Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and
Humanitarian Law Each summer, this intensive three- week program brings together over 40 internationally renowned faculty and hundreds of participants in Washington, D.C., to tackle urgent legal challenges. Taught in both English and Spanish, it serves as both a core component of the hybrid LLM and a standalone professional development opportunity, having trained more than 3,000 legal and non-legal professionals to date.
Inter-American Human Rights Moot
Court Competition (IAMOOT) A cornerstone of the Academy’s impact, the IAMOOT celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. In this program, participants simulate litigation before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and gain exposure to real-world advocacy, with winning teams earning internships at the Inter-American Commission and Court.
Expanding Access, Amplifying Voices
The Academy’s impact extends beyond the classroom. Through the Human Rights Essay Award, it promotes legal scholarship by inviting lawyers from around the world to compete for publication and participation in academic events. Its annual Human Rights Month features a vibrant calendar of conferences, film screenings, and workshops, fostering critical dialogue and collaboration among advocates, scholars and the public.
Celebrating a Milestone, Advancing the Mission
As the Academy marks 25 years of innovation, growth, and global influence, it remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to human rights education, strengthening legal protections, and empowering future generations of defenders. Its mission endures — bold, inclusive and more urgent than ever.
View the Photo Gallery:
tinyurl.com/AHR- 25th-Anniv
Inter-American Moot Court Competition Celebrates 30 Years
The Inter-American Moot Court Competition recently celebrated 30 years of advancing legal education and promoting human rights across the Americas and beyond. Founded at AUWCL by Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman and Professors Robert Goldman, Claudia Martin, and Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, the competition has become a cornerstone of international legal training. “It was very important to us to develop this opportunity of experiential learning. There was no competition on the Inter-American system concerned in human rights,” Grossman said. The Inter-American Moot Court Competition broke new ground as the first to be conducted in English, Spanish and Portuguese. This trilingual approach has since provided more than 5,000 students from over 350 universities the opportunity to engage directly with the Inter-American Court system. “The purpose is to train the younger generation of lawyers to become familiar with the procedures and clearly the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court and the Inter-American Commission,” Goldman said. The competition continues to shape the global legal landscape, influencing students, legal practitioners, and academic institutions. Professor Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón underscored its transformative power, noting that many participants credit the experience with inspiring their careers in human rights law. Alumni have gone on to intern or work at the Inter-American Court or Commission, and some now serve as law professors who coach the next generation of competitors. Reflecting on the competition’s early days, Professor Claudia Martin recalled how the founders managed every aspect themselves, including drafting the hypothetical case. She vividly remembers the first case, Civil Olivera vs. Mariel, inspired by characters from Julio Cortázar’s novel “Rayuela,” which tackled the issue of forced disappearances.
“I think we never thought that we were going to have the capacity to train and inspire so many law students in the region,” Martin said. As it enters its fourth decade, the
Inter-American Moot Court Competition stands as a testament to the power of education, advocacy, and international collaboration in advancing justice and human rights. — By Brice Helms
View the Photo Gallery:
tinyurl.com/ AUWCL- IAMOOT-2025
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