Lawyers in the state of Texas whose clients are involved in international business may be confronted more frequently with the human, legal, and reputational risk associated with violations of internationally recognized human rights. The State Bar of Texas created the International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) in August 2015, the first of its kind among state bars, with the goals to study legal issues related to international human rights, inform Texas lawyers of these issues, and provide guidance to these Texas lawyers. Listed below are some of the programs the IHRC hosts and participates in throughout the year to keep Texas lawyers at the forefront of these issues.
The International Human Rights Committee holds an annual Human Rights Essay Contest which is open to Texas law students with the first-place winner receiving a $1,500 scholarship.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The IHRC’s podcast, Perspectives, addresses legal topics to mitigate human rights violations for Texas lawyers involved in international business.
Texas lawyers can find resources on the topic of human rights to help them in their international law practices.
For over 25 years, Ruth Lozano McChesney has exclusively practiced immigration law, becoming Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Chambers and Partners, recognizing only the top 2% of attorneys, has consistently ranked Ruth in Immigration Law. Her expertise spans from Fortune 100 corporations to small businesses across diverse industries including healthcare, technology, energy, and education.
Ruth is currently the Chair of the International Human Rights Committee (IHRC), as part of the State Bar of Texas International Law Section. Founded in August 2015, the IHRC represents a groundbreaking initiative in connecting business law with human rights advocacy. It emerged from recognition that lawyers needed better education and guidance on international human rights issues affecting their clients’ global operations.
Interested in serving on the committee or partnering with the ILS on our programs, events and initiatives?
Contact Ruth McChesney at rmcchesney@mcchesneykolly.com.
