American University Washington College of Law to Co-Host Meeting of UN Human Rights Treaty Body Chairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 30, 2014 - This week American University Washington College of Law, the American Society of International Law (ASIL), and the International Bar Association (IBA) will host the chairs of the ten UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and representatives from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for special consultations on the ongoing treaty body strengthening process.

These private consultations will be held Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 at the law school, along with an invitation-only reception held Jan. 31 at ASIL’s Tiller House.

Claudio Grossman, dean of American University Washington College of Law, is chair of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies. He began his one-year term in May 2013. He has also served as the chair of the UN Committee against Torture since April 2008, and has been a Committee member following his November 2003 election to that body.

This consultation is being held at a time when the treaty body strengthening process underway in New York is reaching a critical stage. This unique initiative will give the chairs the opportunity to help positively impact the protection and promotion of human rights while reaffirming the treaty bodies’ independence and autonomy. The consultation will also facilitate coordination among the treaty bodies and foster harmonization of working methods.

Read more about the consultation in this article by the International Bar Association: http://bit.ly/1filfFl

Generous support for the event was also provided by Sigrid Rausing Trust.

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In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, D.C. and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.