ND Law’s Global Human Rights Clinic advocates for clients at the United Nations Headquarters and advances key partnerships in New York City – University of Notre Dame

Report on the Global Human Rights Clinic’s Advocacy in New York City in Support of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Advancing the 2030 Agenda Through Human Rights Advocacy

A delegation from the Notre Dame Law School’s Global Human Rights Clinic, directed by Professor Diane Desierto, conducted a series of strategic meetings in New York City. The primary objective was to advocate for clients affected by human rights violations in Ukraine, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The visit underscored the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through extensive engagement with international bodies, diplomatic missions, and private sector entities.

The delegation included legal fellows, research associates, doctoral interns, and J.D. students, reflecting a comprehensive approach to human rights advocacy and legal education.

High-Level Diplomatic and Institutional Engagements for SDG 16

In pursuit of justice and accountability, the Clinic’s delegation engaged with key international stakeholders. These meetings were instrumental in advancing legal cases for human rights victims and strengthening institutional frameworks, a core target of SDG 16.

Key Meetings and Objectives:

• United Nations Bodies: Meetings were held with officials from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, and the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. These discussions focused on client advocacy, research partnerships, and policy design to prevent sexual violence within the UN system, thereby promoting peaceful and inclusive societies under SDG 16.
• Permanent Missions to the UN: The delegation met with the Permanent Missions of Canada, Germany, and the Holy See. The purpose was to advocate for the Clinic’s clients and advance legal assistance and research partnerships, demonstrating the multi-stakeholder cooperation essential for SDG 17.

These face-to-face engagements were identified as crucial for ensuring client-centered work and building the collaborative networks necessary to address global human rights challenges.

Advocacy for Gender Equality and Justice (SDG 5 & SDG 16)

A significant focus of the mission was placed on gender equality and justice for victims of sexual violence, directly aligning with the objectives of SDG 5 and SDG 16.

1. Engagement with UN Women: The delegation attended the event “Financing the WPS Agenda in the Age of Rising Military Expenditure” at the UN Women’s Offices. This provided a platform to engage with officials on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda and to advocate specifically for women survivors of sexual violence in Ukraine.
2. Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV): The delegation’s work emphasized the need for effective reparations for victims of gender-based violence in armed conflicts, a critical component of ensuring access to justice (SDG 16.3). This was a central theme in discussions related to cases in Ukraine and judicial assistance to the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace.
3. Amplifying Survivor Voices: At an event hosted by the Permanent Mission of Germany, Clinic intern Oksana Ivantsiv presented her documentary film “Women Occupied.” The film highlights the experiences of women survivors of CRSV in Ukraine, Kosovo, and Germany, advocating for prompt reparations to avert intergenerational harm and support SDG 5.2 (eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls).

Building Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The mission exemplified the spirit of SDG 17 by fostering collaborations across various sectors to achieve human rights objectives.

Partnership Development:

• Private Sector Engagement: The delegation met with Professor Emeritus Douglas Cassel at the law firm King & Spalding. This meeting provided students with insights into the role of major law firms in addressing business and human rights issues through pro bono work, showcasing a vital partnership between academia and the private sector.
• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The series of meetings with embassy officials, UN experts, and non-profit organizations reinforced the understanding that achieving justice requires a unified effort. The experience demonstrated the existence of willing partners across many organizations, creating a foundation for continued collaboration to prevent future human rights violations.

Overall, the strategic engagements in New York City provided students with invaluable practical experience in human rights litigation and advocacy, reinforcing the Clinic’s commitment to fostering justice, equality, and strong global partnerships in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are connected to the issues discussed in the article:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article heavily emphasizes the work being done to support women who are victims of violence. This includes advocating for women victims of sexual violence in Ukraine, discussing reparations for victims of gender-based violence, and engaging with the UN Women’s “Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.” The focus on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) directly aligns with the goal of eliminating violence against women.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The core mission of the Global Human Rights Clinic, as described in the article, is to advocate for clients facing human rights violations. This involves engaging with international legal and political institutions like the United Nations (OHCHR, UN Group of Human Rights Experts), providing legal assistance (e.g., to the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace), and promoting the rule of law to ensure access to justice for victims.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article details the collaborative approach of the clinic. The delegation met with a wide range of stakeholders, including UN offices, permanent missions of various countries (Canada, Germany, the Holy See), private law firms (King & Spalding), and other experts. This multi-stakeholder engagement is a clear example of building partnerships to achieve human rights and development goals.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The article repeatedly highlights the clinic’s work on this issue, such as advocating for “women victims of sexual violence in Ukraine,” presenting a film about “women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV),” and meeting with the “Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.”
2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The clinic’s work is a direct application of this target. They advocate for clients facing human rights violations, provide “judicial assistance to the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace,” and work on securing “reparations for victims of gender-based violence,” all of which are actions aimed at ensuring access to justice.
3. Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels. The delegation’s meeting with the Head of the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse “to engage in questions about policy design on the prevention of sexual violence within the UN” is a direct effort to influence and strengthen policies related to gender equality and protection.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article describes a partnership model involving a university clinic (civil society), UN bodies and permanent missions (public), and a large law firm (private). This collaboration between Notre Dame Law School, the UN, various governments, and King & Spalding exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships this target aims to promote.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

1. Provision of legal and advocacy services for victims of human rights violations: The article describes the clinic’s direct work advocating for clients from Ukraine, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The number of cases taken on and the legal assistance provided, such as the “judicial assistance to the Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace,” serve as a measure of progress towards ensuring access to justice (Target 16.3).
2. Development of advocacy tools and initiatives to raise awareness: The creation and presentation of the documentary film “Women Occupied” is a specific initiative mentioned. This film, which “delves into the experiences of women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence,” acts as an indicator of efforts to “amplify survivors’ voices” and address violence against women (Target 5.2).
3. Engagement in policy development and reform: The meeting to discuss “policy design on the prevention of sexual violence within the UN” is a direct indicator of participation in strengthening policies. The outcomes of such engagements could be tracked to measure progress towards Target 5.c.
4. Formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The article lists the specific entities the clinic collaborated with, including the “Permanent Missions of Canada, Germany, and the Holy See,” “UN Women Office,” and the law firm “King & Spalding.” The number and quality of these established partnerships are an indicator of progress towards Target 17.17.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: law.nd.edu