GW Law Professor Presents at ESIL International Conference in Spain

January 16, 2025
Giovanna Gismondi

On December 2, 2024, Visiting Associate Professor and Environmental Law Fellow Giovanna E Gismondi  participated in the European Society of International Law (ESIL) International Conference titled “The Crossroad of International Environmental Law Enforcement,” held at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Faculty of Law in Barcelona, Spain. ESIL is widely recognized as a leading forum for international lawyers and academics to engage in critical dialogue and debate on important legal topics.

In her presentation, Professor Gismondi offered valuable insights into the right to a healthy environment within the Inter-American Human Rights System, highlighting evolving legal frameworks that seek to bridge international environmental law and human rights. Her paper focused on recent developments within the Inter-American System, with particular attention to the landmark La Oroya Community v. Peru decision issued in 2024. This case, which arose from decades of severe air, water, and soil contamination in central Peru, underscores the growing intersection of environmental justice and human rights law.

As a Peruvian attorney who has closely followed the La Oroya Community case since its inception, Professor Gismondi observes a significant shift in international law toward greater responsiveness and adaptability in the face of global challenges such as environmental degradation and the climate crisis. Her focus on the La Oroya Community case is particularly significant, offering a concrete example of how international human rights law is increasingly seen as a crucial tool for addressing environmental harm, especially when domestic systems fail to adequately protect vulnerable communities. Professor Gismondi emphasizes that “regional human rights courts and commissions have become vital avenues for advocating for environmental justice, and the forthcoming Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights could serve as a key instrument in expanding the rights of individuals and communities affected by environmental degradation in the Americas.”

The two-day ESIL Conference served as an enriching platform for academic exchange, fostering cross-institutional collaboration and offering scholars the opportunity to present their ongoing research. The panel on Bridging Human Rights and Environmental Protection showcased presentations from several esteemed scholars, including Annalisa Savaresi (University of Eastern Finland), Giovanna Gismondi (GW Law), Giorgia Pane (Università degli Studi di Milano La Statale), Miguel Ángel Elizalde (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), and Agnes Viktoria Rydberg (University of Sheffield). The session highlighted the critical importance of developing legal mechanisms that not only safeguard human rights but also address environmental sustainability, an intersection that promises to be increasingly central to international law in the years to come.

The diversity of the panel, with scholars from across Europe, the Americas, and beyond, underscores the importance of cross-border solutions to tackle urgent global challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change, and the protection of human rights. 

Professor Gismondi taught Human Rights and Environmental Protection during the Fall 2024 semester.