On April 12 and 16, 2021, the University of Miami (UM) School of Law's Human Rights Clinic and International and Graduate Law Programs hosted a symposium on “International Law and COVID-19: Impacts on Human Rights and Public Health,” in collaboration with the Human Rights Society, Health Law Association, Environmental Law Program, and UM International and Comparative Law Review. While COVID-19 upended our reality in many ways, exposing systemic failures and highlighting injustices, at the same time, it also provided an opening to consider new approaches. The symposium examined the impact of COVID-19 on international focusing on intersections with human rights and public health, including state obligations towards vulnerable populations, rights restrictions to protect public health, environmental aspects, reactions by international and regional human rights bodies, and public health responses.
(WATCH: Day One of the Symposium) 9:00 a.m. - Welcome 9:15 a.m. - Introduction: Building the Legal Framework Claudio Grossman, Professor of Law, Dean Emeritus, Raymond I. Geraldson Scholar for International and Humanitarian Law, American University Washington College of Law; Member, UN International Law Commission 9:25 a.m. - COVID-19 and Human Rights Law Moderator: Tamar Ezer, Acting Director and Lecturer in Law, Human Rights Clinic University of Miami School of Law Speakers: 11:00 a.m. - Close (WATCH: Day Two of the Symposium) 9:00 a.m. - Introductory Remarks 9:10 a.m. - COVID-19 and Public Health Law Moderator: Gabriel Scheffler, Associate Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law Speakers: 10:20 a.m. - Closing Reflections Caroline Bradley, Professor of Law, Dean's Distinguished Scholar, Associate Dean for International and Graduate Programs, University of Miami School of Law 10:30 a.m. - Close Rapporteurs: MONDAY, APRIL 12
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
JoNel Newman, Professor of Clinical Legal Education and Director, Health Rights Clinic
The University of Miami School of Law's International and Comparative Law Review publised a Special Issue, Vol.29 Iss. 2, related to this symposium. The articles include: INTERNATIONAL LAW & COVID-19 SYMPOSIUM, Tamar Ezer, Joseph Candelaria, and Gita Howard. EPIDEMICS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW: THE NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL REGULATION, Claudio Grossman THE IACHR’S COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS INTERSECTIONAL IMPACTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, Antonia Urrejola Noguera and Soledad Garcia Muñoz. COMPARATIVE LAWS IN PUBLIC HEALTH UNMASKED, Christine Chasse THE DUTY TO PROTECT SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN THE AGE OF COVID-19: AN EXPANDED HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK, Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, R. Denisse Córdova Montes, and Max Zoberman. LOUIS HENKIN MEMORIAL LECTURE, Juan E. Mendez STUDENT NOTE IMMUNIZATION AND INDEMNIFICATION: RETHINKING THE US APPROACH TO LIABILITY PROTECTIONS FOR VACCINE MANUFACTURERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, Samantha Topper Berns
Human Rights Clinic
University of Miami School of Law
1311 Miller Drive, B400
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Email: HRC@law.miami.edu
Phone: 305-284-1678
Fax: 305-284-6093Symposium Sponsors