Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian law
Encyclopedia
The Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University
Washington College of Law
(WCL) was founded in 1990 as a way to coordinate all the human rights
and humanitarian law activities at WCL. The Center’s objective is “to work with students, faculty and the international legal community to provide scholarship and support for human rights initiatives around the world.”.
The Center has created numerous projects throughout the years to advance the cause of human rights. These projects include the Human Rights Brief, a student run publication on international human rights news; the Israel-US Civil Liberties Law Program, which trains Israeli lawyers in Human Rights law; WCL/University of Peshawar Collaborative Exchange and Capacity Building Program, a program designed to enhance the human rights and gender studies programs at the University of Peshawar
in Pakistan
; the Project on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor; and many others. Each year the Center also co-hosts the Human Rights Film Series with the American University's Center for Social Media
to demonstrate how film can be used as a tool to promote human rights. In past years, films shown included Banished (film)
, State of Fear: The Truth about Terrorism
, At the Death House Door
, When the Levees Broke
, Encounter Point
, The Devil's Miner
, and Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
. In addition, the Center hosts 50-70 events throughout the academic year, including panel discussions, lectures by human rights practitioners, and seminars for law students interested in human rights.
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...
(WCL) was founded in 1990 as a way to coordinate all the 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...
and humanitarian law activities at WCL. The Center’s objective is “to work with students, faculty and the international legal community to provide scholarship and support for human rights initiatives around the world.”.
The Center has created numerous projects throughout the years to advance the cause of human rights. These projects include the Human Rights Brief, a student run publication on international human rights news; the Israel-US Civil Liberties Law Program, which trains Israeli lawyers in Human Rights law; WCL/University of Peshawar Collaborative Exchange and Capacity Building Program, a program designed to enhance the human rights and gender studies programs at the University of Peshawar
University of Peshawar
The University of Peshawar is a public sector university in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. The university was established in October 1950 by Mr...
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
; the Project on Human Trafficking and Forced Labor; and many others. Each year the Center also co-hosts the Human Rights Film Series with the American University's Center for Social Media
Center for Social Media
The Center for Social Media in the School of Communication at American University examines strategies to use media as creative tools for public knowledge and action. It focuses on social documentaries for civil society and democracy, and on the public media environment that supports them...
to demonstrate how film can be used as a tool to promote human rights. In past years, films shown included Banished (film)
Banished (film)
Banished is a 2007 documentary film about four U.S. cities, which were part of many communities that violently forced African American families to flee in post-reconstruction America. In incidents which took place in Texas, Missouri, Georgia and Indiana between 1886 and 1923...
, State of Fear: The Truth about Terrorism
State of Fear: The Truth about Terrorism
State of Fear: The Truth about Terrorism is a documentary film produced by Skylight Pictures and directed by Pamela Yates. It won the 2006 Overseas Press Club Award for "Best Reporting in Any Medium on Latin America"...
, At the Death House Door
At the Death House Door
At the Death House Door is a 2008 documentary film about Carroll Pickett, who served as the death house chaplain to the infamous "Walls" prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. It was produced and directed by the team of Steve James and Peter Gilbert...
, When the Levees Broke
When the Levees Broke
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana due to the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and early September 2005, and premiered at the New Orleans Arena on...
, Encounter Point
Encounter Point
Encounter Point is an award-winning film directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha. It depicts different families that have been affected by the violence in Israel between Israelis and Palestinians. In this film, Just Vision, a non-profit organization, follows these families for 16 months. It begins...
, The Devil's Miner
The Devil's Miner
The Devil's Miner is a 2005 documentary film directed by independent film directors Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani. The film follows a fourteen year old Bolivian boy named Basilio Vargas who along with his twelve year old brother Bernardino work in the mines near the city of Potosí...
, and Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib is a 2007 documentary film directed by Rory Kennedy. It is an examination of the events of the 2004 Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal. The film premiered January 19, 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival....
. In addition, the Center hosts 50-70 events throughout the academic year, including panel discussions, lectures by human rights practitioners, and seminars for law students interested in human rights.
See also
- 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...
- 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...
- Human RightsHuman rightsHuman 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...
- Humanitarian Law