Page 12 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

CENTER FOR U.S. AND MEXICAN LAW SEMINAR DISCUSSES

INTERNATIONAL TRADE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DIVERSITY

exican officials, some of whom are graduates from the University Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed aspects of climate change policy
Mof Houston Law Center, discussed a wide range of topics in Mexico, focusing on the guidelines of the Paris Agreement adopted
during the “Houston Goes Global: A Profile of Mexican Diplomacy” in 2015.
conference presented by the University of Houston Law Center’s “Mexico is among the top 20 countries with the highest emission
Center for U.S. and Mexican Law. Alfonso López de la Osa Escribano, rates out of the 159 nations considered by the U.N. Even though
Director for the Center of U.S. and Mexican Law, began the webinar the first 10 emitters are responsible for about two-thirds of global
by noting that Mexican diplomacy is among the most active and emissions, Mexico has also taken its responsibility to reduce carbon
dynamic in the world. emissions and achieve the global goal of zero emissions in the long-
Among the topics discussed were: term. Mexico is a very active actor in the international leader on the
• USMCA Comparative aspects: challenges and opportunities, multi-lateral level.”
• International Organizations and Governance: special mention to In the final discussion, Alicia Kerber of the Consul General of Mexico,
Climate change and U.S.-Mexican policies, discussed how women are often relegated to advisory or assistant

• Mexican Women in the world: Diplomacy and International roles in the diplomacy arena.
Organizations. “Seen as a traditionally male domain, existing power structures
within the diplomatic infrastructure reinforce gender inequality
María Cristina Oropeza Zorrilla, who works in the Mexican embassy and discriminatory practices, making it difficult for women to enter
in Ontario, delivered a presentation on the public diplomacy goals of diplomacy at the highest position,” Kerber said.
the USMCA from negotiation to implementation. “In the field of international relations, we have witnessed big changes
“We had to keep it trilateral,” Zorrilla said. “That was the main and great paradoxes. While all these changes are happening, there is
message when we started negotiating. Our public diplomacy effort one issue that does not seem to advance as much as we like – gender
was to underscore the benefits for the three countries – Canada, the equality in the world of diplomacy and international organization.”
U.S. and Mexico.” Additional sponsors for the event were the Consulate General of
In the second panel, Miguel Angel Reyes Moncayo of the Mexican Mexico in Houston and the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs. ^

PSYCHOLOGY EXPERT CONVEYED ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CHILD
TRAUMA RECOVERY IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM DURING

UH LAW CENTER WEBINAR

aylor College of Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor Megan status youth in the juvenile justice,
BA. Mooney relayed practical ways to support healing and criminal justice and child welfare
recovery from the adverse effects of childhood trauma in her virtual systems, juvenile record sealing, and
presentation, “The Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed Juvenile education rights representation.
Justice System” hosted by the University of Houston Law Center’s “Healing occurs within
Juvenile and Children’s Advocacy Project (JCAP). The March event relationships,” Mooney said. “We
included more than 120 attendees. in our connections to young
“Trauma is essentially not being in control of bad things that have people have the capacity to be
happened to us,” Mooney said. “These things happen and are forced healing agents in whatever role
upon our body; we don’t get any sense of control.” that maybe be, and without those
The majority of children in the juvenile justice system setting have relationships, children or adults Dr. Megan Mooney served
experienced some form of trauma, neglect or maltreatment. JCAP’s cannot heal.” at a recent University
mission is to reduce juvenile crime and delinquency, and to improve Mooney is an affiliate member of Houston Law Center
the long-term educational success rates and life outcomes for socially of the National Child Traumatic continuing legal education
and economically disadvantaged youth by disrupting the school to Stress Network, adjunct assistant session, “The Essential
prison, or community to prison pipeline through the provision of professor at UTHealth Sciences Elements of a Trauma-
legal, educational, and social support services. JCAP works toward this Center at Houston and a licensed Informed Juvenile Justice
mission through three primary programs: direct representation for dual- psychologist. ^ System.”

12 Briefcase 2021