November 6th – 10th, 2023: Kovler students traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to participate in the 78th session of the Committee against Torture.
The Kovler Project practicum, led by Professor and Dean Emeritus Claudio Grossman, includes intensive course work on international law and human rights - including a simulation exercise on the Committee‘s work.
 
Students monitored the implementation of the Convention Against Torture in the following countries: Egypt, Azerbaijan, Burundi, Costa Rica, Denmark and Slovenia. Students were able to collaborate with leading experts, members of the Committee, and representatives from international organizations. Through developing strategies for preventing and responding to incidents of torture from an international perspective, they enhanced their skills and knowledge necessary to become advocates for change.
 
"As a law student deeply interested in human rights and international law, this program provided me with invaluable insights and hands-on experience. From analyzing current country conditions and providing the Committee with support to effectively conduct its review to opportunities for collaboration and networking, this is a truly unique and worthwhile experience. It is much more than merely an academic program; it's an opportunity to become an effective advocate in the field of human rights.” - Natalie A. Landau, J.D. '24
 
“Participating in Kovler was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intimately engage with a UN Treaty Body and learn about the role governments, international bodies, and civil society have to play in combatting torture.”– Michael Karam, J.D. ‘25