forces have conducted a systematic campaign of brutal violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority, escalating decades-long policies of persecution and discrimination. While all members of the Rohingya population were targeted for violence, gender was integral to how the atrocities were perpetrated. Justice for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity is unlikely in Myanmar's domestic courts. So what are the options for justice? Please join us for an important discussion of opportunities and challenges for accountability in Myanmar with: Stephen Rapp, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues; Akila Radhakrishnan, President, Global Justice Center; Param-Preet Singh Associate Director in the International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch; Naomi Kikoler, Deputy Director, Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Susana SáCouto, Director, War Crimes Research Office at American University Washington College of Law (moderator).

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please RSVP at https://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration.

The Age of Women: Why Feminism also Liberates Men

On April 10, the Embassy of Belgium, American University’s Washington College of Law and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research will organize the launch of Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s book “The Age of Women. Why Feminism Also Liberates Men”. The event will take place at 4pm, at AU’s WCL.

In the book, Deputy PM De Croo makes the case for more gender equality in the workplace, and society as a whole. The book was already presented in Brussels, in London and recently in Austin, Texas at SXSW 2019. Deputy Prime Minister De Croo is one of three co-founders and a champion of the global She Decides-movement.

This event was organized with the support of the European Commission

A panel discussion will include Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, UN Women’s Executive Director -and former Deputy President of South Africa-; Melanne Verveer, the first ever US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues; Sandie Okoro, Senior Vice President & General Counsel of the World Bank & Kakenya Ntaiya, Founder of the Kakenya Center for Excellence; moderator will be Heidi Hartmann, IWPR President. The event will be open to students, diplomats and the international policy community here in DC, and will be followed by a reception. Registration is free but required: http://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration

First: Sandra Day O'Connor, Book Talk with New York Times Bestselling Author Evan Thomas

Noted journalist, and best-selling author Evan Thomas will discuss his new book about America’s first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor. Reception to follow.

2019 ELSA Moot Court Competition

American University Washington College of Law will host both the North American and the Latin American Regional Rounds of the 2019 ELSA WTO Moot Court Competition.  This is a simulated hearing of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system and is organized annually by ELSA (The European Law Students Association) with the cooperation of the WTO.  The competition is open to teams from around the globe.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet: “Challenges to the Protection of Human Rights in the 21st Century and the Role of the United Nations”

On September 1, 2018 Michelle Bachelet assumed her functions as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was established in 1993 and Ms. Bachelet is the seventh Commissioner.

Ms. Bachelet was elected President of Chile on two occasions (2006-2010 and 2014-2018). She was the first female president of Chile, as well as Chile’s and Latin America’s first female Defense Minister (2002 – 2004).  She also served as Health Minister (2000 - 2002).  During her presidential tenures, she promoted the rights of all but particularly those of the most vulnerable. Among her many achievements, education and tax reforms, as well as the creation of the National Institute for Human Rights and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights stand out, as do the establishment of the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality, the adoption of quotas to increase women’s political participation, and the approval of Civil Union Act legislation, granting rights to same sex couples and thus, advancing LGBT rights

Since the early 1990s, Ms. Bachelet has worked closely with many international organizations. In 2010 she chaired the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group, a joint International Labor Organization (ILO) and World Health Organization (WHO) initiative, which sought to promote social policies to stimulate economic growth and social cohesion.  In 2011, she was named the first Director of UN Women, an organization dedicated to fighting for the rights of women and girls internationally.  Economic empowerment and ending violence against women were two of her priorities during her tenure.  After finishing her second term in March 2018, she was named Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, an alliance of more than 1000 organizations in 192 countries from the sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health communities.   As Co-Chair of the High-Level Steering Group for Every Woman Every Child, Ms. Bachelet launched Every Woman Every Child Latin America and the Caribbean, the first platform for tailored, regional implementation of the EWEC Global Strategy.

Michelle Bachelet has a Medical Degree in Surgery, with a specialization in Pediatrics and Public Health.  She also studied military strategy at Chile's National Academy of Strategy and Policy and at the Inter-American Defense College in the United States. 

Program:

·         Welcoming Remarks:  Senior Associate Dean Brenda Smith

·         Introduction:  Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman

·         Presentation:  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, “Challenges to the Protection of Human Rights in the 21st Century and the Role of the United Nations”

Reception to follow.

Co-Sponsored by the International Law Student Association; the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law; the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law; American University International Law Review.  Event covered by the Human Rights Brief. 

Registration is free but required - https://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/registration

Please check back for more information.

Event will be live streamed, available at: https://youtu.be/YghiWQcOXgQ