Real Cases. Real Experience.
“While the Human Rights Clinic was filled with great memories for me, one experience made more of an impression than others. My partner and I were lucky enough to conduct field work in Ghana for our project on communities affected by mining. This field work consisted of interviewing various government officials, non-profit workers, and community members living near mining sites. While each interview was an eye-opening experience, one interview in particular stood out. It had been a long day in the heat and Joanna was our last interview for the day. At the end of each interview, my partner and I would ask the interviewee if they had anything to ask us before we concluded. Joanna, rather than asking a question, said she had something to say. With tears in her eyes, Joanna said she knew my partner and I were well educated, and could spend our lives making significant amounts of money if we wanted. But, she continued, when you have your degree, don't forget about people like me, who are helpless and vulnerable. She said she knew that she did not have much to offer us, but that we could offer her so much just by trying to help. I don't think Joanna knew how much she offered to me that day. While I've always known I want to pursue a career in this field, hearing and seeing the impact human rights law can have on those who most need the law on their side, left an indelible mark.”
—Nita Garg, ’11
“After two semesters in the Human Rights Clinic, I feel that I've gained valuable experience doing human rights reporting and advocacy work. I thought I wanted to pursue a career in human rights work when I started the Clinic, and now I'm sure that I want to and I feel prepared for the multidisciplinary workload that a human rights career will entail.
“During my first semester in the HRC, I had the opportunity to work on a press release about the first major report produced by the Clinic. I helped diffuse the report and press release to the media, as well as individuals and organizations in the government and non-profit sectors. That seemed unbeatable, but during my second semester I went on a fact-finding mission to Costa Rica and helped author a report about indigenous peoples' rights in the face of a hydroelectric project planned in the country's Southern Zone.
“The Human Rights Clinic is an experience I think is priceless for those who want to pursue a career in human rights, and an excellent opportunity even for those with only a passing interest in the topic. Ariel Dulitzky is a great professor, supervisor, and mentor, and the HRC has been the most enriching opportunity of my law school career thus far!”
—Anjela Jenkins, ’11
“The Human Rights Clinic has probably been my most substantive and influential law school experience. Given my future aspirations to work in the human rights field, I welcomed and appreciated the rigor and depth of the HRC. Without a doubt, the HRC was a demanding course, but it was an authentic and realistic glimpse of what true human rights work is like. Professor Dulitzky's vision and high standards inspired high-quality research, writing, and professional work habits. I was fortunate enough to have a richly diverse HRC experience that spanned research, interviewing, and long-distance collaborations.
“The highlight of my law school career was being able to go to Ghana as part of a field research trip for the HRC. There, my clinic partner and I interviewed community members who were affected by mining activities. Seeing the concrete, immediate, and serious needs of the Ghanaians was a visceral reminder of what my law degree is all about: helping those who are voiceless and being exploited. I never thought that I would be able to travel to Africa, and being able to go there with the firm purpose of the HRC made it all the more incredible. Translating those experiences into a human rights report to be widely distributed will hopefully raise awareness of this tragic human rights situation. Upon leaving a certain community, an old woman stopped me, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "Please, you must do something." I struggled not to give her any false promises or hopes, but assured her I would do all I could. After being in the HRC for an entire year, I feel that this report is an important first step in responding to that elderly woman's plea. I hope that subsequent students in the HRC, as well as my personal work, can strengthen that response.
“I am glad I concluded my law school career with the HRC. I would not have done it any other way.”
—Melvin Huang, ’10