Conference Analyzes Successes and Challenges in Strengthening Prohibition Against Torture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC, February 24, 2010 – American University Washington College of Law will host a conference on “Strengthening the Prohibition Against Torture: The Evolution of the UN Committee against Torture,” on March 2, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Cosponsored with Amnesty International, this full-day conference will convene high-level international experts and stakeholders, including policymakers, lawyers, civil servants, NGOs and scholars, in the area of the prohibition against torture.

 “American University Washington College of Law is proud to partner with Amnesty International on this important initiative,” said Dean Claudio Grossman, chair of the United Nations Committee against Torture.  “The eradication of torture is a vital objective that depends on all of us.  The continuing use of torture around the world reaffirms the pressing need to raise awareness and increase collaborative efforts to eliminate this abhorrent practice.”

Participants will analyze key challenges and successes, and develop recommendations to strengthen the prohibition of torture and the Committee's related contributions.  The conference’s keynote speaker is the Hon. Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.  His speech is entitled “The Role of the U.S. in Strengthening the Prohibition Against Torture.”

8:30-9:00am    Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:20am    Opening Remarks

  • WCL Dean and Professor of Law Claudio Grossman, Chair, UN Committee against Torture
  • Widney Brown, Senior Director, International Law and Policy, Amnesty International

9:30-11:00am  Panel One:  Building on CAT’s Successes and Addressing its Shortcomings:  The Stakeholders’ Perspectives

  • Santiago Canton, Executive Secretary, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights                     
  • Jens Faerkel,Minister Counsellor of the Human Rights Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Felice Gaer, Member, UN Committee against Torture
  • Yuval Ginbar, Legal Advisor, Amnesty International
  • Joao Nataf, Acting Secretary, UN Committee against Torture
  • Florence Simbiri-Jaoko, Chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
  • Moderator:  Mark Thomson, Secretary General, Association for the Prevention of Torture

11:15-12:45pm  Panel Two: Ensuring Reparations for Victims of Torture and Other Ill-Treatment

  • Christopher Hall, Senior Legal Advisor, International Justice Project, Amnesty International
  • Juan Mendez, WCL Visiting Professor of Law and former President, International Center for Transitional Justice
  • Lorna McGregor, International Legal Advisor, REDRESS
  • Nora Sveaass, Vice Chair, UN Committee against Torture
  • Moderator:  WCL Dean and Professor of Law Claudio Grossman, Chair, UN Committee against Torture

1:00-2:00pm   Luncheon Keynote Address by the Honorable Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor: 

“The Role of the U.S. in Strengthening the Prohibition Against Torture”

2:15-3:45pm  Panel Three: Interpretation and Implementation of CAT Article 22 (Petitions)

  • Julia Hall, Researcher on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights in Europe, Amnesty International
  • Barbara Jackman, Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Jackman & Associates (Canada)
  • Ann Jordan, Director, Program on Forced Labor and Trafficking, WCL Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
  • Francisco Quintana, Deputy Program Director for the Andean, North America and Caribbean Region, Center for Justice and International Law
  • Moderator:  Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Member, UN Committee against Torture

4:00-4:30pm   Concluding Remarks

  • WCL Dean and Professor of Law Claudio Grossman, Chair, UN Committee against Torture
  • Widney Brown, Senior Director, International Law and Policy, Amnesty International

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