Archive for the ABA Human Rights e-Brief Category

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, 15 Aug 2011 / Issue No. 460

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
15 August 2011 / Issue No. 460

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

UPDATE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Starting in this issue and going forward, the International Human Rights Committee is pleased to provide updates on what we are focused on.

HELPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN HAITI

Following up on last year’s very successful Books for Africa project, Special Projects Vice Chair Royce Murray has done research on organizations that are helping women and children in the displaced persons camps in Haiti. Royce and others have identified two projects to address vulnerability of women and children at night:

(1) Emergency whistles so a woman who is being attacked can alert others in the community and get help; and (2) Solar lanterns to address the poor lighting in the camps and again, make women and children more able to protect themselves and each other. Royce is working directly with organizations to get these items directly to women and children in Haiti.

For more information or to contribute to these two initiatives, please contact Royce directly at roycebmurray@gmail.com

NOMINATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE AAAS SCIENTIFIC FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

The award is given to scientists or engineers or their associations whose exemplary actions have served to foster scientific freedom and responsibility. Such achievements can include: acting to protect the public’s health, safety or welfare; focusing public attention on important potential impacts of science and technology on society by their responsible participation in public policy debates; or establishing important new precedents in carrying out the social responsibilities or in defending the professional freedom of scientists and engineers.

To submit a nomination…

Send the names, addresses, phone number, and e-mail of both the nominator and the nominee.
A summary of the action(s) that form the basis for the nomination (about 250 words).
A longer statement (no more than three pages) providing additional details of the action(s) for which the candidate is nominated.
The candidate’s vita or short biography (no more than three pages).
Any documentation (books, articles, or other materials) that elucidates the significance of the nominee’s achievement may also be submitted. (All materials become property of AAAS.)
SUPPORTING LETTERS ARE NOT REQUIRED BUT WILL BE ACCEPTED

NOMINATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

You may see information about the award on the AAAS web site at http://www.aaas.org/about/awards/freedom.shtml

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL Deborah Runkle at 202.326.6794 or email her at drunkle@aaas.org

Human Rights News

DAMAGES

An appeals court allows a suit against Donald Rumsfeld to go forward.

By Dahlia LithwickPosted Monday, Aug. 8, 2011

Last week, a federal district court judge in Washington, D.C., determined that a lawsuit filed against former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld by a former military translator who claimed to have been tortured by U.S. forces at Camp Cropper in Iraq could go forward despite claims from Rumsfeld and the Obama administration that he should be immune from suit. After assessing the claims of “John Doe,” Judge James S. Gwin found that American citizens don’t lose their constitutional rights simply because it’s wartime. “The court finds no convincing reason,” wrote Gwin, “that United States citizens in Iraq should or must lose previously-declared substantive due process protections during prolonged detention in a conflict zone abroad.”

On Monday, a three-judge panel from the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals came to pretty much the same conclusion. Reviewing a different lawsuit, filed by two different military contractors, alleging similar forms of abuse at the same camp, the panel determined, with one judge filing a partial dissent, that their suit against Rumsfeld could proceed.

Compliments of Larry Albrecht: you can read the entire Seventh Circuit decision upholding the propriety of a Bivens Fifth Amendment claim against the government’s defense that it’s constitutional to torture US citizens, and also denying Rumsfeld’s qualified immunity, and finding that the right to be free from torture is well-established under both international and US law at: http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/tmp/AA0VMZ4E.pdf

9 SALVADORAN SUSPECTS FIGHT EXTRADITION TO SPAIN

The nine, wanted in the 1989 killings of six Jesuit priests during El Salvador’s civil war, turn themselves into Salvadoran authorities as they fight extradition to Spain.

By Alex Renderos, Los Angeles Times

August 9, 2011

Reporting from San Salvador— Nine former Salvadoran soldiers and military officials were in custody Monday at an army base while fighting extradition to Spain in the killings of six Jesuit priests and two others during El Salvador’s civil war.

The Salvadoran government said in a statement that the men, among 20 ex-soldiers indicted by a Spanish judge in May, were in the custody of a civilian court that handles extradition cases.

The suspects turned themselves in at the military installation Sunday afternoon, as Salvadoran police were preparing to arrest them on an extradition order from Interpol. A 10th suspect, former army chief of staff Rene Emilio Ponce, died in May, before the indictments were issued.

The Salvadoran Defense Ministry, now in the hands of a leftist government, has said it would not interfere in civilian proceedings against the men, who have asked the country’s Supreme Court to block the extradition. It would be the first time Salvadoran officers were extradited to face crimes stemming from the conflict.

The men argue that the case involving the 1989 deaths of the Jesuit priests was closed in 1991 after a court handed down convictions against at least two officers. The convictions were set aside under an amnesty that came when the civil war ended in 1992, setting the stage for a legal battle over whether the suspects have immunity from prosecution on fresh charges of crimes against humanity.

The case has been closely watched here since Judge Eloy Velasco of Spain, acting under a principle known as universal jurisdiction, charged the 20 former military men.

Five of the six slain priests were Spaniards.

HARIRI TRIBUNAL JUDGE APPEALS TO SUSPECTS

Head of UN-backed tribunal probing murder of ex-Lebanon PM says suspects will get fair trial if they hand themselves in.

The president of the UN-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, has called on the four suspects in the case to turn themselves in, promising they will get a fair trial.

In an open letter published on Thursday, the deadline following 30 days in which Lebanese authorities were given to search and arrest the suspects, Judge Antonio Cassese addressed the accused, informing them of the possibility of appearing via video-link during the court proceedings.

“If you do not wish to come to the tribunal in person, the option might be available – following the procedures in our rules – of appearing by video-link, thus participating in the proceedings without physically coming to The Hague,” Cassese said.

He went on to insist on the need for the accused to obtain legal counsel, and that “substantial funds have been earmarked” specifically for the defence team, in case they cannot afford it.

In June, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) issued arrest warrants for four members of Hezbollah for alleged involvement in the February 14, 2005 truck bombing in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others.

The STL, which was established in 2007 under Chapter Seven in the UN mandate, has had a polarising effect on Lebanese domestic politics, dividing the country into two distinct camps; those who believe the STL is pushing forward a political agenda to bring down Hezbollah, and those who believe that the court is the only institution that will be able to objectively seek the truth.

11 August 2011

IVORY COAST CONFLICT: UN SAYS 26 EXECUTED IN A MONTH

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast says that 26 people have been executed in the last month.

It says the killings have been carried out principally by armed forces who helped the new President, Alassane Ouattara, take power.

The report came as Ivory Coast officials said they had charged 62 former army officers.

Mr Ouattara has been president since April when his forces arrested former President Laurent Gbagbo.

Mr Gbagbo is now under house arrest in the north of the country. Some alleged killings were blamed on his allies.

The rights representative for the UN mission in Ivory Coast, Guillaume Ngefa, said there had been 26 cases of “extrajudicial execution, summary or arbitrary” and “85 cases of arbitrary arrest and illegal detention”.

The killings were reported between 11 July and 10 August of this year, he said, adding that locals and victims identified most of the perpetrators as men belonging

ANOTHER OBSTACLE TO BURMA ENGAGEMENT: GANG RAPE

Posted By Josh RoginWednesday, August 10, 2011

Thirteen U.S. senators, all women, are calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to take concrete action to address the Burmese junta’s use of rape as a weapon of war.

“Given the Burmese regime’s unabated use of rape as a weapon of war, we urge you to call on the regime to end this practice and pursue our shared goal of establishing an international Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the senators wrote in an Aug. 10 letter, obtained by The Cable.

The signers on the letter were Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Susan Collins (R-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).

The senators cited several reports that the Burmese army has been using gang rape in its conflicts with ethnic minorities along its borders recently. For example, the Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand reported that dozens of women have been gang raped since the truce between Burma and the Kachin Independence Army broke down in June, and that Burmese soldiers claim they have “orders to rape women.”

The Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) has also been documenting all known cases of rape during the Burmese government’s new offensive against the Shan State Army following the collapse of a 22-year ceasefire.

“Burma Army troops are being given free rein to rape children, the pregnant and the elderly,” said SWAN coordinator Hseng Moon in a press release. “We strongly condemn these war crimes.”

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

LEON LEVY FELLOWSHIP

Refugee Protection Program

New York Office

START DATE: September 1, 2011

Human Rights First is seeking a two-year Leon Levy Fellow for the Refugee Protection program in the New York Office. The Leon Levy Fellow will play a key role in developing and overseeing the asylum screening program designed to promote and facilitate pro bono representation in the asylum and immigration adjudication systems.

Many immigrants in removal proceedings—including asylum seekers and others with legitimate claims to lawful immigration status—face the harsh prospect of being removed from the United States simply because they cannot afford competent attorneys. Without a right to government-funded counsel in immigration proceedings, there is a need for legal service providers to partner with law firms to provide pro bono legal representation for these individuals.

To learn more about this opportunity or to apply, please visit http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/Jobs/apply_position.aspx?qs=BVEAXY7ao4A%3d

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

The Sallows Chair will be of interest to outstanding candidates who have made distinguished contributions to research and/or practice in human rights; the candidate must have the academic qualifications required for an academic appointment. Past holders include Penelope Andrews, Marilou McPhedran, Virginia Leary, Paul Mahoney, Shelley Wright, the late Martin Ennals, Rebecca Wallace, Abdullah An-Na’im, Nihal Jayawickrama, Francisco Forrest Martin and Roy Adams.

Successful candidates for the Chair will be in residence in the College of Law, and it is normally expected that the candidate will pursue a research program, teach a course or seminar, give a public lecture and oversee the planning for a conference. Tenure will normally be for one year, but in any event no longer than two years. Salary will be commensurate with the experience and standing of the holders. The date for appointment is flexible, and may be as early as January 1, 2012.

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Fundraising Officer

Kurdish Human Rights Project

Location: London

Last Date: August 20, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_77189.shtml

Consultant

United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Location: Amman

Last Date: August 23, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_77361.shtml

Program Officer

Save the Children

Location: Washington D.C.

Last Date: August 25, 2011

http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/stc-program-officer-25july2011.html

Fundraising Officer

Association for the Prevention of Torture

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Last Date: August 26, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_77494.shtml

Legal Adviser

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)

Location: Geneva , Switzerland

Last Date: August 31, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_77695.shtml

Senior Legal Policy Researcher – Human Rights

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

Location: New Caledonia

Last Date: August 31, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_77590.shtml

Director, Global Communications

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP)

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Last Date: September 5, 2011

http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/peaceforce-2august2011.html

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM: Realising Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the UK

Date: 21st and 22nd of October 2011

Location: Law Society, Chancery Lane, London

The Law Society is organising a conference on ‘Fairness, Justice and Human Rights: Realising Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in the UK’.

The conference is designed to enable approximately 250 judges, scholars, policy makers, legal practitioners and community representatives to exchange views and consider the problems and prospects for the effective enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) in the UK. It will feature a mixture of keynote addresses, breakout sessions/workshops as well as informal opportunities to exchange ideas and build relationships.

Key speakers include:

- Justice Albie Sachs (former Justice of the South African Constitutional Court)
- Lady Justice Arden (Lady Justice of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales)
- Kate Green MP (Labour MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Poverty , member of the Work and Pensions Committee)
- Professor Francesca Klug OBE (Director, Human Rights Futures Project, LSE)
- Baroness Walmsley (Patron, CRAE, co-Chair Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Policy Committee on – Education, Families and Young People and sponsor of the 2009 ROCK Children’s Rights Bill)
- Professor Emeritus Richard Wilkinson (Director, Equality Trust and author ‘The Spirit Level’)

For more info: http://international.lawsociety.org.uk/node/11415

FINAL CALL: Applications for Short Certificate Courses — October-November 2011

HREA is issuing a final call for applications for the following short certificate courses, which will be offered in the third trimester of 2011 (September-November):

- Environment and Human Rights (5 October-15 November 2011)
- Health and Human Rights (19 October-29 November 2011)
- (5S11)” href=”http://lists.hrea.org/phplist/lt.php?id=Kh5UAgZXAABSBBgFAgIBWk4GBVUEDA%3D%3D”>The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (5 October-15 November 2011)

These short e-learning courses are six weeks in duration and involve approximately 40 hours of reading, interaction with participants and instructor on discussion boards, quizzes and “webinars” with invited guests.

There are also still a few places available in the following 11-week specialised e-learning courses:

- Election Observation (14 September-29 November 2011)
- Human Rights Advocacy (14 September-29 November 2011)

Applications can be submitted online. For further information about each course please click on the course link above. The application deadline is 1 September 2011. For a listing of all upcoming courses, please visit www.hrea.org/courses

Reminder

The materials and information included in this listserv are provided as a service to you and do not necessarily reflect endorsement by the American Bar Association or the Section of International Law. We encourage subscribers to pass the information along to colleagues and other interested parties and to contribute press releases, news items, event listings, job vacancies and other appropriate information. To post a message email INTHUMRIGHTS@mail.abanet.org. For questions, suggestions or problems, contact Russell Kerr, russell@kerrlawfirm.com.

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

FAIR USE NOTICE: This weekly digest contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this digest is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, 27 June 2011 / Issue No. 454

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief on June 27, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
27June 2011 / Issue No. 454

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NEWSLETTER – June 2011

The June 2011 newsletter of the Centre for Human Rights at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria is now available at: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/newsletters/jun-2011/

GLOBAL CALL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FILMS

Our community project, UNSPOKEN, has created the possibility that we will continually provide diverse and rich human rights films at our October UNSPOKEN Human Rights Film Festival and Conference.

- *Films can be submitted at www.iamunspoken.com*

- *For any questions please contact film@iamUnspoken.com
IMPOWR Volunteers

Posted: 5/25/11

The ABA Section of International Law’s International Models Project on Women’s Rights (IMPOWR) is looking for volunteers to become Contributing Editors and Review Board Members. IMPOWR is a new initiative to establish a global collaborative database on women’s rights under law. It promises to play a unique role in supporting the worldwide implementation of the principles underlying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). IMPOWR seeks experienced lawyers and law students with a depth of knowledge in foreign legal systems and national laws pertaining to gender equality in one or more of the topic areas covered in the database: CEDAW status; civil life (citizenship, voting rights, etc.); healthcare; marriage and family relations (marital rights, custody, inheritance, etc.); economic and social life (access to education, employment, property ownership, etc.); crimes and violence (trafficking, domestic violence, etc.); and access to justice. Volunteers will serve as “Contributing Editors” to perform research and develop content for the database. Review Board Members will review the database content for relevancy and accuracy.

Those interested in volunteering can complete the volunteer information form online www.impowr.org/volunteer or contact International Projects Director Christina Heid (christina.heid@americanbar.org) for additional information and indicate their substantive interest and background.

Human Rights News

UN’S RWANDA GENOCIDE TRIBUNAL CONVICTS WOMAN OF GENOCIDE FOR FIRST TIME

The first woman ever charged with genocide by an international court was today convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison by the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up in the wake of the mass killings in Rwanda in 1994.

Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, 65, a former Rwandan government minister of family and women’s development, was found guilty by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwandan (ICTR) of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity (extermination, rape and persecution) and several serious violations of the Geneva conventions.

ICTR judges also convicted Ms. Nyiramasuhuko’s son Arsène Shalom Ntahobali and four others of similar charges as part of what is known as the Butare case, after the Rwandan prefecture where the crimes took place.

During the Rwandan genocide, which began in early April 1994, Butare initially served as a haven for people fleeing massacres carried out in other regions of the country, with the area regarded as having relatively harmonious inter-ethnic relations between Tutsis and Hutus.

But Ms. Nyiramasuhuko and others conspired to remove a local official seen as posing an obstacle to the killing of Tutsis and to replace him with Sylvan Nsabimana, one of her co-accused in the Butare case.

As a Cabinet-level Government official, Ms. Nyiramasuhuko was found to have ordered and directed subsequent killings and rapes and participated in a broader effort to wipe out the local Tutsi population.

Prosecutors told the ICTR – which is based in Arusha, Tanzania – that roadblocks were set up to identify, abduct and kill Tutsis and Ms. Nyiramasuhuko and her son, in conjunction with soldiers, personally manned those roadblocks.

Many killings and abductions also took place at the Butare town prefecture offices, often at the personal order of Ms. Nyiramasuhuko or Mr. Nsabimana. Ms. Nyiramasuhuko and her son sometimes forced people to undress completely before leaving the prefecture offices.

Mr. Ntahobali, a former student, and Elie Ndayamabaje, a former mayor of Muganza, were sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of similar offences to Ms. Nyiramasuhuko’s.

Mr. Nsabimana, a former prefect of Butare, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Alphonse Nteziryayo, another former Butare prefect, was handed a 30-year jail term. Joseph Kanyabashi, a former mayor of Ngoma commune, was given a 35-year prison sentence.

The trial of the six people in the Butare case took 10 years and was considered particularly complex, with nearly 200 witnesses and almost 13,000 pages of documents.

An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in Rwanda in less than 100 days between April and June 1994, often with weapons such as machetes.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 24 June 2011

KHMER ROUGE TRIAL FRAUGHT WITH DRAMA IN CAMBODIA

Four former Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide go on trial in Cambodia on Monday before a U.N.-backed tribunal amid charges of political meddling in the investigation of other cases.

By Brendan Brady, Los Angeles Times

June 27, 2011

Reporting from Phnom Penh, Cambodia— As a U.N.-backed Cambodian tribunal opens Monday to try former Khmer Rouge leaders charged with genocide, critics accuse the Cambodian government of meddling and the United Nations of failing to uphold the court’s independence.

Standing trial are the four highest-ranking surviving former Khmer Rouge leaders: head of state Khieu Samphan, 79; Foreign Minister Ieng Sary, 85; his wife, Social Affairs Minister Ieng Thirith, 79; and the revolution’s chief ideologue, Nuon Chea, 84. They face multiple charges that include war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Last July, in the first trial of Khmer leaders, former prison commandant Comrade Duch was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The current case, considered one of the most complex and historically significant war crimes trials since Nuremberg, is expected to last longer and be trickier than the first, in part because the defendants ruled through proxies.

International co-prosecutor Andrew Cayley, a Briton, also faces a roster of hard-hitting defense lawyers, including Jacques Verges, a Frenchman dubbed “terror’s advocate” for his success in defending those charged with war crimes.

The controversy surrounding the proceedings focuses on whether charges should be levied against more former regime members than the initial five. An estimated 1.7 million people died of starvation, overwork, medical neglect and execution during the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge’s 1975-79 reign.

Trying more alleged mass murderers is controversial in Cambodia because many prominent figures today have links to the former regime. Those in favor of widening the investigation — currently two more cases involving five suspects are under consideration — have met multiple roadblocks.

BAHRAIN TRIALS BEAR MARKS OF ‘POLITICAL PERSECUTION,’ SAYS UN HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE

The United Nations human rights office today spoke out against the harsh sentences, including life imprisonment, handed down this week to several activists in Bahrain, saying their trials bear the marks of “political persecution.”

On Wednesday, Bahrain sentenced 21 activists and opposition leaders reportedly for plotting to overthrow the Government, which has been has engaged in a violent crackdown against protesters calling for greater democracy, as witnessed in other countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, is writing to King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to convey her concerns, her spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, told reporters in Geneva.

“There are serious concerns that the due process rights of the defendants, many of whom are well-known human rights defenders, were not respected and the trials appear to bear the marks of political persecution,” said Ms. Shamdasani.

She added that, according to reliable sources, the Lower National Safety Court has convicted more than 100 individuals since March this year, mostly for crimes allegedly committed during the protests.

“We urge the authorities to act in strict accordance with their international human rights obligations, particularly regarding the right to due process and a fair trial,” Ms. Shamdasani said.

“We call for an immediate cessation of trials of civilians in the Court of National Safety, and an immediate release of all peaceful demonstrators who were arrested in the context of the protest movement in February.”

Up to 1,000 people reportedly remain in detention, according to the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), which has received “worrying” reports about the way they are being treated.

Ms. Shamdasani noted in particular that four individuals previously arrested reportedly died in detention due to injuries resulting from severe torture. She called on the Government to urgently conduct an independent investigation into these allegations.

OHCHR’s comments echo those of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who voiced his deep concern at the sentences handed out this week. In a statement issued yesterday by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban urged Bahraini authorities “to allow all defendants to exercise their right to appeal and to act in strict accordance with their international human rights obligations, including the right to due process and a fair trial.”

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 24 June 2011

UN MISSION TO PROBE DR CONGO RAPE CLAIMS

The UN says it is sending a team to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to investigate allegations of rape.

The French aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF, has said that more than 100 people in Niakiele village, in Sud-Kivu province, were raped or beaten in an attack which took place between June 10 and 12.

“We have a UN inter-agency mission going tomorrow into the area, one of the key tasks of the human rights component is to verify these allegations of rape,” Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman at the UN human rights office, told the AFP on Thursday.

“We received these allegations but we need to go on the ground to confirm them before we can share anything.”

Megan Hunter, head of the Dutch branch of MSF in Sud-Kivu province, said: “We have certainly treated over 100 women who say they have been raped or are suffering trauma.”

She did not say who might be responsible. However, she said that MSF is working with Congolese health officials to get more information.

Jean-Marie Ngoma, a provincial parliamentarian, blamed the assaults on “soldiers from the Congolese army”, headed by an officer named as Colonel Niragire Kifaru, who is a former member of the Mai Mai tribal militia.

Ngoma said that more than 60 women in the village were raped.

The UN-backed Radio Okapi said the attacks have been blamed on a group of about 200 rebels who had been integrated into the DRC army before deserting this month.

The resource-rich eastern DRC is an unstable area marked by violence blamed largely on the presence of the army and a host of militia and rebel groups.

GUATEMALA: UN ENVOY AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAILS ARREST OF FORMER TOP MILITARY FIGURE

A United Nations envoy today welcomed the arrest of a former top Guatemalan military figure accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, saying the arrest sends a strong signal that justice can prevail in the Central American country.

General Hector Mario Lopez Fuentes, who served as chief of staff of his country’s armed forces between March 1982 and October 1983, was arrested last week, according to media reports.

General Lopez Fuentes faces accusations that he directed a policy of wide-scale military attacks against civilians, particularly indigenous Mayans, during which entire villages were destroyed and countless women and girls were raped.

Margot Wallström, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, issued a statement in which she stressed that ending impunity is essential if a country or society is to come to terms with past abuses against civilians.

Numerous Guatemalans were the victims of human rights violations during the country’s protracted civil war, and the UN helped the Government set up the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) in an effort to tackle the problem.

“The apprehension of General Lopez Fuentes sends a strong signal to all perpetrators that conflict-related sexual violence is not acceptable, and that justice will ultimately prevail,” Ms. Wallström said.

“Sexual violence thrives on silence and impunity,” she added. “Women have no rights if those who violate their rights go unpunished.”

The envoy urged Guatemalan authorities to ensure the protection of victims, witnesses, human rights defenders and others throughout any legal action they may take to uphold their rights.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 23 June 2011

ZIMBABWE DIAMOND EXPORT BAN ENDS, DESPITE OBJECTIONS

The international group that monitors ‘blood diamonds’ OKs exports from the Marange mining fields despite rampant human rights abuses. The U.S., Canada and European Union are protesting the decision

By Neela Banerjee, Los Angeles Times

June 25, 2011

Reporting from Washington— The international organization that monitors conflict diamonds has agreed to allow Zimbabwe to export diamonds from its vast Marange mining fields despite rampant human rights abuses in the area.

The decision by the Kimberley Process — as the regulatory group governed by diamond-trading nations is known — threatens an end to world consensus over blocking so-called blood diamonds from the market and makes it impossible for consumers to have confidence that the diamonds they buy did not contribute to violence, said some participants in the group’s meeting this week in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Thursday, Kimberley Process Chairman Mathieu Yamba said Zimbabwe would be allowed to export rough diamonds from Marange under a system of minimal human rights oversight, participants said. The regulatory group’s decisions are supposed to be made by consensus, but the United States, Canada and the European Union swiftly protested.

“Until consensus is reached, exports from Marange should not proceed,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

The ruling party in Zimbabwe seized Marange in 2009 allegedly by killing hundreds of prospectors. President Robert Mugabe’s party continues to control the area with violence and forced labor, rights groups say.

LEGAL AID CUTS WILL STOP CASES LIKE TRAFIGURA, UN OFFICIAL WARNS

John Ruggie, UN special representative for business and human rights, warns justice minister changes will be damaging

Owen Bowcott, legal affairs correspondent

The Guardian, Thursday 16 June 2011

A senior UN official has warned the government that cuts to legal aid and changes to lawyers’ fees will prevent claims, such as those in the Trafigura case, being brought against multinational businesses.

Professor John Ruggie, a Harvard University lawyer who is the UN secretary-general’s special representative for business and human rights, wrote to the UK justice minister Jonathan Djanogly saying he was concerned about the “disincentives” being introduced.

The letter, sent last month, is a damaging critique of Ministry of Justice plans to cut £350m a year from the legal aid budget and reform conditional fee agreements so claimants would have to use any compensation to pay their lawyers’ success fees.

Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, has made clear his desire to reduce “spiralling legal costs” and restrict no win, no fee agreements. A sentencing and legal aid bill is expected to be introduced into the Commons in the coming days.

Ruggie’s letter, passed to opposition justice spokesman Andy Slaughter is a clear attempt to deflect the government from what he fears will be a damaging outcome. “Three related aspects of the proposed reforms could, when implemented together, constitute a significant barrier to legitimate business-related human rights claims being brought before UK courts in situations where alternative sources of remedy are unavailable,” he wrote. “Legal aid is no longer available in the UK for many cases against multinational enterprises and most such cases are currently funded through conditional fee agreements.”

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Human Rights First • New York City Office

Posted: 6/20/11

Human Rights First (New York City) is seeking an experienced fundraising professional with a proven record in major donor work and staff management to lead our comprehensive fundraising efforts. HRF is a U.S.-based advocacy organization that works to leverage U.S. law, policy, and influence to promote human rights globally.

This position is for an immediate hire. For more information and to apply, please visit: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/about_us/jobs/apply_Staff.aspx

TRAINING COURSE INTERNSHIP
Inter-American Human Rights

LOCATION: Washington DC

POSTED: 6-23-11

The annual Inter-American Human Rights System Training Course is a one week training that gathers 20 to 25 government officials from the Americas, which takes place in Washington DC, in parallel to the Session of the IA Commission during the month of July.

The Training is co-organized by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, American University-Washington College of Law and the Inter-American Institute for Human Rights and concentrates in the use of the human rights mechanisms of the IA System. The Course provides comprehensive and practical training for government officials in the functions and operation of the Inter-American Commission and Court on Human Rights. It will also provide them with useful, tested strategies and best practices for the implementation of human rights standards at national level.

The organizers are currently seeking an intern to collaborate with the logistics and organization of the training for fifteen days in the month of July. The intern is expected to be in Washington DC from July 13 to 22 (both included). Prior to the arrival in Washington DC, the intern is expected to collaborate in the update of a research related to cases decided by the Commission and the Court. This activity should take about a week of work.

Responsibilities

The intern will be responsible for logistics and administrative matters relating to the course and participants, including:

preparing welcome package for participants;
compiling information for the training course CD;
preparing training certificates for participants;
liaising with the hotel in regard to participants during the training;
preparation/set up for coffee and lunch breaks;
arranging and facilitating transport for participants;
assist participants in any request related to the training, including accommodation, training facilities, information, etc.;
assist in any other duty as indicated by the coordinator.

While the duties related to the internship are mostly administrative, the intern will have the opportunity to be present in the training activities, as long as his/her duties permits.

Qualifications:
Knowledge of/interest in human rights/currently studying human rights;
Superb organizational skills, self-motivated, initiative-taker,multi-tasker;
Problem-solving attitude, excellent interpersonal skills;
Proficiency in Spanish

Preferred: Previous work experience in organizing conferences/trainings etc

The internship is unpaid.
How to Apply:
Please send ASAP a cover letter, and resume to Andrea Galindo at cursosddhh@gmail.com. Please put in the subject line “Washington DC training course internship”

Due to the volume of applicants anticipated, we will not be able to respond individually to each applicant and will only be contacting those applicants that we feel best meet our criteria.

PRACTITIONER-IN-RESIDENCE/LECTURER

Miami Law Human Rights Clinic (HRC)

Miami Law invites applicants for the position of Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer in its Human Rights Clinic. The Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will have the opportunity to join the vibrant and supportive clinical community at the School of Law. Together with the HRC’s Director, the Practitioner-in-Residence/Lecturer will help run the HRC, including assisting in the teaching of clinic classes, supervising students, managing cases/projects, and representing clients. The position is designed for a lawyer with at least three years of practice experience who is interested in human rights law and advocacy at the domestic and international levels and has an interest in pursuing a career in law school clinical teaching.

The Human Rights Clinic (www.law.miami.edu/hrc) includes a critical and a skills-based seminar on human rights law and practice. The Clinic is engaged in human rights projects and cases before the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights, and other domestic and international tribunals, as well as other forms of advocacy including human rights documentation/fact finding, report-writing, legislative initiatives, and community organizing campaigns.

To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, law school transcript, and names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references by June 30, 2011 to hrc@law.miami.edu.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. For questions, please contact Rose Dominguez at rdominguez@law.miami.edu or (305) 284-4542.

For more information visit: http://www.law.miami.edu/hrc/pdf/HRC_2011_PIR_Lecturer.pdf

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Legal Education and Training Advisor
International Development Law Organization
Location: Juba, Southern Sudan
Last Date: June 30, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76230.shtml

Human Rights Specialist

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Location: Washington, D.C

Last Date: July 1, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76590.shtml

Intern for Legal Programme
ECPAT International
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Last Date: July 9, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76424.shtml

Gender Expert – Research, Statistics, Indices

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania

Last Date: July 13, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76667.shtml

Program Officer

Save The Children – US

Location: Washington D.C., USA

Last Date: July 14, 2011

http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/13june2011-stc-program-officer-dc.html

Social Worker

International Justice Mission

Location: Nairobi

Last Date: July 15, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76722.shtml

Land Law Specialist, Land Tenure and Decentralisation

Tetra Tech ARD

Location: East Africa

Last Date: July 20, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76645.shtml

Program Development HIV/AIDS Specialist

International Development & Exchange Programs (IDEP) / World Learning

Location: Washington D.C.

Last Date: July 20, 2011

http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76679.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This LLM programme based at the Transitional Justice Institute, with staff expertise across a range of areas, offers an LL.M. degree which is designed to give students a unique lens on the study of human rights in the contemporary international moment. Using the local Northern Ireland political and legal context as a starting point the course will imbue students with a working knowledge of international norms and principles, while at the same time encouraging students to move beyond the local to reflect critically on present international law norms and their application to other situations and contexts. Students are encouraged to develop and transfer knowledge, experience and expertise of the transformative possibilities of human rights law both in respect of societies emerging from violent conflict and in relation to the local and global management of other particular societal problems. This dual focus – from the local to the global and back – is a core part of the course’s aim to equip you with the knowledge and skills base to contribute internationally as well as locally.

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

* Gain an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical and practical application of human rights law.
* Understand the particular human rights issues in conflicted and transitional societies.
* Gain knowledge and skills in carrying out research projects from design to write-up.
* Enhance skills in critically appraising published and commissioned research.
* Develop skills highly relevant to legal practice, and to policy, research and advocacy roles in the voluntary, public and private sectors in the UK, Ireland and beyond. Successful completion may also open up a range of further study and research options.

Further Information
Download Information Leaflet
TJI website: www.transitionaljustice.ulster.ac.uk , or
Applications should ordinarily be received before the last Friday in June, although consideration may be given to applications received after this date.
Contact
Ms Emer Carlin
Secretary
Transitional Justice Institute
Magee campus
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 71675146
Email:LLM@ulster.ac.uk

CHANGE OF DATE: ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS IN A TIME OF AUSTERITY WORKSHOP

Durham Law School and the Faculty of Laws, Oxford, will host a one-day workshop on ‘Economic and Social Rights in a Time of Austerity’ on 1 July.

The workshop aims to explore the role of human rights, and particularly ESR, in the context of austerity policies fashioned in the wake of the global financial crisis. It does so though focusing on four main

themes: Monitoring, Mainstreaming, Legal Processes and Equality. It features leading ESR experts working in law, academia, the public sector and civil society.

***Due to the UK-wide public sector strike on 30 June, this event will now be held on 1 July – not 30 June as originally advertised.*** The venue (Senior Common Room, Faculty of Laws, Oxford) remains unchanged.

Details on the event and an updated programme are available at:

www.esrinatimeofausterity.com

HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES

Intervention Training. Join the Law Society’s International Action Team (IAT)

Date: 28th June 2011

Time: 16.00-15.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

To book online, click here: http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/53460

Common Law and Convention Law: The Limits to Interpretation

The Law Society is hosting a lecture by Baroness Hale of Richmond on the common law and human rights. Lord Lester of Herne Hill will be chairing.

Date: 28th June 2011

Time: 18.00-19.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

For more information: http://www.hrla.org.uk/HRLA%20Event%2028th%20June%202011.pdf

The Ruggie Guidelines on Business and Human Rights – What Do They Mean for Lawyers?

The event explores how these new guidelines affect the advice lawyers give business clients.

Date: 5th July 2011

Time: 18.00-19.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

For more information and to book a place: http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/53386

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, 13 June 2011 / Issue No. 452

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief, Human Rights with tags ABA International Human Rights e-Brief on June 13, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
13 June 2011 / Issue No. 452

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

WORLD DAY AGAINST CHILD LABOR

Sunday, June 12th was World Day Against Child Labor. The ILO’s most recent global estimate is that 115 million children are involved in hazardous work. This is work that by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm children’s health, safety or morals. Children working in many different industries and occupations can be exposed to such risks and the problem is global, affecting industrialized as well as developing countries.

Learn more: http://www.ilo.org/global/meetings-and-events/events/world-day-against-child-labour/2011/lang–en/index.htm

IN THE DOCK: Defence Rights at the ICC

The International Bar Association (IBA) International Criminal Court (ICC) Programme has released a new film on defence rights at the ICC. Please find more information on the film and its launch by visiting http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=4B9CD7F3-9185-4EBC-B40B-D54B8CC8D01E

To watch the film Click here

IMPOWR Volunteers

Posted: 5/25/11

NEW RESOURCE: Human Rights in the United States: A Dictionary and Documents

This guide to Human Rights in the United States is a two-volume set offering easy to grasp explanations of the basic concepts and laws in the field, with emphasis on human rights in the historical, political, and legal experience of the United States. This indispensable resource surveys the legal protection of human dignity in the United States, examines the sources of human rights norms, cites key legal cases, explains the role of international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and charts global, regional, and UN human rights measures.

For more information please click on:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/product/c3b7ca19/human_rights_in_the_united_states_a_dictiona

NEWSLETTER: War Crimes Prosecution Watch, Volume 6, Issue 4 – May 23, 2011

War Crimes Prosecution Watch is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that compiles official documents and articles from major news sources detailing and analyzing salient issues pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes throughout the world.

To read the newsletter visit: http://publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/wcpw_vol06_issue04.html

Human Rights News

SPANISH JUDGE ISSUES HISTORIC INDICTMENT AND ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST

20 DEFENDANTS IN JESUITS MASSACRE CASE

San Francisco, CA — Today, a Spanish judge issued a 77-page indictment and arrest warrants for 20

Salvadoran ex-officers who have been charged with crimes against humanity and state terrorism for their

role in the murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her sixteen year old daughter in 1989. The

defendants were all members of the Salvadoran military, including several who were in the High

Command. The highest ranking defendant, Rafael Humberto Larios, was the Minister of Defense at the

time of the massacre. Also indicted is General Rafael Bustillo, Colonel Orlando Zepeda who was also

Vice Minister of Defense and Colonel Inocente Orlando Montano who was Vice Minister of Public

Safety.

In the lengthy charging document, Judge Eloy Velasco describes the far reaching conspiracy to kill the

Jesuit priests and explains how it was conceived as a military operation at the highest levels of the

Salvadoran Army and Military Intelligence. The defendants, the majority of whom are still residents of

El Salvador, have ten days to surrender to authorities before additional steps will be taken to ensure their

arrest. Colonel Orlando Montano is already in custody.

This indictment come almost three years since, the Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA) and the

Spanish Pro Human Rights Association (APDHE) initiated a case before the Spanish National Court for

the murders against members of the Salvadoran military. CJA has been working closely with Spanish and

US authorities to ensure the arrest of the defendants and to expand the case to include six more defendants

who were responsible for the massacre. CJA has presented extensive testimony to the court over the past

few years including expert testimony from Stanford Professor Terry Karl, military expert Colonel Garcia

and Salvadoran Judge Sydney Blanco, among others.

On the morning of November 16, 1989, in the midst of a bloody civil war, El Salvador and the world

woke up to the news that six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and the housekeeper’s daughter had been

brutally murdered. A Truth Commission report revealed that the Salvadoran military planned and

committed the crimes against the priests, who were outspoken critics of the military dictatorship. For the

past 21 years, all efforts to obtain justice in El Salvador have been thwarted. In explaining the basis for

the issuance of the indictment and the arrest warrants, the judge explains that any claim of double

jeopardy should fail because the 1990 trial held in El Salvador was a “sham trial.”

HIGH-PROFILE PANEL URGES NON-CRIMINAL APPROACH TO WORLD DRUG POLICY

The report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes former U.N. chief Kofi Annan and past presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, was swiftly dismissed by the U.S. and Mexico.

By Ken Ellingwood and Brian Bennett, Los Angeles Times

June 1, 2011, 6:41 p.m.

Reporting from Mexico City and Washington—

Calling the global war on drugs a costly failure, a group of high-profile world leaders is urging the Obama administration and other governments to end “the criminalization, marginalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs but do no harm to others.”

A report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and past presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, recommends that governments try new ways of legalizing and regulating drugs, especially marijuana, as a way to deny profits to drug cartels.

The recommendation was swiftly dismissed by the Obama administration and the government of Mexico, which are allied in a violent 4 1/2 -year-old crackdown on cartels that has killed more than 38,000 people in Mexico.

“The U.S. needs to open a debate,” former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria, a member of the panel, said by telephone from New York, where the report is scheduled to be released Thursday. “When you have 40 years of a policy that is not bringing results, you have to ask if it’s time to change it.”

Editorial

SYED SAKEEN SGAGZAD’S COURAGE

Published: June 1, 2011

The Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad knew he was a marked man. Mr. Shahzad, who covered national security and terrorism, had received repeated threats from Pakistan’s powerful spy agency. Yet he courageously kept doing his job — until somebody silenced him. His body, his face horribly beaten, was buried on Wednesday.

Suspicion inevitably falls on Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s chief intelligence agency. For the sake of justice, and the shredded credibility of Pakistan’s government, his murderers must be found quickly and held accountable.

Mr. Shahzad disappeared from Islamabad on Sunday, two days after he published an article suggesting a militant attack on a naval base in Karachi was retaliation for the navy’s attempt to crack down on Al Qaeda militants in the armed forces. American analysts doubt an Al Qaeda cell infiltrated Pakistani security, but they have long worried about individual sympathizers.

Whatever the case, the attack humiliated the ISI and the armed services. They were already fending off allegations that they sheltered Osama bin Laden and criticism for failing to stop the American raid that killed him.

IT’S TIME TO FOCUS ON TRAFFICKING IN LABOUR, URGES NEW REPORT

10 Jun 2011 06:14

Source: member // World Vision International

Trafficking is typically associated with the sex trade. But it is now clear that the sale of people into slavery in the fishing, food processing, domestic work and other industries is the most common form of trafficking and needs far more public attention if it is to be stopped, according to a new report on trafficking in the Mekong region.

World Vision International’s report ‘10 Things You Need To know About Labour Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region’ lays out ten truths about trafficking that most people are unaware of in an effort to broaden debate about trafficking, and just who it is that ends up enslaved and where.

Based on findings from other reports as well as case studies collected by World Vision in the course of its efforts to fight trafficking across the region, the report states that across the Asia Pacific region there are an estimated three people trafficked for every 1,000 inhabitants while globally for every person forced into the sex trade, nine are forced to work.

The report states: “Trafficking for labour exploitation is generally not considered as severe a crime as trafficking for sexual exploitation, and there is a high level of impunity for offenders. Victims of labour trafficking are often not identified as such, and instead are detained and deported from the country where the exploitation took place. As a result, the majority of trafficked persons do not have access to assistance or justice, and the traffickers remain free to exploit others.”

To learn more about the Ten Things, the report recommendations for action and to read the case studies of survivors download ‘The Ten Things You Need to Know About Labour Trafficking’ report.

BASHIR COMMITTING NEW CRIMES IN DARFUR

UNITED NATIONS — Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is committing new crimes in Darfur and challenging the authority of the UN Security Council, the chief international warcrimes prosecutor said Wednesday.

“Crimes against humanity and genocide continue unabated in Darfur,” International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told the Security Council.

He said new air attacks on civilians and killings of ethnic minorities had been carried out in the conflict-stricken western region, where the United Nations says at least 300,000 people have died since an uprising started in 2003.

“These millions of victims displaced are still subjected today to rapes, terror and conditions of life aimed at the destruction of their communities, constituting genocide,” Moreno-Ocampo said.

Bashir has already been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by the ICC but refuses to recognize its authority, though his travels have been severely restricted.

“President al-Bashir has learned how to continue to commit crimes challenging the authority of the UN

Security Council,” the prosecutor said in his report to the council on Darfur.

“He did not stop the commission of the genocide against the displaced, but he is blocking the dissemination of information about their fate.”

CHIQUITA FAILS TO HALT SUIT OVER COLUMBIA TORTURE, MURDER

By Ann Woolner – Jun 3, 2011

Chiquita Brands International Inc. (CQB), owner of the namesake banana label, failed to halt U.S. lawsuits brought by thousands of Colombians who said they or their relatives were tortured or killed by militias the company paid.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra in West Palm Beach, Florida, today denied Chiquita’s motion to dismiss some of the claims brought under the Alien Tort Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act. The civil suits, which have been joined into a single case, seek compensation for the victims.

The Cincinnati-based company was fined $25 million by the U.S. after pleading guilty in March 2007 to engaging in transactions with a terrorist group for paying Colombian paramilitary militias $1.7 million from 1997 to 2004. No executives were charged.

The seven complaints consolidated before Marra cover“several thousand” plaintiffs alleging their family members were killed or tortured by Colombian paramilitary groups in banana-growing regions of the country, according to today’s order. The paramilitaries targeted trade unionists and leftist activists, the judge said.

GADDAFI FACES NEW ICC CHARGES FOR USING RAPE AS WEAPON IN CONFLICT

Chief prosecutor investigates evidence of sexual attacks on women as Britain tells Nato: you must do more

The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC) is likely to add rape to the war crimes charges against Muammar Gaddafi on the back of mounting evidence that sexual attacks on women are being used as a weapon in the Libyan conflict.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo told reporters at the UN in New York last night there were strong indications that hundreds of women had been raped in the Libyan government clampdown on the popular uprising and that Gaddafi had ordered the violations as a form of punishment.

The prosecutor said there was even evidence that the government had been handing out doses of Viagra to soldiers to encourage sexual attacks. Moreno-Ocampo said rape was a new tactic for the Libyan regime. “That’s why we had doubts at the beginning, but now we are more convinced. Apparently, [Gaddafi] decided to punish, using rape.”

MLADIC SHUNS ‘MONSTROUS’ CHARGES

Ex-Bosnian Serb army head Ratko Mladic has made his first appearance at The Hague war crimes tribunal, but said he would not enter a plea to the “monstrous” and “obnoxious” charges.

He is charged with crimes in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including the massacre of about 7,500 people in Srebrenica.

Gen Mladic told the court he had been “defending my people and my country”.

He also said he was “gravely ill”, but a court spokeswoman said health checks had shown he was fit to stand trial.

Nerma Jelacic said a variety of tests had been done on Gen Mladic since he arrived at The Hague, but none had turned up any health issues to cause concern.

Gen Mladic, who was arrested last week in Serbia, is charged with genocide, persecution, extermination, murder, deportation, inhumane acts, terror, deportation and hostage-taking, according to the tribunal indictment.

SESELJ CONTEMPT TRIAL CHAOS

Disputes around protective measures for witnesses disrupts case.

By Rachel Irwin – International Justice – ICTY

TRI Issue 696,

10 Jun 11

The second contempt trial for Serbian nationalist politician Vojislav Seselj ended abruptly at the Hague tribunal this week when one defence witness refused to testify with protective measures and the accused would not call the rest of his witnesses unless their identities were revealed publicly.

When the judges informed Seselj that they could not rescind the protective measures and that he would have to submit this request to the judges hearing his criminal trial, the accused said this was a “brutal violation” of his rights.

“I am a very thorough and patient,” Seselj said. “Once one [contempt trial] is completed, I will prepare myself for the next one, and the next one…your problem is how you are going to get away from that.”

Detained at the tribunal since 2003, Seselj is charged with nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity – including murder, torture and forcible transfer – for atrocities carried out in an effort to expel the non-Serb population from parts of Croatia and Bosnia between August 1991 and September 1993. He represents himself in court and remains leader of the Serbian Radical Party, SRS, based in Belgrade.

Seselj’s criminal trial has endured repeated delays since it officially began in November 2007, a full year after the original trial date was postponed due to the defendant’s hunger strike. The defence phase of the case has yet to begin.

IRISH CHURCH’S FORGOTTEN VICTIMS TAKE CASE TO U.N.

By CAROL RYAN

DUBLIN — For years, it was Ireland’s hidden scandal: an estimated 30,000 women were sent to church-run laundries, where they were abused and worked for years with no pay. Their offense, in the eyes of society, was to break the strict sexual rules of Catholic Ireland, having children outside wedlock.

Although it has been over a decade since their story came to light, the women are still waiting for an apology, and possibly compensation.

Now, an advocacy group, Justice for Magdalenes, which has spent the last two years lobbying the Irish government to investigate the history of the laundries, is taking the case to the United Nations, alleging the abuse amounted to human rights violations, and hoping that an official rebuke from the international body will shame the government into action.

“We don’t take any pleasure in embarrassing the government in this way but we have worked the domestic structure as far as we can and still the government has done nothing,” said James Smith of Boston College, a spokesman for Justice for Magdalenes.

The United Nations is examining Ireland’s human rights record this week as part of the Universal Periodic Review, a review of the human rights records of all 192 member states. The U.N. Committee Against Torture invited Justice for Magdalenes to make a statement in Geneva after reading their submission about the alleged abuses in the laundries.

Maeve O’Rourke, a Harvard Law School human rights fellow, presented the Magdalenes’ case last Friday. She told the committee that the Irish government’s failure to deal with the abuse amounted to continuing degrading treatment in violation of the Convention Against Torture. She also said the state had failed to promptly investigate “a more than 70-year system of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of women and girls in Ireland’s Magdalene laundries.”

The story of the Magdalene women was uncovered in 1993 when a religious order in Dublin cashed in on the booming Irish property market and sold a portion of its land to a developer. The bodies of 155 women who had died in the laundry were exhumed from unmarked graves and the media began to ask questions. The story went made international headlines with the release of Peter Mullan’s 2002 film “The Magdalene Sisters.”

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Program Director Anti Corruption
DynCorp International (Casals and Associates)
Location: Falls Church, VA, USA
Last Date: June 15, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/11may2011-dyncorp-anti-corruption-director.html

Outreach Manager, Judicial Training Project
Management Systems International (MSI)
Location: Sri Lanka
Last Date: June 18, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_75976.shtml

Senior Child Protection Advisor, Children and Women Protection Project
Management Systems International (MSI)
Location: Haiti
Last Date: June 25, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76144.shtml

Fundraiser
Friends of the Earth Europe
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Last Date: June 26, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/fundraiser-foe-26may2011.html

Legal Education and Training Advisor
International Development Law Organization
Location: Juba, Southern Sudan
Last Date: June 30, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_76230.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict is pleased to announce a call for applications to participate in an advanced, interdisciplinary program on nonviolent conflict taught by leading scholars and practitioners of strategic nonviolent action and authorities from related fields.

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

If you have any questions, or would like for us to send you an application directly, please do not hesitate to contact us at fsi@nonviolent-conflict.org or visit our website at www.nonviolent-conflict.org.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Announcing details of the International Human Rights Network 2011 justice sector training programme Justice Sector Reform: Applying Human Rights Based Approaches (OJIR11)
Dates: Monday 20th – Friday 24th June 2011 Venue: National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland

This annual IHRN training programme aims at enhancing the skills of justice sector personnel, consultants, managers etc, in applying Human Rights Based Approaches to Justice Sector Reform. The programme is designed for people working in the justice sector (with state or non state institutions) or undertaking Rule of law/Governance assignments as well as justice sector personnel wishing to adapt their expertise for international consultancy work (eg for bi-lateral donors, EC Framework Contract Lot 7 – Governance and Home Affairs etc).

Knowledge and skills enhanced include:
*The legal principles, policies & practice underpinning human rights based approaches to justice sector reform
*The inter-linkages between justice sector roles (law enforcement, judiciary, corrections/rehabilitation, etc)
*The relationship between the justice sector and related terms; ‘security sector’, ‘rule of law’, ‘good governance’
*Human Rights Based needs assessment, programme design, implementation, as well as monitoring & evaluation
*Programming tools & checklists (including benchmarks & indicators of human rights change)
*Case studies from national contexts as well as international field missions (including conflict and post-conflict)
*Teamwork, advocacy, strategic partnerships and consulting opportunities

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:
* Gain an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical and practical application of human rights law.
* Understand the particular human rights issues in conflicted and transitional societies.
* Gain knowledge and skills in carrying out research projects from design to write-up.
* Enhance skills in critically appraising published and commissioned research.
* Develop skills highly relevant to legal practice, and to policy, research and advocacy roles in the voluntary, public and private sectors in the UK, Ireland and beyond. Successful completion may also open up a range of further study and research options.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS IN A TIME OF AUSTERITY

Durham Law School and the Faculty of Laws, Oxford, will host a one-day workshop on ‘Economic and Social Rights in a Time of Austerity’ on 30 June.

Date: 30 June 2011

Venue; Oxford Faculty of Laws

themes: Monitoring, Mainstreaming, Legal Processes and Equality. It features leading ESR experts working in law, academia, the public sector and civil society.

Details of the event, including speakers and a draft programme are available at:

www.esrinatimeofausterity.com

Places are limited. To register, please contact Arghya Sengupta (Arghya.sengupta@balliol.ox.ac.uk).

HUMAN RIGHTS COURSES

Intervention Training. Join the Law Society’s International Action Team (IAT)

Date: 28th June 2011

Time: 16.00-15.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

To book online, click here: http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/53460

Common Law and Convention Law: The Limits to Interpretation

The Law Society is hosting a lecture by Baroness Hale of Richmond on the common law and human rights. Lord Lester of Herne Hill will be chairing.

Date: 28th June 2011

Time: 18.00-19.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

For more information: http://www.hrla.org.uk/HRLA%20Event%2028th%20June%202011.pdf

The Ruggie Guidelines on Business and Human Rights – What Do They Mean for Lawyers?

The event explores how these new guidelines affect the advice lawyers give business clients.

Date: 5th July 2011

Time: 18.00-19.30

Location: The Law Society, Chancery Lane

For more information and to book a place: http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/53386

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, 9 MAY 2011 / Issue No. 449

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief, Human Rights on May 9, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
9 MAY 2011 / Issue No. 449

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

ABA HUMAN RIGHTS SUMMIT

The American Bar Association Center for Human Rights convened an ABA Human Rights Summit on April 5 in Washington, DC, to survey the ABA’s various human rights-related activities and explore the legal profession’s (and thus the ABA’s) unique potential to advance human rights globally. The Summit welcomed more than 40 participants from across the ABA and interested external organizations for a full-day’s discussion of relevant topics. The ABA Media Relations Office covered the Summit and posted a brief summary to the ABANow website:

Successful Human Rights Summit Lays Foundation for Future Work

http://www.abanow.org/2011/04/successful-human-rights-summit-lays-foundation-for-future-work/

As distilled at theSummit, theABA’s unique human rights potential was identified as including the following influential roles, among others:

A respected convener to create a constructive “neutral space” for competing human rights interests;
A legitimizer of human rights law as law to be observed and respected, taking such advocacy “to a whole new level,” including in theUnited States; and
A dynamic bridge between policy or project efforts that otherwise may tend to be ‘siloed’ by institutional or other constraints.

The Center’s Executive Board, at its business meeting following theSummit, unanimously approved specific recommendations made at the close of theSummitby those in attendance. In particular, the Center will make immediate efforts to establish regular communication and coordination among and betweenABAentities that address human rights issues. These efforts include:

Revamping the Center’s website to highlight and link to participating human rights entities, under appropriate subject headings, for ease of reference by website visitors;

Establishing a listserv among participating human rights entities to facilitate regular communication about their respective activities, stimulate ideas, and maximize resources;

Establishing, by agreement among interested ABA human rights entities, a method by which the ABA entities can better coordinate and support each other’s efforts; and

Producing an electronic newsletter, to be disseminated regularly and widely within theABAand beyond, providing in-depth reports on cutting-edge human rights issues and the collective efforts of theABAand its partners in the human rights community to address them.

The Center’s Board also appointed a planning committee to begin now the planning process for convening the second ABA Human Rights Summit next year. ABA Human Rights Summit II will build on the foundation put in place at Summit I and will focus on creative approaches to realizing the legal profession’s unique potential to promote and protect the human dignity of all people.

Human Rights News

FEARS IN CHINA AS ANOTHER HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER DISAPPEARS

Li Fangping went missing on Friday, the day that Chinese authorities released fellow lawyer Teng Biao

Tania Branigan in Beijing

guardian.co.uk, Sunday 1 May 2011 13.45 BST

Campaigners have warned that Chinese human rights lawyers remain under intense pressure, following the disappearance of another high-profile legal figure.

Li Fangping went missing on Friday after ringing his wife to say state security agents were waiting for him – just as lawyer Teng Biao returned home after a two-month disappearance. The US had singled out Teng’s treatment and that of other missing lawyers in human rights talks the previous day. “The Chinese authorities are resorting to an old trick, the revolving-door approach – one in, one out – to create the impression that things are improving,” said Renee Xia of the Chinese Human Rights’ Defenders network.

“The crackdown on lawyers has not stopped,” added Patrick Poon of the China Human Rights Lawyers’ Concern Group.

He said he found this case particularly incomprehensible because while Li acted in high-profile cases he was careful not to discuss sensitive political issues.

Li’s clients have included Zhao Lianhai, who founded a website about tainted baby milk after his son became sick, and activist and dissident Hu Jia.

Phelim Kine, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said Li’s disappearance suggested “a calculated effort to eviscerate China’s besieged rights defence movement”.

SPANISH CIVIL WAR VICTIMS’ BODIES FINALLY REMOVED FROM MASS GRAVE

Spain’s government publishes first country-wide map of locations of more than 2,000 mass graves from the civil war

Giles Tremlett in Madrid

guardian.co.uk, Thursday 5 May 2011 20.01 BST

The bones of 62-year-old Severina Gómez and 23 others whose remains had lain together for 75 years, surrounded by bullet cases and with hands tied behind backs, have finally been removed from their mass grave in countryside near the central Spanish village of Loma de Montija.

Anxious family members watched last week as forensic archaeologists and volunteers scraped through layers of mud to uncover evidence of a crime committed in the heat of a civil war that still haunts parts of Spain – and that served as a curtain raiser to the bloodshed of the second world war.

After a decade of bitter debate over how to heal the wounds left by conflict and dictatorship without stoking ancient hatreds, Spain’s government on Thursday published on the internet the first countrywide map showing the location of more than 2,000 mass graves from the civil war.

The map is part of a series of measures, including a searchable database of victims and graves, designed to satisfy the demands of people such as Gómez’s grandson, Agustín Fernández, who led a local campaign to dig up the Loma de Montija grave.

“We used to go and lay flowers there on All Saints’ Day, but the police would try to stop us and others would take them away. Even now the village is split,” said Fernández, 64, who is waiting for DNA tests to identify his grandmother.

Severina Gómez was one of some 120,000 leftwing sympathisers killed away from the frontline by the nationalist forces of the rightwing dictator General Francisco Franco after he rebelled against Spain’s elected government in 1936. “My father died with the pain of never having recovered his mother’s corpse,” Fernández said.

GADDAFI ARREST LIKELY TO GET GO-AHEAD AS UN LOOKS TO WAR CRIMES TRIAL

International community faces difficult task bringing Libyan leader to court but targeting Gaddafi may force defections

Julian Borger and Ed Pilkington in New York

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 May 2011 21.44 BST

The next step along the road to war crimes prosecutions in Libya will come in about a fortnight’s time, when prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will submit his request for three arrest warrants to one of the international criminal court‘s two pre-trial chambers for approval.

The Libyan case is being handled by Chamber I, made up of three judges, from Brazil, Italy and Botswana. In March 2009 the three approved an arrest warrant against President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan for crimes against humanity and war crimes; the chamber originally rejected the prosecutor’s call for an additional charge of genocide, but that was overturned on appeal.

Legal observers said that in the Gaddafi case they expected the judges to uphold the central charges outlined in Moreno-Ocampo’s report.

The question then arises as to which organisation should carry out the arrest. Under the 1998 Rome Statute on which the court was built, that duty falls first to the national government in question, and there is at least a faint hope among western governments that the issuing of ICC arrest warrants would provide a trigger and a legal justification for any remaining waverers in the Gaddafi camp to move against him.

If not, the UN security council has to decide what to do. The job could be passed to Nato, but that would require a resolution, which Russia and China could well object to. They already believe that the February resolution allowing “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians has been exploited by Nato to wage war on the side of the rebels.

To further complicate the situation, the Obama administration might also object, as it would involve sending troops into Tripoli, something that Washington has sworn not to do.

COURT RULING A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR CASE AGAINST CANADIAN MINING COMPANY

28th April 2011

Montreal. The Superior Court of Quebec has ruled today that the case against Canadian corporation Anvil Mining Limited in relation to alleged involvement in a 2004 massacre in the Democratic Republic of Congo can proceed to the next stage.

The class action against Anvil Mining was filed in the District of Montreal on 8 November 2010 by The Canadian Association against Impunity, an organization representing survivors and families of victims of the Kilwa massacre. Anvil Mining is accused of providing logistical support to the Congolese army who raped, murdered and brutalised the people of Kilwa in a massacre in 2004. According to the United Nations, over 70 civilians died as a direct result of the military action, including some who were executed and thrown in mass graves

In his decision, Judge Benoît Emery dismissed Anvil Mining’s attempt to have the case thrown out and concluded that there were sufficient links to Quebec to found the Quebec court’s jurisdiction over the case. Judge Emery also dismissed Anvil Mining’s argument that Quebec was not the appropriate forum and that the case should rather be brought in the DRC or Australia. Judge Emery stated:

(translation) “In fact, at this stage of the proceedings, everything indicates that if the Tribunal dismissed the action on the basis of article 3135 C.C.Q.[which allows the court to decline jurisdiction if another forum is more appropriate], there would exist no other possibility for the victims to be heard by civil justice”

Patricia Feeney, President of The Canadian Association against Impunity, said “We strongly welcome this decision. It represents a significant step forward in the process of trying to hold Anvil Mining to account and to bring some justice to the victims of the massacre and their families”.

The court will now consider whether the case should be certified as a class action, allowing all those who suffered in Kilwa to bring claims against Anvil Mining. A hearing on the class certification is scheduled for June.

UN ENVOY WELCOMES START OF TRIAL OF TWO MEN ACCUSED OF MASS RAPES IN DR CONGO

The official spearheading United Nations efforts to combat the scourge of sexual violence committed during war has welcomed today’s start of a trial in Germany of two Rwandans accused of ordering massacres and mass rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni each face 39 charges of war crimes and 26 counts of crimes against humanity over their alleged actions in the eastern DRC in 2008-09.

Prosecutors in the German city of Stuttgart say the two men served as leaders in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (known by its French acronym of FDLR), a notorious militia accused of numerous atrocities in the eastern DRC in recent years.

Margot Wallström, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, issued a statement in which she applauded German authorities for “having apprehended these alleged perpetrators and for bringing them to justice.”

German law allows the prosecution of foreigners for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed elsewhere.

Ms. Wallström said the trial is “a clear sign that there is no safe haven for suspected criminals and that impunity for conflict-related sexual violence is not an option.”

She said her office would continue to monitor the trial and all incidents of conflict-related sexual violence closely.

The envoy has spoken out repeatedly about the widespread sexual violence taking place in the DRC, particularly in the far east, where many militia groups still clash with Congolese armed forces and attack civilians.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 4 May 2011

CôTE D’IVOIRE: UN HUMAN RIGHTS TEAM HEADS TO ALLEGED MASS GRAVE SITE

A United Nations human rights team is investigating the reported killing earlier this week of at least 40 people in the Yopougon district of Côte d’Ivoire’s commercial capital, Abidjan, and is due to visit an alleged mass grave there today, according to a spokesperson.

At the same time, the independent international commission of inquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the alleged abuses and rights violations committed in Côte d’Ivoire following the 28 November 2010 presidential elections has arrived in the country.

Nearly 500 people are confirmed to have died and up to 1 million have been displaced as a result of the post-election violence that was precipitated by Laurent Gbagbo’s refusal to step aside following his defeat to Alassane Ouattara in the UN-certified polls – a crisis that finally ended last month with Mr. Gbagbo’s surrender.

“The Human Rights Division of UNOCI [UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ivoire] has received allegations on the existence of a mass grave as well as the possible killing of civilians in Yopougon by both sides,” Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva.

He added that a human rights special investigation team from UNOCI is due to visit the site of the alleged mass grave today.

In addition to the killings in Yopougon, staff from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will also be looking into an attack against a Baptist church allegedly carried out by the pro-Ouattara Forces Républicaines de Côte d’Ivoire (FRCI) during the post-electoral violence, Mr. Colville said.

The International Commission of Inquiry on Côte d’Ivoire, led by Vitit Muntabhorn, Suliman Baldo and Reine Alapini Gansou, arrived on Wednesday and is currently holding meetings in Abidjan. It will travel to other parts of the country next week.

The team’s mandate is to investigate the facts surrounding allegations of serious human rights abuses committed in Côte d’Ivoire following the November elections, to identify those responsible for such acts and bring them to justice.

Meanwhile, UNOCI personnel are continuing to provide security in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout the country, as well as regular medical assistance, including through ensuring the availability of potable water and installing sanitary facilities to help prevent disease outbreaks.

UNOCI spokesperson Hamadoun Touré told a news conference in Abidjan yesterday that a UN assessment team is currently in the country to prepare the future role of the mission.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 6 May 2011

4 May 2011 Last updated at 08:43 ET

VOJISLAV SESELJ: UN TRIBUNAL DISMISSES ACQUITAL BID

The UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague has dismissed a motion for the acquittal of Serbian ultra-nationalist Vojislav Seselj.

Mr Seselj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, is charged with nine counts relating to the Croatian and Bosnian wars of the 1990s.

He has pleaded not guilty and filed a motion for acquittal and compensation.

While he does not deny making nationalist speeches, he says they did not constitute war crimes.

The BBC’s Balkans correspondent Mark Lowen says that in the 18 years of proceedings at the tribunal, no defendant has ever been acquitted under the rule Mr Seselj has invoked.

Mr Seselj surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2003.

He is accused of forming a joint criminal enterprise with the late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic to “ethnically cleanse” large parts of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia’s northern Vojvodina region.

The charges against him include murder, torture, sexual assault, forced transportation and destruction of property.

But earlier this year he filed a motion under the court’s “Rule 98 bis”, arguing that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to support a conviction.

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

ADVOCACY COUNSEL

Human Rights First

Human Rights First seeks an Advocacy Counsel for the Law and Security Program. The Law and Security Program Advocacy Counsel is responsible for devising, planning, coordinating, and executing strategies for influencing U.S. human rights policy on the range of issues covered by Human Rights First’s Law and Security Program. He/She will work as part of the Law and Security team, reporting to the Director of Law & Security, and working in close collaboration with the program’s team members in Washington, D.C. and New York, the International Legal Director, as well as colleagues in the Communications Department.

The Law and Security Program works to promote a greater understanding of and respect for human rights in national security and counterterrorism policies. Our work and reputation are defined by rigorous original research and reporting, strategic advocacy and litigation, and a commitment to communicating sophisticated and pragmatic legal and policy analysis to high-level decision makers and the general public alike.
START DATE: September 2011

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 13, 2011

This position is based in our Washington DC office. For more information or to apply, please visit: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/Jobs/apply_staff.aspx?qs=EO

Ph.D. RESEARCHER

Media Law Section of the Department of Communication Studies, Center for Journalism Studies and at the Law Faculty, the Human Rights Centre, Ghent University

The Media Law Section of the Department for Communication Studies of Ghent University together with the Human Rights Centre at the Law Faculty of Ghent University are looking for a Ph.D. researcher to work during 4 years on the topic of “Interferences with freedom of expression and ‘chilling effect’ ”.

The goal of the research project is to analyse the impact of the notion of the ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression as referred to by the European Court of Human Rights and within other international, regional or national human rights systems. The research projects includes the analysis of applications of laws and interferences with freedom of expression relating to political speech, defamation, protection of journalistic sources, newsgathering, media reporting, investigative journalism, ngos reporting on matters of public interest or contributing to public debate, freedom of artistic expression and freedom of academic speech. The research project will develop and apply a methodology in order to identify and describe different kinds and consequences of chilling effect in the domain of public debate, media, journalism, art and academic research. The project will also specifically focus on the issue of minor offences, investigative journalism and chilling effect.

The researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Voorhoof (www.psw.ugent.be/dv). Co-supervisor is Prof. Eva Brems.
Starting date: 1 September 2010
Ph.D. grant ca.1570-1750 Euro net/month (tax free)

Profile

law degree obtained with good (preferably excellent) grades
fluency in written and spoken English
good research and writing skills
good social skills
knowledge of and insight in human rights law, preferably with special interest regarding media law, information law, journalism studies or free speech issues.

More information can be obtained from prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be
More information about Ghent and Ghent University, see www.ugent.be

Please e-mail your CV with the contact details of two references, a letter of motivation and a sample of your writing skills (preferably in English) to prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be by 1 June 2010.

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Director, Central America Program
Trickle Up
Location: New York, NY
Last Date: May 9, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/26april2011-trickleup-centralamerica.html

Country Director
Helen Keller International
Location: Dar el Salaam, Tanzania
Last Date: May 13, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/26april2011-hki-tanzania.html

Ecuador Interim Director
Free The Children
Location: Ecuador
Last Date: May 13, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/freethechildren-13april2011.html

Senior Judicial Reform Specialist, Judicial Strengthening Program
Management Systems International (MSI)
Location: Kyrgyzstan
Last Date: May 22, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_75346.shtml

Director – Middle East and North Africa Programme
Amnesty International (AI)
Location: London, UK
Last Date: May 22, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_75215.shtml

Communications & Reporting Consultant, Rule of Law Stabilization Program
Management Systems International (MSI)
Location: Afghanistan
Last Date: May 25, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_75408.shtml

Programme Director – Gender, Sexuality & Identity
Amnesty International
Location: London, UK
Last Date: June 1, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_75606.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

4th ANNUAL ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

The Project on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights organizes annually professional training courses on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Project has extensive experience in organizing two types of training aimed at providing professionals with tailored knowledge on the protection of ESC rights according to their level of experience. The “Training Course on Understanding Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” is designed to introduce participants to ESC rights, while the “Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” is aimed at providing more practical tools to advanced professionals in this area.

On this occasion, the Project proudly announces the organization of the 4th annual Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Training Course will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-13 May 2011.

The course is designed for professionals with advanced experience in working on ESC rights. The course will most benefit representatives from NGOs, national human rights institutions, governmental authorities, academia, international organizations, and United Nations bodies.

The course aims to enhance the work of professionals by training them on specific aspects related to monitoring ESC rights. The course will also instruct participants on how advocacy tools, including, for example, human rights indicators, budget analysis or litigation activities can be effectively used to build monitoring policies that would be addressed not only to domestic institutions, but also to international mechanisms mandated to protect and promote ESC rights.

For more information about the course, please see http://www.adh-geneva.ch/professional-training/professional-training-in-escr/at, where you can also register on-line. Or write us at escrtraining@adh-geneve.ch.

“HOWEVER LONG THE NIGHT”
Global Perspectives on the Impact of CEDAW (Convention to Eliminate all Forms of
Discrimination Against Women) on Legal Reform Efforts Regarding the Rights of Women

Join Us In Person or by Telephone for this FREE Teleconference

Proudly Presented by
ABA Section of International Law
International Human Rights Committee

Co-sponsored by
ABA SIL Africa Committee
ABA SIL NGO and Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee
ABA SIL Women’s Issues Network (WIN)
ABA IMPOWR (International Models Project on Women’s Rights)

In Cooperation with
ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities – Women’s Rights Committee
District of Columbia Women’s Bar Association: International Law Forum
Amnesty International USA
TransAfrica Forum

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT
Doors Open at 10:30 a.m. Please arrive before 11:00 a.m.

The United States remains one of the few nations in the world that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This 90-minute non-CLE program will provide a concise overview of the history, development and implementation of CEDAW, including the status of CEDAW ratification in the United States. Afterwards, our panel of women’s rights advocates and lawyers from around the world will deliver short presentations on the advocacy strategies for eradicating discriminatory laws and fostering gender-equality law reform efforts that have been effective (or unsuccessful) in their countries.

Join Us In Person:
Crowell & Moring LLP
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Map

THEY FIGHT LIKE SOLDIERS, THEY DIE LIKE CHILDREN

The New York City Bar Council on International Affairs and the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice cordially invite you to a presentation by Lt. General (Ret.) ROMÉO DALLAIRE, Former commander of the U.N. Assistance Mission for Rwanda and author of the award-winning book, Shake Hands with the Devil.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.

At Fordham University, Lowenstein Building, 12th Floor Lounge
113 West 60th St., New York, NY (at Columbus Ave.)

Roméo Dallaire was the Force Commander of the U.N. Mission for Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and urgently requested support from the U.N. that, if heeded, could have halted the genocide. Now a Senator in the Canadian Parliament, Dallaire founded a project called the Child Soldiers Initiative and its youth advocacy campaign – Zero Force – which work to end the use of child soldiers.

General Dallaire will discuss child soldiers, including during his time in Rwanda, and will offer solutions to eradicate their use. His new book on child soldiers will be available for purchase.

Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier and author of A Long Way Gone, will introduce Dallaire.

Sponsored by the NY City Bar Council on International Affairs (Chair, Mark R. Shulman) and the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School (Executive Director, Elisabeth Wickeri) and co-sponsored by the City Bar’s Committees on International Human Rights (Chair, Stephen Kass) and African Affairs (Chair, Megan Maloney)

The program is open to the public. Please R.S.V.P. to elizabethbarad@gmail.com

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

Reminder

The materials and information included in this listserv are provided as a service to you and do not necessarily reflect endorsement by the American Bar Association or the Section of International Law. We encourage subscribers to pass the information along to colleagues and other interestedparties and to contribute press releases, news items, event listings, job vacancies and other appropriate information. To post a message email INTHUMRIGHTS@mail.abanet.org. For questions, suggestions or problems, contact Russell Kerr, russell@kerrlawfirm.com.

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, Issue No. 445 (11 April 2011)

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief with tags American Bar Association, Human Rights on April 11, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
11 April 2011 / Issue No. 445

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

ICJ DISMISSES GEORGIA’S CASE AGAINST RUSSIA UNDER RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONVENTION

FYI, a split ICJ today dismissed Georgia’s case against Russia. The Court’s judgment and press release are at the links below:

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/140/16398.pdf

http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/140/16396.pdf

For those of you interested, the dissenting opinions, separate opinions and declarations of the judges are now posted on the Court’s website at <http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/index.php?p1=3&k=4d&case=140&code=GR&p3=4>.

Compliments of Ronald J. Bettauer ron.bettauer@verizon.net

Human Rights News

KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED FACES GUANTANAMO TRIAL FOR 9/11

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, and four alleged co-conspirators will be tried in a military commission at Guantanamo Bay, not a civilian court

“We simply cannot allow a trial to be delayed any longer,” Attorney General Eric Holder said, in a sharp U-turn.

The Obama administration abandoned plans to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a US court, amid fierce opposition.

President Obama recently lifted a freeze on new military terror trials.

He accused the US Congress of harming national security by opposing his plan to close the controversial Cuban prison and try some terror suspects in US civilian courts.

Death penalty

Mr Holder vigorously defended his earlier decision to use US federal courts to try the accused men during a news conference announcing the reversal on Monday.

He said that the US prison system had successfully held hundreds of convicted terrorists, and that the Obama administration would continue to prosecute terror cases in US courts.

Mr Holder blamed Congress for the high profile policy reversal, saying his hands “were tied” by “unwise and narrow” restrictions they had placed on the administration.

But, he said, the Justice Department had been prepared to “bring a powerful case” against Mohammed and his four co-conspirators.

Mr Holder noted though that the death penalty could be still sought in the case.

‘Waterboarding’

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has been held by the US since being captured in Pakistan in 2003.

In a 2007 hearing, he alleged that he had been tortured at Guantanamo Bay. CIA documents confirmed that he had been subjected to the waterboard technique 183 times.

US prosecutors say that Mohammed has confessed to a host of terrorist activities in addition to 9/11.

These include the 2002 nightclub bombing in Bali, Indonesia, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl and a failed 2001 attempt to blow up an airliner using a shoe bomb.

The four other suspected terrorists to face military trials at Guantanamo Bay are Walid bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed al Hawsawi.

GOLDSTONE’S GAZA REPORT STANDS, UN INSISTS

Judge’s informal remarks ‘do not invalidate findings’, says colleague on fact-finding mission into Israeli attack on Gaza

The UN has roundly rebuffed remarks by the South African judge Richard Goldstone that cast doubt on the report into the Gaza war that bears his name, causing rifts within the UN and furious debate across the Middle East.

In the first public sign of a split within the four-person committee that compiled the report into the Israeli attack on Gaza in December 2008, the Pakistani human rights lawyer Hina Jilani has openly contradicted Goldstone’s comments. In an interview with the Middle East Monitor, she said that the UN report still stood.

“No process or acceptable procedure would invalidate the UN report; if it does happen, it would be seen as a suspect move. The UN cannot allow impunity to remain, and will have to act if it wants to remain a credible international governing body,” she said.

Jilani sat with Goldstone on the fact-finding mission that looked into allegations of war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas during the three-week war. The other two members of the committee, Christine Chinkin and Desmond Travers, could not be reached for comment.

Goldstone made his remarks in an article in the Washington Post in which he said that he regretted aspects of the report that he chaired, including the suggestion that Israel had intentionally targeted civilians. Had he been aware of evidence that had since come to light, he wrote, “the Goldstone report would have been a different document”.

In a further indication of his U-turn, the Israeli paper, Yediot Ahronot, said the judge planned to press for his report to be nullified.

The report, published in September 2009, found that Israelis involved in the Gaza war should face “individual criminal responsibility” for potential war crimes. Some 1,400 Palestinians died, at least 50% of whom were civilians, and 13 Israelis.

But the inquiry was carried out without Israeli co-operation, and information uncovered by Israel’s own investigations since then had changed his understanding of events, Goldstone said.

Though the judge’s comments have rekindled the heated debate that followed the Gaza war, they are unlikely to lead to any immediate action on the part of the UN. Cedric Sapey, spokesman for the UN human rights council that commissioned the report, said: “The UN will not revoke a report on the basis of an article in a newspaper. The views Mr Goldstone expressed are his own personal views.”

A move to change or withdraw the report would either require a formal written complaint from Goldstone, backed unanimously by his three fellow authors, or a vote by the UN general assembly or the human rights council, Sapey said.

KENYANS AT THE HAGUE ON ‘CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY’ CHARGES

By the CNN Wire Staff

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) — Three Kenyan political leaders accused of crimes against humanity following the country’s disputed 2007 elections had their first appearance Thursday before the International Criminal Court at The Hague.

Another three are scheduled to appear Friday.

The court’s top prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, named the six as suspects in December, claiming they organized violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more.

Former Agriculture Minister William Ruto, opposition leader Henry Kosgey and radio journalist Joshua Arap Sang appeared Thursday. Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretary Francis Muthaura, and former national police chief Hussein Ali are set to appear Friday.

The two groups of three come from opposite sides of the political dispute in Kenya.

Ruto, Kosgey, and Sang face four counts of crimes against humanity: murder; deportation or forcible transfer of the population; torture and persecution.

The judge set a date for them of September 1 to hear arguments as to whether they should go to trial.

JAILED IRANIAN REPORTER HONORED BY U.N.

PARIS, April 7 (UPI) — An Iranian journalist jailed since his country’s disputed 2009 presidential election has won a United Nations award dedicated to press freedom.

An independent jury of 12 global media professionals chose Ahmad Zeidabadi as the laureate of this year’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said Thursday in a release.

The selection of Zeidabadi “pays a tribute to his exceptional courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression, democracy, human rights, tolerance, and humanity,” jury president Diana Senghor said from UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/04/07/Jailed-Iranian-reporter-honored-by-UN/UPI-70781302204721/

UN REFUGEE CHIEF VOICES DEEP SHOCK AFTER MORE THAN 200 MIGRANTS DROWN OFF ITALY

The head of the United Nations refugee agency expressed deep shock today at the apparent drowning of more than 200 migrants attempting to make their way to Italy from conflict and unrest in North Africa.

Media reports indicate that 213 people, including many Somalis, Eritreans and Ivorians, died this morning after the boat in which they were travelling experienced difficulties in rough seas near the Italian island of Lampedusa. The boat had left Libya three days ago.

Italy’s coastguard has rescued 47 people, including a pregnant woman, but the other passengers are all feared to have drowned.

António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), issued a statement lamenting the disaster and noting that many of the passengers had been refugees twice over.

“They fled war and persecution in their own countries and now, in their attempt to seek safety in Italy, they tragically lost their lives,” he said.

Mr. Guterres urged all countries patrolling the waters of the Mediterranean Sea to do everything possible to help boats in distress.

Since pro-freedom protests erupted across North Africa and the Middle East earlier this year, large numbers of people – notably including people fleeing unrest in Tunisia and Libya – have taken to boats to try to reach Europe. Lampedusa has experienced a particularly high influx of arrivals.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who just wrapped up a visit to Tunisia to see the agency’s work there, expressed her sorrow at the news of the drownings.

“It is all the more devastating knowing that children were on board,” Ms. Jolie said, calling for urgent solutions to help civilians caught in the crossfire of fighting in Libya.

Until the recent fighting Libya has served as transit and destination country for refugees, with UNHCR recognizing at least 8,000 refugees inside the country and another 3,000 people seeking asylum.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 6 April 2011

AI WEIWEI’S DETENTION IN CHINA CAUSES GROWING CONCERN

Leading figures in the art world have joined the international outcry over Beijing’s crackdown on dissidents

Britain, the United States and the European Union, as well as leading figures in the art world, have joined the growing international outcry over the detention of the outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and Beijing’s wider crackdown on dissidents and activists.

Police have summoned more of Ai’s assistants for questioning, according to a US filmmaker who has been making a documentary on the 53-year-old. Alison Klayman said officers had told some staff and volunteers – several of whom are foreign – to leave the studio or leave the country, adding that one aide had already left Beijing.

Officials detained Ai on Sunday morning as he attempted to board a plane for Hong Kong. No one has been able to contact him or his friend Wen Tao, who was detained on the same day.

Ai’s installation of 100m sunflower seeds is still on show in Tate Modern‘s Turbine Hall and arts leaders and artists in the UK have added their voices of concern.

The Tate director, Sir Nicholas Serota, said the whereabouts of the artist remained unknown. “We are dismayed by developments that again threaten Ai’s right to speak freely as an artist and hope that he will be released immediately,” he said.

Gregor Muir, director of the ICA which last week auctioned an Ai work for £50,000, said: “The ICA is deeply troubled to learn of recent events concerning Ai Weiwei. Our thoughts are with his family, studio staff and friends. Only last week, Ai donated a brilliant artwork to our fundraising auction and we are indebted to his generosity. To then hear news that Ai had been detained by his own government is deeply shocking.”

Tracey Emin called Ai’s predicament “a nightmare”, adding, “I hope he is safe.” He is an artist, she said, who “raises world awareness”. Antony Gormley, currently in St Petersburg, said: “I would call on all cultural institutions globally to voice their protest against all kinds of behaviour which we haven’t seen since the days of Stalin.” Bob and Roberta Smith, who makes slogan paintings, added his concerns in his own unique way .

Ai is China‘s best known artist and designed the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium, but he has been an outspoken critic of the government. Last year he was placed under house arrest after announcing a party to mark the forced demolition of his studio in Shanghai.

ZAMBIA DROPS CASE OF SHOOTING BY CHINESE MINE BOSSES

By BARRY BEARAK

Published: April 4, 2011

JOHANNESBURG — In what could be a politically explosive decision, prosecutors in Zambia have decided not to pursue a case against two Chinese supervisors who shot 13 coal miners last year during a wage protest, the managers’ lawyer said Monday.

The episode, which occurred at the Chinese-owned Collum Coal Mine on Oct. 15, was viewed as an outrage by many Zambians who resent the enormous economic influence China has over their country.

At the time, the government said the shootings, none of which were fatal, would be vigorously investigated. Prosecutors arrested the two Chinese supervisors — Xiao Lishan and Wu Jiuhua — and charged them with attempted murder, but many civic leaders predicted a whitewash.

Chinese investment in Zambia amounts to more than $1 billion a year, according to the government of the impoverished but mineral-rich country in southern Africa. Most new construction involves Chinese-run companies.

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT/CEO of Human Rights First

Posted: 3/30/11

Based in Washington, DC the EA will provide administrative and organizational support to the President/CEO. S/He must be proactive as well as manage a complex schedule. The EA will work closely with the Chief of Staff to coordinate daily priorities and long-term schedule and will play a crucial role in maximizing the President/CEO’s time to achieve the organization’s goals in development, communications, operations, and program areas. The applicant should have 2 to 3 years of administrative experience in a face-paced environment.

For more detailed information please go to: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/Jobs/apply_staff.aspx?qs=EO

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, Refugee Protection Program – Human Rights First

Posted: 3/30/11

Based in Washington, DC, the Senior Associate in the Refugee Protection Program will work with the program’s director to develop advocacy objectives to advance the protection of refugees, as well as strategies and activities to achieve those objectives. The Senior Associate will advance Human Rights First’s advocacy objectives through a range of advocacy strategies, working with the program’s Director, other staff and other key advocacy allies and actors. Applicants should have at least five years of post-graduate work experience relating to refugee protection.

For more detailed information and to apply visit:

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/Jobs/apply_staff.aspx?qs=EO

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER

Law and Health Initiative – Public Health Program
Open Society Institute–New York

Application Deadline: April 8, 2011

The Open Society Foundations’ Public Health Program (PHP) aims to promote health policies based on scientific evidence, social inclusion, human rights, and justice. Broadly, the program works with civil society organizations within two fields: promoting the participation of socially marginalized groups in public health policy and fostering greater government accountability and transparency through civil society monitoring efforts. Program areas focus on addressing the human rights and health needs of marginalized groups, facilitating citizen access to health information, and advocating for a strong civil society role in public health policy and practice.

PHP’s Law and Health Initiative (LAHI) promotes legal action to advance public health goals worldwide. LAHI supports legal assistance, litigation, and law reform efforts on a range of health issues, including patient care, HIV and AIDS, harm reduction, palliative care, sexual health, mental health, and Roma health. LAHI’s priorities include integrating legal services into health programs, strengthening human rights protections within health settings, and developing training and education programs in law and health. By bringing together legal, public health, and human rights organizations, LAHI seeks to build a broad movement for law-based approaches to health and for the human rights of society’s most marginalized groups.

LAHI seeks a full-time senior program officer.

Qualifications

At least ten years of professional experience in four or more of the following six relevant fields: (1) legal advocacy and litigation; (2) international human rights; (3) health and human rights; (4) global health (specifically related to marginalized groups); (5) grant-making; (6) capacity development.
Management experience, including personnel management, project management and strategic management.
Law degree.
Experience working in one or more of the following regions: East and Southern Africa; Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (fSU); Southeast Asia (SEA).
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Demonstrated commitment to using law progressively to advance public health and human rights objectives.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements before to: humanresources@sorosny.org. Include job code in subject line: SPO-LAHI

Open Society Foundations
Human Resources – Code SPO-LAHI
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

FAX: 212.548.4675

For more information visit: http://www.soros.org/about/locations/new-york/spo-plahi-20110310

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR PROGRAM

The 2012-2013 Fulbright Scholar Program competition is open.

Posted: 3/31/11

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers 124 teaching, research or combined teaching/research awards in law. Faculty and professionals in law also can apply for “All Discipline” awards open to all fields.

For more information on 2012-13 opportunities, please visit www.iie.org/cies.

The application deadline for the Core Fulbright Scholar Program is August 1, 2011. U.S. citizenship is required. For more information, visit our website at www.iie.org/cies or contact us at scholars@iie.org.

Faculty and professionals are also encouraged to participate in one of our weekly webinars. For more information, visit our website at www.iie.org/cies/webinar.

PROGRAM OFFICER

MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE

OPEN SOCIETY institute, BUDAPEST

Application Deadline: April 22, 2011

The Open Society Mental Health Initiative (MHI) is part of the Public Health Program at the Open Society Foundations and is based in Budapest, Hungary. MHI seeks to ensure that people with mental disabilities (mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities) are able to live as equal citizens in the community and to participate in society with full respect for their human rights. MHI promotes the social inclusion of people with mental disabilities by supporting the development of community-based alternatives to institutionalization and by actively engaging in policy-based advocacy. MHI is both a grant making and an operational program, providing training and technical assistance to its partner organizations.

MHI seeks a full-time program officer to contribute to the development and implementation of its media strategy. The program officer will closely coordinate this work with the Health Media Initiative (HMI), part of the Public Health Program. HMI seeks to strengthen the capacity of civil society leaders and organizations to effectively advocate for health and human rights policies through successfully engaging with and utilizing media. The geographic focus of the work will be Central and Eastern Europe and East Africa.

The Program Officer is involved with program development and implementation and reports to the MHI Program Director.

TO APPLY: Send curriculum vitae, cover letter, salary requirements, and a maximum 2 page writing sample in English about how using media can play an important role in advancing the advocacy goals of grass root organizations to:

Email: applications@admingroup.hu

Subject line: MHI Program Officer

For more information visit: http://www.soros.org/about/locations/budapest/mhi-pgoff-20110324 and http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/mhi

Ph.D. RESEARCHER

Media Law Section of the Department of Communication Studies, Center for Journalism Studies and at the Law Faculty, the Human Rights Centre, Ghent University

The researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Voorhoof (www.psw.ugent.be/dv). Co-supervisor is Prof. Eva Brems.

Starting date: 1 September 2010
Ph.D. grant ca.1570-1750 Euro net/month (tax free)

Profile

law degree obtained with good (preferably excellent) grades
fluency in written and spoken English
good research and writing skills
good social skills
knowledge of and insight in human rights law, preferably with special interest regarding media law, information law, journalism studies or free speech issues.

More information can be obtained from prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be
More information about Ghent and Ghent University, see www.ugent.be

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Attorney/Legal Advisor
ACDI/VOCA
Location: Worldwide
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74360.shtml

Justice Advisor
Civilian Police International, LLC
Location: Multiple Locations
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/cpi-11march2011.html

Human Rights Attorney/Lawyer
Open Society Justice Initiative
Location: London or New York
Last Date: April 19, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/osji-18march2011.html

Head of Operations
Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Last Date: April 23, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/crcs-23march2011.html

Country Director – Nepal
Marie Stopes International (MSI)
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Last Date: April 24, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74614.shtml

Senior Project Manager/Senior Attorney – Justice Initiative
Open Society Foundations
Location: London, UK or Budapest, Hungary
Last Date: April 27, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/osf-29march2011.html

Vice President
International Center for Transitional Justice
Location: New York, USA
Last Date: April 30, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/ictj-23march2011.html

Executive Officer
AIDS-Free World
Location: in or around New York
Last Date: April 30, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/4april2011-aidsfreeworld.html

Research Coordinator
The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Last Date: May 4, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74876.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: HREA distance learning courses

Short certificate courses [application deadline: 15 April 2011]:

- Business and Human Rights (11 May-21 June 2011) NEW!
- Human Rights and Transitional Justice (18 May-28 June 2011)
- International Trade and Human Rights: Balancing the Act (16 May-26 June 2011)
- Minority Rights, Indigenous Peoples and International Law (18 May-28 June 2011)
- The European System of Human Rights Protection and Promotion (16 May-26 June 2011)
- The United Nations Human Rights System (11 May-21 June 2011)
Applications can be submitted online. For further information about each course please click on the course link above. For a listing of all upcoming courses, please visit www.hrea.org/courses

HUMAN RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
Organizer: University of California, Berkeley
Date: April 26-27, 2011
Location: David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA

The Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley is hosting a conference entitled “The New Machine: Human Rights and Technology” to address the application of technology to human rights work. The conference aims to engage leading human rights practitioners and technologists to discuss the progress, successes, and challenges that have emerged in the use of technology to advance human rights. The conference also includes the opportunity to submit via video innovative ideas about how to use technologies to advance human rights.

The conference is intended to serve as a meeting ground for the tech-world and the human rights community. While the conference is dedicated to share lessons learned, it is also open to participants with no or little experience in the applications of technologies to human rights, and socially-minded techies who are interested in exploring how their skills can be valuable for the protection of human rights.

Additional information on the conference can be found here ( http://www.law.berkeley.edu/HRCweb/events/TechConference2011/index.html ), and online registration ( https://berkeleylaw.wufoo.com/forms/advancing-the-new-machine/ ) is currently open. Questions may be directed to Melissa Carney, Conference Manager at mcarney@berkeley.edu.

HUMAN RIGHTS LITIGATION e-learning course

There are still some places available in the upcoming e-learning course on Human Rights Litigation, which will be offered from 27 April-12 July 2011. This distance learning course provides participants with knowledge of the concept, types, venues and strategies of human rights litigation. It focuses on strategic litigation and legal aid both internationally and domestically, and explores a variety of strategies: issue or group oriented litigation, community based services, legal clinics, NGO or law firm resourced actions and others. Participants are familiarised with court ordered structural relief, as well as with conventional victim-centered legal remedies. Non-litigation strategies to maximise the chances of winning cases and to ensure the effective enforcement of decisions too are considered. The course places impact litigation in its social and institutional context exploring issues of its legitimacy, as well as the ethics and accountability of human rights lawyering. In the last part it highlights litigation for the vindication of several groups of substantive rights, including economic and social rights, freedom from torture, equality and asylum. Participants will be provided with examples from various jurisdictions in the world illustrating strategic human rights litigation in practice.

For more detailed information and to register online, please go to: www.hrea.org/human-rights-litigation

4th ANNUAL ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

On this occasion, the Project proudly announces the organization of the 4th annual Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Training Course will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-13 May 2011.

THEY FIGHT LIKE SOLDIERS, THEY DIE LIKE CHILDREN

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.

At Fordham University, Lowenstein Building, 12th Floor Lounge
113 West 60th St., New York, NY (at Columbus Ave.)

General Dallaire will discuss child soldiers, including during his time in Rwanda, and will offer solutions to eradicate their use. His new book on child soldiers will be available for purchase.

Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier and author of A Long Way Gone, will introduce Dallaire.

The program is open to the public. Please R.S.V.P. to elizabethbarad@gmail.com

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

Contact
Ms Emer Carlin
Secretary
Transitional Justice Institute
Magee campus
Tel: + 44 (0) 28 71675146
Email:LLM@ulster.ac.uk

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, Issue No. 444 (28 March 2011)

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief with tags Human Rights on March 29, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief
28 March 2011 / Issue No. 444

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

INFORMATION NEEDED: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Dear Colleagues,

I am an attorney based in New York and I need case law that cites the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. I am currently working on a case in which I need to make reference to Article 23(1) of this convention and I do not know where to look to find case law on this.

If any of you can help it would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey C Slatus

YJ182SL@HOTMAIL.COM

SEEKING EXPERT ON GENETIC RESEARCH AND INFORMED CONSENT FOR DUBLIN PANEL

I am currently finalizing a panel for a program to be conducted at the fall meeting in Dublin, tentatively titled, “Emerging Issues in Informed Consent Research”. In light of the recent settlement involving the Havasupai tribe in Arizona, the lawsuits arising out of newborn blood spot collection in a number of US states and other controversies arising around the world, the program will examine the processes currently used for obtaining consent from the subjects that participate in these studies, and explore the sufficiency of these processes. I am eager to add to my panel someone from an NGO or related organization who can speak to the human rights concerns raised by the collection of genetic materials from large groups of populations in the absence of adequately informed consent and/or the use of previously collected materials for new purposes for which the subject did not originally consent.

I would be very happy to receive all recommendations/expressions of interest.

Jacqueline Klosek
Goodwin Procter LLP
Jklosek@goodwinprocter.com

Office: 212-459-7464
Cell: 646 873 0757

IBA HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2011. Who would you nominate?

Nominations are now open for the 2011 IBA Human Rights Award! This prestigious annual award is presented to a legal practitioner for outstanding contribution to human rights law. Entry is open to both IBA members and non-members, and nominations close on 27 March 2011. Who would you nominate?

Please use the IBA nominations form to submit a nomination. For more information on criteria for candidature and to submit a nomination visit the IBA website at: http://www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/About_the_HRI/HRI_Activities/HRI_Media/IBA_Human_Rights_Award_2010.aspx

The IBA is keen to ensure that the maximum number possible of high-calibre nominations is presented for consideration by the judging panel, so make your nominations now!

The winner will be notified in July to allow time for the IBA to make arrangements for the winner to attend, as the guest of the IBA, the 2011 Annual Conference in Dubai, which runs from 30 October – 4 November 2011.

Human Rights News

CHINA ACTIVIST LIU XIANBIN JAILED FOR 10 YEARS

By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing

A Chinese democracy activist has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power.

Liu Xianbin was charged after writing a series of articles calling for democratic reforms.

He was convicted after a trial lasting only a few hours; the third time he has been sent to jail for his activism.

Dozens of lawyers and activists have been arrested or detained in China recently following calls for Middle East-style protests.

Liu Xianbin’s trial, in Suining in Sichuan Province, lasted just a few hours, according to his wife, who attended the hearing.

Chen Mingxian told the BBC that her husband shouted, “I’m not guilty” in the courtroom.

Speaking after the verdict, she said the charges against her husband were trumped up.

“Today I saw how legal tools were used to convict someone who is not guilty,” she said.

Liu Xianbin was previously sent to prison for two-and-a-half years for taking part in the nationwide protests of 1989.

When he was released, he continued his campaigning.

UN CREATES NEW POST OF HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATOR TO PROBE ALLEGED ABUSES IN IRAN

By The Associated Press

GENEVA — The U.N.’s top human rights body has created a special investigator for the human rights situation in Iran.

The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday narrowly approved a U.S. and Swedish-backed proposal to appoint a special rapporteur whose job is to probe allegations of human rights abuses in Iran.

The vote was 22-7, with 14 abstentions. Four of the council’s 47 nations did not participate.

Iran and Pakistan each said they opposed such posts as an unnecessary intrusion into their internal affairs. Iran is not a council member.

The decision marks the first time since the council’s creation in 2006 that a new position for a country-specific investigator was created.

The council voted separately to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur on North Korea for another year.

SOURCE: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hHqNPGZvHHHUbjbefjTrTV8izpDA?docId=6341812

U.S. SOLDIER SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS OVER AFGHAN CIVILIAN DEATHS

ROBIN HINDERY

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASH.— The Associated Press

Published Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2011 12:25PM EDT

Last updated Thursday, Mar. 24, 2011 12:07AM EDT

A U.S. soldier was sentenced to 24 years in prison Wednesday after saying “the plan was to kill people” in a conspiracy with four fellow soldiers to kill unarmed Afghan civilians.

Military judge Lieutenant-Colonel Kwasi Hawks said he intended to sentence Specialist Jeremy Morlock to life in prison with possibility of parole but was bound by the plea deal. Spc. Morlock will receive 352 days off of his sentence for time served.

His sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, and one count each of conspiracy, obstructing justice and illegal drug use at his court martial at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle.

The 22-year-old soldier is a key figure in a war crimes probe that implicates a dozen members of his platoon and has raised some of the most serious criminal allegations to come from the war in Afghanistan.

He was accused of taking a lead role in the killings of three unarmed Afghan men in Kandahar province in January, February and May. 2010.

Asked by the judge whether the plan was to shoot at people to scare them, or to shoot to kill, Spc. Morlock replied, “The plan was to kill people.”

Spc. Morlock was the first of five soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade to be court-martialed — something his lawyer Geoffrey Nathan characterized as an advantage. Under the plea deal, Spc. Morlock agreed to testify against his co-defendants.

EX-PRESIDENT OF UKRIANE IS IMPLICATED IN 2000 KILLING

By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ

Published: March 22, 2011

MOSCOW — The former president of Ukraine whose political skulduggery helped precipitate that country’s democratic Orange Revolution seven years ago was officially named on Tuesday as a suspect in the killing of a prominent investigative journalist.

Former President Leonid D. Kuchma, who served from 1994 to 2005, has repeatedly denied involvement in the 2000 murder of the journalist, Georgy Gongadze, and has withstood numerous efforts to bring him to trial for the crime.

But, in a case that has become a test of Ukraine’s ability to break fully with an era of raucous and sometimes bloody politics after the Soviet collapse, the Prosecutor General’s Office said Tuesday that it now had enough evidence to link Mr. Kuchma, that era’s most prominent official, to the killing.

“Leonid Danilovich Kuchma is suspected of overstepping his authority, giving illegal orders to officials from the Interior Ministry that led to the murder of the journalist,” Renat Kuzmin, Ukraine’s first deputy prosecutor general, told journalists in Kiev.

Mr. Kuzmin did not elaborate on the former president’s precise role, saying only that the investigation was proceeding. Mr. Kuchma has not been arrested, and it is not certain that he will be. He has been forbidden to leave Ukraine.

It is unclear why prosecutors have only now opened a criminal case against Mr. Kuchma, nearly 11 years after Mr. Gongadze’s headless corpse was discovered in a forest outside Kiev.

OVERVIEWS OF LITIGATION AGAINST MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

[PDF] Tort litigation against multinationals (“MNCs”) for violation of human rights: an overview of the position outside the US

Author: Richard Meeran, Leigh Day & Co
Dated: 07 Mar 2011

Over the past decade, the US Alien Tort Statute (“ATS”)…has generally been viewed as the mechanism with the most promising potential for holding MNCs to account for human rights violations in developing countries. In recent years, US public interest lawyers have been at the forefront of developing ATS cases where MNCs are alleged to have been complicit with states in such violations…However a majority decision of the US Second Circuit Courts of Appeals in September 2010…held that customary international human rights law does not recognise the liability of corporations, and consequently that MNCs cannot be liable under “ATS”…This issue may well be finally resolved by the Supreme Court…Consequently, at this point in time it would seem timely to consider the state of play with regard to the continued development of more conventional tort law remedies. These too have yielded considerable success over the past decade or so. [refers to Anglo American, Anvil Mining, BHP Billiton, BP, Cambior, Cape plc, Chevron, Gencor, Merck, Minera Majaz (part of Monterrico Metals), Monterrico Metals (part of Zijin), Rio Blanco (part of Monterrico Metals), Rio Tinto, Securitas, Shell, Thor Chemicals, Unocal (part of Chevron), Zijin]

BOSNIAN SERB CONVICTED BY UN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL TRANSFERRED TO ESTONIA

A former Bosnian Serb army general convicted of war crimes by the United Nations tribunal set up to judge the worst abuses committed during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s has been transferred to Estonia to serve out his 29-year jail term for terror, murder and inhumane acts.

Dragomir Miloševic, who is not related to the former Serbian leader Slobodan Miloševic, was convicted in 2007 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) of five counts of murder,
inflicting terror and inhumane acts during the second half of the 1992-1995 siege of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, when a campaign of sniping and shelling killed or injured large numbers of civilians.

His initial sentence of 33 years was cut to 29 years in 2009 by an ICTY appeals chamber ruling that evidence cited in the judgment did not support a finding that Mr. Miloševic, now 69, planned and ordered the sniping
incidents but that his command responsibility for failing to prevent and punish committed by his subordinates had been established beyond reasonable doubt.

The chamber upheld the majority of his convictions for ordering the shelling of the civilian population.

For 15 months, from August 1994 to November 1995, Mr. Miloševic was commander of the Sarajevo-Romanija Corps (SRK) of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) which encircled and entrapped Sarajevo during the conflict.

He is the second convicted person to be transferred to Estonia. Milan Martic, a former wartime political leader of Croatian Serbs, was transferred there in 2009 to serve out his 35-year jail sentence for his
role in a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

The tribunal, which is based in The Hague in the Netherlands, yesterday thanked the Estonian authorities for their continued support in ensuring the enforcement of its sentences and stressed the “crucial role” that
Member States play in enforcing the sentences. It has so far signed agreements on serving sentences with 17 States, and today it called for help in securing additional enforcement capacity.

Since its establishment, the tribunal has indicted 161 persons for serious violations of humanitarian law committed in the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2001. Proceedings against 125 have been concluded. Proceedings are currently ongoing for 34 accused.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 23 March 2011

TWO UN-AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS SEVERELY INJURED IN DARFUR AMBUSH

Two peacekeepers from the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were badly wounded today when they were ambushed and shot by unknown men in what an outraged mission chief called a cowardly attack.

The uniformed personnel had just completed escort duties when their vehicle was fired upon by unknown men in Masteri, a village 45 kilometres south of El Geneina, capital of Sudan’s West Darfur state. One peacekeeper, the driver, was seriously injured and his colleague is in critical condition.

“The AU-UN Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari expressed outrage at this cowardly attack against UNAMID’s peacekeepers, who are in Darfur to help restore peace and stability,” the mission said in a statement. “UNAMID remains undaunted and unwavering in its commitment to carrying out its mandate in the service of peace. UNAMID calls upon the Government of the Sudan to identify, capture and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.”

UNAMID, with some 22,500 uniformed personnel currently on the ground out of a total mandated strength of almost 26,000, has been in Darfur for over three years, trying to assist efforts to bring peace to a vast region where a war between the Sudanese Government, backed by militia allies, and various rebel groups has killed at least 300,000 people and displaced 2.7 million others since it erupted in 2003.

UNAMID troops have been victims of several attacks in the past. Earlier this month the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed war crimes charges against two rebel leaders accused in the September 2007 attack that killed 12 peacekeepers from the African Union force that was UNAMID’s predecessor, and committed them to trial.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 22 March 2011

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER

Law and Health Initiative – Public Health Program
Open Society Institute–New York

Application Deadline: April 8, 2011

LAHI seeks a full-time senior program officer.

Qualifications

At least ten years of professional experience in four or more of the following six relevant fields: (1) legal advocacy and litigation; (2) international human rights; (3) health and human rights; (4) global health (specifically related to marginalized groups); (5) grant-making; (6) capacity development.
Management experience, including personnel management, project management and strategic management.
Law degree.
Experience working in one or more of the following regions: East and Southern Africa; Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (fSU); Southeast Asia (SEA).
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Demonstrated commitment to using law progressively to advance public health and human rights objectives.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements before to: humanresources@sorosny.org. Include job code in subject line: SPO-LAHI

Open Society Foundations
Human Resources – Code SPO-LAHI
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

FAX: 212.548.4675

For more information visit: http://www.soros.org/about/locations/new-york/spo-plahi-20110310

Ph.D. RESEARCHER

Media Law Section of the Department of Communication Studies, Center for Journalism Studies and at the Law Faculty, the Human Rights Centre, Ghent University

The researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Voorhoof (www.psw.ugent.be/dv). Co-supervisor is Prof. Eva Brems.

.
Starting date: 1 September 2010
Ph.D. grant ca.1570-1750 Euro net/month (tax free)

Profile

law degree obtained with good (preferably excellent) grades
fluency in written and spoken English
good research and writing skills
good social skills
knowledge of and insight in human rights law, preferably with special interest regarding media law, information law, journalism studies or free speech issues.

More information can be obtained from prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be
More information about Ghent and Ghent University, see www.ugent.be

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Interns
The International Commission of Jurists
Location: Geneva
Last Date: March 31, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74106.shtml

Intern (Monitoring & Evaluation)
Cambodia UNAIDS Country Office
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Last Date: March 31, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74511.shtml

Program Officer – The International Harm Reduction Development Program
The Open Society Foundations
Location: New York
Last Date: April 1, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74122.shtml

Research assistant (paid internship)
Bretton Woods Project
Location: London, UK
Last Date: April 4, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74198.shtml

Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Specialist – Associate
Tetra Tech ARD
Location: Burlington, Vermont or our Arlington, Virginia
Last Date: April 4, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74157.shtml

Associate Legal Adviser
Commission internationale de juristes
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Last Date: April 10, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74503.shtml

Attorney/Legal Advisor
ACDI/VOCA
Location: Worldwide
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74360.shtml

Justice Advisor
Civilian Police International, LLC
Location: Multiple Locations
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/cpi-11march2011.html

Human Rights Attorney/Lawyer
Open Society Justice Initiative
Location: London or New York
Last Date: April 19, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/osji-18march2011.html

Head of Operations
Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS)
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Last Date: April 23, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/crcs-23march2011.html

Country Director – Nepal
Marie Stopes International (MSI)
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Last Date: April 24, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74614.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

INTERNATIONAL SUMMER ACADEMY ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN SECURITY
BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS HOME STRENGTHENING HUMAN SECURITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
10 – 20 July 2011
ETC | EUROPEAN TRAINING AND RESEARCH CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY
GRAZ | AUSTRIA

ETC’s International Summer Academy on Human Rights and Human Security has been held since 2001, first in Montenegro and Macedonia, and since 2003 in the Human Rights City of Graz.
Following different topics in the past ten years – ranging from human rights and human wrongs in the Balkans over a culture of human rights to the question of threats that transnational terrorist and criminal organisations bring for the peacebuilding and reconstruction process in the Western Balkan region – it has never lost the focus on the interdependency of human rights, human security and human rights education. The 10th summer academy (re)turns to the local level, resuming different approaches to human rights implementation in cities and towns, discussing progress and setbacks and giving examples not only of the Human Rights City of Graz. The programme is designed to raise awareness on human rights challenges and possible solutions by means of human rights education and education for democratic citizenship, to strengthen democratic and human rights principles, to contribute to bringing the scientific discourse closer to civil society and to build future relations and in!
clude the participants in existing networks.

The programme further provides an introduction to the concept of human security which is set into relation to societal factors such as poverty and exclusion, but also racism and right-wing extremism and their effects on “old” and “new” minorities. Concluding the summer academy, human rights education strategies will be reviewed in relation to the goals of human security and the respect for human and minority rights.
APPLICATION DEADLINE 31 March 2011
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
http://www.etc-graz.at/typo3/index.php?id=1118#c2421

SYSTEMIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS’ RIGHTS

The Hague, The Netherlands.

The Center on Law and Globalization, a partnership of the American Bar Foundation and the University of Illinois College of Law, invites you to our upcoming colloquium, the second in a continuing series, Systematic Sexual Violence and Victims’ Rights, which will convene 7-8 April 2011 in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The Center on Law and Globalization works to advance the understanding of key international human rights issues and lay foundations for potential solutions. As a follow up to our successful first colloquium in 2009, at which UN High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay, International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Judge Richard Goldstone, and others, called for new intensified approaches of international criminal law on violence against women, this second colloquium will continue our evidentiary discussions and examine more thoroughly the concerns of victims.

We at the Center admire your long-standing commitment to advancing justice, ethics and the rule of law in both the United States and abroad, and your notable leadership within the American Bar Association has played a critical role in the progress made thus far. We would benefit immensely from your presence at this colloquium as it is our ambition to build a global infrastructure of activists, lawyers, leaders and scholars who seek to combat and remedy systematic victimization of women and improve human rights and the rule of law in international settings.

We hope that you are able to attend Systematic Sexual Violence and Victims’ Rights. However, if you are unable to join us in The Hague, the American Bar Foundation will be hosting an exclusive debriefing lunch on April 21 at our offices in Chicago to discuss the colloquium’s activities, outcomes and next steps for our continued work in this area.

For more information visit: colloquium’s program.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: HREA distance learning courses

Short certificate courses [application deadline: 15 April 2011]:

HUMAN RIGHTS LITIGATION e-learning course

There are still some places available in the upcoming e-learning course on Human Rights Litigation, which will be offered from 27 April-12 July 2011. This distance learning course provides participants with knowledge of the concept, types, venues and strategies of human rights litigation. It focuses on strategic litigation and legal aid both internationally and domestically, and explores a variety of strategies: issue or group oriented litigation, community based services, legal clinics, NGO or law firm resourced actions and others. Participants are familiarised with court ordered structural relief, as well as with conventional victim-centered legal remedies. Non-litigation strategies to maximise the chances of winning cases and to ensure the effective enforcement of decisions too are considered. The course places impact litigation in its social and institutional context exploring issues of its legitimacy, as well as the ethics and accountability of human rights lawyering. In the last part it highlights litigation for the vindication of several groups of substantive rights, including economic and social rights, freedom from torture, equality and asylum. Participants will be provided with examples from various jurisdictions in the world illustrating strategic human rights litigation in practice.

For more detailed information and to register online, please go to: www.hrea.org/human-rights-litigation

4th ANNUAL ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

On this occasion, the Project proudly announces the organization of the 4th annual Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Training Course will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-13 May 2011.

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA International Human Rights e-Brief, Issue No. 443 (21 March 2011)

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief with tags Human Rights on March 21, 2011 by Don Anton

International Human Rights e-Brief
21 March 2011 / Issue No. 443

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship and Volunteer Postings
Educations Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE: War Crimes Prosecution Watch, Volume 5, Issue 25 – March 14, 2011

War Crimes Prosecution Watch is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that compiles official documents and articles from major news sources detailing and analyzing salient issues pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes throughout the world.

To read the newsletter visit: http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/warcrimeswatch/archives/wcpw_vol05issue25.html

SEEKING EXPERT ON GENETIC RESEARCH AND INFORMED CONSENT FOR DUBLIN PANEL

I would be very happy to receive all recommendations/expressions of interest.

Jacqueline Klosek
Goodwin Procter LLP
Jklosek@goodwinprocter.com

Office: 212-459-7464
Cell: 646 873 0757

IBA HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2011. Who would you nominate?

The IBA is keen to ensure that the maximum number possible of high-calibre nominations is presented for consideration by the judging panel, so make your nominations now!

Human Rights News

1996 PRISON MASSACRE A SPARK IN LIBYAN REVOLUTION

Since 2008, the families of slain prisoners had been pressing for justice in unprecedented protests at the Benghazi courthouse. Many credit them with breaking the barrier of fear that helped sustain the Kadafi regime.

By Raja Abdulrahim, Los Angeles Times

March 19, 2011

Reporting from Benghazi, Libya— Every month for nearly 10 years, Ezzedin abu Azza’s family traveled to the gates of Abu Salim prison in Tripoli to deliver a package of clothes, food and medicine, not knowing whether it ever reached him.

They hadn’t seen him since the day in 1993 when the 23-year-old was taken away for questioning by state security agents. But still they made their journey from Benghazi every month.

Then, in 2002, the family was told he had died, six years earlier.

Here in this eastern city that has long simmered with resentment over the brutal rule of Moammar Kadafi, the Abu Azzas were among the lucky ones. Other families would wait another six years, or longer, to hear that their loved ones were among a reported 1,200 political prisoners at Abu Salim who were killed, in a matter of hours, in June 1996 as they fought for better living conditions and the right to see their families.

BRAZIL HOPES OBAMA WILL HELP ON U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT

BRASILIA, Brazil, March 17 (UPI) — Brazil is hoping U.S. President Barack Obama will help the country secure a permanent U.N. Security Council seat, confirming its pre-eminence in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Brazil has been campaigning for the Security Council seat on the strength of its economic growth, which its officials say gives the Latin American country the necessary financial clout and rightful leadership in the region.

So far Brazil’s claim has gone largely uncontested, except for minor murmurings of dissent, and Brasilia hopes the U.S. president’s visit will be the right moment to win crucial diplomatic support.

Brazilian officials see Obama’s visit as an opportunity to consolidate ties with Washington on a more equitable basis and to offer Obama the idea that Brazil and the United States can become equal partners in business and trade, diplomacy, politics and regional relations.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/03/17/Brazil-hopes-Obama-will-help-on-UN-Security-Council-seat/UPI-76611300397608/#ixzz1H5oQJFrA

GOTOVINA JUDGEMENT SLATED FOR APRIL

The trial began in March 2008 and has heard a total of 138 witnesses.

By Rachel Irwin

The judgement in the Hague tribunal case against Croatian generals Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac will take place on April 15, the court announced this week.

The three generals are accused of ordering the shelling of civilian areas, murdering Serb civilians and destroying their property during and after Operation Storm. About 200,000 Serb civilians are estimated to have left their homes around the time of the August 4, 1995 offensive, which was launched to retake the Serb-controlled Krajina region of Croatia.

Gotovina, Cermak, and Markac face nine counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including persecutions, deportation, wanton destruction and murder.

The prosecution has requested a 27-year prison sentence for Gotovina, a 23-year term for Markac and 17 years for Cermak. The defence has requested acquittals for all three of the defendants.

The trial began in March 2008 and heard a total of 138 witnesses – 81 of them testified for the prosecution, and 57 appeared on behalf of the defence. Closing arguments were held in late August 2010.

Rachel Irwin is an IWPR reporter in The Hague.

SOURCE: http://iwpr.net/report-news/gotovina-judgement-slated-april

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER

Law and Health Initiative – Public Health Program
Open Society Institute–New York

Application Deadline: April 8, 2011

LAHI seeks a full-time senior program officer.

Qualifications

At least ten years of professional experience in four or more of the following six relevant fields: (1) legal advocacy and litigation; (2) international human rights; (3) health and human rights; (4) global health (specifically related to marginalized groups); (5) grant-making; (6) capacity development.
Management experience, including personnel management, project management and strategic management.
Law degree.
Experience working in one or more of the following regions: East and Southern Africa; Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (fSU); Southeast Asia (SEA).
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Demonstrated commitment to using law progressively to advance public health and human rights objectives.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements before to: humanresources@sorosny.org. Include job code in subject line: SPO-LAHI

Open Society Foundations
Human Resources – Code SPO-LAHI
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

FAX: 212.548.4675

For more information visit: http://www.soros.org/about/locations/new-york/spo-plahi-20110310

Ph.D. RESEARCHER

Media Law Section of the Department of Communication Studies, Center for Journalism Studies and at the Law Faculty, the Human Rights Centre, Ghent University

The researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Voorhoof (www.psw.ugent.be/dv). Co-supervisor is Prof. Eva Brems.

.
Starting date: 1 September 2010
Ph.D. grant ca.1570-1750 Euro net/month (tax free)

Profile

law degree obtained with good (preferably excellent) grades
fluency in written and spoken English
good research and writing skills
good social skills
knowledge of and insight in human rights law, preferably with special interest regarding media law, information law, journalism studies or free speech issues.

More information can be obtained from prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be
More information about Ghent and Ghent University, see www.ugent.be

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Interns
The International Commission of Jurists
Location: Geneva
Last Date: March 31, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74106.shtml

Attorney/Legal Advisor
ACDI/VOCA
Location: Worldwide
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74360.shtml

Justice Advisor
Civilian Police International, LLC
Location: Multiple Locations
Last Date: April 11, 2011
http://devnetjobs.tripod.com/cpi-11march2011.html

Research assistant (paid internship)
Bretton Woods Project
Location: London, UK
Last Date: April 4, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74198.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

SYSTEMIC SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS’ RIGHTS

The Hague, The Netherlands.

For more information visit: colloquium’s program.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: HREA distance learning courses

Short certificate courses [application deadline: 15 April 2011]:

HUMAN RIGHTS LITIGATION e-learning course

For more detailed information and to register online, please go to: www.hrea.org/human-rights-litigation

4th ANNUAL ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

On this occasion, the Project proudly announces the organization of the 4th annual Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Training Course will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-13 May 2011.

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

ABA Section of International Law Human Rights e-Brief, Issue No. 442 (14 Mar 2011)

Posted in ABA Human Rights e-Brief with tags Human Rights on March 15, 2011 by Don Anton

ABA Section of International Law
Human Rights e-Brief
14 MARCH 2011 / Issue No. 442

Bulletin Board
Human Rights News
Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings
Educational Courses & Conferences

Bulletin Board

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

Nominations are now open for the ABA Section of International Law’s International Human Rights Lawyer Award. The award honors individual “foreign human rights lawyers who have suffered persecution as a result of their professional activities” on behalf of human rights defenders or against human rights abuses.

The award has been presented 13 times over the last 20 years. In 2010, the recipient was Gao Zhisheng of China, whose personal and professional commitment to defense of individuals’ rights has led to his imprisonment and torture in the past and his continuing “disappearance” since his seizure by the government in 2009.

Other recipients include Andrew Makoni, Zimbabwe (2009); Abdulrahman Al-Lahem of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed-Ali Dadkhah of Iran, and Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani of Pakistan (all in 2008); Soraya Gutierrez Arguello, Colombia (2006); Digna Ochoa y Placido, Mexico (2003); Rosemary Nelson, Northern Ireland (2001); Muchtar Pakpahan, Indonesia (1997); Olisa Agbakoba, Nigeria (1996); Radhika Coomaraswamy, Sri Lanka (1995); Teo Soh Lung, Singapore (1994); Srdja Popovic, Serbia (1993); Carlos Escobar Pineda, Peru (1991); and Gibson Kamau Kuria, Kenya (1990).

Each nomination should include 1) the nominee’s C.V./biographical information, 2) a description of human rights-related professional activity that supports the nomination, 3) other relevant background material, and 4) a cover statement explaining why it would be particularly appropriate for the Section to recognize the nominated lawyer this year.

Please submit nominations to Award Committee Chair Penny Wakefield (pwwakefield@comcast.net) and to Section Projects Coordinator Katie Van Geem (katie.vangeem@americanbar.org) by Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

The Award Committee, which also includes Russell Kerr, Eileen Meier, and Robert Gaudet, will consider all qualifying nominations for the award. The Section reserves the right not to present the award in any given year. If a recipient is named, the award will be presented during the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, in August 2011.

IBA Human Rights Institute 2010 Annual Report

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) 2010 Annual Report has been released.

The Report can be downloaded via the website at: http://www.ibanet.org/Human_Rights_Institute/About_the_HRI/HRI_Activities/HRI_Media/HRI_Annual_Reports.aspx

SEEKING EXPERT ON GENETIC RESEARCH AND INFORMED CONSENT FOR DUBLIN PANEL

I would be very happy to receive all recommendations/expressions of interest.

Jacqueline Klosek
Goodwin Procter LLP
Jklosek@goodwinprocter.com

Office: 212-459-7464
Cell: 646 873 0757

IBA HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD 2011. Who would you nominate?

The IBA is keen to ensure that the maximum number possible of high-calibre nominations is presented for consideration by the judging panel, so make your nominations now!

Human Rights News

ICC PROSECUTOR TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION IN LIBYA

On Thursday 3 March 2011 International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, in accordance with the requirements under the Rome Statute will announce the opening of an investigation in Libya.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) provides jurisdiction to the International Criminal Court over the situation in Libya since 15 February 2011. As per the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor shall proceed with an investigation unless there is no reasonable basis to believe that crimes falling under the ICC jurisdiction have been committed.

Following a preliminary examination of available information, the Prosecutor has reached the conclusion that an investigation is warranted.

Tomorrow at a press conference in The Hague, the Prosecutor will present an overview of the alleged crimes committed in Libya since 15 February 2011 and preliminary information as to the entities and persons who could be prosecuted and put them on notice to avoid future crimes.

The Office of the Prosecutor is liaising with the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League, as well as States. Additionally, the Prosecutor will also request information from other sources including from Interpol who will provide assistance. The Prosecutor will act independently and impartially.

The next step is for the Prosecutor to present his case to ICC judges who will then decide whether or not to issue arrest warrants based on the evidence.

Practical information for journalists attending the press conference is available here.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor

NEXT TEST OF CORPORATIONS’ LIABILITY?

The Second Circuit has set the stage for a major dispute over corporations’ liability for wrongdoing to move on to the Supreme Court. The appeals court left intact a decision that they cannot be sued under a 1789 law.

The Second Circuit Court has set the stage for another major case on corporations and the law to move on to the Supreme Court — a case raising a core question about U.S. courts’ authority to hear claims that foreign companies engaged in human rights abuses. In a closely-followed case, Kiobel, et al., v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, et al. (Circuit docket 06-4800), the Court ruled in September that corporations may not be sued under the Alien Tort Statute, enacted in 1789 by the first Congress. On Friday, a divided panel denied rehearing and the en banc Court — splitting 5-5 — refused to rehear the case. (UPDATE: Lawyers involved plan to file a cert. petition with the Supreme Court, with timing yet to be determined.)

Although the Alien Tort law has been on the books since the Founding era, it has been revived in a wave of lawsuits against foreign individuals that began with a Second Circuit ruling in 1980, and expanded to corporations for the first time in 1997. Despite that development, the underlying issue of corporations’ liabillity — or not — under the law has remained an open question.

The Supreme Court first got involved in 2004, in Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain. In that ruling, in an international abduction case, the Court recognized authority for American courts to rule on ATS cases, but cautioned the lower courts to keep them within strict bounds. The specific claim in that case was not allowed to go forward, however.

Last October, the Court refused to hear a case testing whether corporations could be sued under the law. That case, Talisman Energy v. Presbyterian Church of Sudan (09-1418), and a cross-appeal, Presbyterian Church of Sudan v. Talisman Energy (09-1262), grew out of claims by Sudanese individuals of atrocities at the hands of the Sudanese military to support oil exploration efforts in that country. Those cases, too, originated in the Second Circuit, but in that case the appeals court simply assumed, without deciding, that corporations could be held liable under ATS.

The Second Circuit, of course, has now answered that question directly, in the Kiobel case. Like the Sudan cases, this new lawsuit involves claims by Nigerians of government suppression of resistance to oil exploration in their country. The lawsuit contended that Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., a Netherlands firm, and Shell Transport and Trading Co., a British firm, and a local Shell subsidiary, enlisted the Nigerian government and its military forces to put down the resistance movement., resulting in wanton killing, raping, beating and looting and destruction property.

Read the full story: http://www.scotusblog.com/2011/02/next-test-of-corporations-liability/

LONGEST TRIBUNAL CASE CLOSES

Prosecution asks for terms of between 25 and 40 years for six Bosnian Croat defendants.

By Velma Šarić – International Justice – ICTY

TRI Issue 682,

4 Mar 11

The trial of six senior Bosnian Croat officials – the longest case heard at the Hague tribunal to date – came to a close this week.

All were senior political and military leaders in what was known as Herceg-Bosna, HB, and face 26 counts of war crimes for the expulsion and murder of Muslims in Bosnia during the Croatian-Muslim conflict in 1993.

HB was declared a distinct Croat “community” within Bosnia in 1991, and claimed republic status two years later.

The indictment accuses Jadranko Prlic, Bruno Stojic, Slobodan Praljak, Milivoj Petkovic, Valentin Coric and Berislav Pusic of being part of a “joint criminal enterprise”.

The aim, the indictment states, was “to politically and militarily subjugate, permanently remove and ethnically cleanse Bosnian Muslims and other non-Croats” in the part of Bosnia that was claimed as part of HB, and “to join these areas as part of a ‘Greater Croatia’”.

The six individuals are accused of using “force, fear or threat of force, persecution, imprisonment and detention, forcible transfer and deportation, appropriation and destruction of property and other means” to achieve their aims.

The trial began on April 26, 2006, with the prosecution case closing on February 6, 2008, and has been presided over by Judge Jean-Claude Antonetti.

Read the full story at: http://iwpr.net/report-news/longest-tribunal-case-closes

OBAMA CREATES INDEFINITE DETENTION SYSTEM FOR PRISONERS AT GUANTANAMO BAY

By Peter Finn and Anne E. Kornblut

Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, March 8, 2011

President Obama signed an executive order Monday that will create a formal system of indefinite detention for those held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who continue to pose a significant threat to national security. The administration also said it will start new military commission trials for detainees there.

The announcements, coming more than two years after Obama vowed in another executive order to close the detention center, all but cements Guantanamo Bay’s continuing role in U.S. counterterrorism policy.

Administration officials said the president is still committed to closing the prison, although he made no mention of that goal in a short statement Monday. The administration’s original plans to create a detention center in the United States and prosecute some detainees in federal court have all but collapsed in the face of bipartisan congressional opposition.

The executive order recognizes the reality that some Guantanamo Bay detainees will remain in U.S. custody for many years, if not for life. The new system allows them the prospect of successfully arguing in the future that they should be released because they do not pose a threat.

Read the full story at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030704890.html

SYRIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER FREED AMID DISCONTENT

From Christine Theodorou and Joe Sterling, CNN

March 8, 2011 10:27 a.m. EST

CNN) — A prominent Syrian human rights lawyer has been released from prison, a move that comes amid demands by many restive citizens for more economic prosperity, political freedom and civil liberty.

Attorney Haitham Maleh — arrested in October 2009 during a government crackdown on lawyers and activists — has been freed, his son told CNN on Tuesday.

“I just talked to him on (the) phone and he was on his way home,” Iyas Maleh said, confirming the release.

The release came as Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Monday issued pardons for prisoners, including some who are elderly and ill. Such pardons are made annually during this time of year, the anniversary of the Baathist party seizure of power in Syria.

The 80-year-old Maleh and other prisoners were not identified in the Syrian News Agency report announcing the pardons.

Joshua Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and writer of the Syria Comment blog, believes the Maleh release was prompted by a “widespread campaign of anger” by young people who oppose the government’s authoritarian measures.

Read the full story at: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/08/syria.attorney.freed/index.html

TRIAL BEGINS FOR FORMER ARGENTINE DICTATORS ACCUSED OF STEALING 34 BABIES

Michael Warren

A long-awaited trial began Monday for two former Argentine dictators who allegedly oversaw a systematic plan to steal babies born to political prisoners three decades ago.

Jorge Videla and Reynaldo Bignone are accused in 34 cases of infants who were taken from mothers held in Argentina’s largest clandestine torture and detention centres, the Navy Mechanics School in Buenos Aires and the Campo de Mayo army base northwest of the city.

Also on trial are five military figures and a doctor who attended to the detainees.

The case was opened 14 years ago at the request of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a leading human rights group. It may take up to a year to hear testimony from about 370 witnesses.

Mr. Videla, 85, has been sentenced to life in prison, and Mr. Bignone, 83, is serving a 25-year term for other crimes committed during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, but this is the first trial focused on the alleged plan to steal as many as 400 infants from leftists who were kidnapped, tortured and made to disappear during the junta’s crackdown on political dissent.

There are 13,000 people on the official list of those killed, although rights groups estimate as many as 30,000 died.

Read the full story at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/trial-begins-for-former-argentine-dictators-accused-of-stealing-34-babies/article1923900/

SIX HIGH-RANKING KENYANS SUMMONED BY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

Six high-ranking Kenyan officials, including a deputy prime minister, two ministers and a police chief, have been summoned to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with possible crimes against humanity committed in post-electoral violence three years ago.

An ICC pre-trial chamber declared yesterday by a majority of two to one that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the six are criminally responsible as either indirect co-perpetrators or contributors to the crimes against humanity of murder, forcible transfer and persecution, and ordered them to appear before the court on 7 April.

The six are William Samoei Ruto, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology; Henry Kiprono Kosgey, Minister of Industrialization; Joshua Arap Sang, Head of Operations for KASS FM radio station; Francis Kirimi Muthaura, Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet; Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; and Mohamed Hussein Ali, Police Commissioner at the time of the violence.

More than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500 injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced in the violence that followed the December 2007 elections. There were also hundreds of rapes, possibly more, and at least 100,000 properties were destroyed in six of Kenya’s eight provinces, according to ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who had requested the summonses.

The Chamber found reasonable grounds against Mr. Ruto, Mr. Kosgey and Mr. Sang in connection with murder, forcible transfer and persecution, although not for the count of torture. For the three others it also found reasonable grounds relating to the additional crimes of rape and other inhumane acts.

Mr. Ruto has been suspended and Mr. Kosgey has stepped aside from the ministerial positions because of issues not related to the ICC.

The six were ordered to have no direct or indirect contact with any person who is or is believed to be a victim or witness of the alleged crimes; to “refrain from corruptly influencing a witness, obstructing or interfering with the attendance or testimony of a witness, or tampering with or interfering with” the collection of evidence; and to “refrain from committing crime(s)” set forth in the 1998 Rome Statute that established the ICC.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon yesterday discussed the cases with Kenyan Vice-President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka at UN Headquarters in New York.

SOURCE: UN DAILY NEWS DIGEST – 9 March 2011

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

ABA-SIL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE JOB BOARD

The ABA-SIL Human Rights Committee is pleased to announce a comprehensive new Job Board consisting of web pages for potential employment opportunities from dozens of international human rights NGOs. The job board was developed by ABA member Ellen J. Tabachnick. It can be accessed from the Committee Resource module in the lower right column of our committee’s home page at http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC950000.

OPENINGS AT ASYLUM ACCESS

Asylum Access is seeking exceptional candidates for three open positions. Recommendations / referrals are welcome!

1. Policy Manager<http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1Z4U0tVnpLjAXjdZsZLVeS5TqNopn1Ijjr8bq_DJCbLO-EE9sZDM3c127Fm9O&hl=en>:

Leads Asylum Access’s policy advocacy with the US government, UN bodies, and non-traditional allies to make refugee rights a reality.

2. Development Manager<http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1RSNwvXY0YhhacMVEQByJSt7hJ-jN37ig6f_cR52jem5SSr7fAZZwi-4jAMKf&hl=en>:

Leads Asylum Access’s fundraising strategy and implementation as we plan for expansion to three new offices in 2013.

3. Communications and Development

Assistant<http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=1IkAVWDD7Qk7GQgSAmTkT3iNY0W8aywrH0Xgf6FWpubhd8kCLcZXaAJC-pi32&hl=en>:

Supports Asylum Access’s global communications and fundraising, with an emphasis on new media, branding, and creative outreach.

Job descriptions are linked and attached here. Please circulate widely!

We’d like to receive applications by March 21, but the positions will remain open until filled.

SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER

Law and Health Initiative – Public Health Program
Open Society Institute–New York

Application Deadline: April 8, 2011

LAHI seeks a full-time senior program officer.

Qualifications

At least ten years of professional experience in four or more of the following six relevant fields: (1) legal advocacy and litigation; (2) international human rights; (3) health and human rights; (4) global health (specifically related to marginalized groups); (5) grant-making; (6) capacity development.
Management experience, including personnel management, project management and strategic management.
Law degree.
Experience working in one or more of the following regions: East and Southern Africa; Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (fSU); Southeast Asia (SEA).
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Demonstrated commitment to using law progressively to advance public health and human rights objectives.

To Apply

Please email resume and cover letter with salary requirements before to: humanresources@sorosny.org. Include job code in subject line: SPO-LAHI

Open Society Foundations
Human Resources – Code SPO-LAHI
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

FAX: 212.548.4675

For more information visit: http://www.soros.org/about/locations/new-york/spo-plahi-20110310

Ph.D. RESEARCHER

Media Law Section of the Department of Communication Studies, Center for Journalism Studies and at the Law Faculty, the Human Rights Centre, Ghent University

The researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. Dirk Voorhoof (www.psw.ugent.be/dv). Co-supervisor is Prof. Eva Brems.

.
Starting date: 1 September 2010
Ph.D. grant ca.1570-1750 Euro net/month (tax free)

Profile

law degree obtained with good (preferably excellent) grades
fluency in written and spoken English
good research and writing skills
good social skills
knowledge of and insight in human rights law, preferably with special interest regarding media law, information law, journalism studies or free speech issues.

More information can be obtained from prof. Dirk Voorhoof, dirk.voorhoof@ugent.be
More information about Ghent and Ghent University, see www.ugent.be

ASYLUM COORDINATOR STAFF ATTORNEY

Portland, Maine

*Salary:* 42,000.00 – 50,000.00

*Type:* Full Time – Experienced

The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) seeks a full-time staff attorney who will coordinate ILAP’s asylum program. ILAP is Maine’s only nonprofit provider of comprehensive immigration legal aid to low-income individuals statewide. DUTIES Manage ILAP’s asylum program and ILAP’s Pro bono Immigration Panel, including: coordinate asylum intake process and placement of cases with volunteer attorneys; recruit, train and supervise volunteer attorneys; maintain relationships with Maine law firms and the Bar in order to strengthen pro bono panel recruitment and retention; provide case management of cases placed with volunteer attorneys; ensure updating of ILAP’s pro bono panel web portal; provide full representation to a limited number of asylum clients; assist in providing consultations and conducting legal intake as needed and directed by ILAP’s Supervising Attorney; perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities deemed appropriate by the Supervising Attorney and the Executive Director. For more information about ILAP, see www.ilapmaine.org .

*Requirements:*

Required: J.D.; member in good standing of any state Bar; prior experience handling immigration matters, particularly asylum and removal defense; excellent writing and interpersonal skills; high detail orientation; strong organizational skills; demonstrated commitment to public interest law or to working with low-income populations. Preferred: At least 3 years experience representing asylum seekers in the U.S.; prior experience mentoring and supervising volunteers, particularly other attorneys; fluency in written and spoken French desirable. To apply, submit resumé and writing sample to bstickney@ilapmaine.org. Applications accepted until 3/11/2011 or until position is filled.

Required Education: Juris Doctorate

*NOTES:* US Residents Only.

Additional Salary Information: Salary depends on experience. Benefits comparable to other legal aid agencies in Maine, including health, dental, retirement etc.

VOLUNTEER LEGAL ADVOCATE

(Positions based in Ecuador, Thailand, Tanzania)

POSTED: 2/21/11

Asylum Access, a US-based international refugee rights organization, is seeking experienced legal professionals to serve as Volunteer Legal Advocates (VLAs) in its offices in Quito, Dar es Salaam and Bangkok.

Asylum Access envisions a world where refugees are seen as people with rights, not just people with needs. Asylum Access believes that by empowering refugees to assert their human rights, we can support the creation of effective, lasting solutions for refugees around the world. Asylum Access achieves this partly through the work of national and international volunteers that join the VLA program.

VLA’s have the opportunity to help make refugee rights a reality in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our global VLA team is made of lawyers and highly-qualified law students who commit to spending at least 6 months in Asylum Access offices abroad. They provide direct legal advice and representation to refugees seeking asylum or other legal status. VLAs receive intensive training in international refugee law, and practice before local offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or local refugee status adjudicators. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to engage in policy advocacy at a national or international level.
The ideal applicant will be a legal professional with substantive knowledge of international human rights and refugee law, including client counseling and advocacy. The candidate should be able to build relationships and adapt legal strategies to fit new and/or challenging circumstances. Client service experience and past work with vulnerable populations is a plus.

Fluent professional English is essential. Professional-level Spanish is required for Asylum Access-Ecuador. For Asylum Access-Thailand, Thai, Tamil and Urdu are a plus. For Asylum Access-Tanzania, Swahili, French are a plus.

Please note that all Asylum Access VLA positions are unpaid; we are happy to work with successful applicants to arrange for funding or school credit where available. If selected, VLA’s are responsible for obtaining their visa and work permit, if applicable.

Interested applicants can view the full job description and application instructions:

Asylum Access Ecuador (Quito)

http://tinyurl.com/4s85rlr VLA Description and Application Instructions

Asylum Access Thailand (Bangkok)

http://tinyurl.com/486mu99 VLA Description and Application Instructions

Asylum Access Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam)

http://tinyurl.com/4addr4h VLA Description and Application Instructions

To learn more about the Asylum Access VLA program, visit our website

THE ARIEL F. SALLOWS CHAIR OF HUMAN RIGHTS

University of Saskatchewan – College of Law

Letters of application, accompanied by a current curriculum vitae and an outline of the research plans of the candidate, should be sent to:

Beth Bilson, Acting Dean
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
15 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 5A6

Deadline: December 31, 2011

http://www.usask.ca/law/faculty_sessionals/employment_opportunities.php

INTERNATIONAL JOBS

Project Manager
The Greenpeace International
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Last Date: March 20, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74085.shtml

Brazil Researcher
Human Rights Watch
Location: New York
Last Date: March 20, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74034.shtml

Interns
The International Commission of Jurists
Location: Geneva
Last Date: March 31, 2011
http://216.197.119.113/jobman/publish/article_74106.shtml

SOURCE: See more jobs at: http://www.DevNetJobs.org or by sending a blank email to:
developmentjobs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Educational Courses & Conferences

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Chile Summer Program

The Chile Summer Program 2011 is now accepting applications for late May to mid-July 2011. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2011. For more information, please see www.cwsl.edu/chile.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: HREA distance learning courses

Short certificate courses [application deadline: 15 April 2011]:

4th ANNUAL ADVANCED TRAINING COURSE ON MONITORING ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS

On this occasion, the Project proudly announces the organization of the 4th annual Advanced Training Course on Monitoring Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The Training Course will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 9-13 May 2011.

THE FLETCHER SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT

Tufts University / Medford, Massachusetts

June 19-25, 2011

Visit the FSI 2011 Webpage

Download Flyer

Download Application

We also invite you to pass along this announcement to others who share our passion for achieving human rights and justice through nonviolent strategies.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORM: APPLYING HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACHES

IHRN

Past participant testimonials, Application forms and further details available at
http://www.ihrnetwork.org/justice-sector-reform_202.htm

LLM HUMAN RIGHTS LAW AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Transitional Justice Institute
University of Ulster
(Jordanstown and Magee campuses, Northern Ireland)

This programme has been developed to enable students to:

Reminder

Thank you again for your interest and participation!

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

Leave A Comment »

Archive for the ABA Human Rights e-Brief Category

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Human Rights News

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Bulletin Board

Human Rights News

LONGEST TRIBUNAL CASE CLOSES

Job, Fellowship, and Volunteer Postings

Educational Courses & Conferences

Reminder

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Follow “International Law Roundtable”