Closing the Notorious Guantanamo Bay Prison: The Question of Human Rights

Julia Hall, one of the chief players negotiating the closing of the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison of suspected terrorists, will lead a lunchtime seminar on the human rights implications at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, February 27, 2009) in 509 O'Brian Hall on the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus.

The seminar is sponsored by the UB Law School's Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy.

Hall, a Class of '96 UB Law School alumna, is senior counsel, terrorism and counterterrorism, for Human Rights Watch. She has occupied a crucial role in monitoring human rights during the transition, and has been a frequent visitor to the facility since it became a detainment camp for suspected terrorists in 2002.

"Of the many distinguished specialists in human rights in this metropolitan area, Julia Hall stands out," says Claude Welch, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the UB Department of Political Science and academic director of UB's Global Perspectives Academy, who will introduce Hall. "Her ceaseless, effective advocacy in some of the most complex areas has resulted in international recognition. We are proud to have her as a UB graduate, a speaker and a member of our community."

Hall has been involved actively in the campaign to resettle Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been cleared for release but cannot be repatriated due to the risk of torture on return to their native countries. In July 2008, she monitored the military commission of Salim Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's former driver, at Guantanamo Bay.

She is the author of several reports documenting the transfers of alleged terrorism and national security suspects where they face threats of torture. She lives in Buffalo with her husband and two children.

Hall will give a short presentation and then take questions from the audience. The public is invited, and asked to register for the event by contacting Anita Mazurek at 645-2102 or at amazurek@buffalo.edu. The Baldy Center plans to post a video podcast of the event following the presentation.

Press arrangements: Charles Anzalone in the UB Office of University Communications, at 645-5000, ext. 1412, or (716) 645-2102 on site.