James Cavallaro is the founding director of Stanford Law School’s International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic and a visiting professor at Colorado Law, and he also is a former president of the commission. He said the commission is better known in Latin America, and he thinks now is a relevant time for commission officials to increase its visibility in the U.S.

“I would categorize what we’re seeing in this country as an assault on the core values of democracy and human rights,” Cavallaro said. “I think that’s what we’re seeing at the federal governmental level. … This is not about partisan politics.”

He listed such examples as how the country responds to migration, immigration and police violence. Cavallaro also said the hearings would provide an educational venue for understanding international human rights norms in a time when he thinks there is an increased interest in human rights in the country.

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