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 UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.
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.
This free webinar series is presented by The State Bar of Texas International Human Rights Committee and the International Bar Association Human Rights Law Committee. Three (3) hours of MCLE credit (Ethics) is available for licensed Texas lawyers.
December 10, 2021
MCLE Credit: 3 Hours (Ethics)
Places are strictly limited, register now to secure your place.
December 9, 6:00-7:00 pm CST
The following issues will be discussed in the webinar:
Moderator:
Wajiha Ahmed, Buttar Caldwell and Co. Solicitors, Sydney, New South Wales; Secretary, IBA Human Rights Law Committee
Speakers:
Nikoletta Louverdis, Maddocks, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Anthe Philippides, Former Justice of the Court of Appeal of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland
Michelle Taylor, Partner, Sparke Helmore, Brisbane, Queensland
December 10, 7:00-8:00 am CST
This webinar will discuss highlighting best practice with regards to increasing access to justice in different jurisdictions. This will be of particular interest to practicing lawyers and judges with a focus on those lawyers providing pro-bono legal services to underserved communities.
The aim of the webinar is to enhance the understanding and protection of the rule of law by underscoring the challenges some communities have in accessing courts and similar tribunals. The panel will present potential means (eg, virtual access and AI) for overcoming those challenges, with particular focus on how courts in various jurisdictions have continued to permit access to justice during the pandemic. The panel will explore the hypothesis that, with the move to virtual hearings, courts have the potential to be more flexible and timely in delivering access in a post-pandemic environment.
Moderator:
Robert Bernstein, Holland & Knight, New York, New York, USA; Member, Young Lawyers’ Committee Advisory Board
Speakers:
Richard J. Sullivan, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, New York, New York, USA; Vice Chair, Judges’ Forum
Katrina Harry, Veterans’ Review Board, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nallini Pathmanathan, Federal Court of Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia
December 10, 9:00-10:00 am CST
There are misconceptions among lawyers involved in international human rights matters that all media attention is either always good or always bad. The nuances of working with the media are often lost. Lawyers who represent individuals may miss the point that media attention may put their client, their client’s family or others at risk. Corporate lawyers may miss opportunities to help their clients by avoiding all media contact. This session will explore how lawyers who are involved in international human rights matters for all types of clients can interact with the media to further their cause, or avoid damaging it. The panel will discuss where the media can be helpful or hurtful in such matters.
Moderator:
Thomas Wilson, Vinson & Elkins, Houston, Texas; Website Officer, IBA Human Rights Law Committee
Speakers:
Angelita Baeyens, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Washington, DC
Caoilfhionn Gallagher, Doughty Street Chambers, London
Dana Green, The New York Times, New York; Senior Vice Chair, IBA Media Law Committee
Ian Pannell, Senior Foreign Correspondent for ABC News
These webinars are free to attend. Places are limited, register now via the relevant links above to secure your place.
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