Human Rights Center

The “War on Terror” and Human Rights

The “War on Terror” and Human Rights will engage the public in a thought-provoking discussion about the methods used to pursue the “war on terror” and its impact on America’s reputation at home and abroad. Admission is free to all events.

February 7, 7 PM
Keynote Address: Major General (Ret.) Antonio M. Taguba
International House, Chevron Auditorium
Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba led an inquiry into conditions at the military’s Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and is the author of a highly critical report that detailed the abusive interrogatory practices to which inmates were subjected. As a result of his efforts to expose these practices, he was encouraged to retire, which he did in January 2007 after 34 years of active duty. Maj. Gen. Taguba will discuss his investigation of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the cost of the U.S.’s “war on terror” to our democratic values, national security and international reputation.

General Taguba was interviewed while on campus as part of the series "Conversations with History," now available online.

Read the interview with General Taguba published in The Berkeleyan, "General says Abu Ghraib scandal will resonate 'for years to come'."

February 28, 5 PM
Does TV Persuade Us That Torture’s OK?
Room 110, Boalt Hall School of Law
Richard Walter, UCLA School of Film, Television, and Digital Media
Spc. (Ret.) Tony Lagouranis, U.S. Army Interrogator
Margaret Stock, Department of Law, U.S. Military Academy (West Point)
David Danzig, Primetime Torture Project, Human Rights First

With soldiers reportedly employing brutal interrogation techniques specifically imitating what they have seen on episodes of “24” and similar shows, this panel considers how popular culture since 9/11 has affected wartime military practice.

Co-sponsored by UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

Read an article on the topic in The Berkeleyan, "Prime-time torture gets a reality check."

April 3, 5 PM
A Question of Conscience: Military Perspectives on the “War on Terror”
Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall
Col. (Ret.) Lawrence B. Wilkerson, U.S. Army
Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch, U.S. Marine Corps
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen E. Abraham, U.S. Army Reserve
Moderator: Adam Hochschild, Graduate School of Journalism

American practices in pursuing the “war on terror” have compelled some military officers to speak out in defense of Constitutional protections and international law. They have raised objections to abusive interrogations and unfair court proceedings of detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, and other U.S. military installations.

*Download the event podcast here.

Sponsors: Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley
Human Rights Law Clinic, Boalt Hall School of Law
Berkeley Project on Law and Terrorism, Boalt Hall School of Law

Co-Sponsors:
The World Affairs Council of Northern California
Human Rights Watch

Additional Spring 2008 events:

February 13, 12:45 PM
Nils Melzer, International Committee of the Red Cross
Room 100, Boalt Hall

Dr Melzer has served with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 1999 in various functions, first as a Field Delegate in the Balkans and the Middle East, and subsequently as a Legal Adviser to the ICRC's Operations Department in Geneva, covering the Middle East and Africa. Since 2004, he has been responsible within the ICRC's Legal Division for an expert process aimed at clarifying international humanitarian law relating to the issue of civilian participation in hostilities.

Co-sponsored with the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights.

February 19, Noon
"The Human Cost of War: Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo"
Jason Lewis-Berry, Solidarities
223 Moses Hall

The longest and deadliest conflict in Africa is not in Sudan. Jason Lewis-Berry, who recently returned from working with a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will give a presentation on the forgotten crisis in DRC, the response of the international community to date, and the possibilities for a lasting peace.

Sponsored by the Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program. Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center and the Center for African Studies.

March 12, Noon
"Living with Fear: Unresolved Conflicts in Eastern Congo"
Patrick Vinck, Director, Berkeley-Tulane Initiative for Vulnerable Populations
223 Moses Hall

With a background in agricultural engineering and international development, Vinck has designed and managed rural development projects and conducted research on peace, justice, and social reconstruction in Iraq, Rwanda, Northern Uganda, Sudan, and other areas affected by armed conflict. Most recently, he spent six months in eastern Congo conducting research on the war and its impact on vulnerable populations.

Sponsored by the Center for African Studies. Co-sponsored by the Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program and the Human Rights Center.

March 14, 1 PM
"Realizing the Potential: Global Corporations and Human Rights"
2008 Riesenfeld Symposium
105 Boalt Hall

The 2008 Riesenfeld Symposium will explore the potential of multinational corporations to advance human rights practices globally. It will bring together students, scholars, global business leaders, and legal practitioners in a collaborative, synergistic forum on the role of the legal profession in realizing humanitarian potential of corporate social responsibility. Keynote speech at 4:30 PM by Professor David Weissbrodt. More information available at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/journals/bjil/adhome.htm.

Sponsored by the Berkeley Journal of International Law, the Human Rights Center, the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights, and Morgan Lewis.

March 18, 12:45 PM
"The Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Cambodia's Best Hope for Justice"
Heather Ryan, Court Monitor, Open Society Justice Initiative
105 Boalt Hall

In the 1970s, the Cambodian Khmer Rouge government committed a genocide of two million people in Cambodia. Thirty years later, the leaders of this regime are brought to justice in front of a UN-backed tribunal on war crimes. However, many challenges face the tribunal, including lack of adequate financial support, serious infrastructure problems, and constant reports of corruption. Ms. Ryan has been instrumental in bringing these issues to light, but still believes the Tribunal is the best chance Cambodians have for justice.

Sponsored by the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center.

April 1, 12 PM
"Private Military Companies and New Wars: Risk, Law & Ethics"
Professor Kateri Carmola, Middlebury College
223 Moses Hall

Currently, the private security industry is under intense scrutiny in Iraq, especially after significant contractor involvement in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, and more recently, with investigations into Blackwater security practices. Middlebury Professor Kateri Carmola's new book, Private Security Contractors and New Wars, addresses the ambiguities of the growing use of paramilitary forces and provides guidance as to how expectations about regulating this expanding 'service' industry should be adjusted.

Sponsored by the Institute of International Studies
Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center
Part of the "Laws and Ethics of War" series

April 10, 12:45 PM
"The First Lawyer Inside Guantanamo"
Gitanjali Gutierrez, Staff Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights
100 Boalt Hall

Gita Gutierrez, the first habeas attorney to meet with clients at Guantanamo Bay, will discuss her work with CCR on Guantanamo, the American government’s use of torture and harsh interrogation practices, and the future of military commissions for detained enemy combatants. She was a member of the legal team in Rasul v. Bush before the Supreme Court in 2004 and is part of the legal team litigating the Al Odah v. Bush appeal presently before the Supreme Court.

Sponsored by the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights, the Human Rights Center, and the International Human Rights Law Clinic.

April 14, 12 PM
"It's the Law, Even in War"
Professor Allen Weiner, Stanford University
223 Moses Hall

Is the "war on terror" launched by the United States against al-Qaeda and other terrorist entities really a "war"? Invoking a state of war is not merely a matter of rhetoric but has been used to vest the Executive Branch with substantial legal powers only available in wartime. Although there are parallels between the use of force against terrorist acts and conventional forms of armed conflict, the Executive Branch has claimed only wartime powers, but has refused to accept the relevant legal duties in the fight against terrorism. Although the Supreme Court's decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions applies to the Guantanamo detainees has been cited by some as a vindication of the rule of law, the decision effectively endorses the Executive Branch's assertion of sweeping wartime powers in the fight against terrorism.

Sponsored by the Institute of International Studies
Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center
Part of the "Laws and Ethics of War" series
Lunch will be served

May 5, 1 PM
"A Voice from the Burmese Grassroots"
Goldman School of Public Policy
2607 Hearst Ave., Room 250

The guest speaker is a co-founder of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network (HRD) in Burma, and a Visiting Scholar at the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center. He will be presenting about his organization's work.

In 2002 the HRD started organizing human rights trainings in Burma, acting since then as an unofficial grassroots network. It is believed to be the only grassroots human rights organization in Burma at this time. Our guest specializes in international relations for the HRD.


IN THIS SECTION Current Events Past Events	CURRENT EVENTS The Human Rights Center raises awareness of current issues and human rights research by sponsoring or co-sponsoring public events. See below for a list of recent and upcoming events. Spring Colloquium 2008 The “War on Terror” and Human Rights The “War on Terror” and Human Rights will engage the public in a thought-provoking discussion about the methods used to pursue the “war on terror” and its impact on America’s reputation at home and abroad. Admission is free to all events. February 7, 7 PM Keynote Address: Major General (Ret.) Antonio M. Taguba International House, Chevron Auditorium Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba led an inquiry into conditions at the military’s Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and is the author of a highly critical report that detailed the abusive interrogatory practices to which inmates were subjected. As a result of his efforts to expose these practices, he was encouraged to retire, which he did in January 2007 after 34 years of active duty. Maj. Gen. Taguba will discuss his investigation of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the cost of the U.S.’s “war on terror” to our democratic values, national security and international reputation. General Taguba was interviewed while on campus as part of the series "Conversations with History," now available online. Read the interview with General Taguba published in The Berkeleyan, "General says Abu Ghraib scandal will resonate 'for years to come'." February 28, 5 PM Does TV Persuade Us That Torture’s OK? Room 110, Boalt Hall School of Law Richard Walter, UCLA School of Film, Television, and Digital Media Spc. (Ret.) Tony Lagouranis, U.S. Army Interrogator Margaret Stock, Department of Law, U.S. Military Academy (West Point) David Danzig, Primetime Torture Project, Human Rights First With soldiers reportedly employing brutal interrogation techniques specifically imitating what they have seen on episodes of “24” and similar shows, this panel considers how popular culture since 9/11 has affected wartime military practice. Co-sponsored by UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Read an article on the topic in The Berkeleyan, "Prime-time torture gets a reality check." April 3, 5 PM A Question of Conscience: Military Perspectives on the “War on Terror” Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall Col. (Ret.) Lawrence B. Wilkerson, U.S. Army Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen E. Abraham, U.S. Army Reserve Moderator: Adam Hochschild, Graduate School of Journalism American practices in pursuing the “war on terror” have compelled some military officers to speak out in defense of Constitutional protections and international law. They have raised objections to abusive interrogations and unfair court proceedings of detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, and other U.S. military installations. Download the event podcast here. Sponsors:* Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley Human Rights Law Clinic, Boalt Hall School of Law Berkeley Project on Law and Terrorism, Boalt Hall School of Law Co-Sponsors: The World Affairs Council of Northern California Human Rights Watch Additional Spring 2008 events: February 13, 12:45 PM Nils Melzer, International Committee of the Red Cross Room 100, Boalt Hall Dr Melzer has served with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 1999 in various functions, first as a Field Delegate in the Balkans and the Middle East, and subsequently as a Legal Adviser to the ICRC's Operations Department in Geneva, covering the Middle East and Africa. Since 2004, he has been responsible within the ICRC's Legal Division for an expert process aimed at clarifying international humanitarian law relating to the issue of civilian participation in hostilities. Co-sponsored with the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights. February 19, Noon "The Human Cost of War: Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo" Jason Lewis-Berry, Solidarities 223 Moses Hall The longest and deadliest conflict in Africa is not in Sudan. Jason Lewis-Berry, who recently returned from working with a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will give a presentation on the forgotten crisis in DRC, the response of the international community to date, and the possibilities for a lasting peace. Sponsored by the Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program. Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center and the Center for African Studies. March 12, Noon "Living with Fear: Unresolved Conflicts in Eastern Congo" Patrick Vinck, Director, Berkeley-Tulane Initiative for Vulnerable Populations 223 Moses Hall With a background in agricultural engineering and international development, Vinck has designed and managed rural development projects and conducted research on peace, justice, and social reconstruction in Iraq, Rwanda, Northern Uganda, Sudan, and other areas affected by armed conflict. Most recently, he spent six months in eastern Congo conducting research on the war and its impact on vulnerable populations. Sponsored by the Center for African Studies. Co-sponsored by the Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program and the Human Rights Center. March 14, 1 PM "Realizing the Potential: Global Corporations and Human Rights" 2008 Riesenfeld Symposium 105 Boalt Hall The 2008 Riesenfeld Symposium will explore the potential of multinational corporations to advance human rights practices globally. It will bring together students, scholars, global business leaders, and legal practitioners in a collaborative, synergistic forum on the role of the legal profession in realizing humanitarian potential of corporate social responsibility. Keynote speech at 4:30 PM by Professor David Weissbrodt. More information available at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/journals/bjil/adhome.htm. Sponsored by the Berkeley Journal of International Law, the Human Rights Center, the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights, and Morgan Lewis. March 18, 12:45 PM "The Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Cambodia's Best Hope for Justice" Heather Ryan, Court Monitor, Open Society Justice Initiative 105 Boalt Hall In the 1970s, the Cambodian Khmer Rouge government committed a genocide of two million people in Cambodia. Thirty years later, the leaders of this regime are brought to justice in front of a UN-backed tribunal on war crimes. However, many challenges face the tribunal, including lack of adequate financial support, serious infrastructure problems, and constant reports of corruption. Ms. Ryan has been instrumental in bringing these issues to light, but still believes the Tribunal is the best chance Cambodians have for justice. Sponsored by the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights and the Human Rights Center. April 1, 12 PM "Private Military Companies and New Wars: Risk, Law & Ethics" Professor Kateri Carmola, Middlebury College 223 Moses Hall Currently, the private security industry is under intense scrutiny in Iraq, especially after significant contractor involvement in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, and more recently, with investigations into Blackwater security practices. Middlebury Professor Kateri Carmola's new book, Private Security Contractors and New Wars, addresses the ambiguities of the growing use of paramilitary forces and provides guidance as to how expectations about regulating this expanding 'service' industry should be adjusted. Sponsored by the Institute of International Studies Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center Part of the "Laws and Ethics of War" series April 10, 12:45 PM "The First Lawyer Inside Guantanamo" Gitanjali Gutierrez, Staff Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights 100 Boalt Hall Gita Gutierrez, the first habeas attorney to meet with clients at Guantanamo Bay, will discuss her work with CCR on Guantanamo, the American government’s use of torture and harsh interrogation practices, and the future of military commissions for detained enemy combatants. She was a member of the legal team in Rasul v. Bush before the Supreme Court in 2004 and is part of the legal team litigating the Al Odah v. Bush appeal presently before the Supreme Court. Sponsored by the Boalt Hall Committee for Human Rights, the Human Rights Center, and the International Human Rights Law Clinic. April 14, 12 PM "It's the Law, Even in War" Professor Allen Weiner, Stanford University 223 Moses Hall Is the "war on terror" launched by the United States against al-Qaeda and other terrorist entities really a "war"? Invoking a state of war is not merely a matter of rhetoric but has been used to vest the Executive Branch with substantial legal powers only available in wartime. Although there are parallels between the use of force against terrorist acts and conventional forms of armed conflict, the Executive Branch has claimed only wartime powers, but has refused to accept the relevant legal duties in the fight against terrorism. Although the Supreme Court's decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld that Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions applies to the Guantanamo detainees has been cited by some as a vindication of the rule of law, the decision effectively endorses the Executive Branch's assertion of sweeping wartime powers in the fight against terrorism. Sponsored by the Institute of International Studies Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Center Part of the "Laws and Ethics of War" series Lunch will be served May 5, 1 PM "A Voice from the Burmese Grassroots" Goldman School of Public Policy 2607 Hearst Ave., Room 250 The guest speaker is a co-founder of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network (HRD) in Burma, and a Visiting Scholar at the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center. He will be presenting about his organization's work. In 2002 the HRD started organizing human rights trainings in Burma, acting since then as an unofficial grassroots network. It is believed to be the only grassroots human rights organization in Burma at this time. Our guest specializes in international relations for the HRD.