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Alejandra Gonza

The Section's next meeting is Tuesday, April 24, noon - 1:30 p.m., and features attorney Alejandra Gonza speaking on The Defense of Human Rights in Latin America. Gonza is a former lawyer to the Inter American Court of Human Rights and specialist for the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, and author of works such as (with Sergio García Ramírez) of Freedom of Thought and Expression in the Case Law of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2009, Inter-American Press Association).

Robin Lindley, former Section chair, recently interviewed Ambassador David Scheffer, the lead architect of the International Criminal Court and the ad hoc war crimes tribunals for Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Cambodia. The full interview includes comments on the checkered history of US participation in these tribunals and is published as "America's Sadly Ambiguous Role in Prosecuting War Crimes" in Crosscuts.  

 

Marti Schmidt, another former Section chair, draws our attention to "Indigenous Peoples Walk Out Of WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources." .It reports that the International Indigenous Forum withdrew from the discussions of the WIPO Committee on Genetic Resources in February, stating that as the "titleholders, proprietors and ancestral owners of traditional knowledge that is inalienable, nonforfeitable and inherent to the generic resources that we have conserved and utilized in a sustainable manner within our territories, ... the discussion on intellectual property rights and genetic resources should include Indigenous Peoples on equal terms with the States since the work will directly impact our lives, our lands, our territories and resources." Under the current rules of procedures, Indigenous Peoples have only observer status in the discussions; they can make proposals to the negotiations but those proposals have to be endorsed by at least one delegation to be taken into account, and one of their complaints is that they have been ignored even so. 

 

Randy Winn, Section chair-elect, suggests viewing "Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: a Free On-Line Ethics MCLE." It's a quick look at a bit of law that might affect any organization doing business abroad. Better safe than sorry!

Join Sylvie Charles, a French-American lawyer, as she unfolds the intricacies and complexities of the French legal system. This CLE, from WSBA's International Practice Section, will discuss the pros and cons of doing business in France, as well as provide practical tips and insights to practitioners on how to successfully navigate the French business market.
    

When/Where: 
April 11, 2012
Noon -1:30 p.m.
Jackson Lewis
600 University St Ste 2900, Seattle.    

CLE Credits: 
1.5 general credits   

Sponsor:
WSBA International Practice Section   

Cost: 
Free for IPS members; otherwise $35. 

 

More Information and Registration. 

This is a publication of a section of the Washington State Bar Association. All opinions and comments represent the views of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by WSBA, its officers or agents.