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About the Center for Human Rights and Justice

Mission and Organization –- History –- Constitution –- Contact

Mission and Organization

The Center for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ) exists to train University of Washington School of Law students in human rights law and to educate the community in human rights issues. We realize this goal by hosting speakers, symposia, and events on a wide variety of human rights topics. We coordinate human rights projects with area practitioners, lobby for a strong human rights curriculum, and fund student work in human rights through a Public Interest Law Association (PILA) grant.

CHRJ is student-run and student-directed. Our membership consists of about 40 UWSL students and 16 associate members: professors, UW students and community members. CHRJ is run by a Steering Committee of about ten law students and enjoys the support of UW law professors such as Kristen Stilt, Joel Ngugi and Silvia Kang’ara. We are a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

History

In 2000, seven University of Washington School of Law students started CHRJ: Jane O’Sullivan, Sherilyn Waxler, Siovhan Sheridan-Ayala, Joanna Roth, Yohei Suda, Elizabeth Farnam, and Oliver Spencer. Professor Joan Fitzpatrick served as the group’s advisor and CHRJ had the support of other UW professors and private attorneys.

During its formative years, CHRJ engaged in a number of different activities to highlight and raise awareness about human rights challenges in different parts of the world. CHRJ assisted with research on different cases involving human rights issues before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. Students also hosted video events and sponsored speakers, including a representative from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Additionally CHRJ organized a fact finding trip about the human rights situation of indigenous peoples in Mexico.

CHRJ continues to be a source of support and inspiration for students who aim to promote human rights through the legal profession.

Constitution

To view CHRJ’s Constitution, please click here (Adobe Acrobat required).