2011-2012
President:
Ruth-Anne Avruskin is in her third year at the University of Western Ontario. She graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Political Studies. This is her third year being involved with CLAIHR. She is also involved extensively in the Western Law community; she is co-editor in-Chief of Amicus Curiae, Western Law’s student newspaper and an Executive Member of the Western Environmental Law Association. Her legal areas of interest include Human Rights, Environmental Law and Aboriginal Rights.
Treasurer:
Matthew Irish is in his third year studying law at the University of Western Ontario. He previously studied at Dalhousie University and has a B.A. in Psychology. In the summer of 2011, Matthew worked as a legal intern at the World Bank Inspection Panel. With the Panel Matthew provided research on complex human rights, environmental, and land development issues arising from World Bank financed projects. He is also the Vice President for Advocacy on the Western Environmental Law Association. He is particularly interested in the interaction between environmental law and human rights.
Communications Officer:
Scott Robinson is in his second year studying law at the University of Western Ontario. Prior to his time at Western Law, Scott took an Honours B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Windsor, studied abroad at Swansea University in Wales, taught English in Thailand, and began his legal studies at California Western School of law while living in San Diego – having recently transferred to Western Law to continue his legal education. Scott possesses a deep passion for the study of international law, particularly international human rights law and transitional justice, and has participated in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition and worked as a research assistant for several international law professors. As Communications Officer on Western’s CLAIHR Executive Committee, he looks forward to bringing international human rights issues to the attention of both the students and faculty at Western through speaking events. He is also currently working on a research project for Pro Bono Students Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association “Rights Watch” project, where he monitors and reports on current domestic civil and human rights issues.
2010-2011
President/Treasurer:
Ruth-Anne Avruskin is in her second year at Western law. She graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Political Studies. This is her second year being involved with CLAIHR. She is also involved extensively in the Western Law community. Her legal areas of interest include Human Rights, Environmental Rights and Aboriginal Rights. Her goal for CLAIHR this year is to build and maintain partnerships with other clubs interested in human rights issues.
Executive Committee:
Matthew Irish is in his second year studying law at the University of Western Ontario. He previously studied at Dalhousie University and has a B.A. in Psychology. At Western, Matthew is an appointed member on the Community Outreach Committee, where he organizes fundraisers and food drives for local agencies such as the London Food Bank. He is also currently working on a research project for Pro Bono Students Canada. He is particularly interested in the effect of environmental law on human rights.
Andrea Tratnik holds a B.A. in History and English from Wilfrid Laurier University and is in her final year at Western Law. Having worked, studied and traveled abroad extensively, Andrea has developed a deep interest in international affairs. Her academic career has focused largely on international human rights and gender issues, and this is her second year on Western’s CLAIHR Executive Committee. She looks forward to bringing awareness of international issues to Western Law this year. Andrea will be spending the Spring semester studying abroad.
Benjamin David Tinholt is a second-year student at Western Law. He previously studied at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and Concordia University and holds a B.A. (Honours) in English literature. He is a dual national of Canada and the Netherlands and has worked in both countries as a translator, interpreter, editor, and copy-editor. His interest in international human rights centers mostly on issues involving theocracies, Communism and war crimes. Benjamin will be spending the Spring semester studying abroad.
Madeleine Gorman (Communications Officer) is a second year student at the University of Western Ontario Law. She completed her B.A. in English Literature and World Religions at McGill University. Madeleine has also studied abroad at the University of Nottingham and will be the National University of Singapore for the 2011 fall term. Through widespread international travel, legal research and community outreach, Madeleine has fostered a specific interest in the legal areas of poverty law, gender equality and transitional justice.
Scott Sobering is a second-year student at Western Law. Before coming to Western, Scott studied History and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo. At the conclusion of his studies, Scott performed legal research for an NGO called Acción por los Niños in Lima, Peru. This research was focussed on international treaties and regional mechanisms relative to combating child labour. His interest in human rights law is in the area of civil and political rights, while he also has interest in negotiation, civil litigation, and international law.
Ana Rodriguez Garcia is a third year student at the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law. While attending law school, Ana has been involved in Pro Bono Students Canada, she was a case worker at the Western Community Legal Services clinic, and she has been involved in several clubs and associations. During the summer of 2010, Ana completed an internship at the World Health Organization, in Geneva, Switzerland. She was an intern in the Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights, working closely with the Health and Human Rights team. Prior to commencing her studies at the University of Western Ontario she received an Honours Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto at Mississauga.
2009-2010
President:
Stéphanie Lafrance graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Licentiate in Civil Law (magna cum laude) in 2009; she also studied at the Universidad de Puerto Rico and at the Universität Wien, in Austria. Stéphanie discovered an interest for human rights while working and studying abroad. Her interest in humanitarian law was deepened during her internships at the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and for the former Yugoslavia, where she worked on the defense side. Stéphanie now intends to focus her legal career on cross-border trade issues. She is the Founder and President of the UWO Chapter.
Executive Committee:
Ruth-Anne Avruskin (Monthly Movie Organizer) graduated from Queen’s University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Political Studies. In her undergraduate years she was involved with the Farmer’s Market at Queen’s, Food Down the Road and various other food justice initiatives. She also volunteered at the local Food Bank. Ruth-Anne is in her first year of Law at the University of Western Ontario and is thrilled to be on the executive of CLAIHR. She is very interested in human rights issues and Aboriginal Rights in particular.
Andi Benjamin (Film Festival Team) holds a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy and is currently in her third year of Law School at the University of Western Ontario. Andrea has a longstanding interest in international human rights. In the summer of 2008, she completed a legal internship with a NGO called “Bridges Across Borders” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where she focused on gender-based violence. Andrea looks forward to helping coordinate the UWO Law International Human Rights Film Festival this year.
Ana Ariadna Rodriguez Garcia (Film Festival Team)
Andrea Jessica Tratnik (Film Festival Team) is in her second year at Western Law. Prior to law school, Andrea attended Wilfrid Laurier University & received her hons BA in history & english. Last year, she took a year off to work in South Korea and travel through SE Asia. Her interest in international human rights was developed through her involvement in Western’s International Law Association.
Benjamin David Tinholt (Speakers and News Team) is a first-year student at Western Law. He previously studied at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and Concordia University and holds a B.A. (Honours) in English literature. He is a dual national of Canada and the Netherlands and has worked in both countries as a translator, interpreter, editor, and copy-editor. His interest in international human rights centers mostly on issues involving theocracies, Communism and war crimes.
Jenna Walsh (Monthly Movie Organizer)
2003-2004
Executive: Nadia Jandali, Dana Bloom, Anndra Schwartz, Kathleen Harper.