Human Rights Practicum
The Human Rights Practicum works on behalf of human rights organizations, policy and advocacy groups, and individual victims of human rights abuse to promote respect for human rights, international law, and global solidarity. Guided by local human rights advocates, the practicum is oriented, in particular, to work with and for immigrant and refugee communities in Buffalo and Western New York, drawing on the theory and practice of human rights law to strengthen advocacy concerning issues important to them.
The shape of this advocacy will vary—some issues will be ripe for amicus brief research or strategic litigation; others for human rights report-writing, norm building, and legislative advocacy. Some projects will be oriented toward issues of civil rights, housing, legal assistance, employment, social integration, and education affecting immigrant communities here in Buffalo. Others will look farther outward, detailing rights violations of refugees or migrants at the border or on the journeys made to reach the United States, or, further still, detailing the conditions in countries of origin that cause people to leave their homes and seek protection, stability, or the hope for better lives elsewhere. In any of these cases, the practicum will provide students with guidance and mentorship as they conceive of their advocacy strategies, conduct legal research and draft reports, critically reflect on the ethics and impact of their work, and present their findings to the public.
Paul Linden-Retek
Director of Human Rights Practicum; Associate Professor of Law
Community Collaboration and Legislative Advocacy
Inspired by critical migration and refugee studies, student teams will work with immigrant and refugee communities as witnesses to human rights abuses and, at times, as partners and co-participants in an effort to seek accountability, raise public consciousness, and seek legislative reform concerning a variety of human rights issues affecting non-citizens and citizens alike.
Human Rights Reporting
Students will research and apply international and regional human rights standards; draw on field-based investigation and interviews; learn about the ethics of trauma-informed research-gathering; and prepare detailed human rights reports, presenting findings before the public, elected officials, media, courts, and international bodies.
Training Human Rights Lawyers
Students will gain the knowledge and practical experience necessary to effectively promote respect for human rights; to serve as partners and legal advisors to human rights and civil rights organizations locally and internationally; and to contribute to a variety of legal strategies for accountability and policy reform, including strategic litigation, norm building, reporting, and legal research and analysis.