In difficult times of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for believers in human rights to stand together and reaffirm our shared commitments. To echo the opening words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice is committed–now and always–to the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
For almost 20 years, the core mission of the Leitner Center and the Fordham Law School human rights faculty has been to make human rights protections an everyday reality for marginalized communities at home and across the globe, including women and girls, LGBTI communities, sex workers and sex work activists, ethnic, racial, and religious minorities, and people with disabilities. Working hand-in-hand with courageous activists and grassroots groups, we are committed to research, capacity-building, and advocacy programs to protect and empower those at risk. In doing so, we are also committed to training our students to become the next generation of compassionate and effective international human rights defenders.
Throughout all of our work, our community of Leitner Center supporters has always been a tremendous source of encouragement, motivation, and enthusiasm. Our graduates, our current students, our current and past fellows and visiting scholars, our faculty, our international grassroots partners, our fellow lawyers and legal advocates, and our friends and families–all of you are essential to our work to make human rights a reality worldwide.
Now, more than ever, we are committed to our work as human rights advocates and to our community of supporters, partners, and colleagues around the world. Stay tuned for more developments as we continue the fight.
