Human Rights Institute | Columbia Law School

The Inter-American Human Rights System

HRI’s current work before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) seeks to develop international law arguments and strategies in the areas of domestic violence, violence against women, juvenile life without parole, and the rights of Haitians and Haitians descendants in the Dominican Republic, among others.   HRI also encourages normative development in the Interamerican System and promotes greater effectiveness and effeciency within the System itself. 

U.S Cases in the Inter-American Human Rights System

• Jessica Gonzales v. US  This is the first case brought againist the United States in an international human rights tribunal.  In 2011, the Commission issued a decision, holding the U.S. Accountable for human rights violations against a Colorado woman and her three deceased children who were victims of domestic violence. 

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• Juvenile Life without Parole This pending case challenges the sentences and conditions of confinement of 32 Michigan petitioners currently serving the remainder of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole for crimes that occured when they were under the age of 18.

Other Cases before the IAHRS

• Case of Mass Expulsions of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent from the Dominican Republic The Human Rights Clinic along with co-counsel are working toward a holistic solution to the problem of mass expulsions, combining litigation in the Inter-American system with other advocacy efforts.  The litigation takes place on two tracks: provisional measures before the Inter-American Court and merits before the Inter-American Commission.