Program and Event

American Professors Address Human Rights Institutions and Comparative Government

U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Amy introduces Dr. Barria and Dr. Roper at the workshop at IFA

Audience members raised many interesting questions after the lectures

Georgetown University professors Dr. Lilian Barria and Dr. Steven Roper spoke to approximately 60 Lao government officials from various ministries and institutes, and to 70 students from the National University, on international human rights institutions and the different government structures in nations around the world. The Institute of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy, hosted the events on October 17. 

Dr. Roper and Dr. Barria are professors from the Department of Political Science, Georgetown University, based at the campus of the School of Foreign Service in Doha, Qatar. Dr. Barria led the discussion on the topic of “Institutions of Human Rights: A Comparison of Tribunal Justice.” She noted that human right violations occurred in many countries in the last 15 years, and the United Nations developed different kinds of laws to prosecute people responsible. Dr. Roper’s topic, “A Comparison of Government Regimes,” defined three types of political structures commonly used around the world today, and the strengths and weaknesses of each set of institutions.

During their visit, Dr. Roper and Dr. Barria also conducted a roundtable discussion with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Faculty of Law, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Supreme People’s Court, and the National Assembly. The discussion allowed the group to exchange views on the topics of human rights institutions, tribunal justice, and the legal frameworks in Laos. In addition, Dr. Barria and Dr. Roper delivered a presentation on the structure of the U.S. presidential elections to students at the Lao American Center.

Dr. Barria and Dr. Roper’s presentation on “Institutions of Human Rights: A Comparison of Tribunal Justice”, “A Comparison of Government Regimes” and “U.S. Elections” are available at links below.

Institutions of Human Rights: A Comparison of Tribunal Justice

A Comparison of Government Regims

The Presidential Election Process in the United States