TrialWatch Clinical Network Newsletter

Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute is pleased to share the new TrialWatch Clinical Network Newsletter, highlighting a year of growth in global trial monitoring, research, and clinical partnerships.

Over the past year, the TrialWatch clinical network monitored 15 criminal trials in 6 countries, attending more than 50 hearings, and trained 148 student trial monitors across the world. “Our students and monitors were present in courtrooms, asking fundamental questions: Was the process fair? Were rights respected?” noted Tejal Jesrani, TrialWatch Director at Columbia, “At a time when the rule of law and civic space face unprecedented challenges, bearing witness, documenting violations with neutrality, and countering misinformation with facts have never been more vital.” 

This work was made possible due to the expansion of the clinical network to five new universities: Makerere University (Uganda), Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines), Atma Jaya Catholic University (Indonesia), the University of Pretoria (South Africa), and Thammasat University (Thailand). Through these collaborations, trial monitoring is integrated into clinical and experiential legal education, with students documenting fair-trial concerns in emblematic cases involving journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and political opponents. 

Reflecting on this growing community, Stephen Townley, Legal Director of TrialWatch at the Clooney Foundation for Justice, noted that TrialWatch is “delighted to partner with the next generation of human rights lawyers around the world” in defending those persecuted for their speech. 

The newsletter further showcases the TrialWatch clinical network research agenda, including new datasets on criminal prosecutions, ongoing work on criminal SLAPPs, and preparations for upcoming convenings such as the TrialWatch Global Forum in Athens and a judicial workshop in Bangkok. 

We invite you to explore the full newsletter to learn more about the work of our partners, students, and monitors around the world.

Read the newsletter here.

For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please contact [email protected]