International & Comparative Law

Colloquium
2012-2013

The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law is pleased to announce its 2012-2013 Colloquium in International and Comparative Law.

This year’s colloquium, International Law and Practice: Problems and Process, will bring to campus leading international law practitioners to participate in an interactive panel discussion. Each panel will consider a contemporary issue of relevance to the study and practice of international law.

These panels are open to the entire University of Maryland community. All are welcome to attend.

For information and materials on past colloquia please see our past colloquia page.

U.S. Participation In Human Rights Treaties:
Inexcusable Exceptionalism Or Much Ado About Nothing?

The United States holds human rights treaties at arm’s length, actively participating in their negotiation, consistently urging their ratification and implementation by other States, all the while avoiding direct participation through ratification. The United States has ratified only three of the ten core UN human rights treaties. Human rights leaders support ratification of additional treaties to close this gap.

Is the non-ratification of human rights treaties a paradigmatic example of American exceptionalism?
Does it have harmful consequences both here and abroad, or does American participation in human rights treaties really matter?
Are there downsides to ratification of treaties alongside States with deplorable human rights records?

This first in a series of 2012-2013 International Legal Practice Colloquia sponsored by the International and Comparative law Program will explore this debate and hear from international lawyers who are directly engaged in the law and process of US human rights treaty participation.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Room: 302
Pizza will be available for all attendees.

Selected Readings: