Human Rights Center CLE and Reception 

Join faculty, students, and partners of the Human Rights Center for this special CLE event showcasing three current projects focused on the human rights of women and LGBTQ communities in Bolivia, Nepal, and Minnesota. 

Each team will explain the human rights challenges and context of their project and the legal research, analysis, or advocacy advanced by the project. The projects illustrate how international human rights law and standards can be leveraged to contribute to efforts to diagnose and address systemic human rights violations faced disproportionately by women and LGBTQ individuals. 

Attendees will gain a greater understanding of lesser-known challenges at the intersection of gender and human rights and see examples of the innovative and impactful work of Minnesota researchers, advocates, and students. After the presentations, Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Faculty Director of the Law School’s Human Rights Center, will facilitate a Q&A with the audience. Following the event, join the HRC and our presenters at a reception in Auerbach Commons from 5:00-6:00pm.

1.5 CLE credits have been requested (pending code 505955). 

Watch a recording of the event here. 

Featuring:

Gender-based Violence in Rural Bolivia 

Prof. Sarah Hoffman, with Alex Mysler ’26, Mikaela Smith ’25, Vanessa Voller PhD candidate CEHD

The overall objective of our observational multiple methods pilot study is to establish a baseline, descriptive understanding of the prevalence, frequency, type, and response to physical and sexual gender-based violence (GBV) in 10 rural Bolivian communities. This research will further our understanding of the challenges and issues faced by young women and girls who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. Findings will inform strategies to improve the quality, accessibility, and utilization of specialized GBV healthcare services. Study outcomes will impact future interventions in a more integrated and thoughtful way, involving the health and educational sectors, and families from the communities.

UN-Women & Transitional Justice: Case Study of Nepal

Megan Manion ’16, with Madeline Kim ’25, Katin Liphart Massad ’25, Sierra Paulsen ’24

To aid UN Women in better understanding the extent to which transitional justice frameworks can impact gender equality in post-conflict societies, the research team is conducting a comprehensive case study to explore how gender-sensitive legal reform has informed Nepal’s transitional justice process. Despite implementation struggles and ongoing violations of women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights, Nepal’s transitional justice frameworks have contributed to a proliferation of human rights advocacy, which has been integral to laying a legal foundation for the realization of civil, political, social, economic, and other rights for women, girls, and persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. 

Children of Incarcerated Caregivers

Julie Matonich, with Alexa Johnson Gomez ’24

In at least ninety-four countries, when a mother faces incarceration, they have some right to have an infant or young child reside with them in detention. Exact State practices on how children come to live with an incarcerated mother are murky, but at least 19,000 children live with their mother in prisons around the world. But how do States decide whether a child will reside in a prison with their mother? Has there been an actual process for these children? Is it any consideration in the mother’s sentencing? And what rights do children have within such a process? When applying a human rights framework to these questions, a balancing between mother and child’s rights is necessary, and conditions of detention must be considered (e.g., special units, available food, access to health, etc.). CIC seeks to address this largely invisible issue through research, future publication, an upcoming symposium, and the development of a Global Prison Nursery Network with local NGOs.

Moderated by Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Faculty Director, Human Rights Center

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