UW Law Club Takes on Nigerian Human Rights Violations

Laramie residents and University of Wyoming students have the opportunity to hear a legal debate over alleged human rights violations during oil exploration in Nigeria at a UW College of Law forum this week.

The dialogue will occur during the Potter Law Club’s annual spring discussion of a controversial legal event.

This year’s controversy stems from the case Kiobel vs. Royal Dutch Petroleum which is up for reargument in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and will determine whether corporations, rather than individuals, can be sued under the Alien Tort Statute. The case is being argued in the United States because U.S. law allows U.S. courts to hear human-rights cases brought by foreign citizens for conduct committed outside the United States.

The underlying issue involves Royal Dutch Petroleum and its alleged human right violations such as torture, murder, and genocide in Nigeria.

The panel discussion will take place at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, at the UW College of Law Room 178.