Upcoming events

Join us for an event which focuses on the transformation of personal pain into legal power. It traces the journey from victim testimony to courtroom evidence: from affidavits and forensic documentation to witness preparation and courtroom strategy in both domestic and international settings. The panel will highlight the courage it takes for survivors to testify, the burden of recounting trauma for legal ends, and the challenges lawyers face in pursuing justice across borders and systems. Participants will also reflect on the emotional cost of legal mobilization, especially when justice is partial, delayed, or denied.

Speakers:

• Carlos Federico Gaitán Hairabedian : International criminal law attorney with a specialization in human rights and a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) candidate in International Law at American University’s Washington College of Law
• Claudia Poblete :  Argentinian human rights activist

When:  Tuesday, January 27, 2026 | 12:10-1:10pm

Where:  JG 107

Lunch will be served

Please register below

• Register with my Columbia UNI
• Register as a Guest

Event Contact Information:
HRI
[email protected]

Join us for an event that will address the role of international judicial bodies—specifically the European Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court—in responding to human rights violations. It will explore whether justice is achievable when cases involve the political interests of states, clarify the mechanisms for enforcing judgments, and examine the specific mandates of each court. The conversation will consider whether these mechanisms function effectively in practice or merely operate as symbolic tools dependent on political will. The discussion will focus particularly on human rights violations constituting genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The Armenia vs. Azerbaijan and Artsakh cases will be illustrated. 

Speaker: 

Arman Tatoyan: Director of the Foundation "Tatoyan" Center for Law and Justice. Formerly:Ombudsperson of Armenia from 2016-2022,  Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and  Deputy Representative of the Government of Armenia before the European Court of Human Rights. 

When: Thursday,February 5, 2026 | 12:10pm - 1:10pm 
Where: Columbia Law School | JG 107

Lunch will be provided. 

Please register below:

• Register with my Columbia UNI
• Register as a Guest

Celebrating a Decade of Student Scholarship, Dialogue, and Faculty–Student Collaboration

The Human Rights Institute at Columbia Law School is delighted to invite submissions for the Tenth Annual Columbia Law School Human Rights Student Paper Symposium, marking ten years of elevating innovative student scholarship and fostering rich intellectual exchange on urgent human rights challenges.

Co-organized by the Human Rights Institute, Human Rights Clinic, Columbia Law School Human Rights Association, Columbia Human Rights Law Review, and the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, this milestone anniversary symposium will bring together students, faculty, practitioners, and scholars for a full day of rigorous discussion, constructive feedback, and community building.

Founded by Professor Sarah Knuckey in 2017, for a decade, this symposium has served as a cornerstone of human rights engagement at Columbia—a uniquely collaborative space where students present their research and receive detailed commentary from leading academics and practitioners committed to mentoring the next generation of human rights thinkers. The 2026 symposium will also feature special programming reflecting on the evolution and future of human rights scholarship at Columbia Law School.

Event Details

Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM 
Location: Jerome Greene Hall (in-person)
Format: In-person sessions
Food: Light breakfast and lunch provided for all participants

Call for Submissions

We welcome submissions from Columbia Law School (J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D.) students engaging with any aspect of human rights—across law, policy, practice, advocacy, theory, and research methods. Papers may explore contemporary issues, historical inquiries, comparative perspectives, or forward-looking approaches to rights protection and accountability.

Selected presenters will:

• Present their research in curated thematic panels 
• Receive targeted, in-depth commentary from distinguished Columbia faculty and external practitioners

This year’s anniversary symposium will highlight the long-standing tradition of faculty–student partnership that has shaped human rights learning and mentorship at Columbia.

How to Apply

Application Deadline: February 16, 2026
Please submit your materials through the online submission form.

Required materials:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Abstract (500–750 words)
3. (If available) Draft paper or a detailed outline

Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by February 28, 2026.
Selected presenters must submit a full draft (15–30 pages) by March 20, 2026 to allow time for faculty and practitioner reviewers to prepare feedback.