Washington, D.C. – The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University has once again thrown a spotlight on some of the most pressing global challenges through its annual Human Rights Essay Award. This year, the competition drew an impressive 73 entries in both English and Spanish, submitted by legal professionals and scholars from across the world. The 2025 edition’s theme focused on the critical issue of human trafficking, underpinning the persistent violation of human dignity and fundamental human rights.
The essays submitted tackled the complex subject of human trafficking from a variety of angles, reflecting deep analytical thinking and innovative solutions. It’s evident that the participants committed to not only understanding but also addressing the nuances of human trafficking and its impact on human rights. The competition encourages the creation and dissemination of scholarly work that can contribute meaningfully to the fight against human trafficking by outlining practical and legal frameworks to protect and empower victims.
The submissions are currently under review by the Honor Jury, which consists of esteemed experts in the field of human rights. The jury includes Karine Ruel, Executive Director of Lawyers Without Borders Canada; Rangita de Silva de Alwis, a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School; Roza Paty, Director of the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy; Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights & Humanitarian Law; Ana Racu, a Parliament Member from the Republic of Moldova; and Janie Chuang, a Professor at American University Washington College of Law.
The Academy’s commitment to advancing discourse in human rights is further demonstrated by the diverse international composition of its Spanish-speaking jurors. This panel includes María Cecilia Ibáñez, Senior Advocacy and Gender Adviser at the Center for Reproductive Rights; Julio José Rojas-Báez of the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the OAS; Carolina Rudnick Vizcarra from LIBERA Foundation; Claudia Martin, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights & Humanitarian Law; and Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero, Principal Specialist at the CIM Technical Secretariat of MESECVI – IACHR.
The panelists play a crucial role in evaluating the essays and selecting a winner whose work demonstrates exceptional insight and innovation in human rights law. The winning essay, along with honorable mentions, will contribute to the ongoing global discourse on human rights, offering new perspectives and remedies to advance justice and advocacy.
This initiative showcases the dedicated work of the Academy staff and its students. Claudia Martin and Diego Rodriguez-Pinzon, along with Program Coordinator Gabriel J. Ortiz Crespo and LL.M. students Paula Ramos from Brazil and Tatiana Bance from Argentina, deserve acknowledgment for their diligent preliminary assessments and ensuring the integrity of the competition process.
American University Law Review collaborates closely with the Academy, preparing to publish a special book issue next year that will feature selected essays from this competition. This publication aims to enrich academic and professional discourse on human rights globally.
As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by human trafficking, the dedication of these legal scholars and practitioners provides hope. Through their rigorous analysis and innovative proposals, there is potential for significant strides in safeguarding human rights and restoring dignity to the countless victims of trafficking worldwide.
The American University and the entire team behind the Human Rights Essay Award look forward to the ongoing impact of this initiative on global human rights advocacy, with the outcome of this year’s competition playing a significant role in shaping future legal frameworks and protective measures against human trafficking.
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