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

Dec 18, 2013

Should Diplomats Always Get Immunity?

Should Diplomats Always Get Immunity?

Oct 25, 2013

International Rights Body to Press U.S. on Surveillance, Snowden

International Rights Body to Press U.S. on Surveillance, Snowden

Aug 26, 2013

Court Rejects Military Contractor's Attempt to Avoid Trial for Human Trafficking

Court Rejects Military Contractor's Attempt to Avoid Trial for Human Trafficking

Aug 14, 2013

All Kids Sentenced to Die in Michigan Prisons Get Second Chance

All Kids Sentenced to Die in Michigan Prisons Get Second Chance

Apr 10, 2013

U.S. Must Work to End Human Trafficking, Modern-Day Slavery on Government Contracts

U.S. Must Work to End Human Trafficking, Modern-Day Slavery on Government Contracts

Jun 28, 2012

Victims of Complacency: Trafficking and Abuse of Migrant Workers on U.S. Military Bases

Victims of Complacency: Trafficking and Abuse of Migrant Workers on U.S. Military Bases

May 11, 2012

Out of Step With the World: Juvenile Life Without Parole in the United States

Out of Step With the World: Juvenile Life Without Parole in the United States

Apr 30, 2012

Trafficking in War Zones: Making Zero-Tolerance Meaningful

Trafficking in War Zones: Making Zero-Tolerance Meaningful

Mar 20, 2012

Afghan and Iraqi Victims of Torture by U.S. Military Seek Justice From International Human Rights Tribunal

Afghan and Iraqi Victims of Torture by U.S. Military Seek Justice From International Human Rights Tribunal

Jul 21, 2011

Your Tax Dollars at Work? U.S. Military Contractors and Human Trafficking in War Zones

Your Tax Dollars at Work? U.S. Military Contractors and Human Trafficking in War Zones