Ave Maria School of Law is helping lead an important international conversation about human rights, the rule of law, and the proper role of international institutions.

Ave Maria Law joined the law schools of Universidad Panamericana and Universitat Abat Oliba CEU in organizing the first International Congress on International Human Rights Protection Systems, held September 17–18 at Universidad Panamericana’s Guadalajara campus in Mexico.

Professor of Law Ligia Castaldi represented Ave Maria Law at the conference, which brought together international court judges, commissioners, government officials, scholars, and other experts from several countries.

“Ave Law is co-organizing the first-ever international conference addressing the O.A.S. Latin American human rights system from an originalist, conservative perspective,” Castaldi said.

The two-day congress examined the Inter-American Human Rights System and the legal and institutional challenges it faces. Sessions included keynote addresses, academic presentations, and panel discussions conducted in both Spanish and English.

Among the featured sessions was the virtual panel “Proposals and Reforms for Strengthening the Inter-American Human Rights System,” presented in Spanish as “Propuestas y reformas para el fortalecimiento del SIDH.”

The panel featured:

• Dr. Ignacio de Casas of Universidad Austral, an expert member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee and an experienced human rights litigator before the Inter-American and United Nations systems.
• Dr. Carlos Hakansson of the Universidad de Piura, a professor of constitutional law and holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Constitutional Law.
• Dr. Andrés Balcázar of Universidad de La Sabana, whose scholarship and public service have focused on constitutional law, transitional justice, the right to life, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Through its participation in the congress, Ave Maria Law continues to extend its academic mission internationally and contribute a perspective grounded in natural law, human dignity, and the rule of law to consequential legal discussions.

The conference also strengthens Ave Maria Law’s relationships with Catholic and internationally engaged law schools while creating new opportunities for scholarly collaboration across nations and legal traditions.

Additional presentations from the conference will be shared through Ave Maria Law’s YouTube channel.

View the conference announcement and additional information.