HUMAN RIGHTS OBSERVER - The Advocates for Human Rights

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Observer Page 12The Road to Peace: A Teaching Guide on Localand Global Transitional JusticeThe Advocates is pleased to announce the release of its new curriculum, The Road toPeace: A Teaching Guide on Local and Global Transitional Justice. Using the expertiseof The Advocates’ human rights monitoring teams who carried out work in Peru andSierra Leone, our Education Program has created this teaching guide to introducestudents to the concept of transitional justice.The Road to Peace teaching guide contains ten lesson plans on conflict resolution andthe restoration of justice in the aftermath of war, emphasizing the processes thatcountries emerging from conflict undertake to seek resolution, address past humanrights abuses, reform their societies, and heal from violence. It challenges students toapply these methodologies to transform conflict in their own lives and stop violence.This teaching guide provides educators with creative, thought-provoking, andinnovative lesson plans that help students explore these topics. Educators will find roleplays, in-depth case studies, investigative tools, skill-building exercises, and muchmore! Each lesson is tied to the Minnesota high school social studies standards.We hope that The Road to Peace will inspire and empower students and educators to promote peace and justice in their owncommunities and around the world.To order a copy or to download a free PDF of The Road to Peace: A Teaching Guideon Local and Global Transitional Justice, please visit www.discoverhumanrights.org.Actions on the National Moratoriaon Capital PunishmentIn May 2008, The Advocates for Human Rights submitted apaper regarding moratoria on capital punishment in the U.S. tothe U.N. Office of the High Commission for Human Rights(OHCHR). The submission was made in response to a requestfor information on implementation of U.N. General AssemblyResolution 62/149, “Moratorium on the Use of the DeathPenalty” (adopted December 2007). The information will beconsidered for the U.N. Secretary-General’s report on the deathpenalty to be submitted to the General Assembly at its 63rdsession.The relevant provisions of Resolution 62/149 call upon statesthat still maintain the death penalty:"(a) To respect international standards that provide safeguardsguaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the deathpenalty, in particular the minimum standards, as set out in theannex to Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/50 of 25May 1984;(b) To provide the Secretary-General with information relatingto the use of capital punishment and the observance of thesafeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facingthe death penalty;(c) To progressively restrict the use of the death penalty andreduce the number of offences for which it may be imposed;(d) To establish a moratorium on executions with a view toabolishing the death penalty;3. Calls upon States which have abolished the death penalty notto reintroduce it;"The submission concludes that while the U.S. has complied withsome provisions, it is not in full compliance with the resolution.Further legislation is necessary, both on the federal and statelevel, to fully comply with Resolution 62/149. The Advocateswould like to acknowledge the time, expertise, and dedication ofRichard M. Martinez and Keala C. Ede of Robins, Kaplan,Miller & Ciresi LLP in researching and drafting this report. TheAdvocates would also like to thank Elizabeth Powers for hervaluable assistance.August 2008 Volume XX, Issue 2
Observer Page 13The Advocates forHuman Rights joinedthe AmericanImmigration LawyersAssociation (AILA)Minnesota/DakotasChapter to host theUpper MidwestImmigrationConference, entitled“Immigration Law inthe New ‘ICE’ Age ofAsylum Conference HighlightsCurrent Issues and LawMichele Garnett McKenzieintroducing plenary speakers, ScottBorene, Bob Aronson, and Mary PivecEnforcement,” on May 1st and 2nd at the Eagan CommunityCenter. Two hundred attendees received updates and training onall aspects of immigration law, including a focus on immigrationraids. Program co-chairs Michele Garnett McKenzie and ScottBorene, and planners Malinda Schmiechen, David Wilson,Elizabeth Streefland, and Brian Aust reported that the event wasa great success.Attendees commented that it was beneficial to have such acomprehensive conference in Minnesota. One AILA membersaid “since the INS was broken into different agencies, thewhole chapter hardly gets together. The conference was anexcellent opportunity to see people from different practice areasand rekindle old friendships.”Another asylum litigation session on Friday, May 2nd providedupdates for attorneys on both federal and BIA case lawdevelopments from the past year, presented by local expert BenCasper, Maria Baldini-Potermin of Gostynska Frakt, Ltd. inChicago, and Anwen Hughes of Human Rights First. On bothdays of the conference, attendees could enjoy “lunch with anexpert” in the field of asylum law, providing a more informalsetting in which to ask questions and discuss asylum casedevelopments. “Asylum case law and procedures are constantlydeveloping,” says Emily Good, program director of TheAdvocates’ Refugee and Immigrant Program. “It is essential thatattorneys representing asylum seekers have access to highquality training.”In addition to the regular asylum programming, the partnershipwith AILA allowed for a broader topical scope. A plenarysession kicked off the conference with a spirited discussion ofworksite enforcement and the dynamics of an ICE (Immigrationand Customs Enforcement) raid. The rest of the conferencefeatured information about removal defense, family-basedimmigration developments, business and corporate-focusedimmigration practice, and trafficking visa updates. “We’regrateful to all the presenters for their generous participation inthe conference,” said Malinda Schmiechen, staff attorney andone of the lead organizers of this year’s conference. “Ultimately,the biggest beneficiaries will be our clients.”The AsylumConference broughttogether local andnational experts totrain attorneys new toasylum and toprovide experiencedpractitioners withup-to-dateinformation. DuringFriday’s session,Immigration court panel attendees heard fromChicago AsylumOfficer Director Ken Madsen and a supervisory officer at theChicago Asylum Office about national security cases,gender-based asylum claims, and other processing updates.Moderated by Emily Good of The Advocates, the panel alsofeatured Retired Judge Joseph R. Dierkes, who provided a “viewfrom the bench” and Anwen Hughes, who offered apractitioner’s perspective. In the afternoon, the perennial favoriteimmigration court practice panel gave conference attendees tipson immigration court practice. The advice came directly fromJudge Olmanson, Judge Goessert, DHS Trial Attorney AnnTanke, and local practitioners Karen Ellingson and Steve Thal.The Advocates has also been providing trainings upon request togroups of new volunteer attorneys who may not have had theopportunity to attend the conference and gain a background inbasic asylum law. As always, an updated Asylum Manual wasprovided as part of the conference materials and is available tovolunteer attorneys. Groups who are interested in basic asylumtraining for pro bono attorneys should contact Emily Good orMalinda Schmiechen.This success of this year’s conference was enabled by the workof The Advocates’ volunteers and interns who providedassistance assembling binders and nametags, and providedstaffing supportthroughout theconference – weare very grateful!Also, manythanks to Robins,Kaplan, Miller &Ciresi forprovidingfinancial supportfor theconference.Conference participantsAugust 2008 Volume XX, Issue 2
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