University Network for Human Rights and Inter-American University of Puerto Rico establish agreement to promote unique, practical training in human rights

Student researchers conduct fact-finding as part of the intensive simulation training exercise.

(Middletown, CT) The University Network for Human Rights and the Inter-American University (Inter) of Puerto Rico signed an agreement to bring practice-based human rights training to undergraduates beginning in December 2019 in Puerto Rico. The practice-based human rights training will take the form of an intensive, week-long simulation, including students from diverse disciplines. The President of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Dr. Manuel J. Fernós, and the president of the University Network, Professor James Cavallaro, signed an agreement between both institutions.

The human rights factfinding simulation was developed by University Network president James Cavallaro at Harvard Law School (2002-2011) and Stanford Law School (2011-2019) where he served as both the clinic director and a professor. The intensive, week-long simulation trains students to engage in human rights factfinding, documentation, and advocacy. This will be the first time the simulation will take place outside of the continental United States.

An actor in the simulation training exercise plays the part of a rebel.

Specially selected students from Wesleyan University will be the first undergraduate students in the United States to participate in the simulation exercise. The simulation allows students to act as human rights researchers while some 40 actors play the roles of villagers, rebels, police, authorities, activists, witnesses, bystanders, and technical experts, among others. Students from the Inter’s campuses in San Juan and San Germán will engage as actors as well as in the feedback process of the simulation exercise. The students from Wesleyan are part of the University Network’s year-long pilot program at that school, culminating in closely supervised advocacy work with a community challenging rights abuse in Louisiana.

The President of the Inter-American University, Manuel J. Fernós explained, “Working with the University Network will provide excellent opportunities for our students and faculty. In addition, it is a great opportunity to integrate students from diverse disciplines in a practical experience based on situations of rights abuse. Human rights pertain to many professions beyond just law. As a part of our institution’s mission, we hope to instill our students with an unbreakable commitment to the respect of human rights. We look forward to developing our partnership further in years to come.”

“The simulation provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to engage in supervised human rights and learning. Jointly with the Inter-American University, we expect to enhance these experiences further, adding dynamic faculty and staff in the arboretum of the San Germán campus with the backdrop of pressing human rights issues in Puerto Rico. The University Network is proud to partner with the Inter to extend the simulation to undergraduate students,” said Cavallaro.

In the simulation, student teams interview actors, gather evidence, and reach conclusions about a series of fictitious events incorporated into real Puerto Rican contexts. Students then prepare memoranda and, based on their conclusions, participate in mock advocacy exercises before international bodies and legislative committees, with print media, and on radio and television. The simulation has been extraordinarily successful in preparing law students for the practice of human rights. The University Network is proud to partner with the Inter in extending the simulation to undergraduates.

The human rights simulation training will occur on the San Germán campus of the Inter between December 16 and December 20, 2019. The Inter will be recruiting students interested in participating as actors in the simulation in the coming days.