The most frequently expressed concerns students have about studying international human rights law is that they learn the theory but don’t learn the practice. They read human rights judgments, but don’t learn how underlying complaints are filed; they learn the importance of UN human rights bodies, but do not know how to file reports or engage in advocacy using these mechanisms. ICAAD is interested in promoting experiential learning of human rights law at the university level, to ensure that students are not only exposed to the theoretical application of human rights law, but actually experience the process of monitoring, reporting and advocating through human rights mechanisms using a multidisciplinary approach.
In partnership with Prof. Colm O’Cinneide at the University College of London (“UCL”) and international law firm Linklaters LLP, we are taking over 20 graduate and post-graduate students at UCL through a journey of advocacy — identifying strategic policy objectives from ICAAD and Linklaters’ prior research on structural discrimination in the United Kingdom (“UK”); formulating a roadmap for change on issues impacting those most vulnerable; and taking the first steps in suggesting policy reform to local, regional, and international policymakers.
The UCL students range from graduate students in law to post-graduates with degrees in law and other disciplines. In helping train the next generation of lawyers, and hopefully, human rights advocates, our goal is to increase the likelihood that participants will apply human rights principles in whatever job they choose. In today’s integrated social and economic environment, with the focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainable business and growth, the potential to use this knowledge in the non-profit, legal, technology, or corporate sector is immense.
To read about ICAAD’s previous course on “UPR Training and Human Rights Lawyering” at the Leitner Center for International Law at Fordham University in New York, click here.
