WASHINGTON, USA – The Organization of American States (OAS) and the International Human Rights Clinic of the University of Virginia School of Law agreed to join forces in order to strengthen civil society organizations and promote democracy and human rights in the hemisphere, during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the hemispheric institution in Washington, DC.
The secretary general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, highlighted that the International Human Rights Clinic supports the development of the skills of its students that allow them to contribute to dynamics of citizen participation both in the Americas and in the world. “The prospect of this collaboration constitutes a great opportunity to contribute to the transmission of our common values in academic work and also in the formation of a citizenry committed to promoting human rights and democracy in our region,” said secretary-general Almagro.
For his part, the director of the international human rights law clinic, Nelson Camilo Sánchez, said that the activities of the Clinic “fully coincide” with the objectives of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. “We are proud to sign this agreement, we trust that the shared efforts for the consolidation of human rights, peace and sustainable development will be mutually beneficial,” added director Sánchez.
The Clinic trains its students to litigate human rights claims in international forums, advocate before governments, and document and publicize human rights violations.
