The Fall of 2023 has been a time for deep reflection, creativity, and hope in our International and Comparative Law Program. We have joyfully welcomed a vibrant group of students from more than 40 countries. We have also hosted events on ground-breaking issues in international law today, including the pursuit of peace through justice; accountability for war crimes; health and human rights; human trafficking; artificial intelligence; and international family law. We continue serving as a major convener for critical entities, experts, and new voices in International and Comparative Law, in challenging and intricate times. We are proud of our faculty, staff, students, and alums who continue shaping the boundaries and contours of International Law. I thank you for your continued collaboration and engagement with our program. I send you my best wishes for the end of this year, with the wish that 2024 brings peace, human rights, dignity, and wellness to many.

Rosa Celorio

Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies and Burnett Family Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in International and Comparative Law and Policy

On September 18, 2023, GW Law’s International and Comparative Law Program hosted a remembrance event to honor the legacy of the late Professor and Judge Thomas Buergenthal. This remembrance event was organized to coincide with the Fall 2023 Brand-Manatt Lecture. Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji was the Fall 2023 Brand-Manatt speaker and delivered a lecture titled "Doing More with Peace as a Legal Norm." The lecture was followed by a panel titled "Striving for Peace through Justice Today: Perspectives on the International Criminal Court" with leading experts in the field speaking on the issue.

Professor Paul Berman recently published chapters in two books. First, he authored a chapter titled “Global Legal Pluralism and the Making of International Climate Change Law” in The Global Community Yearbook of International Law and Jurisprudence (2022). He also authored a chapter titled “Why Cosmopolitan Pluralist Governance Need Not Subvert Democracy” published in Economic Constitutionalism in a Turbulent World (Achilles Skordas et. al., eds., 2023).

In July 2023, Professor Leah Calabro spoke about the protection of human rights at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Annual Meeting on a panel titled “A Vacuum in International Law? Human Rights in Unrecognized or Partially Recognized States.” 

During the Fall 2023 semester, Professor Calabro taught her new reading group course titled “Victims’ Rights in International Human Rights and International Criminal Law” for the first time. In September, Professor Calabro presented her ongoing research analyzing the Trust Fund for Victims at the International Criminal Court at the War and Peace in the 21st Century – The Fate of Human Rights international law conference held at Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary. She presented this ongoing research again at GW Law in November. Professor Calabro was also selected to present her article titled “Finding Justice for the Yazidi Women Victims of the Islamic State” at the American Society of International Law’s Midyear Meeting at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in November. 

Dean Celorio continued serving in different international roles during this period, including as an Executive Council Member for the American Society of International Law; as a Member of the World Health Organization Global Advisory Committee on Maternal Health Issues; and as the International Dispute Resolution Authority between the Maya Indigenous Peoples and the government of Belize before the Caribbean Court of Justice. 

She also offered remarks in the following events: Symposium on Climate Emergency and Human Rights in the Americas, Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, July 24, 2023; Meeting of Experts on Advisory Opinion Request on Climate Change and Human Rights – Inter- American Court of Human Rights, Center for Justice and International Law, August 8, 2023; Meeting of Experts: General Recommendation 40 of the UN CEDAW Committee on Women’s Political Participation, UN CEDAW Committee and American University Law School, September 25, 2023; Climate Change, Gender and the Americas: A Conversation with Rosa Celorio, US State Department, OAS Mission, Inter-American Commission on Women, October 19, 2023; and Model Legislation on Digital Violence against Women, OAS, CIM, MESECVI, November 30, 2023.

On October 19, 2023, Professor Steve Charnovitz gave the Keynote at the opening of the semiannual Meeting of European Union Trade Ministers in Valencia, Spain. The title of his talk was “International Trade Cooperation in an Era of Turbulence.” 

He discussed several of the knotty issues in EU-US relations including the US steel and aluminum tariffs and the negotiations for a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel. These issues were on the agenda to be discussed in the EU-US Summit in Washington that weekend. Professor Charnovitz also analyzed the key challenges facing the World Trade Organization in the run up to the next Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.

Professor Robert Cottrol recently published a new book titled To Trust the People with Arms. On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, the International and Comparative Law Program hosted a discussion on his new book with commentary by Renée Lettow Lerner, Donald Phillip Rothschild Research Professor at GW Law, and Joyce Malcolm, Professor Emeritus at the Scalia School of Law.

This book, co-authored by Brannon P. Denning, explores the remarkable and complex legal history of how the right to bear arms was widely accepted during the nation’s founding, was near extinction in the late twentieth century, and is now experiencing a rebirth in the Supreme Court in the twenty-first century. His book launch event was also hosted by our National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program. 

Renée Lettow Lerner

Donald Phillip Rothschild Research Professor

Professor Renée Lerner recently published a new book titled The Jury: A Very Short Introduction. On October 12, 2023, the International and Comparative Law Program hosted a very exciting discussion surrounding Professor Lerner's new book. 

This book charts juries from antiquity through the English-speaking world and beyond to Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The conversation highlighted the importance of having historical and comparative scholarship like this book that encourages and allows us to develop radical, yet inclusive alternatives to legal institutions. The conversation was moderated by Professor Francesca Bignami and included remarks from Professor Lerner, Professor Máximo Langer of UCLA, and Professor Anna Offit of SMU as panelists. 

Sean D. Murphy

Manatt/Ahn Professor of International Law

In June 2023, Professor Murphy presented on “The United Nations International Law Commission: Selected Topics of Its Current Agenda” at the headquarters of the American Society of International Law. In August, a Court of Arbitration chaired by Professor Murphy issued a decision finding jurisdiction over a case between Pakistan and India under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. 

Also in August, he attended the biennial meeting of L’Institut de Droit International in Angers, France, which adopted a report of his working group on contemporary international law relating to piracy. In September, he presented at a workshop in Washington, D.C., hosted by Just Security and the ICRC, on the topic “Assessing the DoD Law of War Manual’s Approach to Treaties and Customary International Law.” In October, he presented in New York at the International Law Association (American Branch) Annual Meeting on “The U.N. International Law Commission and the Future of International Law-Making.” Also in October, Professor Murphy argued before the International Court of Justice on behalf of  Armenia. Professor Murphy also had two recent publications. His article titled “Creativity in Dispute Settlement relating to the Law of the Sea” was published in By Peaceful Means: International Adjudication And Arbitration—Essays In Honour Of David D. Caron (Charles N. Brower et al., eds.) (Oxford University Press) (2023). His article titled “In Memoriam Thomas J. Buergenthal" was published in the 117th volume of the American Journal Of International Law (2023).

Welcome Reception 

We invite students, faculty, visiting scholars, and staff to join us to celebrate the start of a new semester!

Thursday, January 18 | 3-4 pm ET

Student Conference Center 

Women in International Law Speaker Series

On Thursday, September 7, 2023, Professor Alicia Ely Yamin presented her book titled When Misfortune Becomes Injustice. She discussed law, public health, and human rights as well as her background, her career path, and past books she has authored.

Panel on Human Trafficking Law 

On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, the ICL Program hosted a panel on “Human Trafficking Law in Practice: How Domestic and International Human Trafficking Law Directs the US Government’s Response to Trafficking.” Professors Kate Hill (US Department of Justice, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit) and Soumya Silver (US Department of State, Office to Monitor & Combat Trafficking in Persons) were joined by Melissa Milam (Victim Services Program Manager in the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit at the US Department of Justice) and Silke Albert (Crime Prevention Expert with the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) to speak to their real-world experience working in this field.

International Family Law Webinar

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, the ICL Program, along with the University of Bologna and the ABA International Law Section, hosted a webinar discussion on the topic of custody jurisdiction and the Hague Abduction Convention. The speakers included Professor Michele Lupoi from the University of Bologna; Dr. Ester di Napoli, an attorney based in Italy and Adjunct Professor of the University of Ferrara; Ashley Tomlinson, an attorney in Houston, Texas and fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers; and was moderated by Professor Melissa Kucinski, an International Family Law attorney based in DC.

Inns of Court Amity Visit and Lecture on Artificial Intelligence and Law

As part of the United Kingdom's Middle Temple Inn of Court Amity Visit, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the ICL Program hosted a lecture led by Dan Jasnow titled “Emerging Technology and the Practice of Law.” Dan Jasnow is a partner at ArentFox Schiff, LLP. The ICL Program was honored to host the attendees for a private luncheon following the lecture at which Professor Sean Murphy and Lord Lloyd-Jones, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, offered remarks.

GW Law Hosts Delegation from the University of Salvador in Buenos Aires

As part of GW Law’s continued collaboration with the University of Salvador located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the law school was proud to host Professors Santiago Aversa and Patricio Ponferrada from October 8 through October 13, 2023. Professor Ponferrada presented in Professor Robin Juni’s Fundamentals of Lawyering classes and Professor Aversa gave a lecture titled “How Argentina and the Argentine Military Have Handled Human Rights Abuses during the Military Dictatorship.” This event was co-sponsored by the National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program.

GW Law Co-Sponsors Virtual CARICOM Seminar

On October 26, 2023, the ICL Program co-sponsored the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Annual Seminar for the CARICOM Countries along with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR. Associate Dean Rosa Celorio offered opening remarks to all of the participants. 

GW Law Hosts a National Security Law Update Related to Export Controls

On November 6, 2023, the ICL Program hosted a panel titled “National Security Law Update: A Focus on Enforcement and Compliance with US Export Controls on Advanced Defense-Related Technology.” Ms. Marissa Cloutier, Chief of the US State Department’s Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance & Civil Enforcement Division I led the conversation. Professor Nate Bolin, partner at DLA Piper, and member of the State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group moderated and was also joined by Dave Allman, Of Counsel at DLA Piper. The event was co-sponsored by the National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program

The Civil and Human Rights Law Clinic Hosts Panel on Petition filed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 

On November 9, 2023, the GW Civil and Human Rights Law (CHRL) Clinic, with co-counsel Global Action on Gun Violence (GAGV), submitted a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of Joaquin Oliver and his parents. After submitting the petition, the CHRL Clinic hosted a panel discussion to highlight the petition’s significance. CHRL Clinic Professor Arturo Carrillo moderated the panel, which included Manny and Patricia Oliver, GAGV President Jonathan Lowy, attorney for gun violence victims Michael Haggard, and several Clinic students.

GW Law Hosts World Bank Reception

The ICL Program was honored to host the reception for the World Bank's Law, Justice and Development Week on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Participants in LJD week, ranging from professionals to students from all around the world, had the opportunity to attend the GW Law reception.

GW Law Hosts State Department Meeting on Public International Law 

On December 1, 2023, the ICL Program hosted the US State Department Advisory Committee Meeting on Public International Law. The discussions were focused on new horizons in US legal diplomacy, general principles in international law, and prosecuting the crime of aggression.

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