On October 15, 2020, The Catholic University of America’s Institute for Human Ecology hosted the Third Annual Human Rights Lecture featuring distinguished members of the U.S. State Department’s Commission on Unalienable Rights: Kenneth Anderson, Paolo Carozza, and Christopher Tollefsen. They joined Dr. William Saunders, Director of the Program in Human Rights, for a deep conversation on the Commission’s landmark report and its implications for human dignity and U.S. foreign policy.

The commissioners—Anderson, Carozza, and Tollefsen—drew on their academic and legal expertise to explore the Commission’s recommendations outlining a principled framework for American human rights diplomacy. They discussed themes such as the differentiation between unalienable and other human rights, the integration of natural law principles into policy, and the balance between universal human dignity and the complexity of global political realities.

Dr. Saunders guided the conversation, asking how the report might—or might not—reshape diplomatic priorities. The wide-ranging dialogue addressed criticisms, such as the tension between religious freedom and emerging rights claims, and emphasized the need for moral clarity rooted in constitutional principles and classical thought. The speakers also reflected on how the report could inform responses to constitutional abuses abroad, including authoritarian tendencies and threats to religious liberty.

The event fostered meaningful engagement with students, faculty, and policy professionals eager to understand the roots of human rights in law, philosophy, and American tradition. It further showcased Catholic University’s commitment to forming leaders equipped to bring moral insight to public discourse—especially in questions of conscience and the common good. Watch the full address here.