Universal Human Rights Legal Clinic Network

Access to natural justice and the protection of the health and well being of the ecosystem would be the outcome if there had been a commitment to acculturation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [1948] and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights [1966]. The evidence that society has been moving away from these principles of economic self determination for communities is evident by the trade deals that put corporate interests as the only actionable interests, in "investor state dispute settlement tribunals".

A partnership between Indigenous Governments of North America - and the groups seeking to remove colonial precepts of investment law, could establish a model of community legal services that would make the universal human rights instruments something that is practiced at the community level, and when these values are internalized in the practices of society, they could become the primary interpretive codes for constitutional rights.

My goal in spearheading this network is to get pre-law undergrad associations and the Idle No More movement to begin the discussion and exploration on how the network may be germinated. I see it as relevant for the achievement of Goal 16 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 - overhauling dysfunctional institutional culture and ensuring equal justice for all.