YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 24, the American University of Armenia (AUA) welcomed renowned international criminal defense lawyer Garo B. Ghazarian as a guest speaker for students in Section A of the Human Rights course.
Ghazarian is a criminal defense attorney and dean of the Peoples College of Law in Los Angeles. In addition to serving as a law professor in various universities and academies in the United States and Armenia, he is a board member of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies, a think tank based in Yerevan, and the Mexican American Bar Association-Political Action Committee. He also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations and is the former co-chair of the Armenian Bar Association’s Armenian Rights Watch Committee. On numerous occasions, he has been a guest on CNN/Headline News, Fox TV-LA, and Al Jazeera English TV News.
Invited by Chair of the Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice program Dr. Arman Tatoyan, Ghazarian delivered a powerful speech on human rights and justice, highlighting critical challenges, particularly related to police activities and their powers to interfere with human rights. He focused on cases of arrest and search, as well as the fundamental importance of human rights as safeguards against ill treatment and unlawful criminal prosecution. His insights on the protection of human rights in these situations deeply resonated with the students, sparking their active engagement throughout the discussion and inspiring many.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.