In collaboration with two other clinics and approximately two dozen human rights organizations from Puerto Rico, Santa Clara University School of Law International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) students participated in a historic hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 16 to discuss human rights violations in Puerto Rico. This was the first time the Inter-American Commission held such an event, in which civil society organizations from Puerto Rico and representatives from the local and federal departments of Justice and State, as well as a representative from the White House, were present.
IHRC Director Francisco Rivera, along with Clinical Fellow Britton Schwartz and IHRC students Megan Denkers, Jamila Ghanm, Theresa Kellner, and Tiffany Uhri Chu participated in the hearing and will present a comprehensive report about the death penalty, the right to education of children with disabilities, and human trafficking of children in Puerto Rico.
Left to right: Tiffany Uhri Chu, Clinical Fellow Britton Schwartz, Cynthia Chu, and Megan Denkers.
“It’s a historic session,” said Annette Martínez, who heads the International Human Rights Clinic at the Inter-American University School of Law.
On the issue of the death penalty, Professor Rivera stated “The government of Puerto Rico has a role to play because it has voluntarily agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding that gives US authorities jurisdiction over violent crimes that may be subject to capital punishment”. “One of the claims we make is that the government of Puerto Rico end the facilitation of such collaboration,” said Professor Rivera.
While in Washington, D.C., the IHRC also participated in several private meetings with members and staff of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, as well as federal officials at the Department of Education, to further discuss these issues. Additionally, American University Washington College of Law hosted a panel discussion about this historic event.
Tiffany Uhri Chu and Cynthia Chu interviewing U.S. Department of Education officials.
Clinical Fellow Britton Schwartz, Jamila Ghanm, Theresa Kellner, Tiffany Uhri Chu, Megan Denkers, and IHRC Director Francisco Rivera Juaristi at the Mexican Permanent Mission before the Organization of American States.
About the International Human Rights Clinic: The International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC) provides Santa Clara Law students with unique, practical, and supervised real-life experiences in international human rights litigation and advocacy, and represents victims of human rights violations in partnership with regional and international human rights organizations. Check the IHRC blog for more updates.
