LAW-2906 International Human Rights Law and Practice
Opportunities to advocate on behalf of clients before international and regional human rights bodies are numerous. Not only do these international and regional bodies provide additional forums to seek redress for harm caused, but engagement at this level also allows an advocate to drawn on a different body of law, distinct from domestic law, to argue for their clients rights. The practice of law is also different at international and regional systems, compared to U.S. domestic administrative and judicial forums. In addition to understanding a wide range of procedural rules, developing a human rights advocacy strategy before international and regional bodies requires considering different factors, such as how to compliment, not hinder, domestic advocacy, whether and how to utilize multiple international bodies simultaneously, and how to leverage non-binding decisions and reports against a government. After establishing a foundation in international human rights law, in this skills-centered course, students will craft such a strategy, in the context of international human rights, for a hypothetical or simulated client. Drawing on actual cases, students will learn how these international and regional systems operate and the different types of advocacy and practice possible before them, as well as, have an opportunity to practice the skills necessary to engage in these systems. 18 Jul 2023 1:56 PM