The Bringing Human Rights Home Lawyers’ Network
Annual Human Rights in the U.S. Symposium/CLE
Friday, June 1, 2018
9:15 A.M. - 4:20 P.M.
Hosted by:
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza, New York, NY
Co-Sponsors:
ACLU
Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute
Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Reproductive Rights
Latino Justice PRLDEF
US Human Rights Network
University of Pennsylvania Transnational Legal Clinic
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:15 A.M. – Registration & Coffee
9:15 – 9:30 A.M. – Welcome
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. – Opening Remarks
10:00 – 11:15 A.M. – SESSION I: OVERVIEW OF LEGAL FRAMEWORK & CORE PRINCIPLES
This introductory panel will introduce the normative basis for addressing racial justice through an international human rights lens. Panelists will explore how human rights norms and principles can complement U.S. legal protections, and the renewed emphasis on human rights in the current political context. Speakers have engaged in diverse efforts to address migrants’ rights, challenge state use of force, advance gender and economic justice, promote access to education, and mobilize collectively for international accountability. Drawing from these efforts, the speakers will highlight the elements of an inclusive, rights-based approach to advocacy, and the strengths and limitations of using human rights discourse and strategies to advance social justice.
Panelists:
Moderator: Jamil Dakwar, Director, ACLU Human Rights Program
11:15– 11:30 P.M. – Break
11:30 – 1:00 P.M. – SESSION II: STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT & LEVERAGING SUCCESS DOMESTICALLY
This session will emphasize how a rights-based approach holds the potential to raise the visibility of key community concerns, foster strong partnerships, and enhance accountability. Panelists will also discuss ways to effectively use human rights standards and strategies, including through engagement with regional and international mechanisms, in advocacy to advance racial justice in the United States. The panel will cover advocacy on a range of issues, including police violence, maternal health, voting, the right to water, and economic justice in Puerto Rico. Drawing on such advocacy, this session will explore approaches to centering the voice of individuals and groups impacted by human rights violations, and share how human rights-based claims, as well as the results of international engagement, can be a component of policy-advocacy and movement building.
Panelists:
Moderator: Cindy Soohoo, Director, CUNY School of Law Human Rights & Gender Justice Clinic
1:15-1:30 P.M. – Break
1:30 – 2:30 P.M.. – Lunch & Keynote
2:30-4:00 P.M. – ROUNDTABLE: RESPONDING TO EMERGING THREATS WITH RIGHTS-BASED APPROACHES
This roundtable will explore the threats and challenges posed by the current political environment, and the opportunities for new strategies and alliances. What role do, and can, human rights play in addressing both the increasingly urgent threats facing communities of color, and people living in poverty, as well as persistent forms of discrimination? How do we build the strength and collective power of the domestic human rights movement in light of current challenges we face? What role can lawyers play?
Speakers:
Moderator: Natasha Bannan, Associate Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF
4:00 – 4:20 P.M. – CLOSING REMARKS
Information Regarding New York CLE Credits: Columbia Law School has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board as an Accredited Provider of CLE programs. Under New York State CLE regulations, this live non-transitional CLE Program will provide 5 credit hours that can be applied toward the Areas of Professional Practice requirement. This CLE credit is awarded only to New York attorneys for full attendance of the Program in its entirety. Attorneys attending only part of the program are not eligible for partial credit for it, although they are most welcome to attend it. Attendance is determined by an attorney's sign-in and sign-out, as shown in the Conference registers. On final sign-out, attorneys should also submit their completed Evaluation Form, provided at the Conference. Please note the NYS Certificates of Attendance will be sent to the email address as it appears in the register unless otherwise noted there.
CONFERENCE MATERIALS: Conference materials will be distributed to attendees. Printed review copies of the materials will be available at the conference. Registrants can request a printed copy.
REGISTRATION: Online registration will close for all transactions, including refunds, at 5pm on Tuesday, May 29. On-site registration will be available at the Conference, space permitting. Confirmed reservations are transferrable. Kindly notify the Human Rights Institute ([email protected]) of transfers by the close of preregistration and otherwise as soon as possible
Registration Rates
Please note that all rates are 'per person' and, as flat fees, cannot be prorated according to attendance. The CLE is free for attorneys and persons who are serving in public interest organizations (including government, academic, and non- and not-for profit organizations) or are experiencing financial hardship.
Professional/Private Practice: $350
Public Interest/Nonprofit/Academia/Government: $0
Attendees working in private practice (including lawyers and consultants) that are seeking a hardship scholarship should register using the online form and then separately complete their registration by submitting a scholarship request, no later than May 15, 2018, to HRI ([email protected]). Requests, which will be answered, should detail in a few sentences the basis of the applicant's need and the background to his or her interest. Please understand that without a complete scholarship request, the applicant may be notified that the scholarship registration has been cancelled.