New measures being considered by the United States to respond to systematic and widespread violations of human rights around the globe will be addressed by Melanne Civic, senior rule of law advisor for the U.S. Department of State, Office of the Coordinator of Reconstruction and Stabilization, when she discusses strategies for promoting transitional justice at the DePaul University College of Law. Civic also will outline the work of the new Civilian Response Corps (CRC) and explain how individuals can become involved. Sponsored by DePaul’s International Human Rights Law Institute (IHRLI), the event will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Feb. 3 at 25 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 805, Chicago.

Transitional justice typically employs multiple tools such as criminal prosecutions, truth commissions and reparations programs to restore justice in regions that have experienced pervasive human rights violations. Civic will highlight recent State Department efforts to build civilian capacity for U.S. stability operations and discuss the role of rule of law concepts in U.S. policy.

The CRC is an interagency entity that was authorized by the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act. Composed of active, standby and reserve components, the CRC sends trained experts to world hot spots when, or just after, U.S. troops are deployed to conduct reconstruction and stabilization activities. Experts are recruited from the private-sector, non-government organizations, academia and state and local governments.

The State Department has operated pilot programs in civilian response for more than two years with volunteers conducting reconstruction and stabilization work in such places as Haiti, Darfur, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Civic will discuss the expansion of the CRC and available opportunities for individuals looking to become involved.

Civic is an attorney who has served in the State Department’s Office of the Legal Advisor for Human Rights and Refugees, the Office of Science Technology and the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. She also worked as a fellow for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) on the Senate Judiciary Committee and for the House Science and Technology Committee. Prior to her life in public service, Civic worked for such organizations as the World Bank, Amnesty International and the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

IHRLI, which was established by the DePaul College of Law in 1990, has engaged in rule of law capacity building, human rights training, post-conflict justice programs and large-scale human rights documentation projects throughout the world. It conducts scholarly research on human rights, international criminal law and international humanitarian law.

Civic will be available for reporters to discuss the CRC initiative before and after the lecture. Contact Valerie Phillips in DePaul’s media relations department at 312/362-5039 or vphillip@depaul.edu to schedule an interview.