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About the People's Academy

The People’s Academy of International Law, which is sponsored by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, seeks to help anti-imperialist lawyers and human rights advocates globally to marshal the tools of international law to support people’s struggles.

It will feature a free, online continuing legal education curriculum that provides intensive learning about different facets of international law as it relates to human rights, including both civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. Our first courses will be offered in November 2023.

Register Now: Course 3B: Monitoring and Implementation of Treaties to Defend People's Rights

Register Now for Course 3B of the People’s Academy of International Law: Monitoring and Implementation of Treaties to Defend People’s Rights on Thursday, May 2.

Faculty for Course 3B:

  • Jamil Dakwar, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Human Rights Program (HRP)

  • Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

  • Benyam Mezmur, Professor of Law at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa; member of UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

The program will be moderated by Marjorie Cohn, Dean of the People’s Academy of International Law.

Videos now online: Course 3A - UN Main Subsidiary Organs and Specialized Agencies

The videos for Course 3A , UN Main Subsidiary Organs and Specialized Agencies conducted on April 11, are now online, featuring faculty:

  • Michael Lynk, Former UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian Territory and Emeritus Professor of Law

  • Susan Akram, Clinical Professor and Director, Boston University International Human Rights Clinic

  • Hilal Elver, Former UN Special Rapporteur for the right to food and Professor of International Law

The program was moderated by Marjorie Cohn, Dean of the People’s Academy of International Law.

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Launch Video | People's Academy of International Law

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers

Since its founding in 1946 in Paris, International Association of Democratic Lawyers members have participated in the struggles that have made the violation of human rights of groups and individuals and threats to international peace and security, legal issues under international law. From its inception, IADL members throughout the globe have protested racism, colonialism, and economic and political injustice wherever they interfere with legal and human rights, often at the cost of these jurists personal safety and economic well being.

IADL is the organizer of the People’s Academy of International Law, and is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with consultative status to ECOSOC and UNESCO.

Our Founding Dean and Scientific Committee

The People’s Academy of International Law is led by our Founding Dean, Marjorie Cohn, along with our Academy Task Force and the Scientific Committee of the People’s Academy of International Law. 

This global group of scholars, lawyers and human rights defenders is committed to producing academically excellent, anti-imperialist, meaningful legal education for use by lawyers, legal workers, law students and people’s movements.