Doctrine and Practice of the Inter-American Human Rights System (The)
Winter term
Clinical Professor James Cavallaro and Ms. Stephanie Brewer
3 classroom credits LAW-36680A
On-site course in San Jose, Costa Rica
The course will provide an overview and critique of the case law and practice of the Inter-American human rights system. The system, comprised of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (based in Washington) and the Inter-American Court (based on San Jose, Costa Rica), is part of the Organization of American States. While of relatively limited importance in North America, the Inter-American system plays an increasingly central role in the protection of fundamental rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over the past two decades, the Commission and, to a greater extent, the Court, have developed important jurisprudence in the area of human rights and have served to stimulate debate and to prompt progressive change in domestic legislation and state practice in the Americas.
The course will examine the principal decisions of the Commission and the Court, as well as their impact in country. We will also study approaches to litigation in the system and a range of critiques of the system and its constituent bodies. To do so most effectively, the course will be taught in San Jose, Costa Rica, the seat of the Court. All classes will be taught in English or translated. This location will facilitate the participation of guest speakers who will include practitioners before the Court, representatives of state delegations and one or more justices of the Court. In addition, in the final few sessions, students will observe one or more hearings before the Court.
Harvard Law School will provide funding to students admitted to the course for travel to and from and lodging in San Jose, Costa Rica during the period of the course. The course will be taught on Monday-Thursday mornings, January 5-22, 2009. Note that there will be a final exam January 26, 2009 using the new online exam software approved by HLS. Students will not need to remain in Costa Rica to take the exam, which may be completed online from any location.
Admission is BY PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTORS. Interested students should send a CV/resume, a one-paragraph statement of interest in the course and in the inter-American system of human rights protection, and a MAXIMUM 300-word description of their background, including their interest in human rights, relevant coursework or job experience, or any other details pertinent to their application, to James Cavallaro (cavallaro@law.harvard.edu) and Stephanie Brewer (sebrewer@law.harvard.edu). Applications are due on or before October 24, 2008.