News and Events
Recent Events
Panel: Climate Change and Migration in International Law
April 7, 2025
On April 7, the CIHR hosted Vasilka Sancin, Judge Elect to the European Court of Human Rights, and Sanzhuan (Sandra) Guo, LLM '02 and visiting fellow at Harvard Law School, for a discussion on climate change and international law. Panelists discussed the need to reframe climate change as a structural human rights issue and offered critical insights on how legal frameworks must evolve to protect those most affected by climate-related displacement. Students were able to ask panelists questions about their work in the area of climate change and human rights.
Righting Wrongs: A Conversation with Ken Roth
March 6, 2025
On March 6, the CIHR hosted Kenneth Roth for a conversation on his new book, Righting Wrongs. Moderated by Priyanka Motaparthy, the discussion explored Ken’s work as the former executive director of Human Rights Watch. 
Past Events
Inescapable AI: How Artificial Intelligence Impacts the Human Rights of Low-Income Communities in the U.S., and Strategies for Change
February 4, 2025
The CIHR had the privilege of hosting Inescapable AI: How Artificial Intelligence Impacts the Human Rights of Low-Income Communities in the U.S., and Strategies for Change, featuring guest speaker Kevin De Liban of TechTonic Justice. Kevin’s powerful discussion shed light on how AI, algorithms, and automated decision-making systems—used by governments, employers, landlords, insurers, and more—are reinforcing systemic discrimination and disproportionately harming low-income communities. We are grateful to Kevin for sharing his expertise and to all who attended for engaging in this critical conversation. Learn more about Kevin's work.
Leading Juvenile Justice Advocate from Mexico Visits Northwestern Pritzker Law School as Inaugural Global Advocate in Residence
December 10, 2024
The CIHR welcomed Sarahí García Martínez, Mexico Director of Juvenile Justice Advocates International (JJAI), to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law as its inaugural Global Advocate in Residence. Martínez and JJAI have partnered with the CIHR for over five years, collaborating with clinical students on advocacy for children deprived of liberty. Her visit, in October and November 2024, offered the opportunity to share this work with the broader law school, university, and Chicago communities. Read the full press release (pdf). 
Reflections of Dignity Art Exhibit
October 28, 2024
Juvenile Justice Advocates International, in partnership with the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Center for International Human Rights, presented the opening of the exhibit Reflejos de Dignidad (Reflections of Dignity) from artist Gilberto Sandoval. This exhibit is a collection of self-portraits from incarcerated boys and girls in Mexico City in an an effort to amplify and share the voices of incarcerated youth. Explore the full exhibit online.
2025 Global Jurist of the Year Award – Call for Nominations
September 25, 2024
The Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law invites nominations for its 2025 Global Jurist of the Year Award. The Award is granted annually to a sitting judge in recognition of that judge’s contribution to the advancement of international human rights law. Special account is taken of those who have shown outstanding dedication to the rule of law and courage in the face of adversity, including personal risk. Nominations should be submitted no later than October 28, 2024. Read the full call for nominations (pdf).
Human Rights at Northwestern Event
September 24, 2024
The Center hosted an information session on opportunities to study human rights at Northwestern Pritzker Law with a panel of professors, deans and student groups. Over 100 students attended to learn more about the opportunites offered.
Flyer (pdf)
Juliet Sorensen, Clinical Professor of Law and founder and director of the Northwestern Access to Health Project, takes up a new appointment at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law
September 04, 2024
Juliet Sorensen, Clinical Professor of Law and founder and director of the Northwestern Access to Health Project, takes up a new appointment at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. In addition to joining Loyola’s law faculty, Sorensen will serve as the director of the University’s Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development. Read the full press release (pdf).
Re-Imagining Transitional Justice in Ukraine
April 12, 2024
The Center for International Human Rights (CIHR) hosted a symposium on "Re-imagining Transitional Justice in Ukraine" on Friday, April 12th, 2024, to reflect on the gendered dimensions of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and highlight ongoing accountability initiatives to address atrocity crimes against vulnerable groups, such as women and children. Additional topics covered included gender justice and cultural genocide, intersectionality, the forcible transfer of children, Russian colonialism, and sexual violence as a weapon of war. The Symposium opened with a screening of the Noble Women's Initiative's short documentary film, Oh, Sister!.
Flyer (pdf) | Agenda (pdf) | Recording of the Symposium
COCOBOD's Unrealised Potential
Promoting Human Rights, Welfare, and the Environment in Ghana's Cocoa-Growing Communities
June 17, 2021
The COCOBOD Report Launch, held virtually on June 17, 2021, highlighted the untapped potential of Ghana's cocoa sector in promoting human rights, welfare, and environmental sustainability. Hosted by the University of Ghana School of Law, Northwestern's Center for International Human Rights, Corporate Accountability Lab, and SEND Ghana, the event featured discussions led by human rights experts and industry leaders, offering insights into improving the livelihoods of cocoa-growing communities.
Invitation to COCOBOD Virtual Report Launch (pdf)
Human Rights in Tigray
April 24, 2021
Tom Geraghty talks with Charles Majinge, UNDP Justice Specialist, Ethiopia, LL.M. in Human Rights, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Journal of Human Rights/Human Rights and Diplomacy Symposium
April 8, 2021
The 2021 Northwestern Journal of Human Rights Symposium focused on the intersection of human rights and diplomacy. Esteemed speakers, including Ms. Sara Hossain and Dr. Cameron Munter, addressed critical global issues such as the Rohingya crisis, accountability in peace processes, and censorship of Kashmiri activism. The event fostered insightful discussions on international human rights law and policy, engaging students and professionals alike in exploring current challenges and solutions.
View the schedule of events (pdf).
Collaborative Training on Clinical Legal Education
March 25-26, 2021
Addis Ababa University Law School and Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
View the session videos: Day 1 | Day 2
Journal of Human Rights/Journal of Ethiopian Law Symposium
"Human Rights and Access to Justice in Ethiopia"
February 18, 2020
On February 18, 2020, the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law hosted a symposium, “Human Rights and Access to Justice in Ethiopia.” The Symposium was co-sponsored by Northwestern Pritzker Law School’s Journal of Human Rights and Addis Ababa University Law School’s Journal of Ethiopian Law. The program featured presentations by Ethiopia’s leading legal scholars, legal educators, and human rights advocates. This symposium built upon a long and fruitful partnership between the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the Addis Ababa University Law School. The long and productive collaboration between the two schools reflects the shared belief that legal education and scholarship play a critical role in preparing future human rights lawyers in the U.S. and in Ethiopia who are committed to justice and the rule of law. The articles presented at the symposium and the proceedings of the symposium were published in Volume 19 of the Northwestern Journal of Human Rights.
Program booklet (pdf).
Global Health Interdisciplinary Symposium - November 19-20, 2015
The Northwestern University Global Health Interdisciplinary Symposium took place in Chicago on November 19 and 20, 2015. Sponsored by multiple Northwestern University partners, including the Bluhm Legal Clinic Center for International Human Rights, the event seeks to catalyze the exchange and cross pollination of ideas related to global health. Symposium highlights includes a keynote address by Jeffrey D. Sachs, world-renowned professor of economics, leader in sustainable development, senior UN advisor, bestselling author, and syndicated columnist whose monthly newspaper columns appear in more than 100 countries. Learn more via the global health symposium website.
View the Jeffrey D. Sachs interview.
Watch the video recording of the keynote presentation:
Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review Conferences for 2015-2014, 2014-2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
Early each year CIHR convenes the Atrocity Crimes Litigation Year-in-Review Conference to examine the practice and jurisprudence of the major war crimes tribunals during the immediately preceding calendar year. Moderated by Professor Scheffer, the conference is the only one of its kind in the United States and brings together prosecutors, judges, defense counsel, investigators, and administrators of the tribunals, as well as a distinguished academic commentator, to hold a day-long discussion about the preceding year’s developments in the dynamic field of international criminal law and where it is litigated. The Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights works closely with CIHR to publish a special edition each year of articles drawn from the conference. View video and transcripts of each conference.
The Fate of the Alien Tort Statute as Supreme Court Rules on Kiobel - April 2013
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights - 2008
Six students from the Human Rights Advocacy clinic accompanied Associate Clinical Professor Sandra Babcock to a hearing at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C. On behalf of three Mexican nationals sentenced to death in Texas, the clinic filed petitions arguing that the United States had violated several provisions of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man in each case. Lawyers from the Department of State argued on behalf of the U.S. Government. Clinic students were instrumental in drafting the petitions and preparing for the hearing. The commission may issue a final report as early as July 2008.
Video of conference (wmv) | Audio of conference | Pictures from conference
Transatlantic Symposium Focuses on Corporate Human Rights Responsibilities - 2007
This symposium will identified recommendations for major legal and policy measures to address the human rights abuses for which multinational corporations (MNC), under appropriate legal standards, are beginning to assume responsibility. Panel topics included conducting a factual inquiry into the specific human rights abuses for which MNCs are being scrutinized, determining where the responsibility lies to correct these abuses, examining relevant policy arguments, considering the role of so-called "soft" rules in addressing human rights violations, and offering conclusions concerning a recipe for the future regarding corporate human rights responsibility. Event Details.
