2002 ACADEMY ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN LAW
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAY 28 - JUNE 14, 2002
(Details and application forms can be downloaded from our website:
http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/hracademy)
We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for
summer program 2002 of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
sponsored by the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law &
International Legal Studies Program at American University, Washington
College of Law and the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) at
Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Please share this information widely. The deadline for submitting
applications is May 13, 2002.
INTRODUCTION
The Academy is designed to offer an innovative and diverse program
tailored to the needs of counselors in international organizations,
government agencies, international relief agencies, policymakers, NGO
representatives, academics, and law students specializing in human
rights from around the world. With the participation from current
practitioners and future human rights advocates, this program offers an
unparalleled opportunity to network with peers from across the globe and
advance the application of human rights norms at the beginning of the
21st Century.
More than 100 practitioners and students from four continents
participated in last year's program.
COURSES
The Academy offers specialized courses on regional human rights law,
universal human rights law, international humanitarian law, as well as
other thematic courses. In addition, this year a core set of courses
will be offered again in the Spanish language. Our faculty include
recognized professors, practitioners, and human rights activists from
different regions in the world.
Summer 2002 courses in English include:
1. European Human Rights Law (Leo Zwaak, University Lecturer, Utrecht
University)
2. International Humanitarian Law (Robert Goldman, Professor of Law,
WCL)
3. Inter-American and African Human Rights Law (Elizabeth Abi-Mershed,
Human Rights Principal Specialist, Inter-American Commission on Human
Rights and Christof Heyns, Director and Professor of Human Rights Law,
University of Pretoria)
4. Human Rights Practice: Skills, Ethics and Values in Advocacy
(Richard Wilson,
Professor of Law, WCL; Melissa Crow and Elizabeth Bruch,
Practitioners-In Residence, WCL)
5. Human Rights and Environmental Law (Durwood Zaelke, President,
Center for
International Environmental Law and Romina Picolotti, Director of the
Access to Justice Program, Center for Human Rights and Environment
(Cedha)
6. Women and International Human Rights Law (Kelly Askin, Fellow, Carr
Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University)
7. United Nations and Human Rights (Nigel Rodley, Professor of Law,
University of Essex)
8. Accountability for Past Human Rights Violations (Reed Brody, Special
Counsel for Prosecutions, Human Rights Watch)
9. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Philip Alston, Professor of
Law, New York University School of Law).
Summer 2002 courses in Spanish include:
1. Inter-American Human Rights Law (Claudio Grossman, Dean and
Professor; Claudia Martin and Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Academy
Co-Directors and Visiting Associate Professors, WCL)
2. United Nations and Human Rights (Alejandro Valencia Villa, Advisor
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner in Colombia)
3. Litigation and Activism in Human Rights (Víctor Abramovich,
Executive Director,
Center for Legal and Social Studies; and Felipe González, Professor
of Law, Universidad Diego Portales)
4. Administration of Justice Reforms in Latin America and Fundamental
Rights (Juan Enrique Vargas, Executive Director, Centro de Estudios de
Justicia de las Américas)
HUMAN RIGHTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Academy's Washington, DC location offers unrivaled opportunities for
our participants, allowing them access to key resources and human rights
institutions such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
(IACHR) within the Organization of American States, Human Rights Watch,
and the Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL), as well as
international organizations such as the World Bank and the
Inter-American Development Bank which are influential in the development
of rule of law programs. Our participants take advantage of these
resources via on-site visits, specialized conferences, workshops,
distinguished lecture series and career panels. Last year, for example,
participants met with key staff members at the IACHR, CEJIL and Human
Rights Watch, the World Bank Inspection Panel, the United States
Congress, where they learned the history of the organization and their
work on human rights or their efforts to integrate human rights issues
into their mandate. Such visits provide a venue to meet people behind
the institutions and become familiar with the resources and materials
such organizations
offer. Participants also attend workshops that offer training in human
rights advocacy skills and career panels that explore growing
opportunities in the dynamic field of international human rights.
Keynote speakers, specialized conferences and the distinguished lecture
series will bring to campus leading human rights practitioners and
distinguished thinkers from this country and abroad who are working on
the frontiers of contemporary thought. These events are aimed at
providing our participants with a forum to engage in discussion and
network with the international and local human rights community.
HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH
As part of last year's program, the Academy organized the Human Rights
Month, an event that included a series of conferences by distinguished
lecturers and human rights practitioners, a film festival, a career
panel, workshops, and on-site visits to national and international
institutions in Washington D.C. The conferences featured seminars such
as: International Civil Society and Human Rights: Overcoming the
Democratic Deficit?; Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; Banca
Multilateral, Estado de Derecho y Gobernabilidad; the World Commission
on Dams
Report; The Battle against Impunity: International and Domestic
Remedies; UN World Conference against Racism: Battle, Struggle,
Challenge or Promise?; and Trade, Labor Rights, and Environmental
Protection. The academy was honored to have Mr. José Miguel Vivanco,
Executive Director, Human Rights Watch Americas; Mr. Víctor Abramovich,
Executive Director, CELS, Argentina; Mr. Fernando Carrillo,
Modernization of State Specialist, Inter- American Development Bank; Ms.
Teresa Genta-Fons, Senior Counsel, Legal Department, Latin America and
the Caribbean, World Bank; Ms. Rachel Kyte, IFC/Office of Compliance
Advisor/Ombudsman; Ms. Maria Herminia Graterol, Race, Ethnicity and
Gender Justice in the Americas; Mr. Keith Harper, Native American Fund;
Ms. Grace McDonough, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Ms. Veena
Vasista, International Human Rights Law Group; Mr. Sam Buffone, Ropes &
Gray; Ms. Martina Vandenberg, Europe Researcher, Human Rights Watch; and
Mr. Richard L. Herz, Litigation Director, Earth Rights International as
speakers in the conferences. In addition, the distinguished WCL faculty
participating in the panels included: Dean Claudio Grossman, and
Professors Ken Anderson, Daniel Bradlow, David Hunter, Jerry Levinson,
Beth Lyon, Diane Orentlicher; and Jan Perlin.
The Human Rights Month also included a film festival, a workshop on how
to present petitions before the Inter-American Human Rights System
conducted by experienced staff attorneys of the Center for Justice and
International Law (CEJIL), as well as a career panel that featured Mr.
Christopher Sabatini, Senior Program Officer, NED; Mr. Don Muncy, Senior
Democracy Officer, Bureau of Africa, USAID; Mr. Christopher Borgen,
ASIL; and Ms. Aurora Carmichael,
WCL Director for Grants and Programs. Lastly, students in the program
participated in on-site visits to the Inspection Panel of the World
Bank, where they met with Mr. Alberto Ninio; the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights, where Mr. Ariel Dulitzky and Mr. Brian
Tittemore lectured on the new developments in the regional system; the
U.S. Congress to participate in a panel discussion with Mr. David
Abramowitz, Democratic Chief Counselor, and
Mr. Joseph Rees, Legal Counsel, House International Relations Committee;
Human Rights Watch to meet with Mr. Steve Goose, Program Director, Arms
Division; and CEJIL where Ms. Roxanna Altholz and Ms. María Clara Galviz
made a presentation on the activities of this organization. Such visits
provided a venue to meet people behind the institutions and become
familiar with the resources and materials such organizations offer.
The 2002 Academy will again sponsor Human Rights Month as part of the
activities that the program will offer to participating students. As in
our previous edition, Human Rights Month will include a series of panels
on current issues of international law and human rights with
presentations made by distinguished professors and practitioners,
workshops that offer training in human rights advocacy skills, a career
panel that will explore growing opportunities in the dynamic field of
international human rights, and on-site visits to national and
international institutions based in Washington, D.C. These events are
aimed at providing our participants with
a forum to engage in discussion and network with the international and
local human rights community.
HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
The Human Rights Award of the Academy is conferred upon participants who
successfully pass two required examinations, one written and one oral
before a panel of experts. Candidates for the award should be law
faculty currently teaching international human rights law or related
courses, or lawyers with at least five (5) years of experience in the
field of international human rights law.
Examinations can be taken in English or Spanish. Interested candidates
should contact the Academy to request a copy of the Award Regulations
and registration requirements.
ADMISSION
The Academy's program is designed for lawyers or law students with a
demonstrated interest in international human rights law. Other
professionals in related fields with some academic or practical
experience in human rights can also be accepted to the program on a
case- by-case approval. Admission of the candidates to the Academy is
decided by a Selection Committee.
Candidates planning to take courses in English may apply to the Academy
either for Academic Credits or for a Certificate of Attendance.
Candidates taking the courses in Spanish may apply to the Program for a
Certificate of Attendance only.
Application of Credits toward an American University, Washington College
of Law, LL.M. Degree in International Legal Studies:
Those planning to apply to or already admitted to but not yet enrolled
in the Master in International Legal Studies at American University
Washington College of Law, may apply for up to four credits earned in
the academy toward their LL.M. degree if they register for academic
credits. Those taking courses for Certificate of Attendance are not
eligible for this benefit.
If you are not currently registered as a student, and English is not
your first language, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) in order to apply these credits to your LL.M. degree at
WCL. A minimum TOEFL score of 580 (237 computer based) is required. The
TOEFL requirement will be waived only if you have completed a higher
degree program in an accredited U.S. institution. Please contact the
academy, if you are interested in this opportunity.
Program Procedure and Registration Information
Calendar
Registration February 1 - May 13, 2002
Classes Begin May 28, 2002
Classes End June 14, 2002
Exams for candidates applying for Academic Credit June 17 & 18,
2002
Exams for candidates for the Human Rights Award June 13 & 14, 2002
APPLICANTS FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT
(for English courses only)
Registration:
Students may take no more than seven credit hours. If you wish to
accelerate graduation by enrolling for summer courses, you must consult
and have permission from your hom e institution. A letter of good
standing and permission to enroll at American University Washin gton
College of Law must accompany your application. Please use the
appropriate application form (download it from
http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/hracademy )to receive academic
credit. Mail the application form to the Registrar's Office at:
American University
Washington College of Law
Registrar's Office
4801 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Suite 304
Washington, D.C. 20016-8125
USA
Tel: 202-274-4080
TUITION & FEES
The following tuition and charges are applicable for summer 2002:
Tuition per credit $965
Student activity fee $23 (one-time fee)
Note that tuition and fees do not include other expenses such as books
or reading materials.
APPLICANTS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE
Registration:
Students may register for any number of courses. However, given the
intensity of the workload, it is highly advisable that they take no more
than three courses. Please use the appropriate application form
(download it from http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/hracademy )to
receive a Certificate of Attendance.
TUITION
The following fees are applicable for summer 2002:
One (1) course $1,050
Two (2) courses $1,700
Three (3) courses $2,200
Non-refundable application fee of $55.
Note that tuition and fees include books or reading materials.
CERTIFICATE
Upon completion of the program, a Certificate of Attendance will be
presented to students who do not wish to take courses for academic
credit. Students taking courses for a certificate are not required to
take final exams.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Language of Instruction: The Academy offers courses in English and
Spanish. However, not all the courses offered in English are
simultaneously offered in Spanish. Students must have a good command of
the language of instruction to take full advantage of the program.
Visa: Participants are responsible for obtaining any visas that might be
necessary to attend the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law in
Washington, DC during the 2002 Session. Participants should contact the
appropriate consulate well in advance as visa issuance may take some
time.
Responsibility & Insurance: The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian
Law and its sponsors and organizers do not provide any health insurance
to visiting students. It is strongly recommended that every visiting
student obtain heath insurance prior to departure from home.
SUMMER HOUSING
If you would like to stay in American University residence halls, please
download an application form from the academy's Web site and mail it
directly to Residential Life & Housing Services, 4400 Massachusetts
Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20016-8142; tel. (202) 885-3370 or email
housing@american.edu. Please send a COPY of this application to the
academy. If you cannot download the form, please contact the academy
and we will fax or mail it to you.
Download Academy Housing Form from:
http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/hracademy/english/services.htm
Availability of short-term summer housing on-campus and in Washington,
D.C. is
EXTREMELY limited. If you plan to enroll in our summer session, we
strongly recommend that you make arrangements as early as possible. The
academy does not guarantee housing for our visiting students and it is
not responsible for any problems related to housing. The on-campus
housing agreement is strictly between the participant and the American
University Residential Life & Housing Services.
Summer Housing Deadline: March 15, 2002
For alternative housing resources in D.C., please visit the
International Student Services resources at:
http://www.american.edu/other.depts/iss/Newstudents/Pre-Arrival/housinfo.html
PROGRAM CHANGES AND WITHDRAWALS
Applicants who have registered or paid a deposit will be informed
promptly of any change in the academy's course offerings and, in the
unlikely event of a course cancellation, will receive a full refund for
the course (excluding the application fee of $55 which is
non-refundable).
Applicants who have registered or paid a deposit should notify us
immediately in case of withdrawal to receive a full refund (excluding
the application fee of $55 which is non-refundable). Students who have
registered to receive academic credit must complete the appropriate
forms, available in the Office of the Registrar, to withdraw officially,
and requests for refunds should be directed to the American University
Office of Student Accounts. The address is as follows:
American University
Student Accounts
Asbury Building, 3rd Floor
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20016-8073
USA
Tel: 202-885-3541
For withdrawals during or before the first week of classes, students
will receive a refund of 100 percent less $55. Students who do not
officially withdraw during this cancellation period will be responsible
for payment of the full amount of the applicable tuition and fees.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Co-Directors Claudia Martin and Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón
Program Coordinator Fabiana Arciniegas
Academy for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
American University
Washington College of Law,
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 615
Washington, D.C. 20016-8181
Tel: 202-274-4070
Fax: 202-274-4198
E-mail: hracademy@wcl.american.edu
Or visit us at: http://www.wcl.american.edu/humright/hracademy
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