Balancing Act: Navigating National Security and Human Rights Across Jurisdictions

Event Overview

This panel of experts analyzed the impact of national security legislation on human rights across a range of jurisdictions, examining both regulatory and alternative strategies to effectively safeguard human rights against potential overreach of national security legislation. The focus will be on practical, adaptable recommendations for policymakers, rights advocates, and lawyers.

This session is set against the backdrop of global trends towards securitization with profound implications for human rights. The latest example is the Hong Kong government's passage of National Security Legislation on March 19, 2024, using comparative analysis to justify stringent measures. This latest example underscores the urgent need for our discussion on the balance between national security and human rights.

Speakers

• Rosa Celorio, George Washington University Law Associate Dean for International and Comparative Legal Studies
• Michael Davis, author of Freedom Undone and Global Fellow at Wilson Center
• Eric Lai, Research Fellow, Georgetown Center for Asian Law
• Adriana Edmeades Jones, Professor at the University of Minnesota Law
• Lana Baydas, Program Director at American Bar Association Center for Human Rights
• Faiza Patel, Senior Director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice