International Law & COVID-19 Symposium

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COVID-19 has upended our reality in many ways, exposing systemic failures and highlighting injustices. At the same time, it has provided an opening to consider new approaches. The International Law and COVID-19 Symposium, hosted by the University of Miami School of Law International and Graduate Law Programs and Human Rights Clinic, in collaboration with the Human Rights Society, Health Law Association, and University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review — examined the impact of COVID-19 on international law on April 12 & 16, 2021. In particular, the symposium focused on intersections of COVID-19 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.

Symposium Program

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  • Symposium Agenda & Videos

    MONDAY, APRIL 12

    (WATCH: Day One of the Symposium)

    9:00 a.m. - Welcome

    • Anthony Varona, Dean and M. Minnette Massey Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law
    • Bernard H. Oxman, Richard A. Hausler Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law

    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:

    • Caroline Bettinger-López, Professor of Law and Director, Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of Law
    • Leilani Farha, former UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing; Global Director, The Shift
    • Charles C. Jalloh, Professor of Law, Florida International University College of Law; Member, UN International Law Commission
    • Antonia Urrejola Noguera, President, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
    • Nilüfer Oral, Director, Centre of International Law, National University of Singapore; Law Faculty, Istanbul Bilgi University; Member, UN International Law Commission
    • Madeleine Plasencia, Visiting Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law

    11:00 a.m. - Close

    FRIDAY, APRIL 16

    (WATCH: Day Two of the Symposium)

    9:00 a.m. - Introductory Remarks
    JoNel Newman, Professor of Clinical Legal Education and Director, Health Rights Clinic

    9:10 a.m. - COVID-19 and Public Health Law

    Moderator: Gabriel Scheffler, Associate Professor of Law, University of Miami School of Law

    Speakers:

    • Aziza Ahmed, Professor of Law, Northeastern University School of Law 
    • Jonathan Cohen, Program Director, Public Health Program, Open Society Foundations
    • Eric A. Friedman, Global Health Justice Scholar, O’Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center 
    • Emely Sanchez, MPH, JD Candidate, Health Law Association President, University of Miami

    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: 

    • Joseph Candelaria, Student, Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of Law
    • Gita Howard, Student Fellow, Human Rights Clinic, University of Miami School of Law

Symposium Publications

Contact Information

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: 305-284-6093

Symposium Sponsors