The Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Clinic (NDLS GHRC) is the experiential learning unit of the Notre Dame Law School Human Rights Program that is open to all Notre Dame Law School students (Juris Doctor, LLM, and JSD). The NDLS GHRC builds on the Human Rights Program’s half-century track record of experience in the formation of human rights lawyers from all over the world, while drawing from our established pedagogy in Natural Law, Jurisprudence and International Human Rights Law.
The GHRC engages in three core functions essential to the professional formation of our students - representation, education, and advocacy - in collaboration with our network of alumni and partner organizations around the world. The NDLS GHRC provides Notre Dame Law students with: real-world lawyering experiences in representing individuals, organizations and groups combating human rights violations worldwide; human rights training and education with national courts and judiciaries, international organizations, and HR LLM alumni partners; and the opportunity to assist with advocacy for legislative implementation of human rights and human rights driven-legal reform in States throughout the world.
Watch Notre Dame Law School Global Human Rights Director Diane Desierto deliver arguments at the Public Hearing of the Advisory Opinion on Climate Emergency and Human Rights Day in Barbados here:
Watch the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States Side Event below:
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View more Media MentionsThe Case Against Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court
March 26, 2026
Global Dispatches — World News That Matters - One year ago, in 2025, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was extradited to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity and murder for orchestrating a campaign of extrajudicial killings against people he deemed to be involved in the drug trade. Over the course of several years while he was president, thousands of people were killed by police and hit squads. Now, he faces justice at the International Criminal Court. Nearly one year to the day after his extradition, Duterte faced his first major court proceeding: the confirmation of charges against him. This is a major moment for the Philippines and the International Criminal Court. Joining me to discuss the case against Rodrigo Duterte is Diane Desierto, Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School and Professor of Global Affairs at the Keough School of Global Affairs at Notre Dame. We begin by discussing the specific charges against Duterte before having a broader conversation about the significance of this case for both the Philippines and the future of the ICC.
Having Coffee With . . . Diane Desierto: Using the law to pursue civil rights goals
July 01, 2024
Diane Desierto spends a lot of time thinking about dictators and autocratic regimes. Her life’s work focuses on fighting the global spread of authoritarianism.
“The thing we should be concerned about is how ‘human rights’ has been co-opted by the dictators and the authoritarians and distorted,” says Desierto, a professor of law and global affairs, faculty director of the Notre Dame Law School’s master’s degree program in international human rights law and director of its new Global Human Rights Clinic.