Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition

Join us tomorrow for the sixth event of the Academy on Human Rights’ Human Rights Month Speaker Series at American University Washington College of Law 🌎⚖️

We are pleased to invite you to a special screening of Dos Mundos: What Passes Between, an ongoing multimedia documentary project that shares the intimate stories of four mothers from El Salvador and Honduras who migrated to the United States in search of safety, opportunity, and a better future for their families.

Through personal narratives that span borders and generations, the project explores the lasting impact of migration on families and communities in both the United States and their countries of origin. The documentary examines themes of family separation, identity, sacrifice, resilience, and belonging, offering a deeply human perspective on migration in the Americas.

The screening will feature two short documentary films that together form the complete experience:

• De Sueños (Of Dreams) – 13:39 minutes
• Estados Unidos era mi Mamá (The United States Was My Mom) – 14:42 minutes

Following the screening, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a conversation about migration, family, and the human stories behind contemporary migration movements in the region.

Featuring:

• Olga Jaramillo – Independent Visual Storyteller and creator of the Dos Mundos project

• Ernesto Castañeda – Director of American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies (CLALS)

Please join us tomorrow at American University Washington College of Law.

Registration in advance is required:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4AYLdjLW7J-WmDT-KASpwZ1nEearqJltibjUWyAdwEl1Tw/viewform?usp=preview

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us tomorrow for the fifth panel of the Academy on Human Rights’ Human Rights Month Speaker Series at American University Washington College of Law, focused on addressing human rights in times of crisis 🌎⚖️

Our next panel is titled “States of Emergency: Public Safety and Organized Crime.”

This discussion will examine the increasing use of states of emergency across the Americas as a response to organized crime and public security challenges. While governments often justify these measures as necessary to combat criminal organizations and protect public safety, their prolonged or repeated use has raised concerns among international human rights bodies and civil society organizations regarding their impact on human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law.

The panel will explore how states can address serious security threats while complying with their international human rights obligations. It will also reflect on recent developments within the Inter-American System, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Resolution 1/26 on Organized Crime and Human Rights, as well as broader regional debates concerning democratic institutions, checks and balances, and the protection of fundamental rights during states of emergency.

Featuring:

• María Claudia Pulido - Assistant Executive Secretary for Monitoring, Promotion and Technical Cooperation, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)

• Sebastián Kraljevich Chadwick - Secretary for Strengthening Democracy, Organization of American States (OAS)

• Claudia Martin - Co-Director and Professorial Lecturer in Residence, Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law

Moderator:

• Katya Salazar - Executive Director, Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF)

The panel will be conducted primarily in Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation into English available 🎧 Please remember to bring your own device and headphones in order to benefit from the interpretation services.

Registration in advance is required. Please RSVP here for this and the other panels that are part of Human Rights Month:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4AYLdjLW7J-WmDT-KASpwZ1nEearqJltibjUWyAdwEl1Tw/viewform?usp=preview

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us tomorrow for the fourth panel of the Academy on Human Rights’ Human Rights Month Speaker Series at American University Washington College of Law, focused on addressing human rights in times of crisis 🌎⚖️

Our next panel is titled “The Role of the United Nations International Law Commission in the Progressive Development and Codification of International Law.”

This discussion will explore the role of the International Law Commission (ILC) in the progressive development and codification of international law. Particular attention will be given to Professor Claudio Grossman’s work as Special Rapporteur on the topic of Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction and to the broader challenges facing international law in today’s geopolitical environment.

Featuring Professor Claudio Grossman, Member of the United Nations International Law Commission and Dean Emeritus of American University Washington College of Law, and Professor Fausto Pocar, former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and former ad hoc Judge of the International Court of Justice.

The panel will be moderated by Professor Rebecca Hamilton, Professor of Law and internationally recognized expert on atrocity prevention at American University Washington College of Law. The event is organized in collaboration with the American Society of International Law (ASIL), whose Executive Director, Michael D. Cooper, will deliver welcoming remarks.

Please join us tomorrow, June 3, at 12:30 PM in Room NT01 at American University Washington College of Law.

The panel will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish available 🎧. Please remember to bring your own device and headphones in order to benefit from the interpretation services.

Registration in advance is required. Please RSVP here for this and the other panels that are part of Human Rights Month:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4AYLdjLW7J-WmDT-KASpwZ1nEearqJltibjUWyAdwEl1Tw/viewform?usp=preview

We look forward to seeing you there!

To conclude the 2026 Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition, we would like to thank everyone who participated. It was inspiring to see how all 44 teams addressed this year’s issue, “The Right to Protest Under International Human Rights Law.” We welcomed teams from 21 different countries, giving us the opportunity to hear perspectives from around the world.

We would also like to thank the authors of this year’s case—Angelita Baeyens, Sofia Jaramillo Otoya, and Leandro Leo Rebelo—for the dedication and countless hours they invested in making it a success. In addition, we extend our gratitude to the Staff of the Human Rights Academy and the Technical Committee volunteers; without your hard work and commitment, this competition would not have been possible.

It has been an honor to meet all of you and witness your dedication to the advancement of human rights. We are excited to see where your bright futures take you and the positive change you will bring to the world. See you next year!

Join us tomorrow for the third panel of the Academy on Human Rights’ Human Rights Month Speaker Series, focused on addressing the global situation of human rights in times of crisis 🌎

Our next panel is titled “Investment Treaties, Arbitration, and Human Rights: New Developments and Assessment of a Complex Relationship.”

This discussion will explore the evolving relationship between international investment law, arbitration, and human rights. Through a dialogue among experts with diverse perspectives, the panel will examine recent developments and ongoing challenges in reconciling these legal frameworks and the obligations they impose on States and other actors.

Please join us tomorrow, June 2, at 12:30 PM in Room NT01 at American University Washington College of Law.

The panel will be conducted in both Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation available 🎧 Please make sure to bring your own device and headphones in order to benefit from the interpretation services.

Registration in advance is required. Please RSVP here for this and the other panels that will be part of Human Rights Month:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4AYLdjLW7J-WmDT-KASpwZ1nEearqJltibjUWyAdwEl1Tw/viewform

We want to extend our thanks to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for inviting IAMOOT26 participants and faculty to their headquarters and awarding certificates of recognition to the finalists for their outstanding performance. We also want to thank Maria Claudia Pulido, IACHR Assistant Executive Secretary, for joining us in the final!

Join us tomorrow for the second panel of the Academy on Human Rights’ Human Rights Month Speaker Conference Series, focused on addressing the global situation of human rights in times of crisis 🌎

Our next panel is titled “Commissions of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in International Law as Alternative Accountability Mechanisms: Scope and Effectiveness in the Universal and Regional Systems.”

Commissions of inquiry have been established by the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to address complex situations involving widespread or systematic human rights violations. In recent years, their use has expanded significantly, helping to document abuses, collect and preserve evidence, and support efforts aimed at accountability and justice.

Join us to hear directly from experts who have been involved in commissions and investigative mechanisms addressing situations in countries such as Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, and others ⚖️🌍

Please join us tomorrow, May 29, at 12:30 PM in Room NT01 at American University Washington College of Law. The panel will be conducted in both Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation available 🎧 Please make sure to bring your own device and headphones in order to benefit from the interpretation services.

Registration in advance is required. Please RSVP here for this and the other panels that will be part of Human Rights Month:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk4AYLdjLW7J-WmDT-KASpwZ1nEearqJltibjUWyAdwEl1Tw/viewform

The Zoom link will be shared approximately 15 to 30 minutes before the start of the event.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

With heavy hearts, we commemorate Anna Salvadó i Carbó, a distinguished participant in IAMOOT25 from Université Toulouse Capitole, who tragically passed away last year during a humanitarian trip to Africa. We had the honor of hearing a special remark from her mother, Gisela, who celebrated her daughter’s light, dedication to creating change in the world, and devotion to human rights.

The Inter-American Human Rights Moot Court Competition has been deeply touched by her passing and remains committed to keeping her memory and legacy alive. For this reason, we have named the award for the most dedicated IAMOOT Fellow the “Anna Salvadó i Carbó Award.”

This year’s recipient, Juan Felipe Portilla, has demonstrated the very qualities that made Anna so special: warmth, selflessness, devotion, and sacrifice. No award can fully reflect the extent to which Anna touched our lives, but we are certain that every IAMOOT participant will carry her legacy forward and continue striving to make a difference in the world.

Once again, we want to thank Anna’s parents for coming all the way to Spain to be part of this tribute 🤍