TIME: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  (7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Reception)

The American Society of International Law and the American University Washington College of Law's Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law are pleased to present a three-part continuing legal education (CLE) series to provide a forum for the better understanding and discussion of human rights and humanitarian law theory.This second course will focus on the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.----

The mandate for this office was created by the United Nations Human Rights Commission (now Human Rights Council) in 1982 and covers all countries, irrespective of whether a State has ratified relevant human rights conventions. In carrying out its mandate, the Special Rapporteur must monitor situations of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and draw the attention of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to serious situations that may warrant immediate attention; respond effectively regarding cases of imminent executions or those that have already occurred, and enhance the dialogue with governments through recommendations. The Special Rapporteur uses the transmission of urgent appeals to States in case of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the carrying out of on-site fact-finding visits to countries evincing a situation of human rights violation, and the submission of annual reports to UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly as tools to monitor States’ actions. Even if the work of the Rapporteur is essential for all the States, its ability to denounce human rights violations and influence public opinion and action is more relevant in regard to countries that have not submitted themselves to other forms of human rights monitoring, either universal or regional. At the same time, the denunciation of mass atrocities, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other gross violations of the right to life has put the mandate at odds with States involved in systematic violations of human rights. In his presentation, the Special Rapporteur will describe his recent work in regards to Sri Lanka and India and explore the challenges that the current situation of Syria poses for the protection of the right to life as well as the ability of his mandate to contribute with other UN actions to stop the perpetration of international crimes in that country. 

For the event flyer, please click HERE.

Please click HERE for the course materials (22 MB zip file).

Instructor:

Christof Heyns, U.N. Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

Moderator: 

Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director and Executive Vice President, American Society of International Law (ASIL)

ASIL has received accreditation for 1.5 mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) credits for this course with  California and Pennsylvania. ASIL is pending accreditation with Virginia and Georgia. New York attorneys may independently seek professional practice credits for this course through the approved jurisdictions of California or Pennsylvania. 

For more information about ASIL's jurisdictions and reporting CLE credits, please visit http://www.asil.org/institutes.cfm.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Free and Open to all ASIL Members and Non-Members. Space is limited, so advance registration is recommended.

TO REGISTER FOR THE OTHER COURSE IN THE SERIES VISIT:

CLE INSTITUTE COURSE SERIES (3 of 3) on HUMAN RIGHTS: The Future of the International Criminal Court: The Lubanga Judgment and Beyond