Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Encyclopedia
The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law is one of many specialized departments found within the American University
Washington College of Law
located in Washington, D.C. Created to promote practical approaches to issues involving Human rights
, the Academy offers relevant, empowering training to scholars, practitioners and students interested in the international human rights system and laws.
This is the only trilingual - English, Portuguese and Spanish - competition established to train law students how to use the Inter-American human rights legal system as a legitimate forum for redressing human rights violations. The competition has trained over 1800 students and faculty participants from more than 180 universities in 35 countries.
This is an annual writing competition that encourages lawyers to produce scholarly work in International Human Rights Law. The academy grants two awards for the best articles in English and in Spanish. Winners receive a scholarship to attend the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and their articles are eligible to be published in the American University International Law Review.
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
located in Washington, D.C. Created to promote practical approaches to issues involving Human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, the Academy offers relevant, empowering training to scholars, practitioners and students interested in the international human rights system and laws.
General Information
May 30 - June 17, 2011- Open to lawyers, activists and law students in the US and abroad, this unique program brings together 33 professionals in the field to teach participants from over 35 countries. Participants have varied backgrounds and differing levels of experience.
- Students may enroll for a diploma, certificate of attendance or American Bar Association credit.
- The Program offers courses taught in English and Spanish by prominent scholars. Courses are tailored to meet the needs of professionals, practitioners and students specializing in human rights. 18 courses are offered: 10 in English and 8 in Spanish.
English
- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
- Election Observation and the Right to Political Participation
- European Human Rights Law
- Human Rights and Development
- International Humanitarian Law
- International Justice for Human Rights Violations
- Regional Approaches to Human Rights Law: America, Asia and Africa
- Rights of Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Groups
- United Nations Human Rights System
- Women and International Human Rights Law
Spanish
- Derecho Internacional Humanitario
- Derechos Economicos, Sociales y Culturales
- Implementación de los Derechos Humanos en el Derecho Interno
- Inpunidad y Justicia
- Litigio y Activismo en Derechos Humanos
- Mujeres y el Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos
- Sistema InterAmericano de Derechos Humanos
- Sistema de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas
Faculty
2011 Faculty Include:- Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Deputy Executive Secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human RightsInter-American Commission on Human RightsThe Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
- Victor Abramovich, Director, Human Rights Master's, National University of LanúsNational University of LanúsThe National University of Lanús is an Argentine national university, situated in Remedios de Escalada, Lanús Partido, Buenos Aires Province.It was created on June 7th, 1995 by national law 24,496.-See also:*** Argentine Universities...
, Argentina - Gudmundur Alfredsson, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of StrasbourgUniversity of StrasbourgThe University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, France - Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director, American Society of International LawAmerican Society of International LawThe American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
- Carlos Ayala, Former President, Inter-American Commission on Human RightsInter-American Commission on Human RightsThe Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
, OASOASOAS or Oas may refer to:* Organization of American States, an international organization of the Americas.* Ohio Auction School, an auction school in Ohio, USA.* Old Age Security, a social security payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older.... - Reed Brody, European Press Director, Human Rights WatchHuman Rights WatchHuman Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
- Antônio Augusto Cançado TrindadeAntônio Augusto Cançado Trindadethumb|right|180px|Trindade at the a committee of the [[Brazilian Senate]] in [[2008]].Antônio Augusto Cançado Trindade is a Brazilian judge on the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague , Netherlands, a position he has held since 6 February 2009...
, Judge, International Court of JusticeInternational Court of JusticeThe International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
, Netherlands - Santiago Cantón, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human RightsInter-American Commission on Human RightsThe Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
, OASOASOAS or Oas may refer to:* Organization of American States, an international organization of the Americas.* Ohio Auction School, an auction school in Ohio, USA.* Old Age Security, a social security payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older.... - Roberta Cohen, Senior Advisor, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement, Brookings InstitutionBrookings InstitutionThe Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
- Rebecca Cook, Co-Director, International Program on Reproductive and Sexual Health Law, University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Canada - Asbjørn Eide, Professor Emeritus, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, University of OsloUniversity of OsloThe University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, Norway - Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, Judge, International Criminal CourtInternational Criminal CourtThe International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, Netherlands - Larry Garber, Expert Consultant, USAID
- Felipe González, President, Inter-American Commission on Human RightsInter-American Commission on Human RightsThe Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is an autonomous organ of the Organization of American States .Along with the...
- Claudio GrossmanClaudio GrossmanClaudio Grossman is a lawyer and law professor. He is the dean of the Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C.. Grossman served as vice chair of the United Nations Committee Against Torture and now as Chair . He is a former member of the Inter-American Commission on...
, Dean, American UniversityAmerican UniversityAmerican University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
Washington College of LawWashington College of LawAmerican University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report... - Françoise Hampson, Member, UN Sub-Commission for Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Essex
- Christof HeynsChristof HeynsChristof Heyns is a Professor of Human Rights Law, Co-director of the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa at the University of Pretoria and United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.-Education:...
, Former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of PretoriaUniversity of PretoriaThe University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
, South Africa and United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions - Fried van Hoof, Professor, Netherlands Institute of Human Rights
- Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director, The Center for Justice and International Law
- Jullisa Mantilla, Professor, Law School, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
- Fernando Mariño Menéndez, Member, United Nations Committee Against Torture
- Claudia Martin, Co-Director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
- Juan MéndezJuan MéndezJuan E. Mendez was born on December 11, 1944 in Argentina.In 1970, he received his law degree from Stella Maris University in Mar del Plata, Argentina....
, Special Rapporteur on Torture, United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... - Pedro Nikken, Vice-President, International Commission of JuristsInternational Commission of JuristsThe International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
- The Rule of Law of Human Rights, Venezuela - Manfred NowakManfred NowakManfred Nowak is an Austrian human rights lawyer.Nowak was a student of Felix Ermacora, and cooperated with him until Ermacora's death in 1995. They co-founded the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Menschenrechte in 1992...
, Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für MenschenrechteLudwig Boltzmann Institut für MenschenrechteLudwig Boltzmann Institut für Menschenrechte is a research institute affiliated with the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft, that specializes in the area of human rights. It was founded in 1992 by Felix Ermacora, Manfred Nowak and Hannes Tretter. Felix Ermacora served as its first director, as of...
, University of ViennaUniversity of ViennaThe University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, Austria - Jarna Petman, Professor of International Law, University of HelsinkiUniversity of HelsinkiThe University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
, Finland - Monica Roa, Women's Link Director, Gender and Justice Program, Bogotá, Colombia
- Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-Director, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
- Harry Roque, Director, Institute of International legal Studies Law Center, University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesThe ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
- Pablo Saavedra, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Court on Human Rights, OASOASOAS or Oas may refer to:* Organization of American States, an international organization of the Americas.* Ohio Auction School, an auction school in Ohio, USA.* Old Age Security, a social security payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older....
- Yves Sandoz, Professor, University Centre for International Humanitarian Law, University of GenevaUniversity of GenevaThe University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
, Switzerland - Olivier De SchutterOlivier De SchutterOlivier De Schutter is a legal academic and human rights expert. A Harvard graduate now resident in Belgium, he was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food by the Human Rights Council in March 2008 and assumed his functions on 1 May 2008...
, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... - Juana Sotomayor, Coordinator, Center of Social and Economic Rights, Ecuador
- Sylvia SteinerSylvia SteinerSylvia Helena de Figueiredo Steiner is a Brazilian judge who has been a member of the International Criminal Court since 2003.Steiner graduated from the Law School of University of São Paulo and studied later at the University of Brasília. She acted as Federal Public Prosecutor from 1982 to 1995...
, Judge, International Criminal CourtInternational Criminal CourtThe International Criminal Court is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .It came into being on 1 July 2002—the date its founding treaty, the Rome Statute of the...
, Netherlands - Phillipe Texier, Former Chairperson, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsCommittee on Economic, Social and Cultural RightsThe Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is a United Nations body of 18 experts that meets three times a year to consider the five-yearly reports submitted by UN member states on their compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights...
, United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... - Rodrigo Uprimny, Director, Research Center for Law, Justice and Society, Colombia
- Alejandro Valencia Villa, Consultant, Human Rights and Transitional Justice, Colombia
- Leo Zwaak, Senior Researcher, Netherlands Institute on Human Rights, Utrecht UniversityUtrecht UniversityUtrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
, Netherlands
Inter-American Moot Court Competition
May 21–25, 2011- 2011 Theme: The Rights of Children
This is the only trilingual - English, Portuguese and Spanish - competition established to train law students how to use the Inter-American human rights legal system as a legitimate forum for redressing human rights violations. The competition has trained over 1800 students and faculty participants from more than 180 universities in 35 countries.
Human Rights Essay Award
2011 Topic: "The Rights of Children and International Human Rights Law"- Deadline for submission: February 1st, 2011
This is an annual writing competition that encourages lawyers to produce scholarly work in International Human Rights Law. The academy grants two awards for the best articles in English and in Spanish. Winners receive a scholarship to attend the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and their articles are eligible to be published in the American University International Law Review.