DePaul University's Internation Human Rights Law Institute has received a one-year $75,000 grant from the W. Alton Jones Foundation to continue its work in the field of Middle East security and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. Since 1995, the institute has been worked on a project involving research and discussions with experts from the region about the creation of a Middle East zone, which would be free of weapons of mass destruction.

The W. Alton Jones Foundation of Charlottesville, Va., was created in 1944 by Jones as a private grant-making foundation focusing on global environmental protection and the prevention of nuclear war or other massive release of radioactive material.

The foundation's board of trustees selected DePaul's proposal over 49 other applications.

"Clearly, the competition for funding in this area is intense, and this award by the trustees reflects their enthusiasm for the work of the International Human Rights Law Institute and their understanding of its significant contribution to the goals of our Secure World Program," wrote J.P. Myers, foundation director, in a letter to M. Cherif Bassiouni, institute president and project director, announcing the grant.

The institute began research on the creation of such a zone with a 1995 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The project's goal is to explore, in an academic context, new approaches to Middle East conflict resolution. The project gives top regional experts a forum to explore new ideas and to talk freely.

"Some of the ideas generated by this project, such as the development of a zone without weapons of mass destruction, have been well received in a number of capitals, and it is expected that this type of background research will help policy makers in dealing with this question," said Bassiouni.

The non-governmental organizations participating in this project are the Egyptian National Center for Middle East Studies, the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies of Tel Aviv University, The Arms Control and Disarmament Center of Jordan's Crown Prince Hassan's office and the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences, where Bassiouni serves as president.

Bassiouni expects the work to continue until 1999, with several research and education projects planned for this year.

Also working on the project is Barry Kellman, DePaul law professor.

For more information call Bassiouni at 312/362-8332.