CORAL GABLES, Fla. (March 29, 2021) – COVID-19 has upended our reality in many ways, exposing systemic failures and highlighting injustices. At the same time, it has provided an opening to consider new approaches.
The International Law and COVID-19 Symposium will examine the impact of COVID-19 on international law in a virtual conference, “Impacts on Human Rights and Public Health,” on April 12 and April 16, 2021.
In particular, the symposium will focus on intersections of COVID-19 with human rights and public health, including state obligations towards vulnerable populations, rights restrictions to protect public health, environmental aspects, reactions by international and regional human rights bodies, and public health responses.
“Over a year since COVID-19 has sent shock waves through our international community, the time is ripe to take stock and reflect on lessons for international law,” said Professor Tamar Ezer, the Human Rights Clinic’s acting director. “This Symposium provides a valuable opportunity for global experts to exchange and sharpen ideas for addressing systemic gaps and structural failures, helping chart a new way forward.”
In this way, “The Symposium reflects the University of Miami School of Law commitment to engaging with important issues of international law and policy," said Professor Caroline Bradley, associate dean for International and Graduate Programs.
A gathering of esteemed national and international experts, including the president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, and members of the U.N. International Law Commission. Professor Claudio Grossman, dean emeritus and Raymond I. Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law at the American University Washington College of Law; and member of the U.N. International Law Commission, will provide an introduction.
Hosted by the University of Miami School of Law International Graduate Law Programs and Human Rights Clinic, in collaboration with the Human Rights Society, Health Law Association, and the University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review, the event is on Monday, April 12, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. EST. A second session meets on Friday, April 16, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. EST.
For more information, contact the University of Miami Human Rights Clinic at HRC@law.miami.edu or 305-284-1678. The virtual event is free and open to the public with registration.
