Washington, D.C. – This year, the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law has honored 73 legal professionals from across the globe, who submitted English and Spanish essays addressing one of the most critical human rights issues today: human trafficking. The Human Rights Essay Award 2025 is a prestigious recognition aimed at spurring scholarly engagement and proposing viable solutions to combat human trafficking and uphold human dignity.
Human trafficking, as one of the gravest violations of human rights, invokes an urgent call for action. The essays submitted have explored varied facets of the issue, presenting innovative ideas and legal frameworks that aspire to further the cause of justice and ensure protection for victims. The originality and depth of the analyses have impressed the academy, reflecting the participants’ commitment to impacting global human rights positively.
The submitted works are under review by the Honor Jury, comprised of eminent scholars, practitioners, and advocates dedicated to the human rights field. This esteemed panel includes Karine Ruel, Executive Director of Lawyers Without Borders Canada, and Rangita de Silva de Alwis, a Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Vice Chair of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute.
Other jurors include Roza Paty, Director at the John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Academy at St. Thomas University, Diego Rodríguez-Pinzón and Claudia Martin, Co-Directors at the Academy on Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, Ana Racu, a Member of Parliament from Republic of Moldova, and Janie Chuang, Professor of Law at the American University Washington College of Law.
Jurors from Spanish-speaking regions such as María Cecilia Ibáñez, Senior Advocacy and Gender Adviser at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Julio José Rojas-Báez, a Member of the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the OAS, also evaluate the submissions. They are joined by Carolina Rudnick Vizcarra, Director of the Legal and Business Area at the LIBERA Foundation Against Human Trafficking, and Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero, a Principal Specialist at the CIM – Technical Secretariat of MESECVI – IACHR.
The Academy also extends its gratitude to the American University Law Review, which supports the upcoming publication of the Academy’s book issue. Gratitude is also due to the Academy staff and LL.M. students, including Paula Ramos (Brazil) and Tatiana Bance (Argentina), who along with pre-selection committee members have shown exemplary dedication in orchestrating this award.
The Academy prides itself on fostering an environment where legal professionals can contribute to significant global discussions on human rights issues. By focusing on human trafficking this year, the participants are contributing to a vital cause, aiming to eradicate a heinous practice that plagues various parts of the world.
In acknowledging the efforts of all involved, the academy looks forward to continuing this tradition, inspiring legal minds to advocate for the helpless and uphold the principles of human dignity and rights globally.
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