News & Commentary written by Steven M. Watt

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Steven M. Watt

Senior Staff Attorney, ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµHuman Rights Program

Bio

Steven Watt is a senior staff attorney with the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµHuman Rights Program. Watt specializes in civil and human rights litigation before domestic courts and international tribunals. Watt is counsel in a host of state and federal court cases involving U.S. rendition, detention, and interrogation programs, trafficking and forced labor, juvenile justice, women’s and immigrants’ rights, and prison conditions. In addition, Watt is counsel in a number of petitions before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, including those addressing domestic violence, arbitrary detention and torture, juvenile life without parole, immigrants’ rights, and voting rights. Prior to joining the ACLU, Watt was a human rights fellow at the Center for Constitutional Rights, where he focused on post-9/11 civil and human rights litigation, including Rasul v. Bush, Arar v. Ashcroft, and Turkmen v. Ashcroft.  Before taking up residence in the United States, Watt worked for three years as a public defender and legal policy consultant for the Solomon Islands government, managed refugee camps in Tanzania, worked for a community-based development HIV/AIDS program in Uganda, and ran emergency programs for the internally displaced in Liberia. Originally from Scotland, Watt holds a law degree from the University of Aberdeen, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Edinburgh, and an LL.M. in International Human Rights from the University of Notre Dame. 


Featured work

Mar 23, 2022

The Coast Guard Destroyed Their Livelihoods. Will the Supreme Court Hear Their Case?

The Coast Guard Destroyed Their Livelihoods. Will the Supreme Court Hear Their Case?

Sep 9, 2021

Survivors of the CIA Torture Program Almost 20 Years Later

Survivors of the CIA Torture Program Almost 20 Years Later

Apr 29, 2016

Historic Ruling Puts Justice Within Reach for CIA Torture Victims

Historic Ruling Puts Justice Within Reach for CIA Torture Victims

Aug 10, 2015

Psychologists Honor Anti-Torture Whistleblower. Government, Now It’s Your Move.

Psychologists Honor Anti-Torture Whistleblower. Government, Now It’s Your Move.

Jul 16, 2015

The Psychologists Who Enabled Torture

The Psychologists Who Enabled Torture

Dec 22, 2014

The Horrific Stories of CIA-sponsored Torture That Aren’t in the Senate Report.

The Horrific Stories of CIA-sponsored Torture That Aren’t in the Senate Report.

Dec 15, 2014

Now Can Torture Survivor Khaled El-Masri Have His Apology?

Now Can Torture Survivor Khaled El-Masri Have His Apology?

Nov 25, 2014

The U.N. Acts to Protect the Human Right to Privacy

The U.N. Acts to Protect the Human Right to Privacy

Mar 26, 2014

Only in America: 16-Year-Old Locked Up for the Rest of His Life

Only in America: 16-Year-Old Locked Up for the Rest of His Life

Mar 13, 2014

Privacy Rights are Human Rights

Privacy Rights are Human Rights