United Nations Special Procedures Clinic

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

This clinic will introduce students to the special procedures of the U.N. Human Rights Council and will require students to prepare a communication to one of its 44 thematic mandates, or 11 country-specific mandates, on behalf of an individual who has been persecuted because of his or her political beliefs, religion, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, native language, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic status, and who has not used or promoted violence. Special procedures are either an individual person (called "Special Rapporteur" or "Independent Expert") or a Working Group composed of members from each of the five United Nations regional groupings. The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and members of the Working Groups are authorized to receive information on specific allegations of human rights violations and to send communications to States, and to non-State actors, requesting that the concerned authorities take action to prevent or stop the human rights violation, bring to justice those responsible, and make sure that remedies are available to the victim. Students enrolled in this clinic will engage directly with the United Nations to help ensure that all States respect the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments.