Clinical Workshop Readings Friday, August 14th 2009

IHRLC Workshop: Introduction to International Human Rights Advocacy

The goal of the workshop is to orient you to some of the fundamental aspects of human rights advocacy and social justice.  The following are several, short readings designed to stimulate your thinking and prepare you for our collaborative discussion.

Session I: Human rights as social justice lawyering
We will begin with a discussion of the reading and its application to your work in the clinic.  As you read the Quigley piece, consider whether and how it is relevant to (a) your relationship this semester to human rights law; (b) your role as a human rights advocate; and (c) the type of community you want to create in the clinic.
Letter to a Law Student Interested in Social Justice

Session II: What is International Human Rights Advocacy?
We will examine four examples of human rights advocacy: (a) criminal accountability; (b) human rights reporting; (c) legislative advocacy; and (d) grassroots campaigns.  As you read these, think about what is the role of the lawyer in each of these modalities?  Which are you most interested in and why?

Criminal accountability and international justice: ICC Statement

Human Rights Reporting: HRW Report re DR Congo

Legislative Advocacy: Cultural Survival Lobbies Guatemalan Congress

Grassroot campaign:  Anti-Prop 8 campaign: Join the Impact

Session III: Transnational human rights lawyering
International human rights advocacy frequently involves working with lawyers and advocates from different social/political as well as legal cultures.  We will explore through a simulation exercise and discussion some of the dynamics of transnational lawyering.  As you read the Fletcher piece, think about examples of when and how you may have encountered legal culture.  How did you become aware of legal culture?  How did you address it?

Fletcher Remarks on Transnational Lawyering