Leveraging UN Mechanisms to Protect Immigrant Clients: New Tools for American Attorneys & Advocates

As human rights violations against immigrants continue to escalate—including renditions to third countries, imprisonment abroad, and disappearances that cut individuals off from their families and legal support—it’s time to make use of all available tools to protect immigrant clients. While the United Nations (UN) may seem distant from the day-to-day practice of immigration law in the U.S., it offers concrete mechanisms that attorneys and advocates can use to assist individuals in these dire situations. This training is designed specifically for attorneys and advocates serving immigrant communities in the U.S. 

In addition to an overview of international human rights law and the United States’ obligations under these frameworks, participants will learn how to engage directly with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (UNWGEID) - including how to submit individual cases and reports of enforced disappearances. This information is especially valuable for attorneys working with clients who have been or who are at risk of being renditioned to third-countries or who are being held incommunicado in immigration detention. It will also support attorneys and advocates assisting family members who are desperately seeking information, connection, and accountability when their loved ones have been disappeared by U.S. immigration enforcement. The webinar explores how international human rights mechanisms can be used to increase pressure on the U.S. government and further domestic legal strategies. By the end of this webinar, viewers will understand why UN engagement is more than abstract advocacy - it can be a powerful and practical tool in your client defense toolkit.

Date of Training: June 25, 2025

Presentations are also available to download below in English.

Leveraging UN Mechanisms to Protect Immigrant Clients.pdf

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