AUWCL Students in Geneva: Kovler Project Empowers Human Rights Advocacy
Navigating UN Committee Against Torture with Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman
In a unique hands-on learning experience, AUWCL students traveled to Geneva in early November. Led by Dean Emeritus Professor Claudio Grossman, they participated in the Kovler Project Against Torture at the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law.
Initiated by Professor Grossman in 2004 during his tenure as the Chair of the Committee Against Torture (CAT) at the United Nations (UN), the Kovler Project Against Torture offers a distinctive experiential learning opportunity. Under faculty guidance, Kovler Student Scholars actively contribute to United Nations Committee Against Torture (UN CAT) sessions. Engaging in an in-depth exploration of the prohibition of torture in international law, scholars also focus on essential lawyering skills in international contexts.
This time around, the countries presenting their compliance reports included Burundi, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Kiribati, and Slovenia. The students crafted questions by analyzing the reports presented by these countries and submitted them to the committee for consideration. The process was very motivating for the students.
"Engaging in the research process to formulate questions for the committee proved to be both practical and intellectually stimulating," said 3L Benin Lee II. "Knowing that our work would be presented to committee members served as a powerful motivator, driving each of us to deliver our utmost in terms of quality work."
For students, outside of the experiential learning aspect, the trip to Geneva was life-changing.
"It is certainly at the forefront of my overall law school experience because it opened doors for me to engage with leading figures in human rights abroad, particularly women in leadership positions in this field," 2L Jennifer Dowdy said.
Emily Walker, also a 2L, expressed that the experience was so special that it was difficult to describe.
"My favorite part about the entire thing was sitting in the UN Committee Against Torture meetings and hearing the Committee members ask questions that I and my colleagues had written," she said. "It is hard to articulate how special and rewarding that experience was. We even met people from the International Commission of Jurists, the United Nations, the International Red Cross, and students from local universities."
According to Marta Trevino-Levya, assistant director of the Kovler Project Against Torture and Impact Litigation, this experience is incredibly enriching for the students, and she can see it.
"The opportunity to directly participate in the activities of the UN-CAT for a whole semester and travel to the CAT's sessions to see the result of their work provides Washington College of Law students with a significant advantage in international law," she said. "It is very satisfying to see the Kovler students setting up dialogues with the members and expanding what they learned through the semester."
Through the Kovler Project Against Torture, AUWCL students directly engage with UN systems and international law and compliance. Under the leadership of Professor Grossman, a distinguished figure in human rights and humanitarian law, this opportunity enables AUWCL students to expand their world view and understanding of the complexities of torture. It equips students to provide counsel to governments, NGO’s, or international supervisory boards on this critical issue.
"Our students are the best we can offer," Grossman said. "Their work is truly impressive. We can see how they make a real contribution by preparing informed questions for constructive dialog between committee and states."
The program serves as a tribute to American University Washington College of Law's dedication to justice beyond academics. The initiative broadens the horizons of participating students while bridging the gap between theoretical legal knowledge and practical legal experience.
~Story by Hasini Jayawardena.