The ND Advocates are the alumni, students, and faculty of the LL.M. and J.S.D. programs in International Human Rights Law at the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Notre Dame Law School. We are human rights lawyers from dozens of countries in every region of the world, united by our shared ideals and our year(s) at Notre Dame. This blog is our independent project to discuss important issues of human rights law and to promote the international protection of human rights, started in honor of the Center for Civil and Human Rights’ 35th anniversary. Although we’re scattered near and far from Notre Dame, we remain proud to be Fighting Irish and take seriously our Alma Mater’s call to ensure that the civil and political institutions of each society are imbued with the values of human dignity, peace and democracy.
Meet the Bloggers
Akmal is from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He received his B.A. in International Law from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. A 2007 alumnus of LL.M program at Notre Dame, he is currently completing an internship at Amnesty International’s U.N. Office. His research focuses on the ambiguities related to the definition of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, extraordinary renditions and diplomatic assurances. Email Akmal.
Hao holds a B.A. in International Law from the Vietnam’s Institute for International Relations of Vietnam and is a 2007 alumnus of the LL.M. program at Notre Dame. He is currently in Geneva on an internship at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. His research interests include international human rights and humanitarian law and the role of global, regional and national mechanisms of human rights protection. Email Hao.
Jessie earned her LL.M. (2007) and J.D. (2006) at Notre Dame. A Chicago native, she will begin a legal fellowship at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in August 2007. Her research focuses on human rights and theology, conflict resolution and human rights in the Americas. She is also interested in feminism, immigration law and prisoner’s rights. Email Jessie.
Nunus is from Java, Indonesia, and for 8 years was a project manager in the field of international humanitarian relief working throughout Southeast Asia. A 2007 alumna of the LL.M. program, Nunus is completing her LL.M. internship at the Asia Department of International Crisis Group. Her research focuses on conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Email Nunus.
A native of Machakos, Kenya, Sam is a 2007 alumnus of the LL.M. program. He is currently competing an internship with Global Rights in Washington D.C., and plans to return to Africa to continue work on human rights. His research interests are rule of law, access to justice and legal protection of human rights. Email Sam.
Sean is the Assistant Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights and a Concurrent Assistant Professor of Law. A Triple Domer (he earned three degrees at Notre Dame, most recently the LL.M.), he has extensive experience in the Inter-American human rights system. He teaches international research, writing and human rights practice classes. Sean is originally from the Chicago area. Email Sean.
Tristan is a labor union activist from Oregon. He has a J.D. and an International Human Rights LL.M. from Notre Dame. He is particularly interested in worker rights, freedom of association, agrarian rights, and environmental justice. He is also the webmaster for everything at rightslaw.org, and thus the cheerful recipient of any problems, complaints, or possibly praise about this site. Email Tristan.
