The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has caused immense suffering, with countless individuals displaced, harmed, and killed over the years. Tensions heightened on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to Israeli retaliation and worsening the conflict. This escalation has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with 2.8 million people, including 1.2 million children, in need of assistance amidst airstrikes and bombings.

This moment demands our collective attention, solidarity, and action. As the global community bears witness to the unfolding tragedy, it is crucial to extend support where needed most. This can be done, for example, through donating to established and well-coordinated organisations that work on the frontlines to provide aid and relief. Below we have compiled a list of 14 well-established and trusted charities that help civilians in Palestine.

#1 UN Crisis Relief – Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund

The Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, offers one of the quickest and most effective ways to provide urgent relief on the ground. The Fund consistently collects contributions, enabling it to swiftly aid a diverse range of partners in addressing the high priority humanitarian activities. Managed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator, your donation plays a crucial role in alleviating the immediate needs of those affected by crises in the region.

Donate here: UN Crisis Relief Donation

#2 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

As the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA focuses on ensuring safe pregnancies and fulfilling the potential of young people. Expressing deep concern for women and girls in Gaza, of whom 50,000 are pregnant, UNFPA addresses the critical need for reproductive health supplies and services during the conflict. For every dollar contributed, 92 cents directly fund program and service delivery, while a modest 8 cents cover administrative costs—a testament to the organisation’s efficiency and impact.

Those wishing to support UNFPA’s efforts can contribute directly through their donation page.

#3 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 

Guided by the Geneva Convention of 1949, ICRC is a humanitarian organisation aiding those affected by global conflicts. Partnering with the Red Cross and Red Crescent chapters, ICRC facilitates neutral humanitarian work in Israel and Palestine. Having maintained a presence in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967, ICRC, as a neutral and independent humanitarian entity, conducts essential work by visiting detainees in Israeli and Palestinian places of detention. Beyond this, the organisation actively contributes to enhancing access to vital services such as water and electricity in Gaza, while simultaneously supporting livelihood projects throughout the occupied territories.

To contribute to ICRC’s impactful initiatives and support its humanitarian mission, donations can be made through its dedicated donation page.

#4 UNICEF (United Nations Children Educational Fund)

Founded to help children in the aftermath of World War II by the UN Relief Rehabilitation Administration, UNICEF has evolved into a global leader in social welfare. Their commitment to humanitarianism is demonstrated through the continuous delivery of medical supplies, fuel, water, and financial support to conflict-affected children and their families. UNICEF has been at the forefront of responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, distributing emergency family kits, medicines, and medical supplies to those in need. UNICEF received a 92% score from Charity Navigator and received four out of four possible stars.

Contributions can be made through the UNICEF website.

#5 Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders)

Internationally acclaimed for its proficiency in medical humanitarian aid, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, specialises in delivering immediate and impartial medical care to individuals confronted by conflicts and crises. The organisation’s humanitarian commitment is evident through its emphasis on addressing the most critical medical needs in challenging and high-risk environments. MSF has been actively operating in Gaza and the West Bank for two decades, focusing on regions where the health systems face significant challenges. MSF also extends its support to Israeli hospitals handling a substantial number of casualties. Recognized for its excellence, Doctors Without Borders received an impressive 98% score from the Charity Navigator evaluator, which affirms MSF’s efficacy as a highly impactful organisation.

For those keen on supporting MSF’s crucial medical interventions, donations can be made directly through their official website.

#6 Oxfam International 

Oxfam, a global organisation, works towards addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality. They implement various programs to bring about positive and sustainable change in affected communities. Operating on the ground in Gaza, Oxfam provides essential humanitarian aid, including clean water, food, and hygiene items to address immediate crisis impacts. Additionally, efforts are underway to repair critical water and wastewater systems damaged in recent bombings. Responding to the challenges of a 14-year Israeli blockade that has rendered Gaza “unlivable” per the UN, Oxfam’s interventions are crucial.

Support their ongoing efforts through donations, contributing to meaningful change in the region.

#7 Anera (The American Near East Refugee Aid)

Anera, with a history dating back to 1968, is a dedicated charity responding to critical needs in the Middle East. They focus on providing both emergency relief and long-term solutions to humanitarian crises in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. In response to the current situation, they have distributed over 4 million meals, 19,850 hygiene kits, and 607,963 medical kits to Palestinian refugees.

Contributions can be made directly through the Anera website or the Palestine Emergency Fund.

#8 Direct Relief

Direct Relief, founded in the aftermath of World War II, specialises in providing targeted medical aid following major emergencies, such as the current war between Israel and Hamas. They collaborate with global agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to bring medical aid into conflict zones and financially support regional partners on the ground.

Individuals can contribute to Direct Relief’s ongoing efforts through their official website.

#9 Save the Children 

Save the Children is a global organisation committed to securing the rights of children—ensuring their survival, protection, development, and participation. With a particular emphasis on conflict zones, the organisation tailors its programs to address the unique needs and vulnerabilities of children. Since their founding after World War I, the organisation has provided aid for every major humanitarian crisis, helping 118 million children in 116 countries. Actively involved since 1953, Save the Children has been supporting Palestinian children affected by ongoing conflict. Right now, their teams are working on distributing essential supplies such as water, food, toiletries, and household essentials. Additionally, efforts include providing fuel and water infrastructure for hospitals, delivering mental health and psychosocial support services for children and caregivers, setting up temporary learning spaces, repairing damaged schools, and identifying the most at-risk children for child protection services.

Donations can be made through the Save the Children website.

#10 World Vision

World Vision, founded in 1950, is a Christian international non-governmental organisation committed to improving the lives of children and those in need globally. They respond to humanitarian crises by supporting vital needs in local communities. Operating in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank since 1975, World Vision has created an extensive community-based presence. In 2023, they assisted more than 136,000 people in 150 villages across the West Bank, providing rapid emergency supplies to families who have lost their homes, creating safe spaces for community members to support each other by restoring spaces destroyed by conflict, as well as offering psychological services.

You can donate to World Vision via their website, or donate directly to the Middle East Crisis Response. You can also support the charity by sponsoring a child.

#11 Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS)

PRCS is the Palestinian affiliate of the Red Crescent movement, providing healthcare services, emergency medical response, and humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict in Palestine. As part of the Red Crescent movement, PRCS operates under the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, instilling trust in its humanitarian mission.

To contribute, visit: PRCS Donation Page

#12 Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund – PCRF

PCRF is a non-political humanitarian relief organisation with 30 years of providing tens of thousands of children with free medical care and supplying necessities to those most in need. PCRF’s impactful initiatives include the establishment of two paediatric cancer departments in Palestine, a new Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and a paediatric cardiology department in Ramallah, among other critical projects aimed at sustainably strengthening the region’s healthcare system. The foundation relies on grassroots efforts, supported by a global network of thousands of volunteers, to fulfil its humanitarian mission.

To contribute to their efforts, you can donate at PCRF Donation

#13 MECA – Middle East Children’s Alliance

As a non-profit organisation dedicated to the well-being and rights of children in the Middle East, MECA supports numerous community projects for Palestinian children and refugees from Syria. Since its inception in 1988, MECA has delivered $31 million in food and medical aid to Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon. Amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the MECA team and its partners are actively engaged in providing emergency assistance to families displaced from their homes, seeking refuge with relatives. MECA is also involved in procuring emergency medical supplies for hospitals and clinics in the affected areas.

Support MECA in its mission by visiting the MECA Website

#14 Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP)

ALLMEP stands as a coalition of over 160 organisations, uniting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis in the pursuit of cooperation, justice, equality, shared society, mutual understanding, and lasting peace within their communities. Established in 2006 and headquartered in Washington, DC, ALLMEP envisions a Middle East where its community of Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilders takes the lead, guiding their societies toward and beyond sustainable peace. Operated by a diverse team of both Palestinians and Israelis, the Alliance for Middle East Peace is dedicated to assisting families affected by the ongoing conflict on either side. At present, they are actively mobilising emergency funds for NGOs to provide aid to those facing the hardships of the conflict.

Donate to support ALLMEP’s peacebuilding efforts: Donate here

The post 14 Trusted Charities Helping Civilians in Palestine appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Learn what jobs are available in gender rights, where you can find work in gender rights and how to prepare for these types of careers.

Gender rights are the basic rights and opportunities people deserve regardless of their gender or gender expression. Rights include the right to equal treatment, the right to reproductive freedom and the right to freedom from discrimination and gender-based violence. Women represent the largest group that experiences gender discrimination, but the rights of trans people, two-spirit people, and people with other marginalized genders also need protection. In this guide, we’ll discuss specific jobs in gender rights, where you can find gender rights jobs, how to get a job in gender rights and what salaries are offered.

What jobs are available in gender rights?

Gender rights are a thematic focus, not a specific job. That means there are dozens of careers where you can work on gender rights and gender equality. Here are seven examples:

Educator

Educators conduct research, develop curriculum, manage learning environments, and support student development. Teachers typically work in classrooms teaching young kids, teenagers, and adults. Teacher responsibilities can include creating educational material, meeting one-on-one with students, presenting lessons and helping students develop professional and personal skills. Historically, education has been a site for gender discrimination and inequality. Teachers play a big role in protecting gender rights, whether that’s by educating students on gender discrimination, advocating for gender equality in hiring practices, and taking steps to prevent gender-based violence in educational environments. Educators who spend more time on research can also focus on gender rights.

Doctor

Doctors are medical professionals who work in health facilities, universities, research labs and other settings focused on health and health research. While accessible healthcare is a human right, many people face discrimination and bias based on their gender. As an example, studies show women do not get the same evidence-based care as men in areas like cardiac care and pain management. Transgender people also experience unique challenges, worse health outcomes and other inequalities when it comes to getting health insurance and healthcare. Doctors can play an important role in protecting gender rights by addressing inequalities, specializing in healthcare issues that affect marginalized genders, and advocating for better education and reform.

Lawyer

Women, trans people and people belonging to other marginalized genders face frequent discrimination. They often need legal representation to address inequalities. Legal systems themselves can be biased, so even if the nature of a person’s case doesn’t involve their gender, they can end up marginalized. Lawyers who specialize in gender rights have the same responsibilities as regular lawyers – they interpret laws, research legal issues, advise clients, prepare documents and so on – but they focus on laws, cases and other factors related to gender.

Policy analyst

Policy analysis is a job category related to public policy, political science, statistics, economics, public administration and related fields. Policy analysts study current and potential policies, develop new policy ideas and analyze the impact of policies. They often work for governments, but lobbying groups, universities, advocacy NGOs, consulting firms and similar organizations hire policy analysts. A policy analyst who specializes in gender rights would analyze the impact of policies on different genders, research trends, identify gaps and inequalities, advocate for gender-responsive policies and monitor policies related to gender.

Grant specialist

Grant specialists work in grant management and administration. They often work for NGOs, which depend heavily on grants, but they also work for colleges, research institutions and even individuals. Their responsibilities can include identifying grants for their employer, writing applications, developing budgets, processing grant money and making sure the money is distributed the way it needs to be. Many organizations focused on gender rights need grant specialists to help them find funding for various projects and programs. A specialist needs a thorough understanding of what grants are available for gender rights and what those grants require from candidates.

Consultant

Consultants are experts who work with corporations, governments, NGOs, and any other organizations who want the consultant’s expertise. It’s typically a job for people who have years of experience. Responsibilities can include data collection and analysis of an organization’s gender policies, meetings with stakeholders, help with policy development and marketing, and creating personalized trainings and presentations.

When a consultant specializes in gender rights, they’re usually hired to help an organization achieve gender equality and address issues related to gender discrimination.

Program manager

Program managers work in a variety of industries. In this higher-level role, managers oversee clusters of projects that contribute to the organization’s mission. Their responsibilities can include developing a program’s scope and strategy, managing a team, monitoring a program’s success, and directing communication between a program’s stakeholders. Within gender rights, a program manager could be in charge of an organization’s diversity and gender equality program or work for an organization focused on gender rights.

Interested in jobs focused on gender equality? Here’s our short guide.

Where can you find jobs in gender rights?

Because gender rights aren’t limited to one industry or job type, you can find work at a variety of places. Here are the five main sectors:

Intergovernmental organizations

Intergovernmental organizations are entities that consist of two or more nations who sign a treaty. The United Nations is the best-known IGO. IGOs collaborate on several issues, including gender rights and gender equality. They hire professionals who specialize in gender rights, as well as areas that affect gender equality such as economics, political science, public policy and more. UN Women, which is the UN entity responsible for working for gender equality and women’s empowerment, posts jobs on places like the UNDP job board and its own website.

Governments

Like IGOs, local and national governments work on issues related to gender rights, gender equality, discrimination and so on. There are permanent, temporary and fixed-term jobs at various government agencies, as well as opportunities for consultants who specialize in gender rights. The job platform Gender Jobs has a search category for government jobs at all levels. To work for a government entity, you’ll need to meet all their requirements, which could include citizenship or a right-to-work visa, as well as a security clearance and a background check.

NGOs

NGOs are organizations that are formed independently of a government. They’re usually nonprofits, as well, and tend to focus on humanitarian, international development and social justice issues. Because gender inequality is so widespread, many NGOs focus their work on gender rights, women’s empowerment and related areas. The Malala Fund, Plan International, the Global Fund For Women, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are just five NGOs with jobs available in gender rights. Jobs boards like Idealist.org, Globaljobs.org, and Feminist Jobs can help you find more.

Corporations

Gender equality is good for business, so many corporations are working to improve their gender equality and reduce gender discrimination. Job candidates with the knowledge and motivation to improve gender rights are desirable, while corporations also work with consultants to improve equality in the workplace. Corporations also need lawyers who understand the laws around gender.

Educational and research institutions

Institutions like universities, think tanks, medical research organizations and similar entities perform research on gender rights, discrimination, policies and more. They may be part of intergovernmental organizations, governments, NGOs and corporations, but because they’re focused on research, we’ve included them as their own category. These entities hire researchers, policy analysts, librarians, administrative staff, communications professionals, grant specialists and many others.

Jobs in gender rights deal with gender discrimination. Check out our article on gender discrimination 101.

How do you prepare for a job in gender rights?

The specific job track for a lawyer looks different than for a doctor, but there are three main “must haves” for everyone looking for a job in gender rights: education, experience and skills.

Education

If you want a long career in gender rights, you’ll need a good education. Entry-level jobs typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, while you are likely to need a master’s or even a doctorate for higher-level positions in management. With certain exceptions (like for lawyers and doctors), you likely won’t need one specific degree, but good educational backgrounds include gender studies, sociology, political science, social work, public policy, public health and education. What works best depends on what field you want to go into, i.e. if you want to work as a policy analyst, a degree in public policy is likely your best option.

Experience

Most employers care more about your experience than your area of study or where you went to school. Even entry-level jobs prefer candidates with at least a few years of experience working in the area they’re hiring for. As an example, we found a job for a grants administrator that asked for 3-5 years of similar work, while the experience level in the job description was 0-5 years. Internships, volunteer work, temporary work and part-time work usually count toward your experience, so don’t leave anything off your resume. Education supports your basic knowledge and qualifications, but experience shows employers you can solve problems, work with others, adapt when necessary and complete tasks on time.

Skills

Jobs in gender rights require a variety of skills depending on your chosen field. As an example, a job in policy analysis requires critical thinking, problem-solving, good communication, policy knowledge and excellent research skills. When you look at job descriptions, you may notice how vague some of the required skills are, such as a “willingness to learn from mistakes.” When applying for a job and going through an interview, the challenge is to show this skill in action. Employers don’t want to hear you say, “Yes, I can learn from my mistakes,” they want specific examples that prove you possess this skill.

How much do jobs in gender rights pay?

A job’s salary depends on several factors, such as the job type, job position, where the job is based, your education and your experience. Your salary can also vary based on whether you work for an IGO, NGO, government agency, education institution or corporation. Here’s an average rundown of the United States salaries for the jobs we described in this guide:

Educator (teacher): $68,469 for 2022-2023 school year
Doctor (obstetrician and gynecologist): $239,200 in 2022
Lawyer (labor): $100,626 in 2024
Policy analyst: $81,922 in 2024
Grant specialist: $80,163 in 2024
Consultant: $93,905 in 2024
Program manager (nonprofit): $89,816 in 2023

The post Gender Rights Jobs: Our Short Guide appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Women’s rights have improved over the years, but continued progress is not guaranteed. In a time of escalating conflicts, rising authoritarianism and devastating climate change impacts, women face many issues related to education, work, healthcare, legal rights, violence and much more. By understanding these issues, the world can work together to achieve gender equality, stronger human rights protections and safety for all people. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of the most important issues affecting women and girls today.

#1. Unequal pay

For centuries, society has undervalued the work women perform. Women are even paid less than men for the same work. According to the International Labour Organization, there has been some progress, but gender wage gaps still exist and are widening in certain jobs. Gaps can’t be blamed on educational differences, which means that in most countries, men still earn more than women. Factors include gendered job segregation (women tend to dominate jobs with lower salaries) and unjust pay practices. According to data from Moody’s Analytics, the gender pay gap could be costing the economy as much as $7 trillion.

#2. Racial injustice

All women face discrimination, but women belonging to ethnic minorities face compounded inequalities. According to expert groups like the UN, race and gender intersect in employment, housing, poverty and more. As an example, while no group of women makes the same wage as non-Hispanic white men in the United States, the gender wage gap is significantly wider for most women of color. Over a 40-year career, Hispanic women lose over $1 million in earnings, while Native women lose $986,000 and Black women lose $964,000.

#3. Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to acts that cause (or are likely to cause) physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women. According to experts, over ⅓ of women and girls experience some kind of violence during their lifetimes. The risk increases during conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies. Intimate partner violence is the most common form of GBV. Around 1 in 4 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner. While anyone can experience GBV, young people, older women, refugees, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ people are most vulnerable.

#4. Inadequate healthcare

Healthcare access is a human right, but women face unique stigmas and discrimination. According to the World Economic Forum, there are persistent gaps in research and treatment for things affecting women, such as maternal healthcare. This leads to worse health outcomes for conditions that should be treatable and preventable. Women are also undervalued in the healthcare profession. According to reporting from NPR, women hold just 25% of senior leadership roles despite making up 70% of the global healthcare workforce. The pandemic also increased burnout rates for women healthcare workers, added to their workloads and exacerbated gender biases.

#5. Threats to reproductive rights

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 40% of women live under restrictive laws, which represents over 750 million women of reproductive age. 6% of women live in countries where abortions are prohibited completely. Access to contraception increased from 900 million in 2000 to almost 1.1 billion in 2021, but barriers like misinformation about contraception, fear of side effects and access remain. According to the UN Populations Fund, around 257 million women who don’t want to become pregnant still aren’t using safe and modern contraception.

#6. Lack of education

All children deserve access to education, but girls have historically faced more discrimination. Progress has been made, but according to UNICEF, 129 million girls are still not in school. Reasons include poverty, gender-based violence, early marriage and a lack of safety, hygiene and sanitation resources. Low-income countries have the widest gaps, according to the World Bank. While the world average of girls enrolled in primary school is 88%, it’s 78% in low-income countries.

#7. Food insecurity

Women face more food insecurity than men, Research from the World Food Programme identifies a few reasons why. The first is that women are more likely to live in extreme poverty. Globally, women earn just 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Women also face unequal treatment during times of crisis and are more vulnerable to malnutrition during pregnancy. All these factors contribute to a lack of food security, which in turn negatively impacts other areas of a woman’s life.

#8. Climate change

Research consistently shows that women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. One reason is that women depend on natural resources, so during times of famine or other disasters, women face the added burden of trying to obtain food. In lower-income countries, women also make up a large percentage of the agriculture industry, which is hardest hit by climate change. Women also face increased risks of violence and sexual exploitation during climate-related emergencies.

#9. Unequal political representation

Society can’t achieve gender equality until there’s equal political representation. According to a survey conducted by Plan International, women still feel “consistently excluded” from politics. Half of the survey participants lived in communities where they felt like it wasn’t okay for girls and young women to be involved in politics. 19% said they had been actively discouraged from getting involved. The UN estimates that it will take 130 years for the world to reach gender equality in the highest positions of power.

#10. Discriminatory social institutions

Social institutions are the laws (formal and informal), norms and standards that determine how society functions. Unfortunately, gender inequality is embedded into just about every country’s social institutions in one way or another. According to the OECD, many countries have instituted legal reforms that untangle gender discrimination from their institutions, but 40% of women and girls still live in countries with “high or very high” discrimination. Social norms have progressed the best, but economic empowerment got worse between 2014 and 2022. Until discriminatory practices are eliminated, gender inequality will persist.

#11. Human trafficking

All genders can be victims of human trafficking, but women and girls are especially vulnerable. According to research from 2017, girls and women made up 71% of all victims of trafficking. They also make up 96% of the victims trafficked for sexual exploitation. Causes of gendered trafficking include poverty, a lack of employment opportunities for women, limited access to education and gender-based violence. Conflict also makes women more vulnerable.

#12. Limited freedom of movement

Freedom of movement is an individual’s right to live, travel and move within a country or between different countries. According to Human Rights Watch, many countries in the Middle East and North Africa still have laws requiring women to get permission from a male guardian before traveling abroad or even traveling within their own country. This violates a woman’s right to travel and increases her risk for exploitation and abuse. Activists had been fighting for more rights for years, and while some progress has been made, restrictive laws remain.

#13. Threats during migration

Migration – forced and voluntary – can be risky. Women face more threats than men due to discrimination, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. According to the International Organization for Migration, more women are migrating independently, especially from the Caribbean and Central America. While moving can provide opportunities, it’s also dangerous. Displacement, which can be caused by conflict and climate change, is especially dangerous for women who are traveling alone, pregnant, heads of households, disabled, or older.

#14. Discrimination based on disability

Human Rights Watch estimates there are around 300 million women with mental and physical disabilities. In low and middle-income countries, women represent 75% of people with disabilities. Women are more likely than men to become disabled and face increased discrimination due to the intersection of their gender and disability. According to research, women with disabilities are more than 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual abuse by an intimate partner than women who don’t have disabilities.

#15. Poor mental health

The state of mental health can be difficult to measure, but according to data, more women are diagnosed with mental health conditions. In a 2017 report from the UK, women are three times more likely than men to experience common mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Young women are also more likely to experience anxiety-related conditions than any other population. This disparity could be due to stigma, as men may feel less comfortable seeking help. In the United States, while more men die by suicide, more women attempt to take their own lives.

#16. The digital divide

Access to technology increases a person’s opportunities for employment, education, public resources, and more. Women don’t get equal access. According to UNICEF, up to 90% of girls and young women in low-income countries can’t access the internet, compared to 78% of boys and young men. Girls also have weaker digital skills and less access to mobile phones. This inequality disadvantages women and costs the global economy billions of dollars in GDP every year, according to the World Economic Forum.

#17. Online harassment

Online harassment is hard to measure, but there’s little doubt it disproportionately affects women and girls. According to one study from Europe, women are 27 times more likely to experience online harassment than men. Online harassment has a terrorizing effect which damages a person’s mental health, discourages them from spending time online and frightens them away from other public spaces. Online harassment can also translate into real-life violence.

#18. Unpaid labor

Women aren’t only paid less than men in most places; they also take on more unpaid labor. Globally, women take on three times more unpaid work than men, while women in low and middle-income countries do more unpaid labor than their peers in high-income countries. Unpaid labor includes tasks like household chores and caring for family members. In Japan, women lose around $761 billion a year through unpaid tasks, while men take on less than a third of what women do. Consequences aren’t limited to the economy. According to research, the added burden of unpaid labor is associated with worse mental health in women.

#19. Inadequate maternal healthcare

Pregnancy and childbirth are inherently risky, but maternal healthcare is inadequate for many people. According to the WHO, almost 800 women died in 2020 from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. A striking 95% of these maternal deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries. 75% of deaths result from issues like severe bleeding, high blood pressure, infections and complications from delivery. These conditions are preventable and manageable with the proper care.

#20. Period poverty

Periods are a fact of life for many people, but about 500 million women and girls don’t have the supplies they need, according to the OHCHR. “Period poverty” is defined as a lack of access to products, hygienic spaces, education and other resources. Along with feeling ashamed or embarrassed, a girl may experience violations of her human rights when her period comes. Early marriage, sexual violence, unintended pregnancy and disrupted education are some of the more serious effects.

The post Top 20 Issues Women Are Facing Today appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

There are billions of children living in the world today, many of whom are vulnerable and disenfranchised. Because kids are physically smaller than adults and still developing mentally and emotionally, they face the most challenges from things like poverty, famine, war, climate change and exploitation. Many countries also don’t give children the human rights they deserve. In this article, we’ll go over 20 of the most urgent and serious issues facing kids today.

#1. Poverty

Poverty is one of the most significant issues facing children today. According to UNICEF, around 333 million children live in extreme poverty. While kids only make up ⅓ of the global population, they represent half of people living on less than $2.15 a day. Poverty affects every area of a child’s life, including their health, their access to basic services like clean water and food, their education and much more. Poverty also makes kids more vulnerable to death at a young age.

#2. Hunger

According to Save the Children, 153 million kids are facing food insecurity. While everyone needs food to live, kids are more likely to die from malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases. Around 1 in 5 deaths of kids under five can be traced back to a lack of nutritious food. For those who survive, hunger harms cognitive and physical development. Poverty, climate change, forced migration, and war and conflict are just a few of the drivers of hunger.

#3. Lack of access to clean water

According to 2021 data from UNICEF, around 450 million children live in areas with “high, or extremely high, water vulnerability.” Broken down, this means 1 in 5 kids lack the water they need. This can lead to serious issues, like water-borne illnesses. The World Health Organization lists many diseases spread by contaminated water, such as cholera, dysentery, polio and diarrhea. Children are especially at risk.

#4. Death by preventable illnesses

There’s been significant progress in reducing deaths of kids under five years old, but millions still die from illnesses. In 2021, UNICEF found that 5 million kids under five died, many from preventable conditions like malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea. Vaccines can save the lives of millions of kids, but in 2022, 20.5 million kids did not get life-saving vaccines. This represents a decline from 2019 as factors like the COVID pandemic, supply issues, misinformation and conflict made global vaccination more difficult.

#5. Lack of education

Education access is a human right, but many children don’t get the schooling they deserve. In 2022, the UN estimated that 244 million children between 6-18 years old were not in school. Sub-Saharan Africa struggles the most as it has the most kids and youth out of school. Central and Southern Asia has the second-highest out-of-school population. In better news, the gender gap in education is resolving, though there are still regional differences that need to be addressed.

#6. Child labor

All over the world, children are forced to work in industries like agriculture, mining, domestic work and more. Child labor is a violation of a child’s human rights as it threatens a child’s well-being and health, as well as their access to education. According to UNICEF, more than 1 in 5 kids ages 5-17 years old are forced into labor in the world’s poorest countries. Causes of child labor vary, but poverty is the most common driver. When families and communities live in extreme poverty, everyone – including very young kids – must contribute to the household by working.

#7. Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) affects boys and girls, but in different ways. According to Save the Children, violence against girls includes sexual violence, harassment, female genital mutilation, abuse and intimate partner violence. Boys are often targeted for labor trafficking and detention, as they’re seen as violent or a threat to security because of their gender. GBV gets worse during times of conflict.

#8. Child marriage

When a child is forced to marry before age 18, it’s a violation of their rights. For girls, early marriage can lead to social isolation, a disruption of education, career limitations and an increased risk for domestic violence. The impact on boys is less studied, but they face negative effects such as increased career pressure, an increased risk for exploitation and disrupted education. More girls than boys are forced into early marriage; UNICEF estimates that in West and Central Africa, around 4 in 10 girls are married before age 18.

#9. Early pregnancy

In 2022, about 13% of adolescent girls gave birth before they turned 18. Pregnancy before age 18 has a variety of negative impacts. The disruption to education is a major one, as it can limit future economic prospects. Girls who become pregnant young may also face social stigma, violence by family members, forced marriage and serious health issues. The causes of early pregnancy include childhood sexual abuse and early marriage. The social pressure to become a mother can also influence the age at which a girl gets pregnant. In certain societies, early marriage and pregnancy may be the best and only option for a young woman.

#10. Effects of war and conflict

During times of war and violent conflict, children are the most vulnerable. According to UNICEF, over 400 million kids live in countries affected by war and violence. Children also make up half of the civilians killed by landmines and explosives. In many places, violent conflict is escalating. In Ukraine, children are affected by death, injuries, mass displacement and an increased risk of abuse, abduction, human trafficking and sexual exploitation. In the Gaza Strip, half of the 1.9 million displaced people are children, while thousands have been killed or injured.

#11. Exploitation of kids in war

Children aren’t only killed, injured and displaced during war; they can be forced to participate in violence. According to UNICEF, over 105,000 kids were recruited and exploited for conflict between 2005 and 2022. Boys and girls are both targeted for fighting, scouting, cooking, sending messages and sexual exploitation. Armed groups often kidnap kids from their homes and force them to fight, but some join groups to try and earn money for their families. Child soldiers endure both physical and psychological wounds.

#12. Climate change

Climate change harms everyone, but children are especially vulnerable. The United States Environmental Protection Agency lists a few reasons why, such as the fact that developing bodies are more susceptible to things like heat and waterborne illnesses. Kids are also dependent on adults during extreme events, so without an adult’s help, they are very vulnerable during floods, hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters. UNICEF estimates that around 1 billion kids (which is nearly half of the world’s 2.2 billion children) live in one of the 33 countries considered “extremely high-risk” for climate change impacts.

#13. Air pollution

Air pollution damages everyone’s health, but children are especially vulnerable. The World Health Organization lists six main reasons, including the fact that children’s brains are still developing, their bodies are less effective at managing toxins and they breathe in more air per unit of body weight than adults. According to data, air pollution could be causing over 1,200 deaths of kids under 18 in EEA member and collaborating countries every year. Things like traffic, heating and industry cause the most air pollution. Because children can’t vote on air pollution policies, adults must take steps to reduce air pollution and protect kids.

#14. Family separation

A variety of things can separate families: natural disasters, trafficking, war, poverty and migration. It’s difficult to know exactly how many kids experience separations, but at mid-2023, 110 million people were displaced. Many of those individuals are kids, and family separation is often a result of displacement. Kids separated from their families suffer severe psychological and emotional effects that can follow them the rest of their lives. According to a PBS interview with developmental psychologist Hirokazu Yoshikawa, family separations can even cause impaired memory, reduced auditory processing and an increased risk of physical disease.

#15. Human trafficking

Human trafficking is an illicit practice and therefore hard to track accurately, but data suggests kids make up 27% of all trafficking victims. Both boys and girls are targeted, but boys are less likely to be identified. They’re also more likely to be forced into labor or recruitment by armed groups, while girls are more likely to be sexually exploited and forced into marriage. Children who are trafficked endure physical, sexual, emotional and psychological injuries, many of which extend into adulthood.

#16. Increased risks for LGBTQ+ kids

LGBTQ+ kids face the same vulnerabilities as kids who aren’t LGBTQ+, but their risks are often increased. According to the CDC in the United States, LGBTQ+ young people face higher health and suicide risks than their peers. Around 43% of transgender youth were bullied at school, while 29% attempted suicide. Expanding out to the rest of the world, about 64 countries still have laws criminalizing homosexuality, while discrimination can affect a person’s ability to access healthcare, get a job, get housing and so on. LGBTQ+ kids can see how people like them are treated and face significant mental health challenges.

#17. Racism

Racism places extreme stress on the human body, while racial discrimination also affects a person’s access to good healthcare, housing, food, education, work and so on. According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, Black, indigenous, and other people of color have worse health issues and shorter lifespans than white people across all income levels. This affects every member of a family or community, including children. One study even found that childhood stress caused by traumas like poverty and racism can change the structure of a child’s developing brain. To protect children’s rights, societies need to address racism.

#18. Lack of mental health treatment

Children go through a lot of changes in their adolescent years, which makes them more vulnerable to mental health struggles. According to UNICEF, about 1 in 7 kids experienced a mental disorder in 2019. Depression is very common for kids aged 10-19 years old, while self-harm is among the top causes of death. Without proper treatment, kids can experience serious issues that affect adulthood, including their job opportunities and health.

#19. Lack of access to justice

Children deserve legal rights, but many countries fail in their duty to provide kids with access to justice. According to UNICEF, law enforcement officials deprive over 1 million kids of their rights to liberty. Once in the justice system, kids are often not given the education or resources they need to contact a lawyer, access money for legal fees or get other necessary support. Kids who witness crimes or who are victims of crimes like trafficking are often oppressed, as well. As human beings, kids should be treated equally under the law.

#20. Lack of birth registration

Birth registration is an official record of a child’s birth. It is a human rights matter because birth registration proves the existence of a child, establishes who their parents are and helps ensure a child’s other rights are respected. According to UNICEF, birth registration has increased over the years, but around 1 in 4 kids worldwide are not registered. Reasons include expensive fees, penalties for late registration, long journeys to registration facilities and a lack of knowledge about how to register a birth. Affordable, accessible birth registration is a vital part of protecting the rights of all children.

The post Top 20 Issues Children Are Facing Today appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Description

Who are we?

Proforest is a mission-driven organisation that provides a consultancy service working throughout agricultural supply chains supporting the production and sourcing of agricultural and forest commodities that deliver positive environmental and social outcomes for People, Nature and Climate. These cover issues such as protecting and restoring forests and natural ecosystems, respecting worker’s rights, advancing gender equality, and engaging with communities and indigenous people.

What will you do?

The role sits in the Human Rights and Livelihoods (HR&L) technical team, and will mainly support the Responsible Sourcing Team, but also support on-going work including sector collaboration and taking action at landscape or jurisdictional level.

You’ll have the opportunity make an impact on a range of projects on how to implement human rights and livelihoods commitments in practice, and support companies to achieve positive impacts for people in their supply bases and supply chains. This will be achieved via working with colleagues to support companies in the implementation of human rights due diligence, including  policy commitments, human rights risk assessments, and actions within and beyond supply chains to address issues such as forced labour, child labour, OHS risks, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) land rights issues.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage the day-to-day implementation and delivery of major client projects and/or workstreams to include budget, planning and project administration, as well as monitoring of deliverables in line with project requirements
• Provide technical support on human rights topics
• Support and deliver training and capacity building (internal and external) on key topics and practices in human rights and livelihoods and their application to responsible production and sourcing
• Represent Proforest in relevant international meetings and forums
• Maintain a clear understanding of the current HREDD legislative context, stakeholder pressures and best-practices relating to the sustainable management and sourcing of agricultural and forestry commodities, including industry collaboration groups (e.g., Consumer Good Forum, ISEAL, Palm Oil Collaborative Group, Soft Commodities Forum…)

What is your profile?

We are looking for people who are passionate about taking on challenges at a global scale, someone who is self-motivated and committed to continuous improvement for themselves and the team in which they work. To be successful in the role you will have:

Essential:

• A relevant Masters’ level qualification or equivalent
• Knowledge of human rights issues in agricultural production and supply chains
• Knowledge of and/or applied experience of the implementation of the UNGPs’ Human Rights Due Diligence framework
• Good knowledge of the relevant international frameworks, conventions, and guidelines; and voluntary standards/certification schemes designed to address human rights relevant to agricultural commodity production
• Have relevant professional experience in a similar consultancy role, sustainability initiative,  private sector, or delivery-focused NGO working in, or closely with, large corporate buyers and international agricultural commodity supply chains
• Have strong project management skills
• The ability and willingness to travel for training, field work and meetings.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of mandatory human rights due diligence legislation
• Experience and skills at developing and delivering training – on-line and in person
• Training and experience of gender equality mainstreaming, and/or building gender sensitivity into field work or programmes
• Knowledge and/or experience of the production practices of at least one of the commodities Proforest works on (palm oil, cocoa, sugar, beef, soy, rubber)
• Fluency in another relevant language: French, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malay, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin
• Experience of working within multi-stakeholder processes and/or facilitation of meetings and collaborative processes
• Experience of living and working in regions where Proforest has a strong presence (Latin America, West Africa and Southeast Asia).

Why should you work for us?

• Be part of a global organisation with a shared vision, working in offices across 8 countries with staff from more than 17 countries, speaking more than 40 languages
• We care about work-life balance and offer 25 days plus public holidays (with an extra 2 days the following year should you take your well earnt holiday within the year)
• We contribute to your pension (up to 8%)
• We support learning and development with a dedicated team to help you achieve your goals; we provide access to training for technical knowledge and competency skills
• Access to an employee assistance programme and other benefits
• Free fruit, tea and coffee in the office
• Life insurance and income protection insurance
• we organize regular in-person team gatherings, regional and international knowledge exchanges and social events.

Key information

• Location: Oxford, UK or Leiden, The Netherlands
• Salary: £38,000 – £44,000 or €43,000 – €50,000 depending on skills and experience
• Requires eligibility to work in EU or UK
• Closing date: 11th of February (although please note we may close the advert early if we find our preferred candidate)

*Hybrid working: Proforest operates on a hybrid basis both in our Oxford and Leiden offices. We encourage staff to attend the office as often as possible to maximise interactions with colleagues but also appreciate individual circumstances and preferences. We ask that staff attend the office at least once a week and are happy to explore flexible working options.

We are committed to supporting diversity throughout Proforest globally, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive and welcome applications from all.

To apply for the Oxford office please click here

To apply for the Leiden office please click here

The post Human Rights and Responsible Sourcing Advisor appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

In 1955, Rosa Parks was on her way home from her job at a department store. It had been a long day, but as Parks would later explain, she wasn’t more tired than usual. Her source of exhaustion came from years of enduring racial discrimination and hatred. When the bus driver told her to give up her seat so white passengers could get an extra row, Rosa decided she had had enough. Her refusal to move sparked a national surge of activism against the systemic racism infecting the United States. In this article, we’ll explore 15 of the most important facts about Rosa Parks, one of the most important Civil Rights icons.

#1. Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat in 1955

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was returning home from work. The bus system was segregated, which meant white people got the first rows on the bus, while Black people were made to sit at the back. Rosa was sitting where she was supposed to, but the driver told her she needed to move further back to give white riders more room. When she refused, the police arrived and arrested her.

#2. Because of her protest, Rosa Parks is known as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement”

The Civil Rights Movement was the most significant time for equal rights in 20th-century America. For over a century of discrimination, legalized segregation and racial violence after the Civil War, Black Americans and their allies fought for equality, but from 1954-1968, a massive wave of activism and progress ushered in a better era. Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat represented a major turning point. It led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a year-long protest against segregation, and eventually, a court case that ended bus segregation in Alabama.

#3. Rosa lost her case 

After Rosa’s arrest, E.D. Nixon, the president of the Alabama NAACP, and a few friends paid her bail. Just four days later, Rosa’s case went to trial. The NAACP organized a boycott of the bus system and encouraged people to either stay home, walk or take a cab in support of Rosa. Rosa lost her case and was fined $14.00. While she may have lost in court, Rosa’s story was far from over.

#4. Rosa’s protest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott

After Rosa’s case ended, activists decided to keep protesting the segregated bus system. They formed the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), which was designed to organize and manage the boycott. Martin Luther King Jr, who was just 26 years old at the time, was elected president. Rosa served on the executive board of directors and worked briefly as a dispatcher. In this role, she helped connect boycott participants with the rides they needed to get to work, school and other commitments. As part of their work, the MIA created a carpool system. Over 300 private cars were available at any one time along with 22 station wagons provided by churches. Thanks to this system, around 30,000 people were helped every day.

Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in the Montgomery bus boycott. Here are 11 facts about the Civil Rights icon.

#5. Rosa was arrested again in 1956

On February 21, 1956, a Montgomery grand jury indicted Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon, Martin Luther King Jr, and 86 other people for violating Alabama’s Anti-Boycott Act. By participating in the bus boycott, they were technically breaking the law. The two most famous pictures of Rosa Parks – her mugshot and a photo in which she’s being fingerprinted – are from this arrest, not her original December 1, 1955 protest.

#6. Rosa Parks was not the first woman to stand up against bus segregation

Rosa Parks is the most famous person to refuse to give up her seat, but she wasn’t the first. Earlier in 1955, a 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her bus seat when told to make room for a white woman. She was arrested. Rosa Parks was among the activists raising money for Claudette, but other civil rights leaders decided the “feisty” teenager wasn’t the right plaintiff for a larger case against segregation. According to Claudette, Rosa was the only adult to keep up with her the summer after her arrest. While Claudette’s story is not as well-known as Rosa’s, she still made an impact. In 1956, Claudette was one of the plaintiffs in Browder v Gayle, the federal case that led to the desegregation of the Montgomery bus system.

#7. Rosa knew about racism from a very young age

Rosa Parks, then Rosa McCauley, was born in Pine Level, Alabama. She grew up with her mother, brother and grandparents. When racial violence increased after World War I, Rosa’s grandfather would watch for the Ku Klux Klan, armed with a shotgun. In addition to learning to sew, cook and clean, a young Rosa would “keep vigil” with her grandfather on the porch. Rosa’s grandfather taught her to never accept poor treatment. When she was a child, a white boy threatened her. In response, Rosa picked up a brick, frightening the boy away.

#8. Rosa had one brother

Rosa’s brother, Sylvester James McCauley, was two years younger than her. He served during World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters. When the war ended, he moved to Detroit with his wife, Daisy, where they had thirteen children. Sylvester worked as a carpenter and employee of the Chrysler Motor Company. One of his daughters, Sheila McCauley Keys, wrote a book about her aunt called Our Auntie Rosa: The Family of Rosa Parks Remembers Her Life and Lessons, which was published in 2015.

#9. Rosa Parks’ husband was an activist, too

Raymond Parks proposed to Rosa on their second date and they married in 1932. At the time, Raymond was working with the Montgomery labor rights and fundraising for the defense of the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black teenagers falsely accused of rape. The work was so dangerous that supporters needed to meet secretly. According to Raymond, he would communicate a meeting’s day and time by standing in front of a specific street light and tying his shoe a certain way. Rosa called her husband “the first real activist I ever met.”

The Civil Rights Movement is one of the most famous social movements in history. Here’s our list of nine other human rights movements.

#10. Rosa worked in a variety of jobs

Rosa earned a high school diploma in 1933, which was fairly unusual for Black people at the time. However, it was difficult for Rosa to find a job worthy of her education. She worked as an insurance agent, office clerk, nurse’s aide and domestic worker. She also did sewing work at home to earn more money. Her mother and maternal grandmother, who made quilts, had taught her to sew. Rosa also received formal sewing training at the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls before her graduation.

#11. Rosa worked for the NAACP years before her bus protest

Rosa Parks is best known for refusing to give up her bus seat, but she’d already been involved in activism for decades. In 1943, she became a secretary for the Montgomery NAACP. She would investigate cases involving police brutality, murder, rape and racial discrimination. One of those cases involved the kidnapping and rape of a 24-year-old Black woman. When local police refused to prosecute the men, the Montgomery NAACP sent Rosa to investigate. She worked to form the Committee for Equal Justice and organized a letter-writing campaign to the Alabama governor. While a special grand jury was eventually created, the attackers were never indicted. In 1948, Rosa became the first NAACP state secretary.

Are you inspired by Rosa Parks’ activism? Here’s our list of courses on taking action for activists.

#12. After the Montgomery bus boycott, Rosa had to leave her home state 

While the Montgomery boycott was successful and segregation on public transport was declared unconstitutional, Rosa faced many challenges. She and Raymond both lost their jobs and couldn’t find work again. They received death threats. Eight months after the boycott, Rosa, Raymond and Rosa’s mother moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Rosa’s brother lived. While some things were better, racism still infected the North, making it difficult for Rosa and Raymond to find consistent work and housing. Despite these challenges, Rosa continued to work for racial equality and freedom.

#13. Rosa worked for John Conyers’ office until her retirement in 1988

John Conyers was a young lawyer in Michigan, and when he began running for a new Michigan Congressional seat, a win was considered unlikely. In favor of his pro-labor beliefs, Rosa Parks volunteered for his campaign. In 1965, Conyers won his election and promptly hired Rosa to work in his Detroit office. This was her first steady job after the bus boycott. She worked for Conyers until her retirement in 1988.

#14. Church and religion were very important to Rosa

Understanding Rosa’s Christian faith is essential to understanding her as an activist. As a child, she attended the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pine Level. Faith remained important to her as an adult. In her book, Quiet Strength: The Faith, the Hope and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation,” Rosa names the church as the one place where people can meet and educate themselves without unfair treatment. She describes the church as “the foundation of our community.”  

Interested in other quotes about civil rights and freedom? Here’s our list of 10 of the most memorable.

#15. Rosa Parks died in 2005 at age 92

In 2004, Rosa Parks was diagnosed with progressive dementia, and in 2005, she died of natural causes at age 92. Several memorials were held. She also lay in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington. She was the first woman and second Black person to lie in the Capitol. In Detroit and Montgomery, the front seats of buses were reserved with black ribbons. Rosa was interred between Raymond, who had died in 1977, and her mother.

The post 15 Facts about Rosa Parks appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every month, women, girls, trans men, and nonbinary persons have a period. According to UNICEF, around 1.8 billion people menstruate. Stigma, discrimination, poverty and other issues can make this time of the month difficult and even dangerous. Experts refer to these challenges and barriers to care as “period poverty.” In this article, we’ll explore the definition of period poverty, the facts everyone should know and the best ways to take action.

Period poverty happens when someone can’t access menstrual products, good sanitation, social support and education. While it’s a serious public health issue, many people are unaware of its extent or how to address it.

What is period poverty?

Before discussing period poverty, let’s review what a period is. A period is a part of the menstrual cycle, which is a part of the reproductive system. It affects people who can become pregnant. Typical cycles last between 24-38 days, and when a person gets their period, the cycle begins again. During a period, a person sheds the lining of their uterus, causing bleeding from the vagina. Typical periods last between three days to a week.

When people who ovulate get their first periods, which is usually around 12 years old, they often face new challenges. The first is access to menstrual products and education. If someone can’t get pads or tampons – or doesn’t know how to use them – their period is a very stressful time. School, work and other opportunities are often disruptive. A person’s physical health can suffer as well. As an example, heavy periods, which are periods that cause too much bleeding or bleeding for too long, can lead to complications like anemia and severe pain.

People can also face increased mental and emotional stress, which may be heightened by stigma and discrimination. As the International Planned Parenthood Federation explains, many communities see periods as being “unclean.” This discourages people from seeking help when needed, visiting public spaces or going about their lives as normal. According to the United Nations Population Fund, the onset of menstruation can also increase a person’s sexual vulnerability. They may be viewed as “ready” for sex and marriage even though periods can start as young as seven years old. According to the World Health Organization, period poverty affects at least 500 million women and girls. True numbers are hard to identify.

What should everyone know about period poverty?

Period poverty is a major public health issue around the world, but many people don’t know what it is or the extent of the problem. Here are the most important facts:

#1. Period poverty happens everywhere, but it’s harder to have a period in sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa, which includes countries like Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda, faces significant barriers to proper menstrual hygiene. According to the World Bank, 35% of the population in 2019 lived in extreme poverty. It makes sense that period poverty would be an issue, too. Sanitary pads and other supplies are often too expensive. According to a survey by the BBC, women working minimum wage jobs in Ghana spend $1 out of every $7 they earn on pads. In contrast, people earning minimum wage in the United States spend $3 out of every $1,200.

#2. Period poverty has a huge impact on the right to education

People of any gender can get a period, but period poverty affects more women and girls, which in turn affects their ability to access education. Globally, around 129 million girls are not going to school. Period poverty is one of the reasons why. The World Bank reports that in South Sudan, 57% of girls said they stayed home during their periods, while in Kenya, 70% of girls said their periods hurt their grades. Education is key to a girl’s future, but when their periods disrupt their attendance and grades, a bright future may be dimmed. Girls may even drop out of school entirely, which reduces their employment opportunities.

#3. Period poverty can cause serious health problems

When having a period, people need access to appropriate supplies, such as pads, tampons, menstrual cups and so on. However, when these supplies are unaffordable or otherwise inaccessible, people use what they can find. According to an editorial in The Lancet, makeshift supplies include newspapers, rags, leaves and even breadcrumbs. The resulting health issues, like infections, can be debilitating and even fatal. Even when people do have access to reusable pads or cups, they can be hard to clean without clean water, electricity or gas.

#4. Period poverty, stigma and discrimination affect people’s mental health, too

Period poverty doesn’t only impact physical health. The stress of trying to access appropriate supplies, as well as the stigma and discrimination surrounding bleeding, can cause severe anxiety and depression. According to an article in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, one study in Nepal revealed that girls were forced to sleep outside or in separate huts while having their periods, creating “severe psychological outcomes.” Even in places without such extreme practices, stigma still exists in the embarrassment people feel when buying supplies, the coded phrases for periods and the general lack of education about menstruation. This sends the message that periods are shameful and disgusting.

Addressing period poverty is part of improving health equity. Here’s our article on what health equity is and why it matters.

#5. Incarcerated people face worse rates of period poverty

The rights of incarcerated people are frequently violated. They’re physically and psychologically abused, given arbitrary punishments, denied medical care and so on. The United States, which has the highest incarceration rate in the world, also has a period poverty problem in its prison system. According to a story reported by USA Today, pads in one prison cost $2.63, but jobs paid as little as 30 cents an hour. Instead of saving pennies to afford pads, some people would try making their own supplies, or, with no other options, they would just bleed through their clothes. People with heavy periods or other health issues face even more barriers to care. At the time of writing, more than 35 states don’t have menstrual care protections for incarcerated people, and in the states that do, enforcement of those protections is lacking.

How do you take action against period poverty?

With hundreds of millions of people affected, period poverty is a global health issue. Everyone, including those who don’t get a period, can find ways to take action. Here are five examples:

#1. Talk about period poverty

Many people don’t know about period poverty due to the stigma around the topic. If you want to take action against it, the first step is to get comfortable talking about it. Bring it up with your social network, find advocacy organizations and identify ways to raise awareness. Every community has period poverty to some degree, so it shouldn’t be hard to find opportunities to talk about it.

#2. Donate to organizations focused on period poverty

Most women’s rights and gender equality organizations address period poverty in some way, but there are organizations focused on the issue. The Alliance for Period Supplies, the Pad Project and Project Dignity are just three examples. These organizations raise awareness of period poverty, hold educational workshops, distribute supplies and much more. By donating, you can help support their mission to end period poverty and protect the rights of millions. What about donating supplies? Many local groups accept pad, tampon and cup donations, but financial donations are often preferred as they help address the surrounding issues, such as a lack of clean water and education.

Check out our article on menstrual justice organizations working around the world.

#3. Research what specific period poverty issues affect your community

Period poverty affects every community, but the specifics vary significantly. As an example, a lack of clean water is one of the biggest barriers to menstrual hygiene in sub-Saharan Africa, while in the United States, most people can access safe water and good sanitation. If you want to take action on a local level, research what specific issues are making life harder for people who menstruate. With more detailed information, any work you do will have a greater impact.

#4. Support legislation addressing period poverty

Laws that address the gender pay gap, workplace discrimination, school funding, the rights of incarcerated people and more all have the power to help or harm the battle against period poverty. While the legislative process varies from country to country, everyone can find ways to make their opinions heard. In places like the United States, which uses a representative form of government, people can write to politicians encouraging action on laws impacting period poverty. By increasing legal protections, communities can improve the lives of people for years to come.

#5. Host a fundraiser

Fundraisers are a great way to raise awareness and money for a good cause. You can use the opportunity to connect with local businesses and social justice organizations, as well as people who share your values. Depending on what needs you want to address, you can also invite people to donate supplies rather than money. Food banks and shelters always need pads, tampons, and cups, but they’re often not donated because people don’t realize how important they are. Keep track of your donations carefully, and if possible, let participants know the impact of their gifts.

Interested in becoming a community activist? Check out our article on how to get started.

The post Period Poverty 101: Definition, Facts, Ways to Take Action appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Music has always been important to social movements dedicated to human rights, equality and peace. Some songs have been around for so long, their authors are unknown, but even the oldest songs still resonate today. In this article, we’ll explore 15 songs about human rights, equality, world peace, resistance and freedom.

#1. “We Shall Overcome” (1963)

Multiple artists/Pete Seeger

Considered the theme song of the Civil Rights Movement, “We Shall Overcome” has a long, complex history. Its melody may be related to two European songs from the 1700s, while enslaved Black people also contributed to the song’s evolution. It first emerged as a protest song during a labor strike in 1945-1946. Folk singer Pete Seeger eventually heard the song. His version is one of the best known. Soon, “We Shall Overcome” embedded itself into the soul of the Civil Rights Movement. It still makes frequent appearances at social movement protests around the world.

#2. “A Change is Gonna Come” (1964)

Sam Cooke

American singer Sam Cooke (1931-1964) was one of his era’s most famous performers, but during his 8-year career, he faced racism. After a whites-only hotel refused to serve him, Sam Cooke wrote “A Change is Gonna Come” to express his hopes for a better future. He describes the challenges he’s faced and how long he’s been waiting, but in the song’s refrain, he sings: “I know, I know a change is gonna come.”

#3. “The Times They Are A-Changin” (1964)

Bob Dylan

Written as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam war protests, “The Times They Are A-Changin” is one of Bob Dylan’s most iconic songs. It calls on everyone – from writers and critics, to senators to mothers and fathers – to pay attention and not get in the way of progress. “The order is rapidly fadin’/And the first one now/Will later be last,” Dylan sings. “For the times they are a-changin.’”

#4. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1970)

Gil Scott-Heron

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is a spoken word poem by American poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron. Recorded for a 1970 album, it’s one of the most famous and powerful examples of protest art. In the poem, Scott-Heron lists examples of what the revolution will not be. It will not be brought by Xerox or make you look thinner. It won’t have a theme song written by Francis Scott Key, Tom Jones or Johnny Cash. The song calls on people, especially young people, to get away from TV because “you will not be able to stay home, brother, you will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.” In a time dominated by media and entertainment, the song has only become more relevant.

Many songs about human rights and equality became popular protest songs. Here’s our list of 10 historic resistance songs.

#5. “Bella Ciao” (19th century)

Unknown

Created by farm workers over a hundred years ago, the Italian folk song “Bella Ciao,” which means “Goodbye, Beautiful,” is believed to have been sung by Italians fighting Nazis. Now, it’s sung by freedom fighters and anti-fascists around the world. According to America Domani, it’s made appearances in Ukraine and Iran. Translated, the song tells the story of a young man leaving his girlfriend to join a resistance. He asks her to bury him under the shade of a beautiful flower so that people who pass will know he died for freedom. People around the world record their own versions, but no matter the language, “Bella Ciao” has come to symbolize freedom from tyranny.

#6. “We Got To Have Peace” (1971)

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999) was an American singer-songwriter known as the “Gentle Genius.” He performed with The Impressions, a group famous during the Civil Rights Movement, and then went solo. “We Got To Have Peace” appears on his 1971 album Super Fly. The lyrics present a simple message: “We go to have peace/To keep the world alive/And war to cease.”

#7. “When Will We Be Paid” (1970)

The Staple Singers

The Staple Singers were an American gospel and R&B group. One of the members, Mavis Staples, would go on to have a successful solo career. In 1970, the group released “When Will We Be Paid,” a song describing the discrimination and hardships inflicted on Black people. “We have worked this country from shore to shore,” they sing. They have fought wars in every land and given everything they had, so “When will we be paid for the work we’ve done?”

#8. “People Have the Power” (1988)

Patti Smith

Patti Smith is an American singer, songwriter, poet and artist famous in the New York City punk rock movement. “People Have The Power,” released in 1988, is a powerful, optimistic song declaring that people have the power to change the world. It’s a much-needed sentiment during times of hardships and hopelessness when everything feels like it’s breaking. “My senses newly opened,” Smith sings, “I awakened to the cry/That the people have the power/To redeem the work of fools.”

#9. “Justice” (1989)

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley, the son of Bob Marley, is a Jamaican reggae musician whose music includes social and political themes. The song “Justice,” which was released in 1989, explores waiting for justice and liberty, witnessing and experiencing oppression, and determination. “Justice, they are on my back/Justice, the more the tears/The more, the more we want, justice, justice.”

#10. “People Help the People” (2007)

Cherry Ghost/Birdy

The band Cherry Ghost released “People Help the People” on their first album. The song was a hit in 2007, and then again when singer Birdy released a cover in 2011. The lyrics share a simple message of pain, feeling lost, and helping the people around you. “People help the people, and if you’re homesick, give me your hand and I’ll hold it/People help the people, and nothing will drag you down.” In a world where institutions frequently let us all down, we can ease each other’s burdens by reaching out.

#11. “Through the Eyes of a Child” (2014)

AURORA

Norwegian singer, songwriter and producer AURORA has been involved in several social justice causes such as anti-racism and climate action. The song “Through the Eyes of a Child,” released in 2014, describes a longing to see the world with innocence. When human rights violations and inequalities are rampant, it’s common to feel a desire for innocence and hope. While the world needs us to fight, we also need time to rest and feel optimistic.

#12. “Fight Like A Girl” (2020)

Raye Zaragoza

Raye Zaragoza is an American singer-songwriter. She has a mixed racial heritage (Japanese, Mexican and O’Odham), and many of her songs explore themes about identity, social justice and being a woman of color. “Fight Like A Girl,” which appears on her sophomore album, is an intersectional anthem for all women. The chorus cries, “Take me to the water, take me to the snow/Where all the souls our mothers had to go/Take me to sweet sights, teach me your battle cries/Take me to the front lines of the war, to fight like a girl.”

#13. “Rise Up” (2015)

Andra Day

Andra Day is an American R&B singer and award-winning actor. In 2015, she released her debut album, on which appeared the song “Rise Up.” An inspiring and powerful song, the lyrics talk about moving mountains, rising like the day, and doing it a thousand times, again and again, even though “you feel like dying.” While Day wrote the song in response to personal struggles and a friend’s cancer diagnosis, it quickly became a theme for the Black Lives Matter movement.

#14. “White Man’s World” (2017)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

With his band the 400 Unit, American singer-songwriter and actor Jason Isbell is known for writing deep, politically resonant music. In 2017, the band released “White Man’s World,” which appeared on The Nashville Sound Album. It focuses on Isbell’s reckoning with his white male privilege. The song’s most powerful lyrics come from the chorus: “There’s no such thing as someone else’s war/Your creature comforts aren’t the only things worth fighting for.” It calls to mind the activist Fannie Lou Hammer’s famous quote, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”

#15. “Get Together” (1967)

Dino Valenti/The Youngbloods

The Youngbloods were an American rock band active in the 1960s. This era was a time of immense change and struggle in the form of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the hippie movement and more. The song “Get Together,” originally performed by Dino Valenti, encourages people to “get together” and “try to love one another right now.” Jesse Colin Young, one of the members of The Youngbloods, heard the song and was struck by the opening lines, “Love is but a song we sing, fear’s the way we die.” The song has since come to symbolize unity and a persistent longing for peace.

The post 15 Inspiring Songs about Human Rights and Equality appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are frameworks of inclusion and belonging within an organization. The goal is to promote full participation and equal treatment of all employees, especially those historically discriminated against. While DEI is a common phrase for corporations, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations also need strong policies to harness the innovative, productive benefits of diversity. For organizations working in human rights, strong DEI frameworks go hand-in-hand with respecting everyone’s rights in the workplace and beyond. Leaders play a vital role in setting the tone for the workplace, managing tensions, and harnessing the power of diverse terms. This requires skills like emotional regulation, an understanding of power dynamics, excellent communication, cross-cultural management and much more. In this article, we’ll describe nine online courses that help NGO professionals lead diverse teams.

Table of Contents

#1. Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations (University of Michigan)
#2. Leading Diverse Teams (University of California, Irvine)
#3. Leading Culturally Diverse Teams in the Workplace (Deakin University)
#4. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (ESSEC Business School)
#5. Creating Psychological Safety for Diverse Teams (Big Think)
#6. Optimizing Diversity on Teams (University of Pennsylvania)
#7. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (University of Pittsburgh)
#8. Organizational Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Rice University)
#9. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace (StellenboschX)

#1. Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations (University of Michigan)

Diverse teams are proven to be more innovative and productive, but only when equity and inclusion are also present. Leaders play a huge role in a team’s success. They must understand how to design and lead diverse, equitable and inclusive teams and organizations. This beginner’s course, which has four modules, is designed for learners from various backgrounds and starting knowledge points. Professor of Management and Organizations Lindred Greer serves as the instructor for this course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe the benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations
• Identify your privilege, implicit bias and microaggressions in your organization
• Incorporate considerations (such as conflict management skills and emotional regulation) into leadership
• Develop tools on how to apply DEI strategies, such as the role of data and metrics

How you will learn

“Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations” is divided into four modules. The whole course can be completed in 3-4 weeks with 7 hours of work per week. The schedule is flexible, so you can take longer to finish the course if necessary. Coursework includes readings, discussion prompts, app items and videos. There’s a final 5-minute quiz worth 100% of your grade. There’s also a final assignment, but it’s ungraded. If you want the certificate, the fee is $49, but you can access all course materials on the free audit track.

#2. Leading Diverse Teams (University of California, Irvine)

Leaders in charge of diverse teams need a strong set of skills and competencies. This beginner-level course presents frameworks, principles and practices on how participants can use their cross-cultural business experiences across different regions, countries, organizations and teams. Camille Funk, who is the director of Instructional Design and Learning Innovation, teaches the course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Develop a working knowledge of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) framework, including the four CQ capabilities and how they apply in the workplace
• Analyze how implicit bias affects organizations and decision-making processes
• Describe the strategies, practices and policies employees, teams, leaders and organizations can use to reduce the negative outcomes of implicit bias
• Create an action plan on the most important CQ capabilities for your organization

How you’ll learn

This course is divided into four modules, three of which take around an hour to complete. The third takes about two hours. When you spend around two hours on the course each week, you can finish it in just three weeks. The course is self-paced, and if you choose to get the certificate, the fee is $49. If you select the free audit track, you still have access to all course material. Coursework consists of readings, discussion prompts, and four quizzes, each of which is worth 25% of your final grade. To pass, you must earn at least 80%.

DEI’s main goal is to foster equality and equity in the workplace. Here are examples of what that looks like.

#3. Leading Culturally Diverse Teams in the Workplace (Deakin University)

Culturally diverse teams require cross-cultural management skills. In this course, participants will develop global perspectives on the impact of cultural diversity, its benefits and its challenges. They’ll also learn how to lead and communicate with culturally diverse teams. Dr. Puva P. Arumugam and Dr. Sneha Chrispial are the instructors.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe cultures and their many dimensions
• Describe the MBI Model
• Identify diversity within your teams and what opportunities and challenges are present
• Explore cultural diversity, its benefits, and how to enhance the team’s decision-making capabilities

How you’ll learn

This course, which is for intermediate-level participants, takes two weeks to complete with three hours of work per week. You can buy this course for $129 or subscribe to the FutureLearn platform. If you choose to buy the course on its own, you get access to both a printed and digital certificate. The free audit track gives you access for about two weeks, but you won’t have access to graded materials. Coursework includes videos, readings, polls and discussions.

#4. Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (ESSEC Business School) 

Diversity can be a double-edged sword. There are many benefits, but unique challenges often present themselves, as well. This course helps participants understand the paradox of diversity and how to manage it. Dr. Junko Takagi is the course instructor.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe diversity concepts and issues and how they’re relevant in the workplace
• Analyze your reactions in the context of social categorization impact and diverse social settings
• Apply a cognitive method for mobilizing diversity to a diversity case
• Identify diversity and inclusion best practices

How you’ll learn

“Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace” is a beginner’s course, so no prerequisites are required. There are four modules, and with three hours of work per week, you can complete the course in about three weeks. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion prompts, peer-reviewed assignments and quizzes. It’s unclear what grade you need on the peer reviews to pass, but for quizzes, you need to score 75% or higher. If you want to complete these graded assignments and earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay a $79 fee for the course. Auditing the course for free gives you access to all materials except graded assignments.

Interested in workplace activities that can help foster equity and inclusion? Check out our article on 13 diversity activities. 

#5. Creating Psychological Safety for Diverse Teams (Big Think)

The modern workforce is very diverse, so psychological safety is vital. What is psychological safety? It occurs when team members feel comfortable and safe, so they can take risks and generate more innovative outcomes. This course, which is produced by Big Think, offers insights from leaders from organizations like the New York Times, the NBA and more. Charles Duhigg, Gretchen Rubin, Shane Battier, Jane Hyun, and Fred Hassan have videos in the course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe what psychological safety is and why it matters
• Identify key concepts like inclusive team leadership and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB)
• Explore how to get out of your comfort zone
• Describe how to manage across cultures

How you’ll learn

This intermediate course takes just 22 minutes and 19 seconds to complete. It consists of five videos. There doesn’t appear to be additional coursework. When taken on LinkedIn, you’ll need to sign up for their learning platform, which does offer a free trial month. Organizations can also purchase the course for their teams. You’ll get access to a project file and a certificate of completion.

#6. Optimizing Diversity on Teams(University of Pennsylvania)

Through social science perspectives, this course introduces participants to diversity and how it can improve team performance, creativity and innovation. You’ll also learn how to manage common challenges such as conflict, bias and discrimination. Dr. Aviva Legatt and Dr. Derek Newberry lead the course, which is part of the Culture-Driven Team Building Specialization.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Apply strategies to develop diversity initiatives
• Describe basic concepts of difference, bias and conflict
• Identify the reasons why conflicts occur in diverse workplaces
• Analyze real-world cases of companies creating inclusive workplaces

How you’ll learn

This beginner’s course is divided into four modules, so with about three hours of work per week, you can finish the course in four weeks. The course is self-paced. Coursework includes videos, readings, quizzes, peer-reviewed assignments and discussion prompts. To earn a certificate for the course, you have to sign up for Coursera’s premium option. You get a 7-day free trial, after which you need to pay $79 a month to continue accessing the course and earning your certificate. With the fee, you also get unlimited access to all the courses in the Specialization. You can also audit the course for free, although you won’t get access to the graded materials.

#7. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (University of Pittsburgh)

This course introduces participants to the gender, sexuality and women’s studies field, which is essential to understanding diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The course uses many interdisciplinary concepts, tools and methods that will be useful to any profession. Julie Beaulieu and Susan Marine are the instructors for this course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe key terms around gender and sexuality and why they’re significant in a social and political context
• Explore the history of gender theories from the 1970s to the present
• Analyze the history of sexuality and sexual identity discrimination and how it plays out in the workplace
• Examine discrimination and oppression against transgender people in a workplace context

How you’ll learn

This self-paced beginner’s course takes about three weeks to complete when you spend five hours studying each week. There are four modules consisting of coursework like readings, videos, discussion prompts, peer-reviewed assignments and quizzes. To pass a quiz, you’ll need to score at least 80% or higher. To earn a certificate, you’ll need to pay $49, but you can audit the course for free.

DEI consultants can be a very helpful resource for organizations. Here’s our article on what DEI consultants do.

#8. Organizational Leadership in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Rice University)

This four-course specialization introduces participants to concepts and strategies that improve DEI across organizational planning, programming, training and assessment. By the course’s end, you’ll be equipped with tools, best practices and strategies that help you build successful DEI efforts. Richard Anthony Baker, the executive director for Institutional Equity, AA/EEO and University Title XI Coordinator, teaches the course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Describe major terms relevant to diversity, equity and inclusion
• Identify the differences between forms of discriminatory thinking and behavior
• Explore recruitment strategies, what a successful DEI statement looks like, and how to assess effectiveness
• Analyze the benefits of benchmarking DEI efforts internally and against other institutions

How you’ll learn

With six hours of work per week, you can complete the four courses in one month. All courses in this specialization use a blend of videos, readings, discussion prompts, peer-reviewed assignments and graded quizzes. Because this is a specialization, you need to sign up for Coursera to get unlimited access and a certificate. You can also audit the courses for free, although you won’t get access to the graded assignments or feedback.

#9. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace (StellenboschX)

Diversity, equity and inclusion is very important to the long-term success of organizations. Professionals wanting to apply DEI in their workplace will benefit from this course. Participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of DEI, its importance in the workplace, how to develop an action plan and much more. Menanteau Beukes, a lecturer in the Department of Industrial Psychology, teaches the course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Define key concepts about diversity, equity, bias, discrimination and inclusion
• Analyze DEI’s importance and how it affects business
• Develop key tools and methods regarding DEI targets, goals and policies
• Describe how technology and the digital age affect DEI

How you’ll learn

This is an intermediate course, but no specific prerequisites are required. With 5-8 hours of work per week, you can complete the course in just two weeks, but the course is self-paced. Coursework includes readings, discussion forums and activities. For a $149 fee, you can get full access to the course and a verified certificate at the end. The free audit track gives you limited access (around two weeks), but you won’t receive feedback on any graded assignments.

Want to learn more about creating a more inclusive workplace? Here’s our article on seven ways to start the process.

The post 9 Online Courses on Leading Diverse Teams appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The right to vote is a basic human right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guides human rights law around the world, says everyone has the right to take part in government either directly or through freely chosen representatives. It also states that the government’s authority should come from the will of the people, which entails free and fair elections through “universal and equal suffrage.” That means people of all genders must be free to vote. For centuries, women either did not have the right to vote at all or the restrictions were so rigid, the right could hardly be considered universal and equal. In this article, we’ll explore the history of women’s suffrage, what countries achieved it first, and what challenges face women’s rights to vote.

New Zealand was the first country to give women the right to vote in 1893 followed by Nordic countries like Finland and Norway. The United States and the United Kingdom achieved suffrage in 1920 and 1928, respectively. Though voting rights are threatened in many places, women’s suffrage is essentially present in every country. 

What countries gave women the right to vote first?

New Zealand was the first country to achieve women’s suffrage. For years, campaigners like Kate Sheppard petitioned Parliament to give women the right to vote. In 1893, the governor finally signed a new Electoral Act, which made New Zealand the world’s first self-governing country to give women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Just a year later, the South Australian Parliament passed legislation that gave women both the right to vote and to stand for elections, the latter of which New Zealand had not yet achieved. This made South Australia the first electorate in the world to give women equal political rights. Most Nordic countries gave women the right to vote in 1906 (Finland), 1907 (Norway), and 1915 (Denmark and Iceland).

Women weren’t always forbidden from voting before New Zealand and Australia’s legislation. As an example, Sweden gave some women the right to vote in elections as early as 1718. Female taxpaying members of city guilds had this right until 1772 when it was rescinded. It wasn’t until 1921 that all women in Sweden got the right to vote. In the United States, the state of New Jersey allowed single women who owned property to vote in 1776. The state was also unique in that it let African Americans vote if they met residency and property requirements. Both eligible women and people of color living in New Jersey were later stripped of the right to vote in 1807.

Interested in learning more about women’s rights. Here are 11 facts.

When did the United States and the United Kingdom give women the right to vote?

The best-known women’s suffrage movements were based in two places: the United States and the United Kingdom. When the United States developed its constitution, it gave the states the power to set voting requirements. This resulted in states limiting the right to vote to white men. The women’s suffrage movement in the United States began in the mid-19th century. In 1848, the first women’s rights convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York, where the group agreed to advocate for voting rights for women. Progress was slow, but by 1896, four states had given women the right to vote. Women’s clubs worked on voting rights alongside issues like better education, liquor prohibition and unionization. The 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote in 1920.

As in the United States, women in the UK started pushing for voting rights in the mid-19th century. According to Historic England, the London National Society for Women’s Suffrage and the Manchester National Society for Women’s Suffrage launched the first campaigns. They released pamphlets, petitioned supporters and held public meetings. As the movement expanded and unified, the suffragettes faced increasingly hostile resistance. Some suffragettes responded with more extremist methods such as breaking windows and going on hunger strikes. Many were jailed, which led to tensions within the movement, but when World War I broke out, the movement for women’s rights was interrupted. By the war’s end, sentiments toward women’s suffrage had changed, so that by 1928, the UK based the Equal Franchise Act. All women over 21 were given the right to vote.

When did other countries give women the right to vote?

While several countries, especially those in Europe, granted women the right to vote in the late 19th and early 20th century, some places followed much later. France gave women the right to vote in 1944, while countries like Indonesia, Japan, and Senegal achieved women’s suffrage in 1945. Mexico granted women the right to vote in 1953. In a very unusual move for that part of the world, Switzerland did not give women the right to vote in national elections until 1971. Some countries’ rights are also affected by the form of government and when nations become independent. As an example, Namibia gave women the right to vote in 1989, which seems late, but the nation had been colonized first as a German protectorate, and then occupied by South African forces during WWI. Namibia officially became independent in 1990.

Countries that give women the right to vote may not have great records on women’s rights overall. Saudi Arabia, where women have technically had the right to vote and stand as candidates since 2015, has a poor record on women’s rights. According to Amnesty International, the nation’s Personal Status Law (PSL), which passed in 2022, codifies the male guardianship system and discrimination against women in “most aspects of family life.” Saudi Arabia also does not hold national elections at all; it’s an absolute monarchy. There’s also not been a municipal election since 2015.

Voting is just one way women are empowered. Here’s our article on women’s empowerment jobs.

Where can women not vote at all?

Women can technically vote everywhere except in Vatican City, where the Pope has been the head of state since 1929. Only cardinals, who are all men, can elect the next pope. They are sealed into the Sistine Chapel for a secret discussion. Once votes are counted, the ballots are burned. The smoke they produce is either black, which means the vote failed, or white, which signals a new pope has been chosen. This is an extremely unique and exclusionary electoral process for a unique type of leader.

Neither women nor men vote in Eritrea, which has been under a dictatorship by an unelected president for three decades. After a long history of colonization and occupation by European and Ethiopian forces, the country gained independence in 1993. While its 1997 constitution guaranteed civil rights and a limit on executive power, there’s never been an election. According to the 2023 Human Rights Watch report on Eritrea, the dictatorship has been consistently oppressing its people with forced labor and conscription into the military or civil service.

What were the challenges facing women’s right to vote?

All countries have faced opposition to women’s suffrage. A CNN article describes just a few of the historical arguments. In the US and UK, religion was often brought up. In the Bible, Eve disobeys God first, which, according to opponents of women’s suffrage, meant women were inherently unequal. Voting would change nothing. There were also concerns about women canceling out their husband’s votes, abandoning their families, and somehow becoming more masculine. Men weren’t the only ones to oppose voting rights for women; there were also groups of women worried about the consequences of voting and how it would impact families, children and traditional gender roles.

Conflict within suffrage movements also presented problems. It often centered on racial discrimination. In Australia, one of the first countries to achieve women’s suffrage, most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (which would include women) weren’t even given the option to enroll and vote in federal elections until 1962. They weren’t required to enroll and vote until 1984, which is required of every other citizen. Racial discrimination also tainted the suffrage movement in the United States. While the movement relied on the support of Black people, leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony unleashed a wave of racist rhetoric when Black men got the right to vote before women. Racism split the movement, and while women got the right to vote in the 19th century, the rights of Black women weren’t fully secured until the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Native American women, who also played an important role in suffrage movements, had limited rights until Native Americans got citizenship rights in 1924.

Restricting women from voting is one form of gender discrimination. Here’s our article about gender discrimination and how it harms everyone.

Could women ever lose the right to vote?

Once human rights are enshrined in international law or national constitutions, it’s generally very difficult to revoke them. People enjoy having rights like the right to vote, and if those rights are threatened, groups tend to mobilize quickly in protest. It would also take a lot of time and legislative action to undo something like the 19th Amendment. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, however. As this article explored in brief, voting rights have been rescinded before. Women and people of color in New Jersey lost their right to vote, as did the few women in Sweden who could vote between 1718 and 1772. The difference now is that voting rights for women are nearly universally considered a fundamental right. While it varies by region, most people are in favor of women’s suffrage, so the thought of taking that right away is unacceptable.

The right to vote can be undermined in a variety of other ways, however. The Taliban’s control of Afghanistan is a prime example. Afghanistan’s constitution gave women universal suffrage and the right to run for office in 1964, but under Taliban control, women’s rights are eroding. In 2023, the UN released a statement calling the country one of the world’s most repressive places for women. The country’s most recent constitution from 2004 is suspended. Whatever new constitution the Taliban eventually establishes is unlikely to respect women’s voting rights. Even in places where an authoritarian regime has not forcibly seized power, women’s right to vote can be threatened by cultural and social norms, lack of education, harassment, economic disparities and a lack of representation in politics. Protecting the right to vote begins with legislation, but goes much deeper. We all have a responsibility to ensure equal rights.

The post When Did Women Get The Right To Vote? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Starting a job in human rights can be quite intense. You’ll learn about new team members, processes, terminology, working culture, projects, goals and so much more. Although you should receive an induction in your new job, many organizations struggle to allocate an appropriate amount of time and resources to onboard new employees. We’ve curated a list of 10 courses that might ease your transition by equipping you with skills that are helpful in most contexts. All courses below are included in Coursera plus, which is currently available at a discount. If you do not have access to a suitable payment method, consider applying for financial aid.

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#1 Human Rights for Open Societies (Utrecht University)

Offered by the University of Utrecht, this course explores the challenges faced by human rights worldwide, including violent suppression of protests and discrimination. Focusing on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the course guides participants on when and how to address human rights violations through the European Court of Human Rights. Covering issues like freedom of expression, voting rights, discrimination, and rights of vulnerable groups, the course is beneficial for individuals entering human rights organizations or seeking to enhance their knowledge in this field. It provides a comprehensive understanding of human rights, emphasizing their importance in fostering an open and equal society.

#2 Getting started with Microsoft Teams (Microsoft)

In a human rights job, effective administration is crucial for coordinating efforts, sharing information, and working together. Team members often need to collaborate across different geographical areas and time zones. Organizations like Amnesty International and the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) are using Microsoft Teams for emails, meetings and chats. If you are working in one of the offices, you will be using Microsoft Teams on most days. To get a head start, it makes sense to learn the basics.

#3 Foundations of Project Management (Google)

Project management is essential in human rights work: to navigate complex initiatives, allocate resources effectively, respond promptly to urgent issues, facilitate collaboration, measure impact, manage risks, maintain accountability, and strategically plan for the advancement of human rights goals. Regardless of your role in a human rights organization, you will use project management methods and tools frequently. Needs assessments, evaluation surveys, stakeholder mapping, project planning and budgeting are just some of the areas you will be involved in. In this course you will acquire basic project management skills, explore the project management life cycle, and learn about roles and responsibilities. While every human rights organization has their “own way of doing” things, this course will equip you with a helpful foundation.

#4 International Organizations Management (University of Geneva)

Speaking from my own experience, it takes years until you “understand” a complex human rights organization. This includes learning about global structures, strategic frameworks, working culture, power dynamics, internal politics and much more. While you’ll have to learn most of these things on the job, there are aspects you can explore already beforehand. This course on international organizations management introduces you to global organizations, focusing on the United Nations. You’ll learn about its mandate, objectives, structure, and activities, covering areas such as humanitarian protection, human rights, peace and security, and economic development. Although the UN is unique, many of the learnings in the course can be applied to other organizations. In any case familiarizing with the terminology used in the course will be a great asset when starting a job in human rights.

#5 Positive Psychology: Resilience (University of Pennsylvania)

If you are similar to me when I started, self-care and resilience won’t be your top priority. After 10 years working in human rights I think very differently about it. Human rights work is tough. Resilience is crucial. Developing routines for self-care and strengthening your resilience is essential. Without it the risk of burning out is very high. In this course by University of Pennsylvania you will learn about the protective factors that make a person resilient, you will learn strategies to reduce anxiety, and you will learn to identify issues that undermine resilience. If you choose to take only one course in this list, this is the one you should take to ensure you can – sustainably and for a long time – contribute to human rights impact.

#6 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector (University of Buffalo)

If you’re moving from a business job to a nonprofit job, you’ll discover surprising similarities. Nonprofits often require the same skills and competencies. However, there are some crucial differences too. The nonprofit sector has its own unique dynamics, structures, and challenges. This course by University of Buffalo provides insights into how nonprofit organizations operate, their goals, and the broader social impact they seek. You will learn about the different roles and responsibilities in nonprofit organizations and you will explore governance and leadership models. Learning about these topics can help you better navigate the organizational complexities. It might also enable you to better understand how your role fits into the bigger picture and how it contributes to the organization’s impact.

#7 Improving Leadership & Governance in Nonprofit Organizations (University of Buffalo)

If you found the previous course engaging, consider diving further into leadership and governance with the “Improving Leadership & Governance in Nonprofit Organizations” course. This program equips participants to identify and analyze leadership and governance issues within nonprofit organizations. It provides practical strategies for enhancing board performance and guides individuals in working collaboratively with boards to implement these improvements. This course is especially valuable for those transitioning from leadership roles in the corporate sector, offering a valuable tool for learning and reflection before taking on new challenges in the human rights field.

#8 Global Perspectives of DEI in the Workplace (University of Colorado)

Even the most renowned human rights organizations still have a lot of work to do when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). This course encourages participants to reflect on their personal experiences and understand how these experiences shape their beliefs. Participants will identify strategies for resisting and surviving marginalization, and learn how they can establish support and awareness for marginalized groups. Upon completion, participants will be better prepared to integrate DEI principles into the workplace and adept at recognizing and addressing bias in recruitment. Overall the topics covered in this course are highly relevant for everyone working in the human rights sector, with diverse teams and on sensitive human rights topics.

#9 Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution (ESSEC Business School)

Most human rights jobs require skills in negotiation, mediation and conflict resolution. As advocacy officer you might negotiate with government officials about policy changes, as a staff member you might mediate between colleagues and as a manager you might engage in conflict resolution on sensitive topics. With a focus on negotiation skills, cross-cultural competence, and conflict resolution, this course provides a practical learning experience through case studies and online negotiations with peers. The program includes a Capstone Project, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in analyzing negotiation situations, conducting negotiations in challenging environments, and resolving conflicts as mediators.

#10 Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation (University of Colorado)

This course focuses on some of the core tasks in most human rights roles: writing, design and presentation. You will learn how to craft clear documents, design visually appealing presentations and speak more confidently in front of your team or the public. Overall, the course provides a practical, step-by-step guide to refine your communication strategies. In the context of human rights work, where effective expression is vital, this course serves as a valuable tool for articulating new ideas persuasively in the workplace.

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The post 10 Courses to Prepare for Your Human Rights Job appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Prejudice fuels the unfair and unequal treatment of people around the world, and while we may hope we don’t hold prejudiced views, it’s common to see others differently based on their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion and so on. Acknowledging this fact – and working to reduce prejudice – is the best way forward. In this article, we’ll explore what prejudice is, how it works and what it looks like.

Prejudice refers to negative feelings, attitudes and beliefs toward individuals and groups based on preconceived notions about ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, age, religion and much more.

What is prejudice?

The word “prejudice” has origins in Latin for “before” and “judgment.” It describes unfavorable feelings toward individuals or groups based on preconceived notions of their ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, age, disability, religion and other characteristics. While every individual is distinct, prejudice lumps all members of a group or classification together.

There are a few theories about why prejudice exists and how it works: social identity theory, realistic conflict theory, scapegoating theory, authoritarian personality theory and culture theory.

Social identity theory

According to social identity theory, people always organize themselves into groups they belong to and groups they don’t belong to. This categorization boosts a person’s self-esteem. Finding community with a group is not wrong, but many people end up looking down on those they deem outside their groups. They may exhibit prejudice.

Realistic conflict theory

This theory focuses on limited resources and what happens when people compete for them. When resources are few and far between, people engage in more conflict. This increases negative feelings and attitudes between competing groups. The theory applies even when a lack of resources is conceptual. As an example, while social status and political power are intangible, people tend to believe there’s only so much to go around.

Scapegoating theory

When individuals or communities experience challenges, they may direct blame to an innocent party. This is known as “scapegoating.” As an example, when it comes to unemployment, immigrants are often scapegoated in the United States. “They’re taking our jobs!” is a common phrase linked to prejudice. Scapegoats tend to be already marginalized and stereotyped groups.

Authoritarian personality theory

This theory wonders if certain people are predisposed to authoritarianism. They tend to be more trusting and respectful of authority figures, and more likely to not question that authority. They exhibit strict, inflexible views of the world and strongly dislike uncertainty or nuance. Because this personality type is so black-and-white, they could be more susceptible to prejudice, as well, since prejudicial views are also clear-cut. They’re also more vulnerable to prejudicial propaganda created by authority figures.

Culture theory 

The culture theory of prejudice theorizes that prejudice is deeply rooted in society. It passes from generation to generation, sustaining itself through stereotypes, institutional discrimination and community beliefs. If someone is surrounded by friends and family who exhibit prejudicial views, they’re more likely to develop and express similar views. What’s considered “normal” or “acceptable” varies from group to group, but the desire to belong encourages people to believe or behave in similar ways.

Many people are unaware of the prejudiced views they hold. Here are ten examples of unconscious bias.

What five facts should everyone know about prejudice?

Prejudice is complicated because people are complicated, but there are certain facts that can help you understand how these feelings work.

#1. Prejudice may serve a biological purpose

There’s lots of research about how prejudices like racism and sexism are taught, and while that’s true, the mechanisms of prejudice may be hard-wired in the human brain. As a blog on The Conversation explains, prejudice may have evolved because, in the past, it helped us avoid danger. How? At its core, prejudice is about quickly associating something – like a visual cue or a sound – with a certain meaning. As an example, our ancestors had to deal with predators on a regular basis, so certain cues always signaled danger. If we were met with something unfamiliar, it was safer to assume the new thing was dangerous. Unfortunately, our brain doesn’t always make correct judgments, which leads to prejudices related to ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics.

#2. You can unlearn prejudice

While the tendency to be prejudiced may be the result of evolution, it doesn’t mean we’re all doomed to think prejudiced thoughts forever. The first step is being aware of our biases and prejudices. Next, research shows prejudices can be reduced when people from different groups interact with each other. Contact reveals the inaccuracy of certain beliefs, while relationships motivate people to more closely examine and eliminate their prejudices. Prejudice can also be reduced when caught early in childhood. While kids are not born with prejudices, they quickly learn based on the views of their parents and close family members, the media and other environmental influences. Teaching kids about tolerance, acceptance and diversity can help reduce prejudices before they become deeply rooted.

#3. Certain groups face more prejudice than others

People can develop prejudices based on just about any characteristic, but certain groups are targeted more often than others. According to the United Nations, people of African Descent are among the most discriminated-against groups around the world. Many also hold prejudices against migrants, refugees, women, people living in poverty, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and ethnic minorities. The reasons vary, but historical oppression plays a big role in which groups receive the most prejudiced treatment. If a group has been the subject of prejudiced beliefs and stereotypes for a long time, they tend to keep being targeted.

Prejudice often leads to racism. To learn more about where racism came from, check out this article.

#4. Prejudice and discrimination are technically different

Prejudice and discrimination are often used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same. Prejudice refers to a person’s feelings and attitudes toward a certain group, while discrimination refers to tangible actions based on those beliefs. Someone can hold prejudiced beliefs and never act on them, although it’s unusual for a belief to not manifest in some way. Discrimination can also be structural or institutional, while prejudice lives inside people’s heads. As soon as those thoughts are expressed outwardly, however, that’s when they become discrimination.

#5. Prejudice and discrimination affect health

Researchers have examined the connections between prejudice, discrimination and health for decades. When people are not treated equally based on prejudiced views about them, it affects their ability to receive services such as a good education, housing and employment. These are important health determinants. Prejudice can also affect the quality of healthcare a person can access. If a health provider holds prejudiced views, it’s likely to affect how they talk to a patient, what treatments they offer and how seriously they take any health concerns. According to the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, healthcare discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community has become “particularly visible” in recent years. This has led to people delaying or avoiding medical treatment for fear of discrimination.

What are examples of prejudice?

Prejudice affects many individuals and groups, but what are some of the most prevalent examples? Here are seven:

#1. Racial prejudice

Racial prejudice manifests as negative feelings and attitudes towards people based on their ethnicity or perceived ethnicity. It commonly targets ethnic minorities, which manifests as structural or institutional discrimination, but people can hold racial prejudices against any race/ethnicity.

#2. Gender prejudice

Gender prejudice is prejudice based on someone’s gender or perceived gender. Because women and girls are still treated unequally throughout the world, gender prejudice typically targets them.

Interested in learning more about gender prejudice? Check out our article on the subject.

#3. Homophobia and transphobia

Homophobia refers to prejudiced views against gay people. While homophobia targets people based on their sexuality, transphobia targets people based on gender identity. Transphobia is a specific prejudice against transgender people. Homophobia and transphobia can also affect anyone who doesn’t appear to fall within the gender binary, regardless of their actual sexual or gender identity.

#4. Xenophobia

Xenophobia is prejudice against people based on their nationality. It often targets immigrants and refugees, but anyone perceived as a “foreigner” can be affected. Xenophobia is related to racial prejudice, but while racial prejudice can affect people from the same country, xenophobia focuses on nationality, culture and origin.

#5. Classism

Classism is a form of prejudice focused on someone’s socioeconomic status. It affects people experiencing poverty the most. When elevated to discrimination, classism reduces a person’s access to essentials like healthcare, housing, employment, education and more.

#6. Religious prejudice

Religious prejudice refers to negative feelings and attitudes towards people based on their religious beliefs. Prejudice can also affect people based on the fact they follow no religion.

#7. Ageism

Ageism is prejudice based on a person’s age. It can affect people because they’re perceived as either “too old” or “too young.” It’s common in workplace settings, but it’s present in healthcare and social interactions, too.

The post Prejudice 101: Definition, Facts, Examples appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Global Institute for Human Rights Certificate Program, May 28-31, 2024 – Registration is now open.

The Global Institute of Human Rights Certificate Program is an immersive, live virtual online course of study aimed at undergraduate students, graduate students, and new career professionals passionate about a career in human rights advocacy, or just looking to enhance their understanding and awareness of the laws, norms, policies, movements, and strategies critical towards addressing the world’s most pressing human rights challenges. This opportunity is unique compared to traditional academic studies of human rights, as the focus of this program is to bring working human rights advocates from around the world to the table, allowing them to share their experiences with the next generation of human rights advocates.

Learn more

Program highlights include:

• Theory Blended with the Examination of Developing Trends in Human Rights
• Unique Chance to Directly Learn from Leaders and Experienced Practitioners in the Field
• Opportunity to Discover How Human Rights Intersects with Other Careers
• Sessions designed to offer a Gateway to Becoming an Effective Leader & Advocate for Human Rights
• Opportunity to Network with Peers & Fellow Advocates from Across the Globe

Taking place May 28 through 31, the 2024 Global Institute for Human Rights Certificate Program will be a four-day, live, virtual (online) experience that aims to provide a firm understanding of a range of issues, including, but not limited to: LGBTQ+ rights; refugee and migrant rights; women, peace, and security; environmental and climate justice; artificial intelligence for good; and access to justice and technology.

All participants who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Enroll now

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The gender binary teaches that people must be either exclusively male or exclusively female, but humans are much more complex and nuanced. This has been the case for thousands of years. Across the world, people have embodied a wide range of gender identities and expressions unrelated to their physical anatomy or genetic makeup. When someone identifies as neither exclusively male nor female, they are nonbinary. In this article, we’ll explore the definition of this term, what everyone should know about it, and examples of nonbinary identities and terms.

Being nonbinary means not identifying as exclusively male or female. A nonbinary person may identify more with a certain gender, with all genders or with no gender at all. Within the nonbinary community, people identify with a wide variety of pronouns, sexual orientations and gender expressions.

What’s the definition of nonbinary?

Before we explore what being nonbinary means, we have to first define the binary. The gender binary is the concept that only two genders – male and female – exist. The binary also assumes that gender is fixed, that gender and sex should always correlate, and that people should conform to expectations of their gender. Western cultures tend to adhere to the gender binary, which leads some to mistakenly believe the binary is ingrained in human nature. There are many examples of multi-gender systems, however, which support the theory that gender is a social and political construct.

When it appears in discussions about the gender binary, the term “nonbinary” refers to gender identities that don’t adhere to the strict male/female system. People who embrace this identity may identify with certain genders more than others, all genders at once or no gender at all. Gender expressions vary significantly, as well. It’s also important to recognize the differences between gender, sex and sexuality. A person’s gender identity is separate from their sexual or romantic orientation. Gender is also distinct from sex, which refers to a set of biological attributes. While sex is usually categorized as either male or female, there’s variation. Gender is socially constructed and flexible, so people who are nonbinary may shift the identities and terms that feel the most comfortable over time.

How are the terms “transgender” and “nonbinary” related?

Many nonbinary people also identify as transgender. How are these terms similar or different from each other? Transgender (abbreviated as “trans”) refers to gender identities that don’t align with the sex a person was assigned at birth. As an example, when someone assigned female at birth identifies as a man, they are a trans man. Conversely, when someone does identify with the sex they were assigned at birth, they are “cisgender.” Because nonbinary people don’t identify exclusively with the sex they were assigned at birth, they are part of the transgender community. Whether or not a nonbinary person describes themselves as trans is a personal choice.

Are you interested in learning more about gender identity? Here’s our list of five gender identity courses available online.

What should everyone know about the nonbinary identity?

A person’s gender identity and gender expressions are deeply personal, but certain facts help increase recognition and acceptance in society. Here are five of the most important:

#1. Nonbinary people have always existed

When it comes to gender diversity, skeptics often question the credibility of identities by pointing out how new the terms are. While the creation of new terms and expressions doesn’t automatically negate their legitimacy, the fact is that nonbinary people have always existed. According to a PBS map of gender-diverse cultures, multiple countries have “recognized, revered, and integrated” more than the male and female genders for hundreds if not thousands of years. Some examples include Hawaii, Thailand, Madagascar, New Zealand and Peru.

#2. Nonbinary people use a variety of pronouns

Using someone’s proper pronouns is respectful. Because nonbinary people don’t adhere to the gender binary, many use the neutral pronouns “they” and “them.” However, not all nonbinary people use these pronouns, so it’s important to politely ask if you’re not sure. Nonbinary people can use any pronoun or no pronouns. Some examples include he/him/his, she/her/hers, ze/zir/zirs, and ze/hir/hirs.

#3. Nonbinary people vary in gender expressions

Nonbinary people can embody a variety of gender expressions as well as pronouns. What is gender expression? It’s how a person publically presents their gender through clothing, hairstyle, makeup, jewelry, body language, voice and so on. While certain gender expressions are associated with specific genders, people can experiment with their gender expression without changing their gender. Not all nonbinary people reject male or female gender expressions; it’s a deeply personal and flexible decision. As an example, a nonbinary person can wear dresses and makeup – which are stereotypically female – and remain nonbinary.

#4. Being nonbinary is not the same as being intersex

Intersex people have genes and/or anatomy that don’t fall into an exclusively male/female binary, but being intersex is not the same as being nonbinary. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the reason why people are intersex (which is not a disease or disorder) is a mystery. It could be because of changes to certain genes or hormone exposure during embryo development. About 2% of people in the world have intersex characteristics. While someone’s genes or anatomy may not fit into a male or female binary, it doesn’t mean they’re nonbinary. Gender identity is different, so intersex people can identify as male, female, nonbinary or any other gender identity.

#5. Nonbinary people often face an increased risk of violence and discrimination

While nonbinary people and other gender-diverse people have lived in societies for thousands of years, they are often treated as an existential threat. According to the United Nations, gender-diverse people are often bullied, rejected by their families and denied access to employment and housing. They also face increased risks for prejudice, harassment and violence, including violence within medical settings. Nonbinary people who are also members of other marginalized groups, like ethnic minorities, are targeted even more harshly. Legal protections, increased awareness of the challenges facing nonbinary people and more acceptance are key to a healthy society.

Interested in learning more about trans rights and why they matter? Here’s our article on the topic.

What are examples of nonbinary identities and terms?

Because it applies to anyone who doesn’t conform to traditional ideas of gender, nonbinary is an umbrella term. There are several examples of identities and terms beneath this umbrella. Here are eight:

#1. Genderqueer

Genderqueer appeared as a term in zines from the 1980s, and was more commonly used before the term “nonbinary.” Like nonbinary, genderqueer describes identities that don’t fall within traditional gender binaries. For some, genderqueer means moving between a variety of gender identities or expressions, while others use it more generally to mean any non-cisgender identity.

#2. Gender fluid

When someone uses the term “gender fluid,” they are most likely describing flexibility regarding gender. They don’t identify with a set gender identity, so their identity and expression can shift and encompass one gender, multiple genders or no gender at all. It’s a fairly new term, and while it sounds very similar to nonbinary, not everyone who identifies as nonbinary also identifies as gender fluid.

#3. Agender

Agender people don’t identify with any gender in particular. They may also use the terms “gender-free” or “genderless.” Regarding pronouns, agender people may have a preference or ask others to avoid using gendered language as much as possible. Being agender is not the same as being asexual; agender people can be any sexual orientation.

#4. Pangender

When someone is pangender, it means their gender identity includes multiple genders. They may identify with all (or some) of them all at once, or in a fluid, flexible way. Pangender people can also be gender fluid.

#5. Demigender

Demigender refers to those who partially or mostly identify both with one gender and other genders (or no gender). As an example, a demiboy identifies at least partially with the male gender, but not completely, which is why they’re still nonbinary.

#6. Bigender

If someone identifies with both male and female genders, they may identify as “bigender.” Bigender identities aren’t limited to just male or female, however. They identify with at least two genders. The term was first coined in 1988. Bigender people may express one gender identity at a time, some of their genders, or all at once.

#7. Gender nonconforming

“Gender nonconforming” is a term referring to gender expression. When someone is gender nonconforming, it means they aren’t adhering to the appearance, behavior or expectations placed on them based on the gender they were assigned to at birth. People of any gender identity can be gender nonconforming, including cisgender people. As an example, a cisgender man can wear makeup or nail polish, which are stereotypically female behaviors, without changing his gender identity.

#8. Two-spirit

Many Indigenous cultures in North America embraced more than two genders. These nonbinary people often fulfilled specific roles, such as caretakers, medicine people, dancers and treaty negotiators. Two-spirit is a term used by some North American Indigenous people to describe this identity. It was coined in 1990, and while it was meant to replace more offensive descriptions, it’s not universally accepted. Many Indigenous cultures have their own terms to describe nonbinary people from their own communities.

The post Nonbinary 101: Definition, Facts, Examples appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Health inequities are systematic variations in health between groups in society. They’re driven by differences in the social determinants of health, which are non-medical factors like income, education, healthcare access and economic stability. Understanding these determinants is essential to improving the health of individuals and population groups. What causes health inequity? Here are 15 root causes:

#1. Socioeconomic status

A person’s wealth and access to resources can significantly impact their health. Most obviously, a person needs enough money to afford basics such as food, safe housing and healthcare. The more money a person has, the more access they have. If a person has a lower socioeconomic status, they’re more likely to suffer from malnutrition, live in unhealthy environments and delay important medical care. According to one survey by the Health Foundation, 10% of surveyed adults with the lowest incomes reported having “bad” or “very bad health,” while just 1.5% of those on the highest incomes reported bad health. A high income doesn’t guarantee good health, but research supports wealth as a buffer against factors that negatively affect health.

#2. Employment status

Does having a job protect your health? It depends on the job. Most jobs provide some degree of protection because they’re usually a person’s main source of income. However, jobs can also create health problems if they expose a person to environmental risks, physical danger and high stress. Unemployment can also negatively impact health, especially if a person’s healthcare access is affected. According to a 2021 study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, people who were unemployed for a short time faced the most challenges getting healthcare. Around 1 in 3 survey respondents said they had needed to see a doctor in the past year, but couldn’t because of the high cost.

#3. Racial discrimination

Racial discrimination is a complex system of institutions, practices, policies and social norms. Research shows its negative impact on health. In places where racism has pervaded society for centuries, health inequities have been brewing just as long. According to the CDC, American racial and ethnic minority groups experience higher rates of death and illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, asthma and more. The reasons why are complex, but racial discrimination affects a person’s ability to get an education, healthcare, a good job, safe housing and other basics that support good health.

#4. Sex and gender discrimination

Sex and gender affect health outcomes to a certain degree, but discrimination complicates the connections. According to the World Health Organization, gender has “implications for health” regarding access to healthcare, clean water, hygiene and so on. Gender also influences how a person experiences emergencies and disease exposure. Because of gender inequality, women and girls are more likely to face barriers to healthcare, as well as exposure to violence, harmful health practices, malnutrition and more. Gender-diverse people are also at a higher risk for violence and discrimination, which affects health.

#5. Exposure to violence

Violence, public safety, and health are closely connected. Violence and physical health are most obviously linked as a variety of injuries can cause short and long-term problems. According to the study “The Effects of Violence on Health,” exposure to violence also increases the risk of heart disease, premature mortality, depression, anxiety and suicide. Those who are exposed as children face an increased risk of mental illness, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and certain chronic diseases like migraines and ulcers. Certain factors such as poverty also increase a person’s risk for exposure to violence, which creates health inequities.

#6. Food insecurity

Healthy food is essential to a healthy life. If people can’t access enough food (or food with enough nutrients), they’re at risk for a host of health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, cancer, birth defects and other chronic conditions. According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, almost 15% of US households in 2020 were food insecure at some point. Children were especially affected, as were people from racial and ethnic minority groups. Globally, undernutrition is linked to around 45% of the deaths among kids under 5 years.

#7. Housing insecurity

According to a literature review on health and housing, research shows that being without stable housing can cause health issues. When people experience homelessness, they’re more likely to struggle with poor physical and mental health, as well as increased mortality. Some housing is better than none, but unhealthy home conditions, like crowding, water leaks, poor ventilation, and high and low temperatures can also lead to issues such as asthma, cardiovascular events, infectious disease and more. The cost of housing has serious consequences, as well, as those who struggle to afford rent or mortgages have to make hard decisions about food, healthcare, and other essentials.

#8. Access to education

A good education is linked to positive life impacts, such as the increased potential for higher income. When people don’t receive a good education, it affects their health as well as their wealth. According to a study on education’s influence on health, poor education is linked to poor health due to resources, behaviors, neighborhoods, and other socioeconomic factors. People not only expand their job opportunities with a good education, but they also develop skills and behaviors that provide buffers against bad health outcomes.

#9. Exposure to pollution and other hazards

Physical environments contribute to health inequities. People who live in safe environments with clean air and water aren’t guaranteed good health, but it’s an important health determinant. According to the World Health Organization, contaminated water and poor sanitation can cause diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Around 1 million people die every year as a result of unclean drinking water, poor sanitation, or poor hygiene. Air pollution, which includes smog and smoke, drives an increased risk for strokes, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and heart disease. Around 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution in their homes.

#10. Climate change

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change is accelerating. Around 3.6 billion people live in areas already highly vulnerable to climate change, and between 2030 and 2050, there will be an increase in deaths related to undernutrition, malaria, heat stress, and other climate risks. Already marginalized groups like lower-income communities, ethnic minorities, migrants, the elderly, women, children and those with underlying health conditions will face the worst health outcomes.

#11. Transportation

Certain health inequities are fueled by peoples’ ability (or inability) to freely travel. According to a 2022 study, a lack of transportation affected 5.8 million Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic; they delayed medical care because of it. A lack of transportation also impacts groups already dealing with access barriers and health inequities, such as people with lower incomes, chronic health conditions, and no insurance. People also need reliable transportation to get to jobs, grocery stores, and other essential social services, which makes transportation a multifaceted health determinant.

#12. Poor cultural communication

Every group has different cultural health beliefs. According to the Culture and Society chapter of the book Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion, cultural beliefs affect things such as how people think about their health issues, when and where they seek treatment, who they respond to, and what treatments they may accept. Culture also affects how people communicate and what communication they respond to, which makes health literacy and communication so important. If healthcare professionals fail to understand cultural beliefs, it creates health inequities based on ethnicity, culture, gender and so on.

#13. Costs of healthcare

Healthcare is expensive, and even in places where there’s universal healthcare, funding distributions can create health inequities. The biggest issues involve countries without universal healthcare. In the United States, a 2020 survey found that 22% of Americans did not seek healthcare because of the cost. Those without insurance face serious medical bills, while those with insurance still have to consider costs such as co-payments, coinsurance costs, and how much they have to pay out-of-pocket because insurance kicks in. On average, an individual pays about $111 a month for employee-sponsored coverage while those with plans from the insurance market pay $456 a month. When access to healthcare is determined by wealth, health inequities are inevitable.

#14. Treatment by the healthcare system

The healthcare system itself is a root cause of health inequity. According to research, healthcare professionals are not immune from implicit bias, which has led to discriminatory treatment against racial and ethnic minorities. In a 2016 study, white medical students would offer Black patients less pain medication, believing the myth that Black people feel less pain. Other studies show this bias is common. Health inequities are also driven by how the American healthcare system works. Workers from low-income racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to be covered by employee-sponsored plans with poor coverage, and while they often end up with higher out-of-pocket costs than those on the insurance marketplace, they’re not eligible for Medicaid or federal subsidies. This creates an unequal, unjust system.

#15. Behavioral differences

While the most serious health inequities are structural, individual behavioral differences do make some impact. Whether a person eats well, exercises, avoids risky behavior, goes to the doctor and so on will affect their risk for serious diseases and health conditions. However, what influences a person’s behavior is complex and connected to things like their level of education, the availability of healthy food, their access to healthcare, whether or not they have stable housing and more.

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We are recruiting our next Junior Professional Officers to the OSCE in Vienna!

If you are a skilled graduate with enthusiasm and curiosity to join the OSCE, the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme might be the right choice for you and the beginning of an exciting international career journey. The overall goal of the JPO Programme is to provide our JPOs with an overview of the Organisation, its programmatic approach and regulatory framework and to offer hands-on experience with OSCE projects and activities in the Secretariat and in our Field Missions. The programme offers young professionals an opportunity to build a professional career in the multilateral international cooperation and equip them with skills and abilities necessary to work in a multicultural environment. The JPO Programme is a great opportunity to get a foothold in the international civil service sector. During their 24 months assignment, JPOs will work at two different duty stations and can potentially focus on two different subject areas. First, there will be a twelve-months period at the Secretariat (March 2024 until March 2025) followed by another twelve-months period in one of the OSCE field operations (April 2025 until April 2026).

During this round the Junior Professional Offer Programme is targeting candidates for positions in a wide range of thematic areas. Candidates must indicate their preference for a maximum of three thematic areas of interest in order of preference in their application. For more information about the thematic areas available, please see Terms of Reference.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Typical Tasks and Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting thematic research, or surveys and analyses, and assisting in drafting research papers, policy reports or concept papers for the department/office of assignment;
• Preparing policy work and background material for events, meetings or trips; assisting in the organization of meetings and events, communicating and networking with different partners and stakeholders;
• Assisting in the preparation of written materials such as briefing papers, memos, talking points, speeches, newsletters, and presentations on specific issues related to the department of assignment;
• Providing logistic and administrative support in the implementation, development and monitoring of projects;
• Attending and providing support to various OSCE meetings, such as regular meetings of the OSCE decision-making and OSCE-related bodies;
• Performing legal research and analysis and providing legal support for the preparation of legal opinions, studies, reports or correspondence, contracts, etc.;
• Gaining insight into and participating in audit/evaluation related assignments;
• Supporting the organization of events, meetings, regional workshops, round-tables and conferences including administering participants, communicating with participants/speakers, preparing and distributing materials and assisting with visa applications and hotel arrangements and online arrangements;
• Providing support to OSCE learning activities; developing visuals and promotional materials;
• Supporting with developing and publishing engaging content for the OSCE social media channels and the OSCE website; website updates, the production of booklets and leaflets and communication related events and outreach activities; organization and facilitation of webinars.

Qualifications:

• Candidates should be under the age of 32 on the deadline of this vacancy notice;
• As the national nominating authority for OSCE, a requirement is that you are a Norwegian citizen;
• Completed first-level university degree in a field of study relevant to OSCE’s mandate. This may include degrees in: Political Science, International Relations, Human Rights, Law, politico-military aspects of security, Criminal Justice, Peace and Conflict studies, Educational/Social sciences, Public Policy, Business Administration, Human Resources, Economics, Environmental studies, Information Technology, Media studies, Gender studies;
• Previous work experience in a relevant field would be an asset;
• Professional fluency in English, both oral and written, and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely is mandatory; knowledge of other OSCE official languages would be an asset;
• Awareness of the importance of integrating a diversity perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds whilst maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Demonstrated open-mindedness, flexibility, high motivation and readiness to take on challenges;
• Computer literacy with practical experience with Microsoft applications.

The main competencies of a NORCAP Expert: 

• Building working relationships
• Planning and organising
• Adaptability
• Resilience

What we offer

• Rewarding work for a renowned global organisation
• Access to a network of humanitarian, peace, and development professionals
• Join NORCAP’s team of experts and be considered for future assignments elsewhere
• A dedicated Staff Care Unit

How to apply

• When submitting your application, kindly register in English your full employment history and education. Please include your full name as written in your passport. Uploaded CVs alone will not be reviewed.
• NORCAP values diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or disability.
• NORCAP reserves the right to conduct a full background check on shortlisted candidates
• Approved Health Certificate will be required prior to contract commencement and assignment
• Feedback will be given to all applicants within four weeks after the closing of this advertisement.
• Apply before 26th November 2023,11.59PM CET

NORDEM is NORCAP`s programme on human rights, democracy and peace. NORDEM has a longstanding partnership with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Norwegian experts have been seconded to support the Secretariat in Vienna and the various OSCE institutions and field missions.

APPLY HERE

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Education is a human right, and teachers play an essential role in ensuring that right is respected. Several holidays honor teachers, but Teacher Appreciation Week takes place every year in the first full week of May. It’s recognized in the United States, but many countries honor the work and commitment of their teachers. Here are 20 ways students, parents, schools, businesses, and nonprofits can celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week:

#1. Write thank you notes

Thank you notes are a simple, but powerful way for students and parents to show their appreciation to teachers. Start with a list of your teachers’ names, stationery, and writing tools. If a child is old enough to write notes on their own, parents can add their own thank you to the note or write a separate card if they want. Young students will need some help from their parents, but knowing a student took the time to sign their names means a lot to teachers.

#2. Give out gift cards

Gifts are a great way to celebrate teachers, but they often get flooded with candy and coffee mugs. Generic gift cards to online retailers, your teacher’s favorite local businesses, or even just prepaid debit cards give people more flexibility to buy exactly what they want and need. If you worry these feel too impersonal, add a note.

#3. Give office supplies

Teachers constantly go through pens, pencils, highlighters, and other basic office products. Because school budgets are very tight, teachers often pay for their own supplies. For Teacher Appreciation Week, you can give supplies as presents. Many teachers share the supplies they have with students, but if you want them to have something nicer just for themselves, buy some higher-end products and add a note suggesting they use it for grading papers or other outside-the-classroom tasks.

#4. Volunteer in the classroom

Teachers often need volunteers to help with classroom setup, classroom management, technology support, and more. While teachers often turn to the pool of parents at a school, other members of the community can volunteer, too! There are certain requirements, such as passing a background check. Volunteers are important partners in the school system as they make life easier for teachers while serving as positive role models for students.

#5. Hold a school supply drive

Teachers earn fairly low salaries, but they often need to pay for school supplies from their own pockets. According to Education Week, teachers earning between $35,000-$50,000 in the United States spend about $715 of their own money every year on school supplies. A school supply drive helps teachers and students. Many schools hold their own drives you can give to, but you can also create your own and promote it on social media and in your community.

#6. Nominate a teacher for an award

Schools, education agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations offer teacher awards. Parents, students, colleagues, administrators, and others can often nominate teachers, depending on the specific award. Nominations may open at different times, but it’s a great way to recognize an exceptional teacher in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.

#7. Make a thank you video

Individuals, schools, businesses, and nonprofits can make thank-you videos that recognize specific teachers, schools, or teachers in general. The filmmaker can contact different community members, like students, and ask what their teachers mean to them. Videos are also a great project for students interested in filmmaking. The final product can be posted on social media and played for schools.

There are lots of video production tools available for people who aren’t experts. Here are 10 tools that work well for small NGOs.

#8. Help with a field trip

Students benefit greatly from field trips, but they’re expensive and hard to organize. Teachers get overwhelmed with all the associated tasks. Community members can offer to help with organizing, costs, or chaperoning. If you have connections to an appropriate field trip location, like a museum, see if you can leverage those connections to get discounts, special activities, or other perks.

#9. Host an appreciation party

Schools can show appreciation to their teachers by organizing a party. It can take place during lunch or after school hours, depending on what makes the most sense and is most convenient for everyone. Teachers have enough to do during the week, so they should not have to plan anything related to their own appreciation party. It can be an event where students are welcome or it can be something reserved for adults.

#10. Put special treats in the teacher’s lounge

To honor all the hard work teachers do, school districts can supply the teacher’s area with special items like high-quality coffee, tea, new snacks, and small gifts. If there’s an area of the lounge that’s old or boring, the administration can also upgrade that section.

#11. Recognize long-serving teachers

Teacher Appreciation Week is a great time to honor the teachers who have been serving students the longest. Students, parents, and administrators can work together to organize a recognition ceremony, awards, refreshments, and anything else that may be needed. If any teachers are leaving or retiring after the school year, they should be recognized, as well.

#12. Offer professional development opportunities

Like any professional, teachers want to strengthen their skills, leadership, and career prospects. Schools can provide opportunities for development through workshops, seminars, courses, and more. The school should always pay for opportunities or at least offer a significant discount. Teachers should ideally not have to pay for their own professional development.

#13. Learn what teacher unions are doing

Teacher unions have a long history in places like the United States. As collective bargaining groups, they represent the needs of teachers regarding pay, benefits, work conditions, and more. If you’re interested in what teachers are fighting for, research the unions in your area and see what issues they’re currently working on.

#14. Offer discounts on products and services

Businesses like restaurants and coffee shops can celebrate teachers in the community through special discounts. They can cut a certain percentage off of purchased items, offer special deals on gift cards, give free products with purchases, and more. Teachers typically need to show a faculty ID. Some places let teachers collect deals all week while others offer one-time deals. Certain businesses offer teacher discounts all year long!

#15. Pay for a catered meal

Individuals and organizations can connect with a school and organize a catered meal for all the teachers and faculty. Restaurants can offer to cater for free, while other entities (like businesses, community groups, and religious organizations) can simply pick up the tab. Any allergies, food sensitivities, and cultural restrictions should be accommodated.

#16. Donate books to school libraries

Buying books is a complicated process for many schools. According to Education Week, 35 states in the United States don’t provide direct aid for school libraries. These schools have to pull from district funds or state funds that aren’t specifically earmarked for books. Many schools don’t even have a librarian. For those that do, librarians often have to use their own money to update their shelves. Book donations, specifically new books that teachers actually want, can help. Always ask before you stop by with a box of books and understand that every book has to be evaluated.

#17. Donate money to schools

Every teacher deserves a well-funded school. Unfortunately, education is overlooked in many places, which leaves teachers scrambling to meet the needs of their students. For Teacher Appreciation Week, individuals, businesses, and nonprofits can make donations to local schools. There’s typically a process you need to follow where the school board can either accept or reject a donation. You can also donate through nonprofits such as DonorsChoose, which lets individuals give to American public school classroom projects.

#18. Pay for teachers to upgrade their classrooms

Teachers spend a lot of time setting up their classrooms. The learning environment is crucial to student success, but if teachers don’t have the funds they need, they’re left with dull, uninspiring rooms. If they want a brighter, motivating space, they often need to spend their own money. Individuals, businesses, and nonprofits can help by offering to pay for upgrades. That can include new seating, supplies, new rugs, new technology, and more.

#19. Host a fundraiser

Fundraisers are a great way to raise money for teachers, build community, and raise awareness of the challenges facing schools. Before Teacher Appreciation Week, fundraiser hosts should talk to schools and teachers to identify their needs, establish clear goals, and discuss strategies. When the fundraiser begins, hosts can market it far and wide with social media, local TV and radio, flyers, and other platforms.

#20. Learn what teachers need from the community

Teacher Appreciation Week lasts just a few days, but teachers need support all year round. To celebrate the teachers of the world, everyone should learn what challenges teachers face, what they need to do their jobs, and how individuals, nonprofits, governments, and others can help. Depending on the area, teachers are often underpaid and overworked. They can even face threats to their lives in places where education is under attack. To truly celebrate teachers, the world needs to understand what they go through.

The post 20 Ways to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Over 26 million people live in Australia, which is the smallest continent on the planet. It’s home to some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems, like the Great Barrier Reef, the Blue Mountains, and the Daintree Rainforest. It was also colonized by the British, which used it as a penal colony from the late 18th century until the mid-19th century. Today, it is a sovereign country with its own social issues. Here are 15 examples:

#1. Poverty

In 2022, a report on poverty found that 1 in 8 people, including 1 in 6 children, were living in poverty. Australia is one of the world’s richest countries, but over 3 million people struggle to pay basic bills. Income support would make a big difference. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, an economic support program lifted 645,000 people (245,000 of those people were children) above the poverty line. These supports were temporary, but if they became permanent, Australia could reduce poverty very effectively.

#2. Rights of asylum seekers and refugees

When asylum seekers and refugees come to Australia without a valid visa, they’re held in immigration detention until they get a visa or are removed from Australia. There is no limit to how long someone can be detained, so thousands of asylum seekers and some recognized refugees are held in centers around the country. Australia also uses an offshore processing system. Under this system, asylum seekers and refugees are taken to camps in places like Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Families and individuals live in inadequate conditions, sometimes for years. Human Rights Watch has called Australia’s offshore system “abusive and costly.” Since 2013, at least 12 refugees and asylum seekers have died in Australia’s offshore processing system. Six took their own lives.

#3. Indigenous rights

When it comes to Indigenous rights, Australia’s history is full of abuse and discrimination. From the mid-1800s to the 1970s, government policies took children from their families in a period known as “The Stolen Generations.” The legacy of racism and discrimination continues today. Despite making up just 3.8% of the population, Indigenous Australians are “overrepresented” in the criminal justice system. In 2021, at least 11 Indigenous people died in custody due to abuse and/or medical neglect. Indigenous people are also more likely to receive poor education and die young. Australia has the opportunity to protect Indigenous rights with referendums like the “Voice to Parliament,” which would enshrine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution and create an advisory body.

#4. Disability rights

The Disability Discrimination Act, which passed in 1992, makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their disability. It covers areas like employment, education, public services, and more. Temporary and permanent disabilities are also covered. According to a research paper, however, Australia’s interpretation of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities prevents reform and allows human rights violations to thrive. Examples of violations include forced medical interventions and indefinite detention. Children and people in prisons face some of the worst abuse and discrimination.

#5. LGBTQ+ rights

Australia has many laws regarding LGBTQ+ rights and protections, but the system is far from perfect. According to reporting from The Guardian, anti-discrimination laws across the country are “patchy.” There are broad exemptions, especially for religious groups, which can open the door to discrimination and bigotry. Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia don’t even have laws that protect LGBTQ+ people from vilification. There are also no federal laws that outlaw vilification based on gender or sexuality. To protect the LGBTQ+ community, Australia needs to strengthen its existing laws and expand protections.

#6. Gender equality

Generally, Australia is a safe and welcoming place for most women, but it still hasn’t achieved gender equality. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, women in Australia are paid 17.5% less than men doing the same work. The causes include gender stereotypes and low pay for jobs historically performed by women, like social work. Differences in education and work experience, a lack of female leadership, discrimination, and a lack of accommodations for families are other causes.

#7. Violence against women

While Australia ranks high on lists of safest countries for women, violence against women is still an issue. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, 1 in 3 Australian women will experience violence in an intimate relationship. 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence since turning 15 years old. Indigenous women face a higher risk. Research shows they’re 12 times more likely to be victims of assault than non-Indigenous women. Violence is often perpetuated by partners or husbands.

#8. Incarceration of children

Currently, Australia’s age of criminal responsibility is just 10 years old, while the international recommendation is 14 years old. Hundreds of kids are imprisoned each year. In one case, a 13-year-old Indigenous Australian boy spent 45 days in solitary confinement, despite being held for minor offenses. In another case, a 13-year-old with developmental disabilities spent 78 days in a cell for 20 hours a day. These cases could violate the boys’ rights to fresh air and exercise. The cases are not uncommon, either. According to data, overcrowding in juvenile prisons means children – mostly Indigenous children- are often moved to adult prisons. Kids in adult prisons face a high risk of sexual abuse, assault, and suicide.

#9. Healthcare access in prison

Australia uses Medicare. It’s a single-payer, universal healthcare program that covers all Australian citizens and residents. Groups like veterans and Indigenous Australians can access special programs, but there’s one demographic that’s excluded: people in prison. Many human rights experts believe this exclusion constitutes a human rights violation. During COVID-19, the state was slow to give prisoners vaccines despite their heightened risk for the disease due to poor ventilation, an inability to social distance, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, and other factors. People in prison also lack adequate mental health services. In 2018, 40% of jail entrants had a mental health condition, while mental health services in prison were “severely underfunded.” Without access to Medicare, it’s much harder for people in prison to get the healthcare they need.

#10. Rights of older people

Australia’s population is aging, which opens the door to systemic discrimination and inadequate care. In 2021, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality And Safety released a report recommending “fundamental reform” of the aged care system. Specific changes included increased accountability for human rights violations, minimum staffing requirements, and increased access to home and community support services. COVID-19 revealed cracks in the system, but it will take significant changes to improve Australia’s aged care services.

#11. Housing affordability

It’s getting more and more expensive to buy and rent housing in Australia. According to a report by PropTrack, which analyzes the real estate market, a household earning an average income would need to spend a third of their income on mortgage repayments for a median-priced home. Increasing home prices and rising mortgage rates are two reasons for housing unaffordability. Tasmania, which has historically had the most affordable homes, is now a place where a typical-income household can only afford 5% of homes sold. Young people and first-time home buyers are some of the hardest hit.

#12. Homelessness

On any given night, around 1 in 200 Australians don’t have a place to sleep. According to data, 1 in 3 houseless Australians are under 18 years old. Young people are especially vulnerable as it’s difficult to get affordable, long-term housing. Domestic violence is the biggest driver of homelessness in Australia, while other causes include unemployment, poverty, and addiction. Most people experiencing homelessness are in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane, which are Australia’s largest cities.

#13. Mental health

According to the Australian government, over 2 in 5 Australians between 16 and 85 years old have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives. Anxiety is the most common disorder, followed by depression and substance abuse. While anyone can experience poor mental health, 24% of the Indigenous Australian population reported a mental health or behavioral condition in 2018-2019. Mental illness still faces stigma in Australia, which makes it even harder for people to get the help they need. Reducing stigma, making it easier to access care, and addressing the roots of poor mental health are all necessary steps.

#14. Loss of biodiversity

“Biodiversity” refers to the variety of life on earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. It’s essential to a healthy planet. Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique ecosystems and species. Around 82% of animals and 93% of frogs in Australia only exist there. Tragically, the human impact on biodiversity has been catastrophic. Pollution, resource exploitation, and other issues threaten areas like the Great Barrier Reef, which is the world’s largest coral reef system. Currently, Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world. Preserving Australia’s biodiversity is essential to its future.

#15. Wildfires

Australia is known for its brutal wildfire season. Climate change has made it worse. One fire, which burned through Australia’s summer from June 2019 to January 2020, released smoke levels comparable to a major volcanic eruption. According to research, the smoke from these catastrophic fires could have contributed to a rare triple La Nina weather event, which affected other continents. The fires, known as the Black Summer Fires, also destroyed an area equivalent to half of California and killed 33 people. Children and pregnant people are among those most affected by lingering health effects, such as premature labor, low birth weight, impaired lung development, and other ongoing issues. Australia is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the world, so new, strict regulations on emissions are vital.

If you want to get active on the issues above, consider joining one of the many NGOs in Australia.

The post 15 Examples of Social Issues in Australia appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

A cover letter is a formal document typically submitted alongside a job application or resume. It serves as a complement to your resume and provides an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to a human rights employer, highlight your qualifications and skills, explain your interest in the job, and convey why you are a strong candidate for the position. In contrast to your resume, a cover letter is more narrative and can include information not found in your CV. It allows you to tell a story about your career, explain career gaps, or address specific job requirements. In this article you will learn how you can create your own cover letter.

Let’s first have a look how a typical cover letter is structured:

Date

Your Name
Your Address
City, State, ZIP Code
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number

Recipient's Name
Organization Name
Organization Address
City, State, ZIP Code

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Human Rights Internship position at [Organization Name], as advertised on your website. With my educational background in [Your Relevant Degree], a deep passion for human rights issues, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the field, I am eager to contribute to your organization’s mission and objectives.

Throughout my academic journey at [Your University], I have developed a solid foundation in human rights, international law, and social justice advocacy. My coursework has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations worldwide and the legal frameworks that underpin human rights protection.

My previous experiences have further enhanced my dedication to human rights advocacy. I have had the privilege of volunteering with [Name of Human Rights Organization or Project], where I assisted in researching and documenting human rights violations, organizing awareness campaigns, and collaborating with local communities to promote education and empowerment. These experiences have not only sharpened my research and communication skills but also deepened my commitment to effecting positive change in the realm of human rights.

I am particularly drawn to [Organization Name] because of its exceptional reputation for its work in [specific area of focus, e.g., refugee rights, gender equality, indigenous rights]. Your organization’s dedication to upholding human rights and empowering marginalized communities aligns perfectly with my personal values and career aspirations.

As an intern at [Organization Name], I am eager to contribute my skills and enthusiasm to your projects. I am confident that my strong research abilities, attention to detail, and ability to work collaboratively will allow me to excel in this role. I am also excited about the opportunity to learn from your experienced team members, gain exposure to real-world human rights issues, and make a meaningful contribution to your ongoing initiatives.

Enclosed is my resume, which provides additional details about my educational background and relevant experiences. I am available at your earliest convenience for an interview to discuss how my skills and passion align with the goals of [Organization Name]. You can reach me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining the dedicated team at [Organization Name] and contributing to your vital work in promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Download: Human Rights Cover Letter Template

How to use the human rights cover letter template above

The template above is a good starting point. You can use the text as a basis to formulate your own cover letter. Don’t simply copy and paste and fill in the gaps. Work on your own unique version that sets you apart. Recruiters will notice the difference.

#1 Identify your strongest qualifications and skills

The first step in the process is to identify what information you should put into your cover letter. There are some obvious ones like your master’s degree and previous work experience. However, as an entry level professional you won’t have ten years of experience to draw from. That means you’ll need to explore what other skills/experiences could be relevant. Below are some examples:

I landed my first Amnesty International internship because I had video-editing and photography skills. That’s what the organization needed to cover our vigils for the blogger Raif Badawi. Over time, when I earned the trust of my team, I was able to take on different tasks, that were more in line with my ambitions.

Don’t underestimate what you bring to the table for the organization. Even if you are very young, you have plenty of experiences to draw from. You could be well-versed in the latest social media tools, possibly surpassing the current social media manager’s familiarity (e.g. with TikTok or Mastodon). Your grasp of trends within your age group may align closely with the organization’s target audience, enhancing your ability to connect effectively. Additionally, your fresh perspective and energy could invigorate the team, injecting vitality into a well-established environment. Your potential to introduce unconventional viewpoints may foster positive disruption, and as a relatively “blank slate”, experienced mentors and leaders may find joy in nurturing your development into a thriving professional.

If you are not so sure what other skills could be helpful, consider reading some of our articles:

• 8 Skills to Expand Your Human Rights CV
• 10 Skills You Need as An NGO Development Coordinator
• 10 Skills You Need as Advocacy Officer
• 5 Skills You Might Need in a Human Rights Job

#2 Tailor your experience to the specific job

Tailoring your cover letter to each job application is a strategic move that makes a significant difference in your job search. Unlike generic templates, a tailored cover letters directly addresses the specific requirements of the position, showcasing the relevance of your background and experience, and ultimately setting you apart. Below is an example how you could tailor the same experience “led a volunteer group” to different positions. Please note that you should never “invent” anything that is not true, but you can choose where you put emphasis, what you highlight and what you skip.

#3 A few things to avoid

While there is no universally accepted right way to do cover letters, there are a few things you should avoid in the context of human rights organizations.

• Don’t start with “Dear Sir or Madam”. “Sir” and “Madam” are binary gender-specific terms. Using them may exclude individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female, as well as non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals. If the organization works specifically on such issues, you are better off using a different salutation.
• Don’t include an image. Including a photo can introduce bias into the hiring process. Employers should make hiring decisions based on qualifications, not on a candidate’s physical appearance, race, age, gender, or other personal characteristics. A photo can inadvertently lead to bias, even if unintentional.
• Don’t be overly passionate. Focus on your professional qualifications and how they relate to the position. You won’t get hired just for being passionate and highlighting your passion too much makes you look less experienced.
• Don’t Make It Too Long. Human rights cover letters should be concise and to the point. Avoid lengthy paragraphs or excessive details that may overwhelm the reader. Less than 1 page is enough.
• Don’t Generalize: Be specific in your statements. Don’t make general claims like “I’m passionate about human rights.” Instead, provide examples and evidence of your commitment, such as relevant coursework, internships, or volunteer experiences.
• Don’t Ignore Format and Proofreading: Neglecting proper formatting, grammar, and proofreading can detract from your professionalism. Ensure your cover letter is well-structured and free from errors.
• Don’t Overstate or Exaggerate: Be honest about your qualifications and experiences. Avoid exaggerating or making false claims, as they can be easily verified and may damage your credibility.
• Don’t put your best qualifications at the end. Put them first. In movies it’s great to have the showdown at the end but in cover letters they should come at the beginning. Recruiters are busy people and unlikely to read your entire cover letter at the first glance. You need to make a great impression immediately to be considered for the next round.

How to use AI Tools to improve your human rights cover letter

There is nothing wrong about using AI tools to improve your cover letter. But keep in mind what we mentioned above: Tailor! Be specific! Be authentic! If your cover letter sounds too generic, exaggerates or feels out of touch with your real background, an AI written cover letter will be a disadvantage.

If you choose to use AI, the quality of your prompt matters. You should provide the tool with enough information to return more tailored and unique results otherwise your cover letter will be too boring and generic. Below is an example of a prompt. Flesh it out further. Consider adding some achievements, more nuance and detail.

“Please write a cover letter for the internship position as social media intern at Amnesty International. I have studied the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights and wrote my thesis about MOOCs as a tool for Human Rights Education. I have worked in a bar for three years and took dancing classes throughout high school. I also worked at a book store, where I was responsible for accounting and sales. I speak three languages fluently.”

And here are some excerpts of AI responses, that demonstrate how ChatGPT has “translated” the information into a cover letter:

• With my diverse work experiences, and proficiency in multiple languages, I am enthusiastic about contributing my skills […]
• My thesis allowed me to explore innovative approaches to making human rights education accessible to a global audience.
• My work experience has further honed my skills and adaptability. I have spent three years working in a bar, where I developed exceptional interpersonal and communication skills while managing diverse customer interactions. My high school years were dedicated to dancing classes, fostering discipline, teamwork, and creativity.

You might want to tone it down a bit in your cover letter and highlight only what find most relevant. AI tools sometimes exaggerate and you don’t want to display a lack of humility or judgement. Working in a bar for three years will probably not make you an expert in human rights law.

While AI written content is normally grammatically flawless it also lacks soul and surprise. So instead of just entering a prompt and sending off your application, spend time editing it and make it sound more like yourself and be prepared that everything you mention in your cover letter could be subject of a more in-depth conversation in the interview. So if you are not convinced that your dancing classes were fostering discipline, teamwork and creativity, don’t mention it.

Strategies for improving your human rights cover letter

There are a variety of other strategies and tools that you can use when drafting your cover letter. Below are some that I’ve used in my job search frequently.

#1 Mimic the language

Before you write your cover letter, you might want to explore the website of your potential future employer. Familiarize with the terminology and language they use. Take a closer look at the job description as well. Mimicking an organization’s language and terminology helps you align your application with the organization’s culture and values. Organizations often use specific words and phrases that reflect their unique identity, and using these in your cover letter can signal that you’re a good fit culturally.

#2 Improve Readability

In academia and during our studies we are taught to write in a very specific way. Unfortunately, this kind of writing is less effective in other contexts. Your cover letter should be catchy with short sentences and easy to read and understand. Use readability tools to identify sentences that are too long and complicated.

#3 Let others read it

Last but not least, ask friends, family or a former professor to read it. The feedback will help you improve it and you’ll learn something in every feedback loop. If this short guide was helpful and you successfully landed a job, please consider sharing your cover letter with us so we can make it accessible to our readers.

The post Human Rights Cover Letter: Templates, Examples and Tips appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Philanthropy is the practice of giving money, time, and other resources to causes like education, healthcare, the environment, and arts and culture.

The world is facing many challenges. Poverty, climate change, failing healthcare systems, and conflict are just a few examples. While progress can feel like a distant dream, individuals, communities, and organizations are working hard to address deeply-rooted issues. Philanthropy represents just one of the methods. It’s the practice of giving money, time, and other resources to improve society and work for the public good. While philanthropists are usually seen as very wealthy individuals, anyone who consistently donates resources to social causes is a philanthropist. In this article, we’ll provide five examples of philanthropy, describe the different types, and explore the benefits.

What does philanthropy look like?

Philanthropy and charity have many similarities and are often used interchangeably, but they are different. The National Philanthropic Trust, which is a public charity that provides philanthropic expertise, defines charity as short-term action. That could include donating books to a school library. Philanthropy, on the other hand, is a more strategic action focused on long-term impact. Funding a new library counts more as philanthropy than charity. Here are five other examples:

#1. Education philanthropy

Education is a favorite cause for many philanthropists. Countless schools, universities, and college departments exist because of philanthropic gifts, while charitable foundations often focus on improving education around the world. In 2022, MacKenzie Scott gave millions of dollars to schools with no conditions, meaning schools were free to use the money how they saw fit. One Cleveland district decided to create the Get More Opportunities Fund, which would fund projects like college visits, teacher proposals, and school facility upgrades. Scott is just one of many philanthropists who participate in education philanthropy. In the United States, philanthropic gifts to colleges and universities totaled almost $60 billion in 2022, according to a report. That number represents a 12.5% increase from 2021. Organizations give the most money, followed by alumni.

#2. Healthcare philanthropy

Healthcare or medical philanthropy focuses on donating money, time, and resources to support healthcare causes, like research, hospital wings, programs, new technology, and much more. Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed countless fractures in healthcare systems. Philanthropists did their best to help by funding research, emergency grants, and more. According to one report, US institutional grantmakers and high-net-worth donors gave more than $20 billion toward Covid-19-related efforts in 2020. Early that same year, country singer Dolly Parton donated $1 million to research at Vanderbilt University. Seven months later, Moderan’s COVID-19 vaccine was released. Parton was thanked in the preliminary report.

#3. Environmental philanthropy

Environmental philanthropy focuses on sustainability, conservation, climate change mitigation, and other initiatives that protect the environment. As climate change worsens, philanthropic impact is hard to measure as governments and corporations fail to meet their climate targets. If the world cannot lower its emissions, there’s only so much philanthropists can do. Many have focused their efforts on policy advocacy and campaigning. The Greta Thunberg Foundation, which was founded in 2019, donates any money associated with awards or prizes that Greta receives. Donations have supported climate activists, the International Organisation for Migration, and UNICEF.

#4. Arts and culture philanthropy

Philanthropists have funded theaters, museums, art exhibits, concert halls, and creative arts programs for decades. These places are essential to preserving culture, empowering young people, and fostering creativity. According to Giving Compass, arts and culture philanthropy took off in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but one of the most famous philanthropists was supporting the arts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Andrew Carnegie, who made his wealth in oil, steel, and iron, gave away 90% of his fortune during the last 18 years of his life. He founded Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Hall, which is one of the most famous concert venues in the world.

#5. International development philanthropy

In the last few decades, philanthropy has played an outsized role in international development. According to The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, over 40 of the largest philanthropic foundations gave almost $10 billion to developing countries in 2020. That money can be used to prevent diseases, support economic growth, protect women’s rights, and more, but critics warn about the power dynamic at play. With money comes power and influence, and as philanthropists pour funds into developing countries, they advance their own agendas at the same time. One Business & Society article points out that philanthropic foundations often have a “conservative and regressive” outcome, and as resources become scarcer, the need for profit will direct philanthropy.

What are the different types of philanthropy?

Philanthropy doesn’t just look like one wealthy individual writing a check. Here are the four main types:

#1. Corporate philanthropy

Corporate philanthropy is philanthropy fed through a corporation. Using donations, initiatives, foundations, and other actions, corporations help advance the public good. It’s not completely altruistic, however, as corporations benefit from good publicity, tax breaks, and improved business value.

#2. Community philanthropy

Community philanthropy occurs when community members get together and combine resources in service of a cause. They usually collect resources to meet a local need, but communities may also send money or volunteers somewhere else to help with an issue that doesn’t directly affect them. As an example, the California Fire Foundation established a disaster relief fund to support firefighters and citizens in Maui, which experienced a devastating fire in early August of 2023.

#3. Religious philanthropy

Philanthropy motivated by religious beliefs is arguably the oldest form of philanthropy. For centuries, people of faith have distributed resources, established organizations, and encouraged others to work for the public good. Today, many philanthropic organizations have religious roots, though many have moved away from directly proselytizing.

#4. Social impact investing

Social impact investing is a newer form of philanthropy with a key distinction from traditional philanthropy. Rather than give money to a cause or organization with no expectations of a return, social impact investors invest in stocks and organizations they believe benefit the world. It’s not true philanthropy, but many people use social impact investing as a philanthropic strategy.

What are the benefits of philanthropy?

Philanthropy has become a major source of funding for nonprofits and government agencies in recent years, which can present certain issues. There are benefits, as well. Here are four of the main ones to know about:

#1. Philanthropy can be contagious

Considering how much change is needed in the world, many people wonder if their philanthropic actions make any difference. What can one person do? Research suggests empathy and generosity could be contagious. Humans have a region in their brains that activates during pain, but it can also activate when humans see someone else experience pain. Known as “mirror neurons,” this phenomenon could help explain how empathy works. Empathy is a crucial part of what motivates giving, and if people live in a society where generosity is the norm, people are more likely to connect to social issues and engage in philanthropic actions.

#2. Philanthropy can help fill in funding gaps

Most organizations (including government agencies) focused on social causes like education, sustainable development, and women’s rights don’t receive the funding needed to make significant changes. Constantly fighting for funds and never having enough is a waste of time and energy, but until there are systemic changes, organizations need money to stay afloat. Philanthropy can help fill in gaps and draw attention to the funding crises affecting just about every social issue in the world. It’s not a permanent solution, but without philanthropy, many organizations wouldn’t survive.

#3. Philanthropy can unite communities around a cause

When people think about philanthropy, they often picture one wealthy individual doling out funds to their favorite organizations, but one of the types of philanthropy – community philanthropy – is rooted in a grassroots, collaborative approach. Community members come together and collect resources either from the community itself or from external sources. There’s lots of discussion about where funds and other resources go, so instead of concentrating power in the hands of one person, philanthropy can distribute power and promote participation from every community member. When those most affected by decisions are in charge of the decision-making, philanthropy has significantly more impact.

#4. Philanthropy is good for philanthropists, too

Philanthropy should always benefit causes like education and healthcare first and foremost, but there are benefits for those who give, too. Research consistently shows how generosity and kindness trigger the production of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, which help regulate your mood, give you pleasure, and make you feel connected to others. Health benefits include lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and even an extended lifespan. Philanthropists may also experience a renewed sense of meaning and purpose when they donate resources.

How do you become a philanthropist?

The term “philanthropist” has become closely associated with people rich enough to start foundations and fund entire libraries or hospital wings, but anyone can become a philanthropist. Here’s what you do:

#1. Identify the causes you care most about

Countless causes need your money and time, but it can get so overwhelming, it’s hard to know where to start. First, identify a few causes that matter the most to you. It could be something affecting you or your loved ones, or something outside your community you want to get more involved with.

#2. Check the credibility of an organization before you give your support

Once you know what causes you want to focus on, identify the organizations you think are doing the best job in those areas. You can check a nonprofit’s credibility on sites like Guidestar and Charity Navigator. Organizations also release annual reports that let you see how they’re distributing their money, what percentage goes directly to programs, and so on. Smaller, local organizations may not have structures that are quite this formal, but you can ask around to see what their reputation is like.

#3. Give strategically

Strategy is one of the biggest differences between charity and philanthropy. Once you’ve identified causes and organizations you want to support, consider setting up recurring donations or a volunteering routine. Thinking strategically helps you make the most impact. If you want to formalize your giving even more, talk to a financial advisor. They can help with strategy, too. A strategic mindset also helps you hold yourself and any organizations you support accountable. If you’re just giving your money away or showing up to volunteer shifts without much thought, you might miss opportunities for improvement, as well as problems that threaten the effectiveness of an organization.

#4. Form a group

Do you know other people interested in philanthropy? Consider forming a group of like-minded individuals. It can be something informal, like a group of friends that meets once a month to discuss what organization to donate to or volunteer with, or a more official nonprofit or foundation. What works best depends on everyone’s skills, finances, schedule, motivations, and experiences. If you decide to establish something formal, be sure to consult with a financial or business advisor if you have any questions or concerns.

The post Philanthropy 101: Examples, Types and Benefits appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Around the world, children as young as 5 years old are working in mines, fields, and factories. They’re exposed to brutal working conditions like long hours, toxic materials, sexual exploitation, pollution, and dangerous equipment. While child labor has decreased over the decades, there are still millions of kids facing exploitation. In this article, we’ll define child labor, provide eight examples of the most common forms, and explain where you can find more learning opportunities about child labor.

Child labor disrupts a child’s education, damages their health, and exposes them to violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. The most common types include debt bondage, sex trafficking, armed conflict, forced criminal activities, agriculture, mining, factory work, and domestic work.

What’s the meaning of child labor?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines “child labor” as work that takes a young person’s childhood away from them. The work is “mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful” to kids and interferes with their education. As an example, putting a 15-year-old to work in a salt mine for 12 hours a day is child labor, while hiring a 15-year-old to wash dishes after school is most likely not. Laws vary from country to country. The United States has regulations regarding what hours 14 and 15-year-olds can work, while certain occupations (like power-driven bakery machines and power-driven forklifts) are completely prohibited for all minors.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was adopted in 1989, states that all ratifying parties must recognize a child’s right to be protected from economic exploitation and performing hazardous work. It also requires State Parties to take legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to enforce this right. The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty, although the United States and Somalia have not ratified it. In 2020, the ILO announced that all ILO party countries had ratified Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, which provides for the elimination and prohibition of child labor like slavery, trafficking, armed conflict, pornography, and illegal activities. Convention No. 182, which was adopted in 1999, is the fastest ratified agreement in UN history.

How long has child labor existed?

Child labor has a long history, and for centuries, it wasn’t considered exploitative. From a very young age, children were expected to contribute to their families and communities. Why? The concept of childhood wasn’t as accepted as it is today. As the philosophy around children and childhood changed, so did society’s view of child labor. Child labor laws were passed and rates of child labor fell around the world. It’s still prevalent in areas affected by poverty. In 2016, global estimates found that ⅕ of kids in Africa are involved in child labor.

What are examples of child labor?

Child labor refers to any exploitative and harmful labor performed by a child. Here are eight examples:

#1. Debt bondage

When people go into debt and can’t pay with money or goods, the person owed the money may suggest that family members – including children – work for very little or for nothing to pay off the debt. This is often a trick as the debt-holder has no intention of lifting the debt or ending the forced labor. Because the debt can never be paid, debt bondage can keep multiple generations enslaved. This form of exploitation was one of the most prevalent types of forced labor in 2016.

#2. Child sex trafficking

Child sex trafficking is the buying, selling, and moving of children for sexual exploitation. Precise numbers are hard to calculate, but a 2016 UNODC Global Report found that women and girls are trafficked more often for sexual slavery and marriage. Armed groups are a common perpetrator, although experts say trafficked children are very likely to know or even be related to their exploiters.

#3. Armed conflict

According to UNICEF, more than 105,000 children were exploited in armed conflict between 2005 and 2022. Because of how difficult it is to track child labor statistics, the number is likely higher. Children in armed conflict are used as soldiers, scouts, cooks, guards, messengers, and more. Some are abducted or threatened into work, while others are trying to earn money for their families. Regardless of the specifics, using children for any reason in armed conflict is a major violation of human rights law.

#4. Forced criminal activities

Children are exploited for a variety of criminal activities, such as theft, producing and trafficking drugs, burglarizing homes, and more. According to a post on The Conversation, organized crime gangs can groom and exploit kids as young as 12 years old. Kids may be initially paid with drugs and alcohol, which can trigger addiction and make it even harder to break free. In Ecuador, police found stuffed animals at one cartel hideout, leading them to believe that the gang was using toys to lure children. In that same area, most of the 230 people arrested between January and April 2022 were just 17 or 18 years old.

#5. Agriculture

According to the International Labour Organization, child labor is concentrated in agriculture. 60% of the child laborers aged 5-17 years old are in work like farming, fishing, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture. Poverty is the main driver of child labor in agriculture. Child labor may also be more widely accepted in agriculture because of its long-standing history. Children can participate in agricultural activities on family farms without being child laborers, but any work that interferes with schooling, harms a child’s health and development, or exceeds what’s age appropriate for the child is exploitation.

#6. Mining

Mining is a dangerous activity even for adults, but around the world, thousands of kids labor in mines for materials like cobalt, salt, gold, and mica. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children as young as seven mine for cobalt, which is used for lithium-ion batteries. In 2014, around 40,000 kids were working in cobalt mines. Conditions can be brutal and deadly. Many miners work long hours without protective equipment for pay as low as 1-2 dollars a day.

#7. Factory work

Factories make a huge amount of products like clothing, toys, and meat. They’re also rife with poor ventilation, toxic materials, and hazardous machinery. When kids are exploited in factories, they face long-term health and development consequences. In 2023, the United States Department of Labor discovered more than 100 kids – some just 3 years old – employed in factories across eight states. Their jobs included cleaning dangerous equipment like bone cutters and skull splitters in meatpacking plants.

#8. Domestic work

Domestic work includes a variety of tasks and services, some of which don’t constitute exploitative child labor. Exploitation occurs when kids are employed in the domestic work sector at ages younger than is legal and are exposed to hazardous conditions. Any domestic work that interferes with a child’s education is also child labor. In many places, domestic work exploitation is “hidden” as kids – especially girls – are expected to contribute to the household and prepare for a life as an adult. According to the International Labour Organization, kids face heightened risks when they live in the household where they’re employed. Without consistent contact from the child’s parents or friends, it’s much easier for employers to exploit a child.

Where can you learn more about child labor?

Child labor is one of the most troubling human rights violations. Here’s a short list f of classes, books, and documentaries that shine a light on this urgent issue:

The ILO’s e-learning tools

The International Labour Organization offers a handful of courses to help students understand child labor and what role ILO stakeholders play. Using interactive tests and exercises, these free courses are self-paced. Examples include the reporting on child labor for media course, which is 8 hours long and available in English, and the eliminating child labor course, which is a 2-hour course for labor inspectors and child labor monitors. It’s available in French, Spanish, Vietnamese, English, and Mongolian.

FAO e-learning academy

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations offers a 2.5-hour course on child labor in agriculture. It gives an overview of child labor in agriculture, foundational knowledge on what is and isn’t child labor, its causes and consequences, and more. It’s available in English, Spanish, French, Turkish, and Russian. It’s also available in Portuguese as a downloadable offline package.

Harvard University’s Child Protection: Children’s Rights Theory in Theory and Practice

This 16-week course teaches students about the causes and consequences of child protection failures. Topics include the strategies, international laws, standards, and resources that protect all children, as well as how students can apply strategies to their careers. It’s a self-paced course, but it takes 16 weeks with 2-5 hours of work per week. Students can audit the course for free or pay a fee for a certificate.

Agents of Reform: Child Labor and the Origins of the Welfare State (2021)

Elisabeth Anderson

This book explores the late 19th-century labor movement, groundbreaking child labor laws, and the regulatory welfare state. Through seven in-depth case studies from Germany, France, Belgium, Massachusetts, and Illinois, Anderson explores individual reformers and challenges existing explanations of welfare state development.

Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World (2016)

Kevin Bales

Expert Kevin Bales, who has traveled around the world documenting human trafficking, describes the link between slavery and environmental destruction. In addition to being a human rights violation, human trafficking is destroying the earth. Backed by seven years of research and travel, Bales reports from places where this link is most concentrated. While it doesn’t focus exclusively on child labor, child labor is a huge part of human trafficking.

“The Chocolate War” (2022)

Director: Miki Mistrati

The cocoa and chocolate industry is rife with child slavery. In 2001, eight large companies, the World Cocoa Foundation, and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association signed a pledge to end child labor and slavery in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, but the deadline has been postponed to 2025. Why won’t the industry change? “The Chocolate War” follows Terry Collingsworth, a human rights lawyer, for five years as he takes on the multi-billion-dollar chocolate industry. The film was nominated for a Cinema for Peace Award and Best Documentary at the Warsaw International Film Festival.

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Masters in Global Health

A Master’s in Global Health and human rights are intrinsically intertwined in numerous ways. Pursuing a Master’s in Global Health equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to address health challenges that have a broader societal and global dimension. This discipline is directly and indirectly relevant to human rights in aspects such as the right to health, health equity, gender rights, migration, health in detention as well as advocacy and empowerment.

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In today’s world of global communication and social media, having a powerful logo is more important than ever. For organisations and entities that are devoted to advancing human rights, it is a way to spread awareness, represent the brand, and make a statement. Designing a human rights logo is a personal and meaningful task. It requires creativity and thoughtfulness, as you must find a way to accurately and effectively communicate an impactful message in a single image.

In this article, I would like to share with you seven things to consider beyond technical design theories, when creating a human rights logo.

#1 Colour – culture and symbolism

When selecting a color it is important to take into account the cultural context, symbolism, and personal preferences that are associated with it. Think about your corporate identity and values and who you are trying to reach.  Do you have any specific fields or ethnic groups that your logo is aiming to reach? If you are creating a logo for an international audience, be mindful of how colors may be interpreted differently in particular cultures. If you feel unsure, seek out local people’s opinions or designers. Careful consideration and a mindful approach will help ensure that you pick appropriate and powerful colours for your human rights logo.

#2 Colour – Accessibility

When designing a human rights logo you can help persons with colour vision deficiency or visual impairment by choosing the right colour combination. Consider using colours that have high contrast, such as black and white which has the highest possible contrast ratio of 21:1, or colours that are opposite one another on the colour wheel. This will make your design more accessible and easier to navigate for those with limited vision.

Adobe’s Color Contrast Analyzer makes it easy to check your contrast ratios and see how people with color vision deficiency view your hues and shades. With this tool, you’ll get detailed information about potential color conflicts so you can make sure your designs are more accessible. You can design more inclusive online spaces and logos by following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines provide comprehensive information on how to create accessible designs.

#3 Use shapes and symbols to support your message

The basic building blocks of any design are shapes. Context, colour and positioning of these shapes can make a huge impact on how we perceive them. Pointy edges and lines often give off a sharp, stingy vibe, whereas round shapes appear softer and less hazardous. The same triangle can appear unstable and warning, pointing downwards, or solid and firmly grounded, pointing upwards. A square is a very balanced shape, but it is less dynamic and can feel a bit boring.

If your organisation’s focus is activism and challenges of human rights, dynamic shapes with strong, saturated colors and powerful symbols, could be a great choice. If you are working in the field of reconciliation and healing or trauma, a more calming look with gentle colors and balanced shapes could be the way to go. It is essential to take the time to explore the social and cultural meanings behind the shapes and symbols you use and the context you are using them.

#4 Use design to create associations and contrast

We all have our own unique perspectives when it comes to interpreting the things we see. Those perspectives are based on our individual experiences, feelings, or backgrounds. You can craft a design that evokes particular associations. Consider the connotations of the words or images you use. Additionally, the use of space, positioning, colour, and shape can reinforce your visual message. The following example uses the same word and typeface but by applying different design choices, the associations are very contrasting and evoke distinct emotions.

The bold font of the word “freedom” gives it an airy, breathy feel, while the arch shape of the letters adds a sense of strength. Its top position in the teal square with plenty of room around it provides visual support for the concept, and the peaceful yet lively hue of the background radiates positive energy.

The cramped typeface with little spacing between the letters gives the word a tight, uncomfortable feel. The distortion creates an uneasy sensation and a sense of being pushed. Placed too close to the bottom edge of the grey square, it appears to be unsure of its position or crammed into the corner. Muted colors give a dismal feel.

Contrast is great for helping the viewer focus on what is most important. Think of it beyond just colour—you can create contrast with opposites, for example, big vs. small, bold vs. thin, narrow vs. wide, serif vs. sans-serif or traditional vs. modern.

#5 Choose a typeface that supports your message

In today’s world the amount of available typeface choices can be overwhelming. In order to make an appropriate selection be mindful of shapes, contrast, and context. Think about what you want to say with your typeface. You can make your search easier by using filter functions on online font sources, which allow you to narrow down your choices by selecting tags such as geometric, playful, or friendly.

Think of accessibility, it should be easy to read and understand, while still being visually appealing. I highly recommend looking for a typeface with high-quality characters and a range of fonts, such as thin, italic, regular, semi-bold, and bold. Make sure that the typeface you use is licensed for your project or check out if you can support the designer in case the typeface is free.

#6 Tell your story 

Storytelling can be used to convey a certain message, as well as evoke emotions from viewers. By weaving a narrative into your design, viewers will be able to connect with the logo on a more personal level. This connection ensures that the logo is more than just a symbol. It becomes a representation of the mission and the values of the brand. To ensure that the message is clear, determine what story you want to tell. What is your logo for? Put it in your specific context and use the above mentioned tips on colour, shapes and symbols, associations and typeface to help you crafting a visual story.

#7 Get feedback

Seeking feedback on your design can be daunting, as your logo is the result of hard work, dedication and passion. The response you receive may not be the one you anticipated and it can feel disappointing. However, see it as a learning experience. Constructive feedback is a great opportunity to change your own perspective and it can trigger fresh ideas. You gain valuable insight into how the logo is perceived and how it can be improved. You also learn a lot about yourself.

You can approach experts in the field of human rights and people who are not familiar with the topic. I would suggest asking friends and family first. Make clear what kind of feedback you are looking for. This could include questions like, “What is the logo telling you? Does the logo tell you what it is? What could be done to make the logo stand out more?”

I hope the seven tips will assist you on your human rights logo design journey and make it easier for you to start the exciting process.

Sabine Mann is the creator of the Human Rights Careers logo. She has worked as Programme Coordinator for the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights at the University of Vienna for nine years, where she developed essential skills and sensitivity in dealing with human rights topics. This valuable experience has had a profound impact on Sabine’s work as a designer. If you want to learn more about Sabine’s work, visit her website.

The post 7 Things to Consider When Designing a Human Rights Logo appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Applications are open for the Executive Diploma on International Criminal Law and Transnational Justice, a substantive programme which offers unique insights into international accountability mechanisms, and how they can be used to uphold human rights across borders. This online course, delivered by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the NGO IUSTICOM, will run from 16 October – 19 November, 2023.

Apply now

In today’s interconnected world, crime transcends national boundaries. The pursuit of criminal accountability and the fight against impunity demands experts who can navigate the complexities of international criminal law and address the challenges of upholding human rights across borders.

Across five highly engaging and comprehensive e-workshops delivered by top experts and practitioners in transnational justice, participants will learn the role of the UN and its bodies with respect to human rights violations, as well as be given access to information, rare first-hand knowledge, and analysis on different accountability mechanisms, such as truth commissions, international and hybrid tribunals, fact-finding missions, and investigations.

In addition to the workshops, skill-focused modules on negotiation, public speaking, mediation, and leadership will provide participants with holistic training experiences that will allow them to put their substantive knowledge into practice.

This exclusively online Executive Diploma will take place from 16 October – 19 November 2023. The programme is open to participants from all over the world interested in international criminal justice and accountability mechanisms. Spots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, and a maximum of 30 participants are accepted per edition, so kindly register by 1^st September 2023.

Expand your network and gain the knowledge and tools necessary to advance your career in international criminal law and transnational justice by registering today. Empowered through this training programme, participants can become advocates for a more just and equitable world, where the pursuit of global justice knows no borders.

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UNITAR issues a limited number of fee reductions to participants from low-and middle-income countries, with priority assigned to participants from least developed countries. Participants working in the United Nations, regional or other international organizations, regardless of nationality, are not eligible for fee reductions.

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For more information on fees, the application procedure, and the exact time and dates for the workshops, please visit UNITAR’s official website, or send an email to: info.ilp@unitar.org

Visit official website

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Health equity exists when everyone reaches their full potential for health and well-being. Complete health equality is impossible because everyone’s body and potential are different, but unfair, avoidable, and treatable differences between groups of people must be eliminated before equity exists. This isn’t an easy task, but health is a human right. If countries wish to improve their well-being and health, health equity is essential. In this article, we’ll explore the definitions of health equity, give examples of equity in action, and identify where you can learn more about this important human rights area.

Health equity eliminates avoidable health differences between groups by increasing healthcare access, improving services, and removing systemic barriers related to race, gender, class, and more.

What is health equity?

Many documents define health equity, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the World Health Organization. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which lists the foundational values of the United Nations, enshrines the right to health in Article 25. It reads: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care…”

The Constitution of the WHO, which came into force the same year as the UDHR in 1948, reaffirms the right to health. There, health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of the disease or infirmity.” The text goes on to read, “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”

The UDHR and WHO provide essential frameworks for health and human rights around the world, but they are not legally binding. Their definitions of health equity are just that: definitions. Health equity is only enforceable through legally-binding treaties, laws, or policies.

What are governments doing to improve health equity?

Health equity is a multifaceted challenge, but there are many ways to improve healthcare access and health outcomes. We can get a better idea of what health equity looks like by seeing what governments are doing:

The Medical Aid Program (South Korea)

In 1979, South Korea established the Medical Aid Program, which created a safety net for people who couldn’t afford to pay their medical bills. The program has changed over the years. In 2004, it expanded to cover patients with rare, chronic diseases and children under 18. Central and local governments fund the program. Anticipating an aging population who would need caregiving for illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the government also established a Long-term Care Insurance program in 2008.

The Affordable Care Act (United States)

Enacted in 2010, the Affordable Care Act sought to reform the American healthcare system and decrease health disparities. It expanded health insurance coverage, prohibited exclusion based on preexisting conditions, let people stay on their parent’s health insurance plans until age 26, and required most private health insurance plans to cover women’s preventative healthcare. According to a 2020 article in Health Affairs, disparities in coverage decreased thanks to the ACA. Coverage increased the most for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people.

Close the Gap Campaign (Australia)

In 2007, the Council of Australian Governments set targets to track and assess the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Their goal is to reach health equity within a generation. The campaign publishes a report every year reaffirming a strengths-based framework and culturally safe, place-based, and appropriate solutions. Campaign members include the Australian Medical Association, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation, and the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia.

NHS Long-Term Plan (United Kingdom)

The NHS Long Term Plan began in 2018 and will direct the National Health Service’s approach until 2028. Its goal is to tackle health inequalities through a focus on five priority areas, such as preventing digital exclusion, enhancing preventative programs, and strengthening leadership and accountability. With this plan, the NHS hopes to improve equitable access and outcomes.

Primary Health Care Strategy (New Zealand)

In 2001, the New Zealand government established a healthcare strategy that emphasized primary healthcare as a solution to health inequities. The strategy has five priorities, including reducing financial barriers for those with the greatest health need, encouraging multidisciplinary approaches to services, and supporting the development of services by Māori and Pacific providers.

What can healthcare organizations do to reduce health inequities?

Governments play a vital role in improving health equity, but healthcare organizations and medical professionals are important, too. Here are some examples of what they can do:

Conduct research

Before addressing disparities, healthcare organizations need to know where the disparities are. With good research methods, they can identify disparities in access, healthcare quality, and health outcomes. Good information can help healthcare organizations develop better solutions moving forward.

Address the social determinants of health

Social determinants of health are non-medical factors that impact health outcomes, such as income, education, job security, working life conditions, food insecurity, and more. Healthcare organizations can work with community organizations on services like housing assistance, food programs, employment services, and other aid. By addressing the social determinants, healthcare organizations can play a vital role in improving health equity.

Diversify the medical field

Diverse workplaces are more productive and successful, and the medical field is no exception. Studies continue to confirm this. In one example, the presence of more Black primary care physicians led to better survival-related outcomes for Black people who lived in the area, even if they didn’t see a Black doctor. The mortality rate disparities between Black and white people were reduced.

Engage the community more

Many people feel misunderstood and disconnected from their healthcare providers. A lack of trust can also discourage people from seeking care even when it could save their lives. Healthcare organizations must build trust with the communities they serve, tailor their services to the community’s needs, and seek community participation in programs and decision-making.

Provide culturally competent care

Culturally-competent healthcare systems meet the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all their patients. This is especially important as those most in need of improved healthcare and better health outcomes often come from racial and ethnic minorities. When healthcare organizations aren’t culturally competent, patients are more likely to feel unhappy with their care and less likely to return. Diversifying the workplace, having interpreter services on hand, working with community health workers, and understanding cultural values are important steps.

Where can you find learning opportunities about health equity?

Online courses are a great way to learn more about health equity. Here are eight examples:

Advancing Health Equity: A Guide To Reducing Bias in Healthcare (University of Michigan)
Length: 10 hours
Level: Intermediate

This course challenges your awareness, values, and actions on unconscious and implicit bias. You’ll explore topics like community orientation, organizational awareness, professionalism, and accountability, change leadership, and strategic orientation. By the course’s end, you’ll be able to consider multiple perspectives, analyze your bias, and act.

Engaging in Strategic Management in Healthcare Organizations (Northeastern University)

Length: 14 hours
Level: Beginner

This is Part 2 of the Strategic Management for Healthcare Organizations course. It covers the analytical frameworks needed for strategic decision-making and draws on different disciplines, like management and economics. You’ll conduct an external evaluation that looks at market, environment, customer, and competitor analyses. By the course’s end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how organizations make strategic decisions and how to apply your skills.

Human Health Risks, Health Equity, and Environmental Justice (University of Michigan)

Length: 17 hours
Level: Beginner

The last course in the “Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health” specialization covers environmental justice and risk assessment and management. You’ll learn the steps in risk assessment and how it can address environmental justice issues.

Foundations of Health Equity Research (John Hopkins University)

Length: 14 hours
Level: Beginner

In this course, you’ll cover the core principles of health equity research. Topics include defining health equity, cultural competence, engaging community and policy stakeholders, and disseminating research findings.

Application of Health Equity Research Methods for Practice and Policy (John Hopkins University)

Length: 14 hours
Level: Intermediate

This course is designed for students with previous experience in the area or who have completed the introduction to health equity research course. You’ll learn the innovative methods, practical tools, and skills necessary to perform rigorous health equity research. Topics include behavioral intervention development, adapting interventions for socially at-risk populations, and research methods in healthcare services.

Achieving Health Equity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)

Length: 10 hours
Level: Intermediate

This is the last course in the “Addressing Racial Health Equity in Healthcare” specialization. Topics covered include the legal, policy, and regulatory approaches to interventions, the history and role of community health centers, and the workforce initiatives and reparations designed to address racial and ethnic healthcare disparities.

AI and Big Data in Global Health Improvement (Taipei Medical University)

Length: 4 weeks (2 hours per week)
Level: Beginner

This course focuses on future global healthcare developments. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to describe how big data can improve healthcare quality in global pandemics, how AI and big data play a role in global health improvement, and how massive observational health data and AI techniques can improve healthcare quality.

Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the U.S. (University of Michigan)

Length: 17 hours
Level: Beginner

This course helps students learn why race was created, how it was used to advance white people’s interests, and how state violence reinforces racial inequities. By the end, you’ll be ready to describe the impact of structural racism on individuals, identify policies and events that shape current racial health inequities, and apply public writing strategies to fight racial health inequities.

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Learn more about inequality and discrimination as they relate to economics, gender, technology, and much more from leading educational institutions

Inequality and discrimination have been a subject of study for fields like history, economics, politics, public policy, gender studies, and much more for decades. How do we achieve a more equal world free from discrimination? In this article, we’ll list 10 courses that seek to answer that question. The courses cover topics like poverty and inequality, gender inequality, anti-discrimination law, inequality in global pandemics, and more. Most of the courses are free to audit with an option to pay for a verified certificate.

#1. Understanding Poverty and Inequality (SDGAcademy)
#2. Understanding Gender Inequality (University of Exeter)
#3. Inequality and Democracy (Utrecht University)
#4. America’s Poverty and Inequality Course (Stanford University)
#5. Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law (Stanford University)
#6. Discrimination and Diversity in the Modern Workplace (Berkeley University)
#7. Understanding Gender Equity (Catalyst)
#8. Fighting for Equality: 1950-2018 (Columbia University)
#9. Justice and Equity in Technology Policy (University of Michigan)
#10. COVID-19 and Society: Inequality in Global Pandemics (UBCx)

#1. Understanding Poverty and Inequality (SDGAcademy)

Created in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings Institution, this course provides an overview of the definitions, scale, and scope of poverty and inequality around the world. You’ll study links between poverty, inequality, and well-being, as well as the opportunities for socioeconomic mobility, the challenges facing marginalized populations, and links to climate change, migration, and conflict. By the course’s end, you’ll also be ready to explain the different policy approaches and tools that address poverty and inequality.

There are 18 people involved in this course, including John McArthur (Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Sustainable Development), Chandrika Bahadur (Director, SDG Academy), and Sabina Alkire (Director, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative). With 2-4 hours of work per week, you can finish the course in 6 weeks. There are no prerequisites, but it’s an intermediate-level course. It’s best for policy professionals, development practitioners, and advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in poverty, inequality, economics, and development.

#2. Understanding Gender Inequality (University of Exeter)

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals include gender equality and the empowerment of women. In this course, you’ll learn about gender inequality in the workplace, within family units, and in the media. Topics covered include gender as a construct, how gender inequality works in the workplace and at home, and how to challenge gender inequality through changing awareness, language, attitudes, and structures. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to explain gender inequality, describe how practices are reinforced, discuss types of inequality, and identify ways to challenge gender inequality.

Emma J, who is a lecturer at the University of Exeter focused on gender relations and workplace discrimination, teaches the course. With 3 hours of work per week, you can finish the course in 4 weeks. There are no prerequisites, though the course is designed for people older than 16 and who are preparing for higher education or entering the workforce. Some knowledge of gender inequality will be helpful.

#3. Inequality and Democracy (Utrecht University)

Inequality is growing within most countries around the world. How does this affect political equality? Can equal political power and economic inequality coexist? In this course, you’ll cover topics like the rise of economic inequality, property rights and corporations, democracy, campaign finance, capital flight and tax avoidance, and alternatives to current economic systems. As an interdisciplinary course, you’ll learn through lenses like politics, philosophy, economics, law, and history.

Yara Salman (MSc), Rutger Claassen (Prof. Dr), and Michael Bennett (Dr.) teach the course. It’s a great choice for anyone interested in politics, media, education, government, or law. With 3-4 hours of work per week, you should finish in 6 weeks. You can audit the course for free or pay for full access and a verified certificate upon completion. As a beginner course, there are no prerequisites; it’s about as difficult as a first-year undergraduate course.

#4. America’s Poverty and Inequality Course (Stanford University)

The United States is facing a time where income inequality is the worst it’s ever been, poverty is high, and racial and gender inequalities persist. This course explores the reasons why. Students will learn the 40 key research results that explain US policy and the new science of poverty and inequality from leading scholars, who present their own research.

This course was developed by the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality. It’s taught by David Grusky (Edward Ames Edmonds Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences) and Lindsay Owens (Economic Policy advisor, office of Senator Elizabeth Warren). The course is divided into 8 modules with short videos and readings, most of which come from Inequality in the 21st Century. The course is free and doesn’t require any prerequisites. With 2-4 hours of work per week, you can finish in about 9 weeks.

#5. Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law (Stanford University)

Are you interested in learning about anti-discrimination law? This course uses a problem-based approach to study anti-discrimination law globally. You’ll compare US and European legal systems with national, regional, and international legal systems, like those in India and Brazil. Over five modules, you’ll cover employment discrimination and harassment, marriage equality, affirmative action/gender parity, hate speech, and secularism and the rights of religious minorities.

Richard Thompson Ford (George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Stanford Law School) and David B. Oppenheimer (Clinical Professor of Law, University of Berkeley) teach the course. With 2-6 hours of work per week, you can finish in 16 weeks. No prerequisites are required, though the textbook Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, Third Edition enhances the course.

#6. Discrimination and Diversity in the Modern Workplace (Berkeley University)

This course is part of the “Beyond Diversity: Anti-Racism and Equity in the Workplace” professional certificate. It helps professionals advance in their careers by helping them navigate complex group dynamics, communicate effectively, and make key decisions about equity goals. In “Discrimination and Diversity in the Modern Workplace,” you’ll learn how to identify and respond to biases, understand the perspectives of minoritized employees, implement equitable hiring and evaluation practices, and create an inclusive, equitable workplace for everyone.

Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton (Lead Instructor, University of Berkeley) teaches the course. With 5-8 hours of work per week, you can complete the course in 8 weeks. It’s at an intermediate level, so while there are no specific prerequisites, some background knowledge about equity, discrimination, and diversity will be helpful.

#7. Understanding Gender Equity (Catalyst)

This short course is a great introduction to gender equity. It’s part of the “Race, Gender and Workplace Equity” professional certificate. You’ll learn why gender matters, how to identify gender inequities, and how to address them in the workplace. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to analyze how organizational policies and practices address gender inequities, determine the difference between gender equity and gender equality, and develop strategies to improve gender equity.

There are nine course advisors and course instructors, including Ashley Rivenbark (Senior Associate of Leading for Equity and Inclusion, Catalyst), Lauren Pasquarella Daley (Senior Director, Women and the Future of Work), and Joanna Duffett (Sr. Associate Librarian, Information Center, Catalyst). The course can be finished in just 1-2 hours. There are no prerequisites.

#8. Fighting for Equality: 1950-2018 (Columbia University)

This course is the last part of the “Women Have Always Worked” series. Here, students will examine how the Cold War reinforced visions of the suburban, nuclear family and impacted women’s pathway to independence and equality. You’ll learn how women’s participation in activism and work led up to the events of the 1960s, how different groups of feminists challenged systems, and how women’s participation in work and family impacted politics up to 2018.

Alice Kessler-Harris (R. Gordon Hoxie Professor of American History Emerita) and Nick Juravich (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Women’s History, New-York Historical Society) teach the class. With 2-3 hours of work per week, you can finish in 12 weeks. It’s an intermediate class, so it’s best for students with an undergraduate-level interest in history, gender, and labor. There are no prerequisites.

#9. Justice and Equity in Technology Policy (University of Michigan)

Technology and public policy are closely linked these days. Things like AI and algorithms affect government and industry decisions and reinforce social biases, especially against marginalized communities. There are also concerns about unfair allocations of government funding and emerging technologies to combat global climate change. In this course, you’ll explore the connections between technology, policy, and equality and how inequalities can be addressed. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to rethink expertise, design, and policy and governance as it relates to technology.

Shobita Parthasarathy (Professor of Public Policy; Director, Science, Technology and Public Policy program) teaches the course. The course is broken into six weeks, but it can take up to 10 hours to complete a week’s worth of study. Luckily, the course is self-paced, so you can take longer if necessary. The course’s difficulty is not listed, but there don’t appear to be prerequisites.

#10. COVID-19 and Society: Inequality in Global Pandemics (University of British Columbia)

This course explores that can be learned from COVID-19, how society was organized before the pandemic, and what society can look like in the future. You’ll examine how your local experiences during the pandemic connect to global trends, how ageism and racism exacerbated the pandemic, how COVID-19 and climate change are linked, and how the disease impacted existing health inequalities.

Dr. Katherine Lyon (Assistant Professor of Teaching) gives an introduction to each topic and offers literature recommendations. Experts from the University of British Columbia give five lectures in this course. With 1-2 hours of study each week, you can finish the course in 5 weeks. There are no prerequisites.

The post 10 Online Courses on Fighting Inequality and Discrimination appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

In the field of human rights, possessing a diverse set of skills is essential. While core competencies in human rights are crucial, peripheral skills can make a big difference when navigating the complexities of human rights work. This article presents online courses that equip you with valuable skills to round up your human rights CV. All courses below are currently (until 21st) available for $1 on Coursera Plus. If you do not have access to a suitable payment method, consider applying for financial aid.

Get access to all courses for $1

#1 Project Management – Professional Certificate (Google)

If there is one peripheral skill most human rights professionals need, it’s project management. Campaigners, educators, lawyers, researchers, communicators all manage projects. Project management is important because it helps with optimizing resources, fostering collaboration and measuring success. Skills in project management ensure the efficient implementation of human rights initiatives. That’s why a certification in project management is a useful addition to any human rights CV.

#2 Intercultural Management (ESCP Business School)

In the human rights world, intercultural competences are more than an asset. They are essential for doing well in the job. As a human rights professional you will work with a diverse set of stakeholders. You may engage with colleagues, activists, government officials, authorities, press and others. Unsurprisingly, most job descriptions in human rights explicitly mention the ability to work with a diverse team as a requirement.

#3 Resilience for Everyone (Arizona State University)

Possibly the most neglected but quite essential human rights skill is resilience. Human rights professionals often work in difficult conditions under high pressure. Office jobs are no exception and come with their own challenges. Developing strategies for improving your own well-being and resilience is essential for a sustainable career in human rights. In this course by Arizona State University you will learn to manage stress, think positively, cultivate a growth mindset and preserve your empathy during prolonged periods of stress.

#4 Introduction to Negotiation (Yale University)

Human rights professionals negotiate frequently: about problems, ideas, frameworks, projects, budgets, approaches, and innovations – to name a few. Whether you are just getting started in an assistant role or run an entire organization, negotiation skills are helpful to advocate for yourself and others. Advocacy Officers who are in direct contact with power holders need negotiation skills to successfully push for policy changes. Whatever your role is, you’ll often need the buy-in of your colleagues or your manager when pitching new ideas.

#5 Understanding Research Methods (University of London)

Trustworthiness, transparency and accuracy are incredibly important for international organizations. Researchers ensure that human rights work is based on facts. But they aren’t the only ones who need research skills to thrive in their roles. Campaigners, educators, communicators, managers all need research skills to create accurate content and make sound decisions. While there is always more to learn when it comes to research, this course on Understanding Research Methods from University of London will equip you with the basics.

#6 Successful Presentation (University of Colorado Boulder)

Regardless of your role in a human rights organization, you will likely have to present something. In this course you will engage in practical activities to improve your public speaking skills and advance your presentation. You’ll learn to master fear and how to use your verbal and body language more strategically. The entire course takes roughly 20 hours to complete and is a very useful addition especially for human rights press officers, managers, media workers, outreach professionals and everyone else who frequently speaks publicly.

#7 Machine Learning Specialization (University of Washington)

AI and machine learning are changing our lives. While they create new opportunities for the protection of human rights, they also introduce unprecedented challenges. AI can help make education, health and economic systems more efficient but also bears the risk to amplify polarization, discrimination and bias. Staying out of the discussion is no solution. The more we understand these technologies, the better we can shape them according to human rights values. In this course you will learn to analyze large and complex datasets, create systems that adapt and improve over time, and build intelligent applications that can make predictions from data.

#8 Cybersecurity (Google)

Cyber-surveillance poses a significant threat to human rights defenders. Regardless of your role in an human rights organization, there is a good chance you will handle personal data in some way. Researchers maintain databases of human rights violations, educators hold learner data, campaigners handle data for digital online campaigns. In a human rights context, most data is sensitive. Being able to identify, prevent and mitigate cybersecurity issues, is a big asset for every human rights professional who is working on a computer. It is especially useful for professionals with a tech focus.

Get access to all courses for $1

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Applications are open for the new Executive Diploma on Law and Neuroscience – A Comparative Approach, a 5-week programme consisting of 3 e-learning modules and interactive e-workshops focused on the intersection between Law and Neuroscience – organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in April/May 2024.

Apply now

Advances in neuroscientific research and technologies have become increasingly important for the field of law. Not only are the number of court cases involving neuroscientific evidence rapidly rising, neuro-legal studies are also used to inform us on substantive legal doctrines, such as the insanity defense. Additionally, the interaction between the law and the neurosciences is highly relevant for criminal policy issues, such as the possible implications of brain research for juvenile offenders or addicts. However, the use of neuroscientific techniques in the legal system is not without its problems, and raises empirical, practical, and ethical questions.

This programme offers a unique opportunity to explore current applications, but also some challenges and limitations, of implementing neuroscientific research and neurotechnology in the legal system, considering both US and European jurisdictions. The Executive Diploma on Law and Neuroscience – A Comparative Approach will be offered online through a five-week period, and organised in three e-learning modules, including interactive e-workshops, focused on the intersection between Law and Neuroscience.

In dedicated sessions delivered by top experts, participants will explore specific areas, such as the insanity defense, as well as the coercive use of neurotechniques and human rights from a comparative perspective. They will also engage in some of the most pressing current debates – particularly on the role of adversity and trauma from a legal psychology perspective within the context of asylum law and the position of adolescents/juveniles in (criminal) law.

The programme will take place from 2 Apr 2024 – 8 May 2024. It is fully online, allowing participants from all over the world to join. A maximum of 35 participants are accepted per edition. All individuals are welcome to register, and spots will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information on fees and the application procedure, please visit UNITAR’s official website, or email info.ilp@unitar.org.

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Founded in 1884 and based in beautiful North Wales, Bangor University offers a unique Masters of Laws that combines the study of International Human Rights Law with International Criminal Law in a single programme.

The programme is designed to provide students with the legal knowledge and understanding necessary to tackle and confront some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as climate change, artificial intelligence, global migration, unlawful military interventions and crimes against humanity.  We want our students to emerge as competent human rights professionals, ready and able to contribute to resolving these critical challenges, whether that be at a national, regional or international level.

Students are required to take three core modules: International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law and Legal Research Methods. Additionally, students will undertake a dissertation that allows them to research in depth an issue of particular interest to them under the close supervision of an expert member of staff.

In addition to the above, students select three modules from a range of options that may include International Climate Change Law and Policy, Contemporary Issues in International Environmental Law, Business and Human Rights, Public International Law, Cultural Heritage in International Law, and Comparative International Criminal Justice (see our website for the full range of options).

At Bangor University, Masters modules are taught through a seminar-style format.  This allows students to get to know each other and encourages discussion and group work. Additionally, it allows us to get to know our students and their future career aspirations. Throughout all modules, members of staff draw on their own professional experiences to inspire students and offer advice on career options, be that with international and regional bodies (such as the UN), non-governmental bodies organisations (for example, Human Rights Watch) or within the private sector (where demand for those with human rights qualifications is rapidly growing).

Apply now

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Millions of people lack housing justice, which is the right to safe, adequate, and equitable housing. Systemic inequalities like racial discrimination, income inequality, weak government policies, and more are the main causes, while people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, women, and refugees tend to face the most challenges. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of housing justice 101, including a thorough definition, examples of housing justice, and learning opportunities.

Housing justice is the idea that everyone deserves safe, affordable, and health-promoting housing regardless of race, income, gender, ethnicity, ability, and more. Initiatives like rent control, tenant organizing, public housing, fair housing laws, and inclusionary zoning help ensure housing justice.

What’s the definition of housing justice?

Housing justice is based on the idea that housing is a human right. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the right to adequate housing. The article reads:

“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing  (emphasis added) and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,  old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights also adopted the right to adequate housing in 1991, where it was identified as “of central importance” for enjoying every other economic, social and cultural right. The Committee went further in its definition, stating that the right to housing shouldn’t be narrowly defined as a commodity. It should be seen as “the right to live somewhere in security, peace and dignity.” What about the term “adequate?” What does it mean? In a copy of the CESCR General Comment No. 4: The Right to Adequate Housing, the Committee lists seven things that must be accounted for:

#1 Legal security of tenure

Tenure includes things like rental accommodation, leases, and emergency housing. “Legal security of tenure” means everyone must have legal protections against forced evictions, harassment, and other threats.

#2 Availability of services, materials, facilities, and infrastructure

An adequate living space must include certain facilities, like safe drinking water, energy for cooking, heating, lighting, sanitation, waste disposal, emergency services, and so on. These services must also be consistently available. If someone only occasionally has safe drinking water, their housing can’t be considered adequate.

#3 Affordability

“Affordable” means housing costs can’t make it harder to get access to other basic needs. The State needs to take steps to ensure housing-related costs stay in proportion with income levels and give subsidies to those who can’t pay for affordable housing. Renters should also be protected from unreasonable rental costs and increases.

#4 Habitability

Adequate housing needs to provide adequate space and safety from natural elements (cold, heat, rain, wind, etc), structural dangers, disease vectors (like stagnant water), and other health threats.

#5 Accessibility

The Committee states that “adequate housing must be accessible to those who are entitled to it.” The document specifically mentions that groups like children, people with disabilities, survivors of natural disasters, and other disadvantaged groups should get “some degree” of priority. Housing laws and policies also need to fully account for special housing needs.

#6 Location

A person’s home needs to give them access to things like job options, healthcare services, schools, and childcare whether they’re in an urban or rural environment. Housing also can’t be built on or near polluted sites because of the health risks.

#7 Cultural adequacy

Cultural identity and housing diversity should be factored into construction, materials, and housing policies. That includes any activities involving development and modernization. Cultural aspects shouldn’t be threatened.

These seven factors give us a clear idea of what housing justice initiatives should include. As you can see, other human rights – like the right to health, right to adequate work, right to freedom from discrimination – are deeply entrenched in the definition of housing justice.

What are some examples of housing justice?

Housing justice movements are found all over the world, but what are they working toward? It’s not as simple as telling the government to build a house or buy a piece of land for everyone. There are specific and diverse initiatives that may help ensure housing justice for everyone:

#1 Rent control

Rent control policies limit how much landlords can charge. This prevents rent from getting so expensive that properties are no longer affordable for tenants. Policies can look like setting a maximum for each rent increase or capping how much a landlord can ever charge. A study by the Urban Institute found that rent control is generally successful if the goal is to promote stability for people living in rent-controlled units. However, it may not help improve economic opportunity or reduce racial disparities. More research can help determine when and where rent control is most beneficial and what other policies are needed to promote housing justice.

#2 Tenant organizing

Tenant organizing happens when people who rent collaborate and advocate for more rights, better living conditions, and changes to unfair practices. Activities include holding meetings, forming tenant associations, organizing rent strikes, holding eviction protests, and talking to the media. The San Francisco Tenants Union, which has been organizing for over 50 years, is a good example. The union has helped achieve victories like 1979’s Rent Control Ordinance, which restricted rent increases and evictions. They also advocated for Prop C, which taxes major corporations to raise housing funds for people experiencing homelessness.

#3 Public housing

Government agencies operate public housing, which provides affordable rental homes for low-income individuals and families. In the UK, where public housing is called “social housing” or “council housing,” 3.9 million people lived in social housing between 2016-2018. Public housing doesn’t always meet the standards of adequate housing, however. A piece from the Financial Times described the Better Social Housing Review’s report, which urged associations to perform audits and give tenants more power in decision-making. The death of a 2-year-old following long-term exposure to mold in his house provides just one example of why the UK needs to address the quality of its public housing.

#4 Fair housing laws

Discrimination has had a huge impact on housing justice throughout the world. In the United States, policies like redlining kept Black Americans from participating equally in the housing market. The Fair Housing Act, which passed in 1968, prohibited housing discrimination based on race, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and so on. It also requires design and construction standards, like accessible doorways and common areas, and other reasonable accommodations, like allowing service pets. Passing – and enforcing – fair housing laws are vital to housing justice.

#5 Inclusionary zoning

Inclusionary zoning policies require developers to turn a certain percentage of their new units into affordable housing. The goal is to push back against exclusionary zoning, which reinforces racial segregation and economic discrimination. According to Inclusionary Housing, there are more than 1000 inclusionary housing programs in 31 states, which have created 100,000+ affordable housing units in the United States.

Programs vary but include both legal requirements and incentives like density bonuses and housing subsidies.

Where can you learn more about housing justice?

There are many learning opportunities for housing justice, including online courses (like Housing Justice: A View from Indian Cities), workshops, and conferences. You can also look for tenant unions and housing nonprofits in your area for educational resources and volunteering opportunities. What about books? Here’s where to start:

Evicted: Poverty and Property in the American City (2017)

By: Matthew Desmond

This Pulitzer-winning book follows eight Milwaukee families as they struggle to stay housed. Desmond explores issues like poverty, economic exploitation, and solutions for the housing crisis in the United States.

The Right to Dignity: Housing Struggles, City Making, and Citizenship in Urban Chile (2022)

By: Miguel Pérez

Based on fieldwork from 2011-2015, anthropologist Miguel Pérez chronicles a social movement in Chile, where activists and residents fight for better living conditions, the right to stay in their neighborhoods of origin, and recognition as citizens who deserve rights. This book shows what happens when housing is framed as a commodity and not a basic right.

Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership (2021)

By: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

This finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in History describes how housing discrimination continued even after fair housing laws. Groups like bankers, investors, and real estate agents exploited Black people – especially Black women – while new policies intended to encourage low-income homeownership made things worse for Black homeowners. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor argues that instead of ending racist exclusion, changes transformed it into “predatory inclusion.”

Indigenous Dispossession: Housing and Maya Indebtedness in Mexico (2020)

By: M. Bianet Castellanos

In Mexico, tract housing developments exploded into a billion-dollar industry while land reform debates were replaced by neoliberal housing policies. This book explores the impact of replacing traditional housing on Indigenous peoples’ relationships to land, urbanism, and finance. Castellanos describes what Maya migrants experience in one of Mexico’s fastest-growing cities as they deal with predatory lending practices, foreclosure, and other colonial structures.

Housing First: Ending Homelessness, Transforming Systems, and Changing Lives (2015)

By: Benjamin Henwood, Sam Tsemberis, and Deborah Padgett

The oldest book on the list, Housing First remains an important documentation of the Housing First approach, which began in 1992. It challenges the usual process of putting a person experiencing homelessness into shelters and transitional housing programs and assessing their “housing readiness.” The Housing First approach provides people immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions. Does it work? This book lays out the evidence.

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The Essex Human Rights Centre presents its popular summer school on Human Rights, taught by a faculty of leading academics and practitioners.

The Human Rights Summer School will be held virtually in 2023 and will be delivered in an online live, interactive format, split over two weeks.

The Essex Human Rights Summer School will cover various topics related to professional practice in human rights. Taught by an international faculty of leading experts in the field, the Summer School will examine human rights research methods, advocacy and campaigning strategies, and aspects of professional development. The programme includes sessions that address growing challenges human rights professionals face and highlights opportunities to overcome them. The Summer School curriculum is designed to build the capacity of both mid-career human rights professionals and postgraduate students to be successful human rights defenders and researchers.

Apply now

The teaching programme covers a range of research methods and skills necessary for successful human rights practice and professional development. In addition to modules covering various research methods, the curriculum includes sessions on advocacy, organisational management, coping strategies and practitioner case studies.

In taking this course, participants will:

• Acquire a strong understanding of the several methods used in human rights research covering qualitative and quantitative methods as well as emerging methods such as the use of experiments in the social sciences
• Understand how to do research in different country contexts, including in closed and challenging societies
• Learn to design research projects with a solid methodology to have optimal impact on policy and practice
• Gain a strong appreciation of a range of advocacy tools, including litigation, international advocacy as well as of strategies on running campaigns to achieve change
• Acquire insights into effective governance of human rights NGOs, including group dynamics
• Learn ways to build resilience and support the well-being of human rights advocates in the face of their constant or extraordinary exposure to various forms and types of trauma in their line of work
• Gain insights into various aspects of field practice from several practitioners on promoting human rights in international contexts

It is an ideal course for postgraduate students, academics, lawyers and human rights professionals working in NGOs, government and international organisations.

Applications are open until 9 June with early bird discounts ending on 5 May.

For more information visit the official website.

Apply now

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Housing Justice refers to the concept that everyone has the right to safe and adequate housing conditions. Moreover traits such as race, gender, sex, age, wealth or any other status should not determine access to adequate and safe housing. The reality, however, is very different.

Globally 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing conditions, 100 million people are homeless and 15 million people are forcibly evicted each year. As a serious violation to human dignity, homelessness and inadequate housing impact a variety of basic rights including the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to health and the right to education.

Below are some examples how housing injustice can impact different human rights.

Overall, housing injustice has far-reaching impacts on a range of human rights, making it a crucial issue to address through policy and social action. The first step in building change is equipping yourself with knowledge and skills to take action. For this purpose, the Indian Institute for Human Settlements is offering an online course on Housing Justice. Is it worth your time? We take a look.

How will you learn?

The self-paced course, which is offered entirely online, takes roughly 17 hours to complete. It consists of seven weeks.

Week 1

The introductory video of the course provides an overview of the course structure and contents. Although the course uses India as a starting point, overarching questions of discrimination and inequality are relevant in all cities everywhere. The course also features case studies from all over the world including Thailand, Brazil, Singapore, South Africa and others.

In this week you’ll also get to know the instructors and teachers of the course. Gautam Bhan who researches, and writes on the politics of urban poverty and inequality, as well as Swastik Harish, who focuses on housing for the urban poor in India. Furthermore Ruchika Lall who works on questions of urban education and equality and Rashee Mehra who focuses on anti-eviction work.

Week 2

In the second week of the course you’ll learn about essential terminology to better understand and describe what housing justice actually means. One unique aspect of the course is an interactive dashboard where you will explore different concepts and topics that relate to housing justice. Below is an example that shows how the housing situation affects social security, mobility and access to services.

While the dashboard is a great way to learn in a more engaging and visual way, some learners reported having difficulties navigating it, especially on mobile devices. We also found that some of the elements are very small and might be difficult to read for some learners.

Week 3

In the third week of the course you’ll learn more about affordability, adequacy, viability of housing through case studies of different cities around the world. Although the interactive dashboard doesn’t work perfectly, the instructors made sure that the case studies are accessible as .pdf files for everyone.

Week 4

The fourth week of the course focuses on Rental Housing. In the second video the instructor outlines one of the issues related to rental housing: “[…] we must also acknowledge that rental housing can be exclusive, and even discriminatory as landlords tend to choose tenants on the basis of religion, class, and other socioeconomic filters.” However, contrary to what you may maybe expect, this module also outlines some surprisingly positive facts about rental housing to advance housing justice.

Week 5

The fifth week of the course is focused on activism and contains more video content than other modules. In the introductory video you can feel that this is what the course is really about. The instructor speaks passionately about this “course on housing rights activism” and paves the floor for four inspiring activists. The activists speak about the political practice of advocating for housing justice and share their stories, strategies, campaigns, challenges and successes. Since the activist speak in their local languages, the videos contain subtitles and transcripts in English.

Week 6

In week six you’ll learn about specific modes and scales of action, including through policies, laws, programmes and projects. “When we speak of modes of action, the idea of scale becomes central. This is because different problems require different approaches and the scale of action or  intervention becomes a key determinant in firstly defining what we want to achieve and secondly, how we plan to achieve it.” (Swastik Harish)

Week 7

In the last module of the course you are tasked with writing an 800 words Opinion-Editorial Piece on Housing Justice for a digital media outlet or print newspaper in your city, state or country.

Overall, this course will be especially useful to urban practitioners, students, activists and policy makers but everyone who wants to learn more about housing rights, the existing inequalities and how to improve access to adequate housing will benefit from this course.

Grading & Certification

At the end of modules 1-6 you’ll have the opportunity to check what you have learnt in a graded quiz. Each quiz will count between 10-15% towards the passing grade. The final assignment where you write an Opinion-Editorial Piece on Housing Justice counts 25% towards your grade.

Is the course free?

The course is free to audit. However, if you would like to obtain a verified certificate you have to pay a fee. The fee will depend on your location and currency. Please note that Coursera offers financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee.

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Millions of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are in operation today around the world. They tend to focus on political or social causes, and while an NGO can get funding from government agencies and/or businesses, they’re meant to operate without government influence. Why do we need these types of organizations? How do they impact society? Here are fifteen reasons why:

#1. They provide medical care

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives (and counting) and strained healthcare systems around the world. While the pandemic’s worst days are likely behind us, it remains a persistent concern alongside mental health and other medical issues. NGOs engage in activities like research and medical services. Doctors Without Borders is one of the largest and most famous NGOs with a presence in 70 countries. The Carter Center, which was founded in 1982 by former president Jimmy Carter, led a campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease. In 1986, there were 3.5 million cases every year. In 2021, there were only 14 reported cases. This success story represents the best of what NGOs are capable of.

#2. They assist during outbreaks and pandemics

NGOs provide all kinds of medical care, but during outbreaks and pandemics like COVID-19, they can be especially vital partners. In a post from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, local NGOs were described as being “at the heart of” reaching people during COVID. This is due to the knowledge of local NGOs and the existing trust they’ve built in the community. During the first wave of COVID, Plan India (part of Plan International) reached 200,000+ families with supplies like dry rations, hygiene kits, and education kits. As the virus persists, the NGO continues its work with food aid, PPE, and education.

#3. They address hunger

Famine occurs when countries or regions get hit with extreme food scarcity. Causes include wars, chronic poverty, natural disasters, and climate change. While famines are rare, millions of people still deal with food insecurity. Around 10% of the world’s population deals with hunger. According to a 2022 report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the WFP, there are 20 “hunger hotspots” on the brink of famine. Millions would be affected. Getting enough food is essential to every person’s life, so many NGOs focus on or include hunger relief in their programs. Action Against Hunger’s work includes advocacy, emergency assistance, financial planning for women, small business support, farmers’ cooperatives, and more.

#4. They help provide clean water and sanitation

Clean water and sanitation are so important, they’re Goal 6 in the Sustainable Development Goals. Significant progress has been made, but according to UN data, around two billion people don’t have safely managed drinking water. If the rate of progress doesn’t improve, 2.8 billion won’t have safe sanitation and 1.6 billion won’t have safe drinking water in 2030. Humanitarian NGOs include water and sanitation as part of their activities, but some NGOs have a narrow focus. The UK-based WaterAid, which works in 30+ countries, hopes to reach 400 million people with clean water and sanitation services by 2032.

#5. They help during natural disasters

Famines, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters cause immense damage and suffering. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the United States endured 15 weather/climate disaster events from January-October 2022, resulting in losses of over $1 billion each. As for death, extreme weather disasters between 2000-2019 caused around 475,000 deaths in more than 160 countries. Most humanitarian NGOs provide emergency services. Direct Relief, which is based in the US but also works internationally, offers services like emergency medical packs, hurricane prep packs, oral rehydration salts, and more. NGOs often work in cooperation with governments and intergovernmental organizations like the UN.

#6. They promote equality and fairness in the legal system

Injustice in the legal system can look like unpunished police brutality, racially-biased court systems, the use of the death penalty to suppress political enemies, and unfair laws. Legal-focused NGOs work to protect victimized people, reform unjust, violent systems, and conduct research. One example is Penal Reform International, which works to protect human rights and make criminal justice systems fair. Areas of focus include the rising number of women affected by criminal justice systems and the unnecessary incarceration of children. The NGO has consultative status with the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and more.

#7. They protect wildlife and biodiversity

The environment is connected in more ways than we can count, so if even one species becomes unhealthy, it has a ripple effect. According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report from 2022, wildlife populations decreased by around 69% in 50 years. Latin America has suffered the most, while global freshwater species have declined by 83%. Why does this matter? The loss of biodiversity harms the planet’s health, including human health. Without a wide range of species, wildlife is more vulnerable to threats and eventually extinction. The more species suffer and decline, the more vulnerable all wildlife becomes. Many environmental NGOs focus on wildlife protection, including The World Wildlife Fund, Oceana, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

#8. They fight against climate change

In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth report. It laid out a troubling picture of the future if the world does not respond to climate change quickly. If global warming reaches 1.5°C within 2021-2040, climate hazards will increase and put ecosystems and humans in serious danger. Health issues, death, environmental destruction, and more will follow. Many NGOs are fighting to raise awareness and present solutions. Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, and Fridays for Future are just a few examples. Activities include advocacy campaigns, research, protests, partnerships, and educational resources.

#9. They help with economic development

Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals focuses on “decent work and economic growth.” Without an inclusive, sustainable economy, people suffer harms like poverty, a lack of education, a lack of affordable healthcare, and more. This makes economic development a common focus for NGOs. One of the world’s largest anti-poverty NGOs, the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC), works in 11 countries. Its activities include banking, microfinance, integrated development (which focuses on pockets of extreme poverty), and urban development. The goal of economic development should be to empower local communities and build sustainability, so countries and regions aren’t dependent on humanitarian aid and emergency relief.

#10. They help protect reproductive rights

Reproductive rights ensure people have the right to decide if and when to have children. Prenatal services, the right to safe childbirth, and the right to abortion are included in reproductive rights. When these rights aren’t protected, individuals, families, and entire communities suffer. NGOs like the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is a legal advocacy organization, work to advance reproductive rights through litigation and court cases. Many humanitarian organizations also have programs for reproductive rights. Plan International works with partners to ensure access to sexual health services and to stop harmful practices like forced marriage.

#11. They advance gender equality

Despite decades of progress, gender equality is still far away. According to a 2022 report from the World Bank, around 2.4 billion women of working age don’t get equal opportunities. Gender-based violence is also a big issue. Around 30% of women have experienced sexual and/or physical violence while around 38% of murdered women are killed by intimate partners. These striking numbers explain why most humanitarian organizations pay special attention to gender equality and the protection of women. NGOs like Womankind Worldwide, Global Fund For Women, and the International Alliance of Women focus on advocacy, funding campaigns, and more.

#12. They protect children

Despite making up around ⅓ of the globe’s population, kids are one of the most vulnerable groups in the world. According to Amnesty International, around 290 million children don’t have their births registered, so they have no legal proof of existence. This makes it much easier to violate their human rights. Over 61 million kids also don’t attend primary school, while around 1 in 6 live in extreme poverty. Save the Children International (based in the UK) is one of the world’s most famous NGOs dedicated to kids. It’s a global membership organization with 30 national members. Its areas of focus include learning, survival, protection, emergencies, and the climate crisis.

#13. They provide education

Education is another major focus for NGOs and for good reason. A lack of education access is linked to things like poverty, gender inequality, poorer health and safety, and more. Girls are still more likely to miss out on education compared to boys; around 129 million girls aren’t in school. Humanitarian NGOs like Save the Children, CARE, and Plan International have programs focused on education, especially for girls. Education International, which is headquartered in Belgium, is a global union federation of teachers’ trade unions. It has a presence in 172 countries.

#14. They protect refugees

The UN defines refugees as people who leave their homes because of persecution of religion, race, nationality, membership in a group, or political opinion. As of May 2022, 100 million people were forcibly displaced. The war in Ukraine and other conflicts were responsible for the increase of 10.7 million from the end of 2021. Refugees face many challenges, including an increased risk of trafficking and sexual violence, so many NGOs focus their efforts on helping refugees. Some examples include Refugees International, the International Rescue Committee, and RefugePoint.

#15. They protect democracy

According to Freedom House’s 2022 report, global freedom has declined in the past 16 years. While only 25 countries that year saw improvements in their democracy, 60 experienced declines. Today, only 20% of the world’s population lives in what Freedom House classifies as a “Free” country. NGOs like Freedom House, Protect Democracy, and Amnesty International play an important role in protecting and promoting democracy. Activities can include advocacy campaigns, research, litigation, training, emergency assistance for human rights defenders, and more.

The post 15 Reasons Why NGOs Are Important appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Mother nature is uplifting; seeing, hearing and being in its midst makes us feel better, more relaxed, happier. Increasingly people seem to appreciate how much they need nature and wild places to sustain themselves, as much as, having access to wholesome food, clean water and air. The United Nations (UN) system’s awakening to this reality has generated important initiatives to enhance international norms aimed at protecting nature. Nevertheless, biodiversity loss continues to increase while governments are not yet doing enough. Within this context, rangers play a critical role in conserving nature, and the diversity of life. They are the professionals who work indefatigably for the benefit of us all, regardless of where we are. To strengthen this sector, the International Rangers Federation (IRF) with the support of the Universal Rangers Support Alliance (URSA) are taking tangible steps to professionalize the work of rangers worldwide.

Nature a Universal Human Right

On 28^th July 2022, with 161 votes in favour, and eight abstentions[1], the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution proclaiming that access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right (A/RES/76/300 EN). The resolution calls upon States, civil society, and the private sector to increase their determination to safeguard a healthy environment for all.

This resolution is the culmination of decades of work by nations at the front line of climate change, as well as more than 1,000 civil society organisations that in October 2021 persuaded the UN Human Rights Council to recognise this right for the first time and to request the UN General Assembly to do the same.

Following the adoption of this historic pledge, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a statement released by his office, expressed his hope that it ‘will help reduce environmental injustices, close protection gaps, and empower people, especially those that are in vulnerable situations, …including environmental human rights defenders, and Indigenous peoples.’ He highlighted that, however, the resolution ‘is only the beginning’ and he beseeched States to make this right ‘a reality for everyone, everywhere.’

The text of the UN resolution, unequivocally, recognises that ‘the unsustainable management and use of natural resources, the pollution of air, land and water, the unsound management of chemicals and waste, the resulting loss of biodiversity and the decline in services provided by ecosystems interfere with the enjoyment of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment…’  The resolution determines unambiguously that environmental damage has negative implications for the effective enjoyment of all human rights.

The strength of this resolution gives hope that the world is on the verge of understanding the pivotal importance to stop biodiversity destruction and to undertake a route towards its recovery. However, governments, the media, and society in general continue to focus their attention on climate change, deliberating multiple approaches to slow the warming of the  planet and setting targets. These are legitimate debates and necessary actions; yet still, they do not cover the full picture of human induced impacts on the environment. Both issues are inextricably linked and require joint thinking, we cannot afford the pitfalls of silo approaches.

Understanding the Challenges

There is a significant body of opinion amongst scientists and environmentalist that biodiversity loss is as dangerous to the sustainability of planet earth as climbing temperatures. Yet the continuous and accelerating disappearance of plant and animal species has not rallied the deserved attention. This is visible in the distinct lack of media coverage about the issue in general, and particularly on the December 2022 UN meeting in Montreal, Canada, on biodiversity (COP15), where key targets attempting to address this calamitous situation were set.

The 2022 Living Planet Report (LPI), led by WWF and the Zoological Society London (ZSL), clearly shows that the wildlife monitored during this study has fallen on average by 69% between 1970 and 2018. This comprises freshwater populations, which have declined by an alarming average of 83%. Amongst other issues, the report highlights that some of the most biodiverse regions in the world such as Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered falls of an average 94% since 1970. Wildlife in Africa has also experienced an average decline of approximately 66%.

The multidisciplinary team behind the LPI spent over a year analysing data from monitored ecosystems across 195 countries resulting in one of the most comprehensive indicators of the state of nature worldwide, up to date.

Emerging from the growing realisation that biodiversity loss poses a very serious threat to the sustainability of life on earth, one of most important targets of COP15’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is to ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of land, inland waters, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions, are effectively conserved and managed – the so called 30 by 30 or 30×30 strategy.

According to the Protected Planet Report 2020, at present, protected areas only cover about 17% of the globe’s surface and 10% of oceans. Achieving 30% coverage by 2030 would mean doubling the existing land surface under protection and needing an additional area of ocean almost three times larger than Africa.

Such an unprecedented scaling up of conservation efforts will face enormous practical obstacles, in addition to the challenges to actively involve, respect, and follow the leadership of  Indigenous peoples and local communities.

At the Frontline of Conservation Efforts

The endeavours to lower biodiversity loss and to meet agreed global conservation targets, will require a substantial number of qualified and committed individuals. Presently, there are an estimated 286,000 rangers, one per 72 km²,  which is already a scant number by agreed standards. As conservation areas expand, by 2030 there will be need of an estimated 1.5 million rangers, one per 26 km² (Michael R. Appleton et al 2022). To  achieve a higher number of rangers is not an easy task as conservation entails a multidisciplinary approach, requiring workers who can succeed in complex and evolving situations comprising natural and social sciences, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, management and finance, criminology and law enforcement, aiding during natural calamities, communication, and education.

Around the world, rangers are assigned different job titles. Whatever their identification, they are responsible for safeguarding nature as well as cultural and historical heritage. They work in wider land- and seascapes, whether State, regional, communal, indigenous, or private owned, they are expected to work in line with legal and institutional frameworks.

Today, rangers protect 15% of all land surface and 7% of seas; for a total of 47 million square kilometres, contributing to the preservation of traditional cultures, ecological diversity, and helping to save our planet. Despite this, most rangers are poorly equipped and have no insurance cover, though they face dangerous wildlife and international armed criminal gangs of poachers and traffickers. They are also poorly remunerated and encounter tough working conditions having to be away from home in remote areas.

According to the International Ranger’s Federation (RIF), between 2006 and 2021, it is estimated that a total of 2,351 on-duty ranger fatalities occurred. 42.2% were due to criminal incidents, such as homicide, while the remaining were the outcome of accidents, illness, wildlife attacks or other work-related casualties. It is also important to highlight that 30 suicides were recorded with a worrying trend that they are steadily increasing, reflecting higher levels of work-related stress as a possible contributing factor (parksjournal.com, Galliers-et-al 2022).

The sphere of ranges has also been stained by cases of human rights violations. The infractions range from instances where government rangers have not allowed Indigenous peoples and local communities to enter protected areas to perform religious ceremonies or that they have excluded people from using the land and its resources resulting in food scarcity. More serious violations have covered serious cases of corruption or incidents of beatings, torture, sexual abuse and murder. These allegations encompass countries in different continents, in the global south and global north. International human rights organisations and local non-governmental organisations continue to monitor these situations and to document the performance of rangers.

Strengthening Human Rights Practices

Whatever their location, as a branch of law enforcement, rangers must uphold the law and advocate human rights principles when exercising their duties, regardless of the powers vested on them. Through their contacts with the public, be it with Indigenous peoples or local communities living inside or near protected areas or with visitors, rangers must respect human rights and national laws.

As part of the efforts to professionalise the ranger’s sector and to bring them to comply with international and national  human rights standards, the International Ranger Federation (IRF), with the assistance of the Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA) and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR), have spearheaded the development and dissemination of a Ranger Code of Conduct (CoC), which encapsulates the core human rights obligations expected of any official enforcing the law. This project is being implemented with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

This aspiration for greater accountability and recognition comprises the development of rules of engagement and aspires to earn the respect and support of the public in general; funding and equipment; as well as, enhancing the welfare of all ranks within the profession.

These efforts to professionalise the performance of rangers aim to remedy past violations, as well as to incite national governments and local authorities to embrace practices that defend human rights. The ambition is that as rangers go through professional recruitment procedures, they have access to advanced and continuous training, and their safety and rights are protected; that with these improved conditions, rangers will create closer respectful relations with Indigenous people and local communities. Ultimately,  it is aimed to establish a viable situation to prevent human rights infringements.

A Greener Future is Possible

Looking at these recent developments, there is room for  optimism, however, the world requires Member States of the UN system to recognise their obligations to fully fund and support the efforts proposed to reverse biodiversity loss, remembering at each step that both climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked and need joint immediate decisive actions to overturn the damage caused by human activity.

To reverse biodiversity loss, we need to totally overhaul the way we set our economies, our consumption habits, and our responsibility towards nations who have been less complicit in generating this devastation. Equally, we must ensure that rangers are  materially and ethically equipped to safeguard conservation areas and their ancestral inhabitants as part of the thirty-by-thirty strategy. And, ultimately, we need many more rangers to help us protect the environment and everyone’s human rights with it.

[1] China, Russian Federation, Belarus, Cambodia, Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, and Ethiopia abstained.

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Music and activism have a long history together. Songs tell stories, inspire hope, and empower change. Folk and gospel music played important roles during the American Civil Rights movement while the activism of modern bands like Pussy Riot is more famous than their music. Racism is a common topic for musicians. Through music, these artists raise awareness of racism, share their personal experiences and feelings, and advocate for change. Here are 15 powerful songs calling for an end to racism:

#1. “Strange Fruit”

Written by: Abel Meeropol | Performed by: Billie Holiday

First recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, this haunting song was inspired by a photograph of a 1930 lynching where bodies hung like fruit from trees. The lynchings of Black people were common at that time. Horrified by these murders, Jewish-American writer, teacher, and songwriter Abel Meeropol (under his pseudonym Lewis Allan) wrote the lyrics as a poem and later added music. Without ever mentioning the word “lynching,” Meeropol’s song is still painfully clear and moving. The song has been covered by many artists, including Nina Simone in 1965 during the Civil Rights movement.

#2. “Redemption Song”

Written and performed by: Bob Marley

Arguably Bob Marley’s most famous song, “Redemption Song” is an anthem that addresses slavery and freedom. One of its most famous lines “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery” was taken from a 1937 speech by Marcus Garvey, a philosopher, activist, and Black nationalist born in Jamaica. Adding to its poignancy is the fact that Bob Marley was ill with cancer when he recorded the song. The singer is reflecting on his own death and legacy. Many versions and covers have been recorded, but Bob Marley’s acoustic track remains among the most enduring.

#3. “Beds Are Burning”

Written by: Rob Hirst/Jim Moginie/Peter Garrett | Performed by: Midnight Oil

This catchy song, which was the band’s only commercial worldwide hit, deals with land theft from the Indigenous people of Australia. Midnight Oil had a history of social justice music and after touring in remote Aboriginal communities, they wrote an album focused on land rights and what white Australians had done to Indigenous communities. “Burning Are Burning” became a global sensation.

#4. “America”

Written and performed by: Tracy Chapman

Tracy Chapman is best known for her song “Fast Car,” but she’s continued writing and recording over the years. Her song “America,” which was released in 2005, is a striking indictment of the colonizers who arrived on American shores and the legacy that continues. “The ghost of Columbus haunts this world,” Chapman sings, “Cause you’re still conquering America.”

#5. “None of Us Are Free”

Written by: Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil/Brenda Russell | Performed by: Solomon Burke

Written in 1993 and first performed by Ray Charles, Solomon Burke’s version of “None Of Us Are Free” in 2002 received more attention. Solomon Burke, who is considered a major figure in soul and R&B music, performed the song often toward the end of his life. Its lyrics call for a collective understanding of humanity and that while there are still people oppressed and in pain, none of us are truly free.

#6. “Drowning”

Written by: Mark Bryan/Darius Rucker/Jim Sonefeld | Performed by: Hootie & The Blowfish

“Drowning” was the last single from Hootie & The Blowfish’s debut album. In contrast to the band’s upbeat singles, “Drowning” is more serious and addresses racism, specifically the Confederate flags that flew at the South Carolina State House. The band is from South Carolina, so this song is very personal to its members. Despite protests regarding the Confederate flag’s prominent place, it would be another 20 years before it officially came down. One of the most famous protests took place in June 2015, when Bree Newsome scaled the flag pole and took down the flag. Not long after, the flag was officially removed.

#7. “The Killing Season”

Written and performed by: Lizzie No

Folk singer Lizzie No released this song in 2017 in response to police brutality. In an interview about the song, the artist says Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and its descriptions of survival and everyday violence inspired her. With a backdrop of acoustic guitar, No compares the normality of police brutality to seasons, which come and go in a routine. “The Killing Season” captures No’s grief at this cruel reality.

#8. “White Man’s World”

Written and performed by: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

In this song from 2017, singer-songwriter Jason Isbell faces his privilege head on. He takes a hard look at the world, seeing how being white and male gives him more privileges and opportunities than women and people of color. He describes struggling with hopelessness, but still having faith when he looks at “the fire in my little girl’s eyes.” Many songs about racism come from those who are enduring it, but Isbell confronts white, male privilege and encourages others like him to do the same.

#9. “Stop the Hatred”

Written by: Uncle Reece/Wyclef Jean/MC Jin | Performed by: MC Jin feat. Wyclef Jean

In 2020 and 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes increased. New York City became an especially dangerous place for harassment and violence. During a protest, rapper MC Jin’s son shouted “Stop the hatred!” This became the name of MC Jin’s 2021 song, which features Wyclef Jean. MC Jin describes being afraid when his parents leave the house, as well as relief that his grandmother has already passed and won’t have to deal with violence. “Stop the hatred,” MC Jin cries. “Rain love on me.”

#10. “Red”

Written and performed by: Raye Zaragoza

One of music’s most exciting rising artists, Raye Zaragoza has written many songs dealing with social justice issues. “Red” is one of the most moving and challenging. It draws attention to the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. According to studies, 4 out of 5 Indigenous women experience violence in their lifetimes. “They’ve been finding your sisters in the red river,” Zaragoza sings, “In the red river.”

#11. “Blue Lights”

Written by: Ben Joyce/Dylan Mills/Guy Bonnet/Jorja Smith/Nicholas Detnon/Roland Romanelli | Performed by: Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith, a young singer-songwriter from Great Britain, explores discrimination and police brutality in this 2016 song. The music video features men and boys – including her own father – from Smith’s home of Birmingham and Walsall. Smith intended to show that stereotypes are “misleading and, ultimately, harmful.” Smith sings, “If you’ve done nothing wrong, blue lights should just pass you by,” but because of racism, police target Black men and boys for simply doing the normal activities shown in the music video.

#12. “Your Racist Friend”

Written by: John Flansburgh/John Linnel | Performed by: They Might Be Giants

While currently famous for their children’s music, They Might Be Giants has deep roots in modern alternative rock. Released back in 1990, “Your Racist Friend” challenges racists and the people who stand there quietly tolerating it. “This is where the party ends,” the band says, “I’ll just sit here wondering how you can stand by your racist friend.” This is a great addition to the catalog of anti-racist songs as it deals with the kind of “harmless,” everyday racism people encounter all the time. Instead of letting it slide, They Might Be Giants encourages people to “end the party.”

#13. “Black Like Me”

Written by: Emma Davidson Dillon/Fraser Churchill/Mickey Guyton/Nathan Chapman | Performed by: Mickey Guyton

American country artist Mickey Guyton has been in the business for years, but her breakthrough came in 2020 when she released “Black Like Me.” The song describes her experiences growing up as a young Black girl and realizing that America wasn’t equal. “If you think we live in the land of the free,” she sings, “Then you should try to be Black like me.” The song earned Guyton her first nomination at the Grammy Awards. She was also the first Black woman nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category.

#14. “Black Lives Matter”

Written by: Daniel Dwosu Jr. | Performed by: Dax

Dax’s 2020 song “Black Lives Matter” packs a punch with its sharp, powerful lyrics and mournful refrain “I can’t breathe.” Written for victims of police brutality like Sandra Bland and George Floyd, as well as for the families impacted by police brutality, Dax calls on everyone to stand up and demand change. Silence fuels the problem, so Dax’s song is a call to action.

#15. “A Change Is Gonna Come”

Written and performed by: Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke was a successful musician, but after hearing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” he wanted to write something more meaningful. “A Change is Gonna Come” expresses Cooke’s sorrow about segregation and hope for a different world. “It’s been a long, a long time coming,” he sings, “But I know a change is gonna come.” The song was released in 1964, two weeks after Sam Cooke was killed at just 33 years old. In his short life, Sam Cooke was an active member of the Civil Rights Movement and his song feels just as important today.

The post 15 Powerful Songs Against Racism appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Feminism has been around for many years, but you’ve likely seen the term “intersectional feminism” becoming more common. At various women’s rights protests, perhaps you’ve even seen signs reading, “It’s not feminism if it’s not intersectional.” What does that mean? In this article, we’ll explore the origins of intersectional feminism, the important figures, and the pitfalls that come with the term’s increasing popularity.

Intersectional feminism is a type of feminism focused on the fact that systems of oppression impact people differently based on their race, class, ability, sexuality, and other characteristics. While “mainstream feminism” may focus only (or primarily) on gender or sex, intersectional feminism understands that oppression is an interlocking system.

The origin of intersectional feminism

Where did the term “intersectional feminism” come from? It comes from the term “intersectionality,” which legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw coined in 1989. For decades, Crenshaw has worked on race and civil rights, specifically critical race theory. In the 1980s and 1990s, Crenshaw challenged the idea that law was naturally neutral and objective. In her research, Crenshaw found that enduring issues like the racial wealth gap could not be explained unless the systems themselves were biased. Race wasn’t only the factor, however. In 1989, Crenshaw described her theory of intersectionality in the paper “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex.”

The paper included an analysis of the 1976 case DeGraffenreid v. General Motors. In that case, five Black women filed a class action Title VII suit, saying that General Motors had discriminated against them as Black women. However, the court said the women couldn’t combine their claims. The women were told to choose either a racial or sex discrimination suit. The court was saying Black women did not face any specific challenges because they were Black women. They essentially had to choose between being Black or being women. In her analysis, Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” to explain the discriminations faced by Black women like the ones in the General Motors case. If we want to understand power, we have to understand how systems target those with intersecting identities.

Consider taking an online course on Feminism and Social Justice to learn more.

Early intersectional feminists: Sojourner Truth, Francis Harper, and Ida B. Wells

Intersectional feminism as a term may be fairly young, but Crenshaw was not the first person to explore the concept. Women like Sojourner Truth, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and Ida B. Wells knew all too well what it was like to live with intersecting identities. Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and women’s rights activist who escaped slavery in 1826. In 1844, she joined an abolitionist organization and in 1851, she gave a famous speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention, speaking specifically about equal rights for Black women. While the transcription of “Ain’t I A Woman” likely does not reflect Truth’s speaking style or her exact words, it makes clear how her fight for equal rights is bound to her experiences as a Black woman.

Truth’s contemporary, Francis Harper, who was the most popular Black poet of her time, faced racism in the women’s rights movement. At the 1866 National Women’s Rights Convention, Harper stood and said, “I do not believe that white women are dew-drops just exhaled from the skies. I think that like men they may be divided into three classes, the good, the bad, and the indifferent…You white women speak here of rights. I speak of wrongs.” The leaders of the white suffrage movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, did not support the 15th Amendment, which gave Black men the right to vote. They were horrified at the idea that Black men – who they described in blatantly racist terms – would get to vote before white women. Because of the group’s racism, Harper left to form the American Woman Suffrage Association. While the mainstream women’s rights movement focused on educated white women at the expense of others, feminists like Harper worked to achieve rights for all women.

Ida B. Wells, who was born in 1862, became famous as a journalist exposing the prevalence of lynchings in the South. She began focusing on the murders in 1892 following the lynching of her friend and his business partners. Using her investigative skills, Wells found that horror stories about Black men raping white women were lies used to justify violence against Black people. Despite threats to her life, Wells continued to spread awareness about lynchings while traveling in America and Europe. Her campaign sparked big results; anti-lynching laws in the South were passed while there was a drop from 235 lynchings in 1892 to 107 in 1899. Wells was also deeply involved in the women’s rights movement and confronted the racism she found there. At a Washington parade advocating for women’s rights, Black women were told to march separately from everyone else. Not willing to be segregated, Wells refused. Her feminism could not be separated from her commitment to anti-racism and experiences as a Black woman.

Modern intersectional feminism: The Combahee River Collective, Audre Lorde, and bell hooks

In the 1970s, a group of Black feminist lesbian socialists formed the Combahee River Collective. They had found that neither the feminist movement – which was dominated by white women – nor the Civil Rights movement was empowering Black women. In 1977, the group released a statement that can only be described as a distillation of intersectional feminism. In the introduction, the Collective states that they are “actively committed to struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression” and that the major systems of oppression are “interlocking.” Later, the statement reads “We also often find it difficult to separate race from class from sex oppression because in our lives they are most often experienced simultaneously.” Those simultaneous experiences are key to understanding intersectional feminism’s significance. While the group disbanded in 1980, it has had a huge influence on intersectional, inclusive community organizing.

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) who described herself as “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” is many people’s first introduction to intersectionality. Her work, like Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, digs deep into intersectional identities and Lorde’s experiences with sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, and more. Like Francis Harper and Ida B. Wells before her, Lorde challenged white feminists of her time. In one of her most famous essays, “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” Lorde writes:

“If white American feminist theory need not deal with the differences between us, and the resulting difference in our oppressions, then how do you deal with the fact that the women who clean your houses and tend your children while you attend conferences on feminist theory are, for the most part, poor women and women of color?” (Source)

Born in 1952, bell hooks wrote her first book Ain’t I A Woman while in college. It wouldn’t be published for another decade, but by the end of her life in 2021, bell hooks would be one of her time’s most beloved writers and cultural critics. She chose her name with its lowercase letters because she wanted people to focus on her ideas, not her. One of her main ideas focused on the term “imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy,” which she used to describe the interlocking systems of power. While she’s considered an important figure in intersectional feminism, her theory is a bit different because it names the source of discrimination and violence. In that way, it clarifies what intersectional feminism is ultimately about: oppressive systems. hooks’ work continues to empower feminists, activists, Black women, and many others.

The pitfalls of popularity

Intersectional feminism’s historical and current importance is hard to ignore. As Kyla Schuller writes in The Trouble With White Women, “intersectional feminism rejects white feminism’s biopolitical mandate to advance oneself through disposing others.” It encourages activists to understand how power works and who it targets the most intensely. However, it’s also hard to ignore how terms like intersectional feminism get warped or watered down. This loss of meaning often comes down to ignorance about definitions. Some think intersectional feminism focuses on individual identities, so that people with multiple marginalized identities are automatically more “intersectional” than those who are cis, white, and straight. This turns intersectional feminism into a debate about who is more discriminated against. Intersectionality is not about individuals and individual identity. It always refers to systems of power and their impacts.

People can also lose sight of intersectional feminism’s radical roots as the term becomes more popular. Today, you can find “intersectional feminist” T-shirts at retailers like Walmart and Amazon, as well as countless products like stickers, mugs, notebooks, and more. Calling oneself an intersectional feminist is trendy in progressive spaces, but how many people understand the theories and history? Capitalism loves co-opting feminist aesthetics and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with wearing a T-shirt with a feminist slogan, it doesn’t embody the purpose of the intersectional feminist movement.

Must-read intersectional feminist texts

If you want to learn more about intersectional feminism, below are some essential texts. Alternatively have a look at these essays about feminism.

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
Women, Race, and Class by Angela Y. Davis
On Intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings
Feminism is for Everyone by bell hooks
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers

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Researchers make sure that the work of humanitarian organizations is based on well-established facts. They are essential for humanitarian operations. Operational research plays a vital role in humanitarian organizations, as it helps to identify and solve problems that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian practice. The application of operational research techniques can help to optimize resources, plan for and respond to emergencies, and enable better ways to conduct humanitarian operations.

In this course by University of Geneva you will develop fundamental knowledge and skills to engage in humanitarian research. The course will cover humanitarian research methods, study design and outline how operational research can advance humanitarian practice. In this course you will tackle the most fundamental questions of humanitarian research:

• Why do we need humanitarian research?
• What counts as evidence in humanitarian research?
• What does the humanitarian research process look like?
• How to choose a humanitarian study design?
• Challenges and opportunities during the humanitarian research process
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• What are ethical risks during humanitarian research?
• Community engagement and participatory methods in humanitarian research
• and accountability to donors, communities and partners

The entire course takes roughly 17 hours to complete and is self-paced. The instructors recommend taking it over the course of five weeks. Finishing this course will be particularly useful to junior researchers and humanitarian professionals, but everyone with an interest in humanitarian work will benefit from it.

How will you learn?

The course contains a variety of reading materials, expert videos and quizzes to help you better understand the concepts of operational research. Beyond these elements, the course also features a variety of custom H5P activities that are ungraded. Here are a few examples:

The first introductory video on conducting research in humanitarian settings is narrated by Dr Emilie Venables who is senior researcher at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). To enhance accessibility, videos contain subtitles and downloadable transcripts. Unlike some other courses the video has excellent sound quality and contains B-roll footage from humanitarian settings.

Another aspect we liked about this course is that it clearly outlines the learning outcomes and uses measurable action-verbs, meaning it will clearly identify what you will be able to do after completing the course. Here are some examples.

As previously outlined the course also contains custom developed H5P elements. These ungraded elements are mostly drag & drop activities that help you understand essential processes of humanitarian research. Here are a few examples: The first screenshot shows a drag & drop activity on the humanitarian cycle. In the second activity you’ll learn to differentiate between high- and low-quality evidence.

How do you receive a passing grade?

The course includes 5 quizzes at the end of each module that each count 20% towards your passing grade. To pass the course, you need to answer 80% of each quiz correctly and you have two attempts every 48 hours to get there. The quizzes are not easy as many of them are multiple choice (where multiple answers need to be checked instead of only one) but if you properly participate in the course, you won’t have any problems passing.

What does the course cost

You can audit the course for free or choose to opt-in for a verified certificate for a fee. Prices may vary based on your location and currency but are normally around USD 49. Please note that this might change in the future, so always check the current pricing on the official page. Financial aid is available for those who qualify through the course provider.

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Social responsibility is often used in a corporate context, but every actor in society – including individuals – can embrace social responsibility. The basic premise is that actions affect others. To be socially responsible, a business or individual should act in a way that benefits society and avoids harm. In this article, we’ll identify why social responsibility matters for corporations and individuals, as well as what social responsibility can look like.

Social responsibility is a moral framework where organizations and individuals strive to act for the greater good and avoid causing harm to society and the environment.

What is corporate social responsibility and why does it matter?

When “social responsibility” comes up in conversation, it’s often referring to corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR is a self-regulation tool and framework that businesses are increasingly investing in as consumers express a desire for more responsible corporate actions. In the past, corporations focused almost exclusively on the financial interests of their primary stakeholders. In recent years, it’s become important for corporations to improve how they treat their employees, how they impact the environment, and how they use their profits.

When corporations apply socially responsible practices and policies, there are many benefits. The first is customer loyalty as consumers are more likely to keep buying products if they see the company as a positive force in society. According to stats compiled by Harvard Business School Online, an impressive 77% of consumers feel motivated to support companies they see as improving the world. CSR is also an important draw for employees. 88% of people said companies should not make money if it hurts general society, while 70% said they wouldn’t work for a company if it doesn’t have a “strong purpose.” 60% were even willing to take lower pay to work at companies with purpose. If corporations want to increase consumer loyalty and retain employee talent, social responsibility is essential. If you want to learn more about CSR, consider taking a course online.

How can corporations embrace social responsibility?

There isn’t one social responsibility map corporations should follow. Depending on the organization and sector it works in, certain policies may be more relevant or important than others. That said, there are three main areas every corporation should focus on if they want to be more socially responsible: environmental impact, ethical labor practices, and charitable giving.

Environmental impact

As the producers of everything from cars to coffee, corporations have a huge impact on the environment. Research shows that just 100 energy companies are responsible for 71% of all industrial emissions. Throughout history, corporations have polluted the air, disrupted the lives and migration of animal species, poisoned the water, and much more. As climate change accelerates, corporations will play a huge role whether by helping to heal the planet or destroying it. Many companies have been setting climate targets and moving to reduce their carbon footprints, but as action is often voluntary and data is self-reported, there’s a lot of room for improvement. Companies wanting to stand out as environmental leaders would do well to embrace true transparency and full commitment. As an NRDC blog post by Joshua Axelrod puts it: “As some of the entities most responsible for putting us in the crisis we’re in today, it’s time for companies to take full responsibility for their climate footprints.”

Ethical labor practices

As CSR becomes more popular across industries, people have started paying closer attention to how a corporation treats its workforce. This is an especially hot-button issue for international corporations reckoning with child labor and other unethical practices taking place far from their main offices. Unfortunately, consumers can’t always count on the justice system to sort things out. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that Nestle USA and Cargill can’t be held liable for the child labor on Ivory Coast cocoa farms. The main reason? The court said that the case didn’t show that decisions regarding child labor were made in the United States. However, there’s no doubt that the corporations have unethical practices in their supply chain. It’s often up to consumers to hold corporations accountable and demand more socially-responsible actions. Corporations can improve their standing by ending exploitative systems, cleaning up their supply chains, raising pay, providing more benefits, and so on.

Charitable giving

As corporations rack in profits, they can show their commitment to social responsibility by being philanthropic. That includes donating money, products, and services to local, national, or international charitable organizations. You’ll often see companies sponsoring events like charity runs, galas, and more. According to Giving USA’s annual report on philanthropy for 2021, corporations donated around $21.08 billion, which includes cash, contributions through corporate giving programs, grants, and gifts. However, this still represents a tiny fraction of what corporations reap in profits. To truly impress consumers and embrace the spirit of social responsibility, corporations should be committing more to charity.

Are there downsides to corporate social responsibility?

In recent years, corporate social responsibility has become an often mocked corporate phrase. Critics have gone so far as to call it a “hoax” and a “scam.” It’s easy to see the roots of that criticism as companies with CSR policies like Facebook and Amazon are frequently in the news regarding severe ethical violations. The vast majority of the energy companies responsible for 71% of industrial emissions have CSR policies, too. When it comes to environmental policies, there’s a specific term for companies that present themselves as more sustainable than they really are: greenwashing. The criticisms of social responsibility for corporations are less about policies and more about how they’re used as a smokescreen to disguise a corporation’s dark side. For corporations to be socially responsible, their practices and policies have to be more than marketing ploys.

What is individual social responsibility and why does it matter?

Social responsibility for an individual is simply the act of thinking of others – not only yourself – when you make decisions. It’s a commitment to caring for other people and the environment, even when you have to make sacrifices regarding your own desires and convenience. Most people naturally exhibit compassion toward family and close friends, but emotional distance from people can make social responsibility harder. It can also get harder when people are very different from us.

Despite the distance many feel when dealing with people different from them, humans are a social species. In one 2018 study from Nature, researchers found that even during challenging situations, “the desire for cooperation would appear to often be nascent and the evidence suggests that we are naturals at it, given the opportunity.” We’re hard-wired for community. Encouraging responsibility for one another is the only way to live peacefully in community.

How can individuals embrace social responsibility?

Most people know what it means to consider the feelings of others, compromise in relationships, and think about what’s best for society. It may come automatically, however, and without much thought. If you want social responsibility to be more intentional for you, here are three ways to make it more a part of your identity:

Be more politically active

Political structures have a huge impact on a person’s ability to live a good life. In most places, power is unequal and discrimination against marginalized groups persists. Regardless of your position in society, you can be more socially responsible by getting politically involved and supporting social justice and human rights for everyone. That may mean voting any time you can, joining a local organization, educating about social issues, pressuring lawmakers on specific legislation, or running for office yourself. In places where government oppression is common, politically active people are often risking everything, which makes their social responsibility even more admirable.

Pressure companies” to change harmful practices

When people want to live more responsibly, many consider how they spend their money. They take a deeper look at the products and services they’re buying and companies they’re supporting. Some people can change their spending habits to better reflect their values, but that’s not always financially possible. It can also be extremely difficult to find a company that doesn’t have some skeletons in its closet. Instead of giving up, people can pressure companies to change their harmful practices. Boycotts are one strategy, but they only tend to be effective when they’re organized. People can also pressure politicians to enact legislation that forces companies to change.

Live more ethically in your daily life

For individuals, social responsibility doesn’t have to be dramatic. Every day, people encounter opportunities to think of others and act in ways that make the world a better place. During the last years of the COVID-19 pandemic, mask-wearing became politically divisive, but for many, it is a symbol of social responsibility. In many places, wearing a mask while sick was already normal, so wearing one during a pandemic was not met with much resistance. Most people understood that masks kept everyone safe. In countries like the United States, however, being asked to wear a mask exposed a cultural weakness regarding social responsibility. Americans have strong opinions about individual rights, so when asked to do something fairly selfless, some recoiled. For others, it was an opportunity to live out their values. While mask-wearing during a pandemic is a rather extreme example, it illustrates how social responsibility can mean choosing between yourself and others. It’s everyone’s responsibility to think about what that means for them.

The post What Is Social Responsibility? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Social change is an often slow, grueling process. Advocacy – which means to act on behalf of a cause, an individual, or a community – is a key part of this process. It includes activities like holding protests, lobbying politicians, raising funds, and designing campaigns that raise awareness and outline specific actions. People have advocated on issues like civil rights, gender equality, healthcare, climate change, and much more. How can people become better advocates and create change? Here are 10 advocacy courses:

#1. Speak Up! Advocating for Yourself and Others in Healthcare (Salisbury/Maryland University)
#2. Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (University of Michigan)
#3. Advocating for Change in Your Organization (LinkedIn Learning)
#4. Becoming a Changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation (University of Capetown)
#5. Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (Amnesty International)
#6. Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment and Violence (Jesus College Cambridge)
#7. Climate Action: Solutions for a Changing Planet (SDGAcademyX)
#8. Fighting for Equality: 1950-2018 (Columbia University)
#9. Psychology of Political Activism: Women Changing the World (Smith College)
#10. ESG and Social Activism (University of Pennsylvania)

Note: Course fees are subject to change.

#1. Speak Up! Advocating for Yourself and Others in Healthcare (Salisbury/Maryland University)

Do you or people you know feel nervous about speaking up in a healthcare setting? Whether it’s asking clarifying questions about care or addressing something uncomfortable, many people struggle with communication. This course helps you learn to advocate for yourself and others in settings like doctor’s offices, hospitals, and clinics.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Identify what makes speaking up challenging
• Describe three strategies for interacting with health professionals
• Practice good communication tactics
• Explain why speaking up in a healthcare setting is important for good healthcare

How you’ll learn

This is a beginner course, so no prerequisites are needed. Course materials include videos, readings, worksheets, and optional homework assignments. At the time of writing, the course was archived, so graded materials aren’t available. When you spend 2-5 hours per week on the course, it should take about 4 weeks to finish it.

#2. Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (University of Michigan)

What is social work and what role does it play in social justice? You’ll explore these questions and more during this course. You’ll also learn about the history of social work, current challenges, and how social workers support resilience for individuals, families, and communities. The course is part of the “Social Work: Practice, Policy, and Research” MasterTrack Certificate Program.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Explain the history of social work and practice in the US
• Understand the roles of social workers at the micro, mezzo, and macro system levels
• Learn social work frameworks like the cultural humility framework, evidence-informed practice perspective, and strengths approach
• Examine the Privilege, Oppression, Social Justice, and Diversity framework

How you’ll learn

With 3 hours of work per week, you can complete this course in about 4 weeks. Course materials include videos, discussion forums, readings, practice quizzes, and four graded quizzes. Each is worth 25% of your grade, though you’ll need to pay for the certificate to access graded assignments. Subtitles are available in languages like Arabic, French, Vietnamese, Russian, and English.

#3. Advocating for Change in Your Organization (LinkedIn Learning)

Advocacy is a skill that takes practice. In this course, which is taught by Dereca Blackmon, the CEO of Inclusion Design Group, you’ll learn how to harness your strengths and become an advocate in your company or organization. You’ll learn what needs to be done to create lasting change.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Develop the foundations for diversity and inclusion
• Identify where change is needed
• Learn how to find allies and collaborators
• Explore the business, ethical, and personal cases for change
• Create an effective plan for change

How you’ll learn

This short course is for beginners, so no previous knowledge is needed. It consists of an introduction and four short video modules. There’s also one exercise file and four quizzes. To access the course and get your certificate, you’ll need to pay around $35.

#4. Becoming a Changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation (University of Capetown)

This course is designed for anyone who wants to create social change through entrepreneurship or with an organization. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to understand social innovation and its various pathways. The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and RLaws, a Cape Town-based social movement, co-created the course.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Identify the differences between simple, complicated, and complex problems
• Discover the kinds of resources available, such as physical spaces, expertise, knowledge, and so on
• Explore the methodologies and techniques that produce new ideas and opportunities
• Learn about organizing, financing, and scaling social innovation

How you’ll learn

This course is divided into 6 weeks and takes about 20 hours to complete. It’s a beginner level, so no previous knowledge is required. Course materials include videos, readings, quizzes, peer assessments, case studies, and more. The course is free, so you can access all materials. A certificate costs around $40. Subtitles are available in languages like Arabic, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and English.

#5. Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis (Amnesty International)

The effects of climate change are becoming impossible to ignore. Floods, droughts, extreme weather events, and more threaten the environment and human health and life. This course studies the relationship between climate change and human rights, including how they influence each other and how improving one improves the other.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Define essential terms like human rights, climate change, and climate justice
• Understand the state’s role and responsibilities regarding climate change
• Explore what individuals are doing in the fight for climate justice
• Identify what you can do to protect the environment and human rights

How you’ll learn

This beginner course is divided into 3 weeks with just 1 hour of study per week. Course materials include videos, articles, quizzes, and discussions. With the free option, you have limited access to materials. If you want to learn at your own speed and get a certificate after finishing the course, you can pay a $40 fee.

#6. Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment and Violence (Jesus College Cambridge)

Sexual harassment and violence have gained more attention in recent years, but how does society end them? What can people do at home, at work, and in society at large? This course teaches you how to be an active bystander who can respond to sexual harassment and violence. It relies on disciplines like social psychology, law, business studies, public policy, and more to help you learn what to do.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Understand why movements like #MeToo get so much attention
• Reflect on the role of culture and institutions in sexual harassment and violence
• Identify ways to respond as active bystanders and how individuals and groups can address harassment and violence
• Learn how to stay safe as an active bystander

How you’ll learn

This course takes 6 weeks with 4-6 hours of work per week. This is a beginner’s course, so you don’t need previous knowledge or classwork. Materials include videos, readings, and quizzes. When you take the free audit track, you have limited access to materials. A $99 fee gets you a certificate and unlimited course access.

#7. Climate Action: Solutions for a Changing Planet (SDGAcademy)

Climate change has been accelerating for decades. Countries have made commitments to change, but how do commitments become action? This course is designed for students with some knowledge of climate change, including graduate students, advanced undergrads, climate change activists, and sustainable development practitioners.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Understand the Paris Climate Agreement and terms like the carbon budget and deep carbonization
• Explore the role of renewable energy sources like solar and wind
• Examine global crop models, global land-use, and the SDGs
• Identify policy tools, low-emission solutions, and the role of businesses

How you’ll learn

This course takes 10 weeks with 2-4 hours of study per week. It’s an intermediate course, so you’ll benefit most if you understand the basics of climate change and climate action. Materials include videos, readings, questions, and discussion activities. You can audit the course for free, but if you want a certificate, you’ll need to pay a $50 fee.

#8. Fighting for Equality: 1950-2018 (Columbia University)

How did the Cold War impact society’s view of the suburban, nuclear family? This course looks at this impact and how women’s journey to equality was affected. You’ll learn about gender equality, the breadwinner-homemaker system of beliefs, and the evolution of the feminist movement. This course is the last part of the “Women Have Always Worked” edX MOOC.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Explore how the ideal of the middle-class, suburban housewife was set against the threat of communism
• Understand how gender-based discrimination in activism spurred women’s defiance of “natural” roles
• Reflect on the experiences of women from different classes, races, and citizenship status
• Identify how feminists from different groups challenged expectations and gendered definitions

How you’ll learn

This intermediate 7-part course takes about 12 weeks to finish with 2-3 hours of work per week. Course materials include videos, ungraded knowledge checks, discussion forums, and reflections. You can audit the course, but access is limited. Upgrading costs $50.

#9. Psychology of Political Activism: Women Changing the World (Smith College)

During this course, you’ll hear from icons like Gloria Steinman and Loretta Ross and explore questions like what motivates people to become activists. You’ll analyze the psychological theories that try to answer questions like this and learn why some people are drawn to social change. The course is framed around nine prominent women activists from the 1960s-1990s.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Discover the theoretical foundations, research methods, and applications of political psychology
• Apply theories and learn more about why people are motivated to political action
• Analyze source materials and understand the importance of preserving archives
• Define terms like intersectionality and politicized racial identity

How you’ll learn

This course is currently archived, but you can see many of the materials, like videos, readings, and assignments. Coursework is divided into 7 weeks with 3-5 hours of study per week.

#10. ESG and Social Activism (University of Pennsylvania)

In this course, you’ll learn about the impact of ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) ratings and how companies weigh these issues against their profits. By the course’s end, you’ll understand how social activism affects the modern corporate world, how companies can incorporate ESG issues into their governance strategies, and why diversity and inclusion are good for businesses.

What you’ll learn (excerpt)

• Learn about social performance and how companies face criticism if they’re not seen as authentic
• Understand corporate activism and how CEOs can be activists
• Identify the role of corporate governance in risk management and strategy
• Examine Board structures and governance

How you’ll learn

This course is broken into 7 weeks and takes about 7 hours to complete. It’s the last course in the “Materiality of ESG Factors” specialization. Course materials include videos, readings, and practice exercises. Graded quizzes are not available on the audit track.

The post 10 Advocacy Courses for Social Change appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The word “advocate” comes from the Latin word advocatus, which means “one called to aid” or “a pleader on one’s behalf.” Advocacy is any action that pleads, supports, defends, or speaks for other people or on behalf of a cause. Today, you can find people advocating for individuals, communities, corporations, and governments, though most tend to think of advocates as people working for the greater good. In this article, we’ll discuss the history of advocacy, what advocacy looks like, and what careers there are in the field.

Advocacy includes a wide variety of actions (like running educational events, volunteering at organizations, and working for the interests of others) that speak on behalf of others or in defense of a specific cause.

A short history of advocacy

Advocacy doesn’t have a specific start date because at its core, it’s simply the act of standing up for others. In one form or another, humans have always done that. However, according to The Borgen Project, advocacy as a more organized act outside of charity started within the legal system. Lawyers serve as advocates for their clients and represent their interests in court. Today, legal advocates play an important role in society, though advocacy has also come to include human rights organizations and nonprofits focused on raising awareness of issues, short-term aid, and systemic change.

Advocacy groups working today include the NAACP, the ACLU, Amnesty International, and Anti-Slavery International. Advocacy groups typically focus on research, monitoring, legislative campaigns, and education, though they may also provide services.

What does advocacy look like?

Advocacy is a broad term encompassing a huge variety of activities. To get a better idea of what advocacy can look like, let’s consider the organization Anti-Slavery International, the world’s oldest human rights organization. Through its long history, it’s engaged with many forms of advocacy.

Lobbying governments

Lobbying and advocacy are technically different. Lobbying involves influencing specific legislation while advocacy focuses on education regarding a specific issue. That said, many advocacy organizations participate in lobbying. Anti-Slavery International has lobbied national governments to change how they respond to slavery practices and adopt anti-slavery laws. In 1926, the organization lobbied the League of Nations and got them to investigate slavery. This led to the 1926 Slavery Convention, which required all ratifying states to end slavery. More recently in 2004, the organization’s lobbying efforts encouraged the UK to make the trafficking of sexual and labor exploitation a criminal offense.

Monitoring trends and progress

To “plead on one’s behalf,” advocates need good information on what’s going on if they hope to be effective. Many organizations have research arms that release reports on trends and progress. Anti-Slavery International has the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group (ATMG), which is a coalition of 17 UK-based human rights organizations. The group looks into all kinds of human trafficking, publishes reports, and releases briefing papers on human trafficking in the UK. Its results on prevention, protection, and prosecution support the coalition’s advocacy.

Campaigning for specific causes or legislation

Campaigns form the foundation of advocacy organizations. These are organized movements intent on raising awareness of specific causes, encouraging action, and creating change. Anti-Slavery International has a handful of campaigns going on, including “End Cotton Crimes.” This campaign focuses on forced labor in Turkmenistan’s cotton industry. Every year, as summer turns into autumn, the Turkmen government forces tens of thousands to harvest cotton in life-threatening conditions. If workers don’t comply, they are fined and risk losing their jobs. Anti-Slavery International partners with the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights and Turkmen.news to document and report abuses. Anti-Slavery International encourages people to join the campaign by raising awareness and asking brands to sign the Turkmen Cotton Pledge.

Collaborating with different sectors

Advocacy doesn’t occur in a vacuum. For individual advocates and organizations to be effective, they need to raise as much awareness as possible. This is best done with the collaboration of different societal actors, such as other nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, and others. Anti-Slavery International emphasizes how important its partnerships are, listing groups like service providers, NGOs, trade unions, lawyers, and supporters. Globally, they have around 40 local partner organizations in over 20 countries, as well as informal partnerships.

Hosting fundraisers

Fundraisers serve a three-prong purpose: they raise awareness, they provide education, and they raise money. Many advocacy organizations hold regular fundraisers centered on specific campaigns, general awareness, and education. Anti-Slavery International’s website has a page on how supporters can hold their own fundraisers with a fundraising action pack. The organization also has suggestions for outdoor challenges and birthday donations.

What traits do effective advocates need?

Whether you’re volunteering or working as an advocate, there are certain traits you’ll want. Here are five of the most important:

Education on the cause/issue

Having a good education doesn’t necessarily mean having a lot of degrees. If you’re working as an advocate, the specific role you’re filling will likely ask for at least a bachelor’s degree. Some organizations will want post-grad degrees like a master’s, but again, it depends on the job. You don’t need to work in advocacy to be an advocate, however, but you do need to be educated on the issues and cause you’re focusing on. As an example, if you want to advocate for a specific piece of legislation, you’ll need to know that legislation inside and out. People you talk to will have questions, so you should know the history of the legislation, who created it, who supports it, what’s in it, and the impact (both pros and cons) it could have.

Excellent communication

It’s very hard to be an effective advocate if you don’t communicate well. That includes spoken and written communication, as well as the ability to communicate through social media, video, audio, and more. Depending on how you engage in advocacy, you may not need to communicate in every existing medium, but being able to explain facts and encourage others through conversation or writing is likely something you’ll need to do at some point.

Strong community engagement

Advocacy is movement-driven. Laws have rarely changed because of one person. As an advocate, you need to know how to engage communities and work with others. Part of that engagement involves knowing who has influence and encouraging them to support your cause. Important figures can include politicians, business owners, activists, religious leaders, and others. You shouldn’t only focus on influential people, however. You don’t want to appear elitist and uninterested in anyone who doesn’t bring money or power to the table. A big part of community engagement is treating everyone as equally valuable to the cause.

Active listening

In advocacy, listening is just as important as talking. As we said before, advocacy is movement driven, and for something to be a movement, it needs a plethora of voices. If one person or one group dominates the direction of a cause or organization, its effectiveness will likely be severely limited. Good advocates understand they don’t know everything. They value the experiences and opinions of others and don’t wait around waiting for people to speak up. They actively seek out different perspectives. They consult and collaborate. This is especially important if the advocate isn’t part of the community directly impacted by an issue or a piece of legislation. They need to listen to people who are if they hope to be effective.

What are examples of careers in advocacy?

Some advocates work in a volunteer capacity, but there are many careers focused on representing the interests of others. Here are three:

Victim advocate

Victim advocates support victims of crimes. Their primary role is to ensure the victim’s emotional well-being, provide them with resources on therapy, housing, etc, and ensure they understand how the legal system works. Many law offices have trained advocates on staff who work with clients through the case and even afterward if necessary. Advocates can also be found at medical establishments, social service organizations, and nonprofits. Advocates typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or criminal justice, as well as around 1-2 years of experience.

Patient advocate

Patient advocates work with patients in a medical setting to help coordinate treatment, negotiate with insurance companies, and serve as a guide through the healthcare system. Their role is to protect the patient’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and more. Advocates may specialize in a specific field, such as mental health advocacy, and work at places like hospitals, schools, treatment centers, community clinics, and nonprofits. Many patient advocates only need a high school diploma or GED, though further education in a healthcare or science field is very beneficial. Certificates can also help with job opportunities. To work in an entry-level patient advocacy role, you’ll likely need at least a few years of experience in a healthcare setting.

Researcher

Many advocacy organizations hire researchers who collect and analyze data. Without good researchers, organizations like Anti-Slavery International would have a much harder time monitoring progress or understanding human rights abuses. A researcher’s tasks can include gathering, verifying, analyzing, and reporting data. Researchers work for nonprofits, medical institutions, governments, universities, media companies, and more. Entry-level research jobs typically ask for at least a master’s degree, as well as experience with research projects. To advance in your career, you’ll likely want a doctorate in your research field.

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Around the world, there are countless non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in areas like sustainable development, humanitarian relief, human rights advocacy, and more. Like any organization, an NGO needs qualified managers to lead teams and ensure the group’s long-term success. In this article, we’ll discuss the responsibilities of NGO managers, the types of NGO management positions, and how to be an effective manager.

As leaders in an NGO, managers have responsibilities like developing an organization’s vision and goals, strategizing and analyzing risks, working with teams to ensure cohesion and good communication, ensuring well-being of staff and building relationships with stakeholders.

What do NGO managers do?

NGO managers aren’t too different from managers in any organization. Their specific responsibilities vary based on the department they work in and the organization’s overall purpose, but here are six tasks you can expect from this role:

Vision planning and goal-setting

Vision planning and goal-setting are closely tied as they both involve an organization’s beliefs, purpose, and strategies. Vision planning is typically a long-term process that all members of an organization participate in. An organization’s vision is an umbrella of beliefs uniting to create a cohesive mission. As an example, Amnesty International UK’s “Vision, Mission, and Values” page includes the statement: “Our vision is a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.”

As leaders, NGO managers play an essential role in guiding the vision-planning process. A manager should be ready to return to the organization’s vision as needed, especially during challenging times such as transitions of power. Goal-setting is a more frequent occurrence and involves both long and short-term goals and projects, which managers are responsible for developing and monitoring.

Strategy and risk analysis

NGO managers aren’t only involved in the vision/goal development for an organization. They’re a vital part of the strategy and risk analysis, as well. That means seeing the big picture and putting the pieces together to form that picture. Visualization skills, analytical skills, and leadership are all essential skills. Often, a manager is more geared toward vision planning and goal setting than detailed strategy development (or vice versa), but they understand their weaknesses and build a team that fills in the gaps. Organizations may also identify which skills they want for a particular management role. If an organization already has excellent visionary leaders on board, they will likely look for more detail-oriented, analytical managerial job candidates for balance.

Managers also need good risk analysis as NGOs – like any organization – face several risks. Depending on the work an NGO does, it can face political risks, physical risks, environmental risks, technology risks, and so on. A manager needs to understand all these risks and develop monitoring-and-evaluation processes. Risk assessment and analysis is a specific job, but all managers need some skills in this area to succeed.

Budgets and resource distribution

All NGOs need good money management. In some ways, financial management is even more important for NGOs than other types of organizations as most run on tight budgets and need to comply with specific regulations. Many NGOs have finance managers, but all managers within an NGO need to have some budget management and resource distribution skills. They should understand their NGO’s overall budget, the department budget, salaries, and more. Many managers (outside of finance managers) don’t have budgeting skills, so developing in this area can help with job opportunities.

Budgeting is basically saying, “Here’s how much money we have to work with,” while resource distribution also asks, “What is the best use for that money?” Resource distribution also involves personnel, like employees and volunteers, and identifying where they will be the most productive. Depending on the NGO’s purpose and specific managerial role, resource distribution could involve physical supplies like medical kits, food, and more.

Team motivation and communication

Managers lead teams of people. The size varies depending on the role, department, and organization, but motivation is always essential. A manager needs to encourage their team, celebrate their successes, and help them through challenging times. When employees feel like their manager has their back and wants them to do well, productivity and innovation increase. The NGO will also have better employee retention, which is important for an organization’s long-term success. According to The Balance Careers, great managers motivate employees by providing opportunities for professional development, showing appreciation, and prioritizing a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture.

NGO managers are also responsible for setting the tone for good communication. Honesty, respect, and timing are all vital pieces of a good communication style. The best managers model good communication, seek feedback from employees, help facilitate conversations, and help navigate conflicts. As a leader, managers can’t just say, “My door is always open” and then sit back. Appraisals (also known as performance reviews) are an excellent way to build good communication. During an appraisal, which is typically held once a year, a manager should discuss an employee’s performance and areas where they want to improve. When an employee has a good relationship with their manager, they’ll feel comfortable explaining what they need, how they evaluate their own work, and where they see their career going.

Relationship-building

NGO managers need to build relationships with their team members, ensure their well-being and provide adequate support, but they also should connect with other managers and NGO leaders outside their organization. The NGO world is a close-knit system, so staying in close contact with managers and employees from other organizations is important. A manager should be committed to learning about their field and what other organizations and their managers are doing. Relationship-building can mean participating in events like conferences, maintaining a database of contacts, and checking in with colleagues around the world.

Networking and relationship-building present more opportunities for shared strategies, project partnerships, and even funding. But aren’t NGOs competing against each other? It often plays out this way, but for the benefit of those NGOs are trying to serve, NGOs – especially smaller ones – should adopt more collaborative strategies. Managers can play a big role in establishing a collaborative network.

Duty of care

NGO work can be dangerous and stressful. The 2018 Worldwide Risk Index surveyed 533 global risk managers at multinational organizations like banks, government agencies, international schools, and NGOs, giving us an idea of what challenges face NGO employees. While only 16% of all respondents said they’d experienced a major political violence event, 27% of NGOs said they had. Kidnap and ransom was the 2nd largest concern, while for overall respondents, the concern ranked 7th. Humanitarian aid organizations ranked natural disasters as the top concern. These risks affect mental health. In 2012, a survey found that of 212 humanitarian workers at 19 NGOs, 11.8% and 19.4% reported anxiety and depression respectively post-deployment compared to just 3.8% and 10.4% pre-deployment.

While NGO work and resources target the populations the organization is serving, NGO employees need attention, too. Managers need to fulfill what’s known as a “duty of care.” This refers to an NGO’s responsibility to protect the safety and health of its employees. NGO managers play an important role in activities such as writing and reviewing safety and communication policies, developing risk management plans, providing training for high-risk areas and scenarios, and more.

Interested in learning more about NGO management? Here’s a list of top-rated courses.

Types of NGO management jobs

NGO managers work in many departments at an NGO, so their specific responsibilities can vary. Here are five examples of jobs within this field:

Project manager

Project managers plan and oversee projects at an NGO from start to finish. They prepare budgets, distribute resources, communicate with stakeholders, monitor progress, and make sure the project aligns with the organization’s visions and goals. To be a project manager, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree in whatever area your NGO focuses on, as well as experience in that field. Project managers need good leadership, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Program manager

What’s the difference between a project manager and a program manager? According to Betterteam, program managers coordinate between multiple projects and work closely with project managers. While project managers have objectives limited to a specific’s project’s lifespan, program managers have broader responsibilities and goals. A program is essentially a collection of projects. To be a program manager, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree, though many organizations ask for a master’s degree. Experience is vital; it’s not an entry-level job. You’ll need to demonstrate project management experience, as well as experience managing teams, working with stakeholders, and developing budgets.

Grants manager

Most NGOs are at least partially funded by grants from places like the government, foundations, and private companies. A grants manager’s job is to secure them. Their responsibilities include writing proposals, organizing portfolios, and ensuring the organization meets the application, renewal, and reporting criteria for grants. Grants managers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, or a related field, as well as prior experience as a grant writer. Many organizations prefer their managers to have master’s degrees or at least significant grant-writing experience.

Human resource manager

A human resource manager has responsibilities like employee recruitment, staff training, staff development, and workplace policy oversight. As an essential part of an NGO’s administrative side, they help ensure a healthy workplace culture and good communication between managers and employees. That means helping to resolve conflict, develop policies, and ensure the workforce is as productive and unified as possible. HR managers will need at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field, as well as experience in an HR department. NGOs will look for applicants with strong communication and organizational skills.

Finance manager

At an NGO, finance managers are in charge of all the organization’s finances. Their job is to develop both short-term and long-term budgets, monitor the organization’s cash flow, and produce financial reports. They manage the finance team, so they are often not responsible for the more day-to-day financial work. Instead, their focus is on the bigger picture, like determining risk when an NGO wants to expand, develop a new program, or make some other major change. You will need at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, though you’ll get more job opportunities and a higher salary with an MBA or graduate degree. At least a few years of experience in a finance department is also required, as well as proficiency with financial software.

How to be an effective NGO manager

As we learned in this article, NGO managers have a lot of responsibilities. The specific tasks vary depending on the department you’re working in (a day in the life of a project manager can look quite different compared to a finance manager’s work day), but every effective manager needs certain skills. A typical job description may require the following:

• A deep understanding of the NGO’s vision and goals
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent team management skills
• Excellent planning and analytical skills
• Strong adaptability and problem-solving skills
• Strong conflict management skills
• Good negotiation and diplomacy skills
• Good budgeting and fundraising skills

Curious about working at an NGO? Here’s our quick guide on NGO jobs.

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The Master of Science in Humanitarian Action is a 100% online career-building advanced degree within the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. This program is designed for both recent graduates and experienced professionals and provides the opportunity for students to learn from executive-level directors, experienced consultants and regional coordinators who work directly for humanitarian-related organizations.

This master’s program takes a multidisciplinary approach to prepare students to become the type of critical thinkers and humanitarian leaders who will help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. Blending conflict analysis, transformation and social innovation with peacebuilding practices, the M.S. in Humanitarian Action intentionally dissolves the barriers between international humanitarian and domestic emergency management.

The 20-month program admits candidates throughout the year to begin their degree in either the Spring, Summer or Fall. Students will take two courses during each 14-week term, focusing on one 7-week course at a time. Course curriculum includes topics such as assessing humanitarian needs, aid delivery, management and logistics, leadership, effective communication, and more. The program culminates in a capstone simulation exercise where students will tackle a complex humanitarian emergency demonstrating their learned skills and knowledge in order to design, implement and evaluate creative solutions in a real-time scenario.

Spring 2024 Application Deadline: 1 December 2023

Duration: 20 months

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (official transcripts required).
  • Candidates with a GPA under 3.0 will be asked to provide an essay in support of their candidacy. It is recommended that candidates with a GPA under 3.0 complete a standardized test such as the GRE or GMAT, but it is not required.
• One personal statement comprised of four short essays each addressing a different prompt provided in the application
• Resume or CV
• One letter of recommendation from the candidate’s professional supervisor or professor or two letters of reference
• For international applicants:
  • A TOEFL exam score of 83 or higher
  • A course-by-course transcript evaluation and report by an approved agency

Apply now

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Despite celebrating their status as a “young and free” country in their national anthem, Australia is no exception to the several human rights abuses that occurs within the nation. In this article, we’ll explore the plethora of human rights issues that challenge Australia today, ranging from its systemic discrimination towards its Indigenous people to the freedom of expression on Australian soil.

#1 Refugees Rights

Despite proposals on terminating asylum seeker offshore processing in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, the Australian government has made the decision to continue its policy indefinitely, sparking criticism from human rights activists worldwide. Since its inauguration in 2012, all asylum seekers who arrive by boat are required to undergo mandatory indefinite detention and processing offshore. Several refugees who have transferred from Papua New Guinea and Nauru have been detained in hotel rooms with limited sunlight, fresh air and room to exercise. At least 12 refugees have died in Australia’s offshore processing policy since 2013, with half of the deaths attributed to suicides. In 2021, a Kurdish asylum seeker sued the Australian government, arguing that the government’s use of hotel detentions were unlawful and breached the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

#2 Indigenous Rights

Indigenous Australians have consistently been overrepresented in the criminal justice system, comprising a third of the adult prison population, despite constituting only 3 percent of the Australian population. During 2021, over 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians died in custody and a prison officer faced court charges for manslaughter for shooting an Indigenous prisoner.

#3 LGBTI Discrimination

Despite progressive work in promoting the equality of LGBTI people in Australia, young Australians continue to face discrimination for their identity as having same-sex attraction. A study found that 61% of LGBTI Australians reported suffering from verbal abuse and approximately 20% facing physical abuse. Over 80% of homophobic discrimination and bullying occurs at schools, leading to higher cases of school dropout, depression and mental health issues.

#4 Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment and violence against women are one of Australia’s pressing human rights issues, with one in three Australian women experiencing violence in an intimate relationship, and one in five facing sexual violence. Domestic and sexual violence against women is also cited to be the greatest contributing factor of homelessness in Australia.

#5 Incarceration of Children

In Australia, Indigenous children are 21 times more likely to be detained than non-Indigenous children, highlighting the disproportionate effect of incarceration on ethnic minorities. Approximately 600 children under the age of 14 are imprisoned each year and despite calls to raise the age of criminal indictment from 10 to 14 years to match recommended international standards, the Australian government has consistently declined such requests. Furthermore, a 2020 report by the South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People revealed that imprisoned children were subject to invasive body searches and treatment in Adelaide’s Youth Detention Centre.

#6 Freedom of Expression

Several Australian universities have failed to protect the freedom of expression of students from China and academics and students who criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Such lack of protection has led Chinese students and academics vulnerable to harassment, intimidation and attacks by pro-CCP groups, with pro-democracy students self-censoring themselves to avoid threats and being “reported” by peers to Chinese authorities.

#7 Disability Rights

Human Rights Watch recently discovered that between 2010 and 2020, approximately 60 percent of prisoners who died in Western Australian prisons had a disability. Within this segment of prisoners, 58 percent died due to limited resources, a lack of support and mental health services, suicide and violence, highlighting the inadequacies of the criminal justice system in Australia.

#8 Rights of the Elderly

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there were over 650 COVID-19 associated deaths in aged care homes in the state of Victoria, with many outbreaks cited to be preventable.  The pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of the aged care industry in Australia and the gaps in regulations. In fact, several aged care facilities use dangerous drugs without written consent of patients to control the behavior of the elderly with dementia and the federal government has yet to ban the practice.

#9 COVID-19 Restrictions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government restricted the rights of its own citizens from entering and leaving the country, with strict quarantine and quota measures leaving over 43,000 of Australian citizens stranded overseas. Following a spike of COVID-19 cases in India in May 2021, the Australian government implemented harsh fines up to AUD $66,000 or five years in prison for Australian residents and citizens who chose to fly between India and Australia. Despite similar spikes in COVID-19 cases in the United States and the United Kingdom, no bans and criminalization policies were implemented for these countries.

#10 Homelessness

On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people are homeless and find themselves unable to stay under a safe and affordable roof. Over a third of homeless people in Australia are under the age of 18 and domestic violence, poverty and sexual assault are the leading causes that drive up homelessness rates in Australia. Consequently, is the societal by-product of systemic inequalities and human rights issues that urgently need to be addressed.

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For as long as humans have existed, they’ve helped each other. After emergencies like natural disasters or war, communities have collected and shared resources, often sending aid far away. This human impulse continues in the form of humanitarian aid. Today, “humanitarian aid” refers to logistical and material help in areas like food, shelter, education, and medicine. It’s often deployed to address immediate, short-term needs until institutions like the government can step in. Why is humanitarian aid important? Here are fifteen benefits:

#1. Humanitarian aid targets a variety of needs

The first benefit of humanitarian aid is how many issues it addresses. Explore any humanitarian organization’s website and you’ll get an idea of the areas they work in. As an example, Islamic Relief Worldwide, a faith-based agency with a presence in 40+ countries, deals with emergency response, health, education, food, water, livelihoods, and more. UNICEF, a UN agency focused on children’s rights, works on adolescent development, gender, health, climate change and the environment, and social policy. Rather than focusing on one or two concerns, the vast majority of humanitarian aid organizations use a comprehensive strategy.

#2: Humanitarian aid helps millions of people

According to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2022, the UN and its partner organizations reached 107 million people in 2021. This number represents those who benefited from at least one kind of aid, such as food or medical assistance. As an example, organizations reached 1.23 million people in northern Mozambique, which more than doubles the number of people served in 2020. Many more need assistance. While the reach in 2021 was impressive, the UN and partner organizations had hoped to serve 174 million. In 2022, the goal is to benefit 183 million people.

#3. Food assistance saves people from starvation and malnutrition

Hunger is linked to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. It can also cause premature births, low birth weights, and stunted infant development. According to the Food Research & Action Center, food insecurity connects to the most common and expensive health problems in the United States. Food-focused humanitarian aid saves lives, improves health, and protects livelihoods. Looking at the Global Humanitarian Overview 2022 again, we can see the impact. According to the World Food Programme, almost 105 million people around the world received direct food aid in the first nine months of 2021. In South Sudan, over 500,000 “severely food insecure” people were helped. In Syria, almost 6 million people received regular food baskets.

#4. WASH services save lives and combat disease

WASH stands for water, sanitation, and hygiene. Without proper WASH, people are at severe risk for thirst-related issues and water-borne diseases. According to the CDC’s Global WASH Fast Facts, 2 billion people don’t have access to safe drinking water. Nearly half of the world’s population can’t access safely-managed sanitation, either. WASH-focused humanitarian aid helps. In 2021, half a million people in Iraq received access to WASH services, while in Venezuela, 1.8 million people got WASH help. UNICEF helped ensure that 34 million people got access to safe water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.

#5. Medical humanitarian aid benefits millions

Medical supplies and training are essential in just about every emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example, although diseases like malaria and Ebola have also been concerns for a long time. In 2021, UNFPA provided 2 million people with PPE in 29 countries. Through COVAX, 362 million doses of the Covid vaccine were shipped. Sexual health was also addressed; in 33 countries, kids and young people (aged 10-24) received tailored sexual and reproductive services. 29 million women of reproductive received sexual and reproductive health services, as well.

#6. Many people need shelter following emergencies

Disasters like floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes often destroy homes or force people to flee. Refugees traveling to new countries need shelter, as well. Most humanitarian organizations include shelter as one of their priority issues. As an example, the UN Refugee Agency distributes tents from three centers in Durban, Dubai, and Copenhagen. They also provide plastic sheeting and matting, as well as funds for rehabilitating communal shelters or building new homes.

#7. Humanitarian aid benefits children’s education

When disasters unfold, children are uniquely affected. Education is disrupted more often than not, which can have serious long-term consequences. UNICEF lists several issues, such as reduced earning potential, barriers to employment, and decreased participation in politics. People without adequate education are also more likely to experience negative health outcomes. While the gender gap in education is closing, girls are still more likely to have trouble getting an education. In 2021, UNICEF helped almost 110 million kids access formal or non-formal education. The UNHCR also connected over 869,900 refugee and host community kids with connected or home-based learning.

#8. Humanitarian aid benefits the most vulnerable

Women, children, and refugees are three of the world’s most vulnerable groups. Their vulnerability only increases in times of crisis. Luckily, humanitarian organizations focus on the people most impacted. According to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2022, 2.4 million malnourished kids were admitted for treatment. 5 million kids and guardians received mental health and psychological support. 11.3 million people got protection services, including legal aid and referrals to gender-based violence support. 4.2 million refugees and asylum-seekers got essential healthcare services.

#9. Humanitarian aid reaches affected areas fast

When an emergency strikes, recovery can take a long time. In the meanwhile, people need help immediately. One of the main benefits of humanitarian aid is how quickly it can be mobilized and deployed. According to UNCHR’s guide for emergency deployment, members of the international emergency roster need to be ready to deploy within 72 hours. UNDAC (the United Nations Disasters Assessment and Coordination) can deploy within 12-48 hours of a request.

#10. Humanitarian aid helps communities prepare

Humanitarian aid doesn’t only benefit people following an emergency; it can help them prepare for one. Many organizations, many of them local or national, hold various public trainings. Information includes how to prepare for an emergency (like a wildfire, earthquake, or hurricane), how to recognize the warning signs, and what to do. Humanitarian projects are also increasingly including preparedness as part of their own systems. This saves money, but most importantly, it can save lives.

#11. Humanitarian aid helps communities rebuild

The main goal of humanitarian aid is to save lives and reduce suffering. However, humanitarian aid’s role in community restoration also matters. If assistance only focuses on the short-term issues, it leaves communities in the lurch for the more challenging, long-term concerns. In a 2016 piece on the World Economic Forum, Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathon T.M. Reckford writes: “Collectively, those of us offering humanitarian aid should leverage our efforts and precious resources to bridge the gap between relief and development so we can help families create permanent solutions to the challenges they face.” When the gap between short-term and long-term closes, humanitarian aid and development efforts empower communities to rebuild.

#12. Humanitarian aid is part of combating climate change

Climate change is a factor in many crises. According to the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, storms, floods, and droughts have increased threefold over the last three decades. Because of population growth and urbanization, more people are affected by climate-related issues like reduced food security, unsafe water, increased migration, and disease. Humanitarian aid efforts must factor in climate change if they’re going to be effective. That necessitates more preparedness measures, more flexible cash assistance, programs, multi-risk management strategies, and so on.

#13. Humanitarian aid can help achieve the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals are a series of 17 interlinked global goals established in 2015 by the UN General Assembly. The deadline? 2030. If the world wants to meet these goals, humanitarian aid must become more innovative. In a post on the UNHCR Innovation Service, Dan McClure writes: “Reducing vulnerability and improving resilience needs to be seen as an essential component of humanitarian action.” A shift in how humanitarian aid is conceived could play a key role in achieving SDGs such as zero poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, and affordable and clean energy.

#14. Humanitarian aid gives people their dignity back

Humanitarian aid meets physical needs like hunger and thirst, but one of the main benefits of aid is how it gives people their dignity back. In the UNHCR Emergency Handbook, there’s a section on humanitarian principles. It describes humanitarian aid’s purpose as “to save lives and alleviate suffering in a manner that respects and restores personal dignity.” Helping someone in a way that disrespects their autonomy and dignity is not true humanitarianism. When properly given, humanitarian aid has a significantly positive effect on a person’s emotional and spiritual health as well as their physical health.

#15. Humanitarian aid can fuel hope and motivation

The humanitarian aid system is far from perfect, but despite its flaws and limitations, it can change the lives of those both receiving and giving assistance. It proves people and organizations are willing to help and sacrifice for others. It saves lives and eases the suffering of millions. In a time where crises are constantly erupting – and hope can be hard to come by – humanitarian aid can make dire situations a little brighter and motivate people to keep working for a better world.

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Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would become the figurehead of the Civil Rights Movement and one of the world’s most iconic social justice activists. Emphasizing the methods of nonviolence and peaceful protest, Dr. King worked for equality for Black Americans, an end to poverty, and justice for all. Here are 11 facts about him:

#1. He didn’t originally plan on being a pastor

Dr. King came from an educated family and was an excellent student. At 15, he began attending Morehouse College, where his father and grandfather had attended. The young Martin did not plan on becoming a pastor like his father, however. He studied medicine and law. His mentor – Morehouse’s president and theologian Dr. Benjamin Mays – changed his mind. After graduation, King went to seminary and earned a Bachelor of Divinity, followed by a doctorate in systematic theology at Boston University.

#2. Gandhi’s teachings had a strong influence on Dr. King

Like Gandhi, Dr. King is famous for his teachings on nonviolence and peaceful protest. He learned about the Indian activist through others, including Mordecai Wyatt Johnson. Johnson was one of the most important religious leaders of the time. In 1950, King heard Johnson speak in Philadelphia about Gandhi. Dr. King was deeply moved and began to learn more about Gandhi. Howard Thurman, one of King’s professors at Boston University, also shared Gandhi’s teachings with King and other students.

#3. Dr. King’s leadership in the Civil Rights Movement began with a bus boycott

In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Alabama for refusing to give her bus seat to a White man. The NAACP and activists quickly sprung to action, calling for a bus boycott. The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), co-founded by 26-year-old Dr. King, organized a boycott that stretched for 13 months. The city pushed back, even penalizing Black taxi drivers for giving rides to bus boycotters. In response, the MIA organized carpools. King received death threats and his home was bombed. In November of 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that segregated busing was unconstitutional. The boycott’s tenacious organizing, nonviolence, and success gave Rosa Parks, King, and the movement international attention.

#4. Dr. King was arrested 30 times

For his activism and resistance against White supremacy, King faced many challenges. According to the King Center, he was arrested 30 times. The King Institute at Stanford has a record of his various arrests and convictions for things like disobeying a police order, speeding, and loitering. He wrote one of his most famous pieces – “Letter From Birmingham Jail” – in 1963 following an arrest during the Birmingham campaign, a series of marches and sit-ins against racism in Alabama. Without paper, he began writing in the margins of a newspaper and on the scraps given to him until his lawyers could give him a real pad of paper. After 8 days, King was released.

#5. Someone tried to kill Dr. King in 1958

King was assassinated in 1968, but ten years earlier, a woman tried to kill him at a book signing. History.com explains the incident. King was 29-years old and autographing copies of Stride Toward Freedom, which described the Montgomery Bus Boycott. A Black woman cut the line and stabbed him in the chest with a seven-inch penknife. King stayed calm while others around him tried to decide what to do. Leave the knife in or take it out? They left it in, which was the right choice because the blade’s tip was terrifyingly close to King’s main artery. He had surgery at the hospital and made a full recovery, saying the experience affirmed his belief in nonviolence. His would-be killer, Izola Curry, was mentally ill. During her interrogation, she claimed King and the NAACP were working with communists and preventing her from keeping a job. She was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and passed away in 2015.

#6. The dream part of “I Have A Dream” almost wasn’t included

Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech is one of the most famous speeches of all time. King had given other speeches where he talked about a dream for his children, but the line never resonated with the audience. For the March on Washington speech, the stakes were high and King wanted the speech to be perfect. His advisors Stanley Levison and Clarence Jones wrote the first draft, and with King’s inner circle, they discussed the rest of the speech. The phrase “I have a dream” was not part of the final product. On the day of the speech, Jones listened carefully and heard the first seven paragraphs read as written. Then, Mahalia Jackson, a gospel singer who had performed earlier, called out, “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin!” King looked up, moved his written pages out of the way, and started speaking spontaneously. The most memorable and powerful refrain – which would become shorthand for the entire speech – was improvised.

#7. The FBI kept a close, hostile eye on Dr. King

The FBI, run by notorious director J. Edgar Hoover, was not a fan of Martin Luther King Jr. They began investigating him in 1955 due to his leadership in the Montgomery bus boycott. Hoover believed communists were influencing the activist. The organization’s hatred only grew more heated when King criticized the FBI in 1964 and spoke against the Vietnam War in 1967. However, it was in 1963 that the FBI did something deeply disturbing. It was shortly after the “I Have A Dream” speech. Though it didn’t link King to communism, the surveillance on him did reveal extramarital affairs. The Domestic Intelligence Chief sent an unsigned letter to the King’s home, which the New York Times published in full in 2014. The letter called King a “complete fraud” and said King had 34 days to die by suicide or the tapes of his affairs would be released. King and his advisors quickly determined the letter came from the FBI and no tapes were released.

#8. Dr. King named the “three evils” of society – racism, extreme materialism, and militarism

In an address given at the National Conference on New Politics in 1967, Dr. King distilled his views on society’s problems in a powerful speech that still resonates today. The first problem was racism, which he describes as a “corrosive evil that will bring down the curtain on western civilization.” The second is extreme materialism, which he links to poverty. He says America has reached a tipping point and must choose between materialism like cars and big hotels and humanism like children’s education and healthcare. Dr. King said the last evil – militarism – is obvious when we look at Vietnam. This speech, given the year before his death, is an excellent breakdown of Dr. King’s most essential – and radical – beliefs.

#9. Dr. King’s mother was also killed

Many people don’t know much about Dr. King’s mother, but Alberta King played an essential role in his life. As a young adult, she was a member of the NAACP, The Women’s International League for Peace, and the Young Women’s Christian Association. The book The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs gets into more detail on Alberta’s impact on her son, as well as the impact of the mothers of Malcolm X and James Baldwin. In June 1974, Alberta was playing the organ for Sunday services when a young Black man came into the church (which was the church where Dr. King pastored) and opened fire, killing Alberta and a church deacon. The killer claimed Black pastors were dangerous to Black people and that he intended to kill the pastor. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to life in prison. The surviving King family opposed capital punishment. Alberta King is buried next to her husband, who passed away in 1984.

#10. Coretta Scott King played an essential role in the Civil Rights Movement and beyond

Coretta Scott King was as impressive and significant to the Civil Rights movement as her husband. After graduating high school as the class valedictorian, she became involved in politics and the NAACP in college. She was an important influence on Dr. King, especially regarding Vietnam. He was initially wary of the criticism he would face coming out against the war, but Scott King addressed an anti-war rally in 1965 and took his place at a rally in Washington, D.C. After King’s death, Scott King continued her activism under the paranoid watch of the FBI. She established the King Center; advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and the end of apartheid; and fought to make King’s birthday a national holiday. She passed away in 2006.

#11. During his life – and shortly after – Dr. King was not popular with White people

During his lifetime, White people did not like Dr. King. This isn’t shocking, but considering how revered and referenced he is today by such a range of people, the force of White people’s dislike not that long ago is striking. In May 1965, King won the Nobel Peace Prize, but in the Gallup poll soon after, 46% of Americans (not exclusively White Americans) had an unfavorable view of him. In 1966, 50% of White Americans said King was hurting the Civil Rights movement. He was much more popular with Black Americans. In 1966, 84% had a favorable view of him. Racism factored heavily into King’s unpopularity with White people, though he also was – as The Root describes – “a thorn in the side of white America” on issues like capitalism, poverty, and the Vietnam War. King’s more universal popularity is partially due to progress, but considering that many of the issues he fought against still exist, it’s more likely that his radical teachings have been watered down and his quotes stripped of their context.

The post 11 Facts about Martin Luther King Jr. appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Despite being renowned as a multicultural democracy that celebrates its international reputation for upholding the human rights of its citizens, Canada has struggled to address several of its own human rights abuses within its own borders. Here are 10 human rights challenges that continue to plague Canada, ranging from the country’s longstanding discrimination against their Indigenous communities to the breaching of the rights of criminals and migrants in the nation.

Rights of Indigenous Canadians

First Nations communities in Canada have long lived in the shadows of their colonial oppressors, facing systemic discrimination as their rights as humans are breached. Indigenous Canadians live on lands called reserves that are equipped with inadequate water treatment systems, which have led to a health and sanitation crisis in First Nations communities. The lack of access to clean water has led to considerable mental, social and emotional crises for Indigenous communities, highlighting the lack of action the Canadian government has taken to protect the rights of First Nations.

Violence Against Indigenous Women and Children

Indigenous women and children face disproportionately higher levels of violence and are at higher risk of being murdered in Canada. Indigenous women and girls are twelve times more likely to be murdered or go missing that any other demographic group in Canada and are three times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be assaulted. The violence against Indigenous women stems from systemic racism and deep colonial attitudes that perpetuate discrimination across Canada and are exacerbated by sexist and misogynistic perception of women in the country.

Immigration Detention

The Canadian federal government adopted new policy regulations in 2018 that require children to be held in immigration detention as a “last resort”. Although the number of detained children has decreased over the years, the average time they spent in detention facilities rose, highlighting the structural issues of immigration that continue to plague Canada. Furthermore, despite the introduction of the National Immigration Framework in 2016, Canada has seen a rising trend in immigration detainees in prisons – in 2019, the Canadian Border Services Agency detained 7212 people in immigration holding centres, compared to 6609 people in 2017.

Religious Freedom

In April 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to consider whether Quebec’s controversial ban on religious symbols should be suspended. Introduced in 2019, Bill 21 banned civil servants, teachers and police officers in Quebec from wearing religious symbols when providing or receiving government services. Religious symbols such as hijabs, kippahs and turbans are subject to the ban, underscoring the province’s racist and discriminatory attitude towards religious freedom.

Corporate Accountability

Canada has consistently failed to implement reforms to hold major mining corporations accountable for human rights abuses that occur behind closed doors. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise currently do not hold the authority to investigate human rights abuses that occur within the mining industry, which prevents the association from exposing the exploitation by Canadian companies that work overseas in the oil and gas trades.

Women’s Rights

Women in Canada are disproportionately more likely to face financial insecurity, violence and workplace harassment compared to their male counterparts. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, 10% of women in Canada live on low incomes and every six days, a Canadian woman is killed by her intimate partner. Such phenomena stem from systemic sexism and gender-based discrimination, alongside societal expectations for women to be the primary caretakers of the home, where they engage in unpaid work in childcare.

Counterterrorism

The Canadian government has failed to support and repatriate Canadians who are unlawfully detained in jails due to alleged connections with the Islamic State (ISIS). Approximately 47 Canadians have been detained in these prisons for over a year, living in overcrowded and inhumane conditions and none of these individuals have been charged with any crime. Human Rights Watch speculates that the Canadian government has deliberately withheld support for its citizens due to their suspected connections with ISIS, highlighting the discriminatory attitudes towards counterterrorism.

Unlawful transfer of weapons

Despite the militarized repression of demonstrators in Colombia, Canada has continued to support and transfer weapons to Saudi Arabia, arguing that there would be no “substantial risk” that the arms would be used to commit human rights abuses. This unlawful transfer of weapons breaches Canada’s international obligations to the Arms Trade Treaty and underscores the perpetuation of the violation of human rights conducted by the Canadian government.

Rights of Migrants

Migrants in Canada continue to exploited for their labor, living in “conditions of modern-day slavery”. According to a report released by The Migrant Rights Network, migrants live in destitute accommodation, characterized by a lack of privacy and cleanliness and are desperate for respect and dignity as people. Alongside testimonies of migrants, the report also cited concerns regarding the control employers have over migrant workers, particularly surveillance and control over their movement.

Solitary Confinement

Although solitary confinement was abolished in Canada in 2019, federal jails have continued to use solitary confinement as a way of punishing criminals in prisons. Some inmates have been cited to be kept alone in their cells for extended periods of time, to the extent where it meets the United Nation’s definition of torture. In fact, a Canadian study found that approximately 30 percent of prisoners did not get four hours outside their cells and 10 percent met the UN definition of torture.

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More than 370 million Indigenous people live in places like the Arctic, the Americas, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. What does it mean to be Indigenous? Indigenous individuals experience their identity in different ways, but speaking broadly, the United Nations defines Indigenous peoples as “inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment” with distinct social, cultural, economic, and political traits. While Indigenous peoples lived in an area first, they often (though not always) represent a minority population. Past and present injustices like colonialism, slavery, and discrimination have disrupted and destroyed many Indigenous communities, making Indigenous rights a pressing social justice issue. Whether it’s preserving languages and culture or advocating for environmental justice and human rights, Indigenous communities from around the world have a long history of activism. Here are 15 inspiring quotes from Indigenous leaders, writers, activists, and others:

“Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.” – Tecumseh

Tecumseh (1768-1813) was a Shawnee warrior and chief who resisted the expansion of the United States. He was famous for his speaking skills and formed a Native American confederacy that sought to preserve Native lands. During his life, Tecumseh was respected even by those who fought against him, but he became even more famous as a folk hero in American, Indigenous, and Canadian history. Because of his mythological status, it’s difficult to authenticate many parts of Tecumseh’s life.

“If we must die, we die defending our rights.” – Sitting Bull

Sitting Bull (1831-1890) is one of the most famous Indigenous leaders in history. As a Hunkpapa Lakota leader, he resisted government policies and fought for Native rights. After years of evading capture and struggling with starvation, Sitting Bull eventually surrendered. He worked at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, where he became a celebrity. When he returned home, government authorities grew fearful of the Ghost Dance movement, a religious movement that promised the renewal of the earth, resurrections, and an end to oppression. Because of Sitting Bull’s influence, police tried to arrest him and prevent him from joining the movement, but he was killed instead. His remains are buried at Mobridge, South Dakota, his birthplace.

“It does not require many words to speak the truth.” – Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph (1840-1904) was a leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa) band of Nez Perce, a tribe from the interior Pacific Northwest. When the United States forcibly removed the tribe from their lands in Oregon to a reservation in the Idaho territory, Chief Joseph resisted. After his eventual surrender, Chief Joseph traveled the country, giving speeches about the injustices inflicted on his people and hoping they could return to their lands. He died in 1904.

“Sometimes dreams are wiser than waking.” – Black Elk

Black Elk (also known as Heȟáka Sápa) was a medicine man from the Oglala Lakota people. Alongside Crazy Horse, he fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn. He also survived the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre and performed in Europe with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. As a spiritual leader, Black Elk’s work focused on teaching tourists about Lakota rituals and culture. Black Elk Speaks, which was published in 1932 by John Neihardt, records Black Elk’s life and religious views, as well as his dreams and visions.

“That hand is not the color of yours, but if I prick it, the blood will flow, and I shall feel pain. The blood is of the same color as yours. God made me, and I am a Man.” – Standing Bear

Standing Bear (1829-1908) was the leader of a small group of Poncha people. In 1876, the US government told them to move to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, but the Ponca decided to go back to their traditional land instead. When they arrived, federal troops forced them to leave. The trip was brutal, costing many their lives, including Standing Bear’s wife and daughter. After arriving in Oklahoma, Standing Bear’s son died. They turned back, wanting to bury the body on their land, but the US government caught up and detained them. In court, the government argued that Standing Bear was “neither a citizen, nor a person,” which meant he couldn’t sue. Standing Bear’s lawyers argued the opposite, and when given a chance to speak, Standing Bear spoke the quote above. The judge sided with Standing Bear, allowing him to bury his son and ruling that Native Americans were people under habeas corpus, which is the right to report unlawful detention.

“He who stands lives; he who sits perishes.” – Māori proverb

The Māori are the Indigenous people from mainland New Zealand. They are descendants of settlers from East Polynesia, who traveled to New Zealand by canoe between 1320-1350. According to a 2018 census, the Māori make up 16.5% of the national population, making them the second-largest ethnic group in the country. Colonialism sought to destroy the Māori people and culture, but protest movements and laws have helped improve things, though tensions and oppression remain.

“We as Aboriginal people still have to fight to prove that we are straight out plain human beings, the same as everyone else’” – Neville Bonner

An elder of the Jagera people, Neville Bonner was the first Aboriginal Australian to become a member of Australia’s Parliament. An independent thinker, he often faced criticism from left-wing Indigenous activists. The pressure of being the first Indigenous person in Parliament was also challenging. In 1981, Bonner was the only vote opposing drilling in the Great Barrier Reef. He died in 1999.

“The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.” – Wilma Mankiller

Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010) was a Native American activist, community organizer, and social worker. She was the first woman elected as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. In 1985, she worked in the federal administration of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where under her leadership, the Cherokee government established new health clinics, early and adult education programs, and more. After her political career, she continued working as an advocate for women’s health, tribal sovereignty, and cancer awareness. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.

“Things which do not grow and change are dead things.” – Louise Erdrich

Considered one of the most important writers of the second wave of the Native American Renaissance, Louise Erdich is the author of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s books. She has numerous awards and nominations. In 2021, her book The Night Watchman won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

“We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine, at least, completely, who and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”- N. Scott Momaday

Momaday is a Kiowa writer and poet. In 1969, his novel House Made of Dawn – which is considered the first major work of the Native American Renaissance – won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. He holds many honorary degrees and awards, including the National Medal of Arts. Most of Momaday’s work fuses prose and poetry. As a professor, Momaday specializes in American Indian oral traditions and culture.

“Our history is a living history, that has throbbed, withstood and survived many centuries of sacrifice. Now it comes forward again with strength. The seeds, dormant for such a long time, break out today with some uncertainty, although they germinate in a world that is at present characterized by confusion and uncertainty.” – Rigoberta Menchú Tum

Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a K’iche’ Guatemalan feminist, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The quote above comes from her acceptance speech in 1992. She is known for advocating for the rights of Guatemala’s Indigenous people and Indigenous people globally. She founded the country’s first Indigenous political party, which is called Winaq, and ran for president in 2007 and 2011.

“History is a narrative; it’s a collection of stories sanctioned by the ruling power, and reinforced through words and images that suit them. That was the whole point of taking on history painting: to authorize these moments that have been swept under the rug for generations.” – Kent Monkman

Kent Monkman is a Canadian First Nations artist and member of the Fish River Band. According to his website, he is known for “provocative interventions into Western European and American art history,” where he works with themes like loss, colonization, resilience, and sexuality. His gender-fluid alter ego – a supernatural, shape-shifting figure called Miss Chief Eagle Testickle – is a frequent figure in his work. Monkman’s quote on history comes from a 2017 Toronto Star article covering the artist’s Toronto exhibit Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience, a nine-part work that challenges art’s representation of the past.

“I promised myself a long time ago that I would lead an interesting life.” – Sacheen Littlefeather

Sacheen Littlefeather (Marie Louise Cruz) is an American model, actress, and Indigenous rights activist. She first became involved in activism during the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz. In 1973, during the 45th Academy Awards, she represented Marlon Brando and refused the Oscar for The Godfather as a protest against Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans and to raise awareness of the standoff at Wounded Knee. She went on to become active in California’s Native American community, working in health, media, and more.

“I release you, my beautiful and terrible fear. I release you. You were my beloved and hated twin, but now, I don’t know you as myself.” – Joy Harjo

A musician and three-time poet laureate of the United States (and the first Native American in that role), Joy Harjo is the author of nine poetry books, two memoirs, plays, and more. She has a long list of honors and honorary doctorates. A member of the Muscogee Nation (Este Mvskokvlke), Harjo is an important figure in Native American art. Her work explores themes like human connection, suffering, music, myths, and memory.

“We only have one earth. Let’s take care of it.” – Deb Haaland

Deb Haaland is an American politician and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. She served in Congress as a representative and in 2021, she became the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary when she was sworn in as Secretary of the Interior. Her tenure so far has included the announcement of a unit to address the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans and the creation of the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which will investigate historical abuse.

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Gender identity refers to a spectrum of socially constructed expressions, roles, and behaviors. Common examples of gender identities include male, female, transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, and two-spirit identities. Why does it matter? Our gender identity defines how we see ourselves, how we see each other, and how we want to be seen. It’s deeply tied to our dignity as human beings. As an ever-evolving concept, there is much to learn and explore. We have compiled a list of five online courses that explore gender identity and closely related concepts.

#1 Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity

Offered by the University of Colorado, this course explores the history, challenges, and activism of LGBTQ+ communities. The course is taught by Jacob McWilliams, Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center, and by Katie Mohrman, Assistant professor of Ethnic Studies. After clarifying key concepts and essential terminology of gender identity, the course briefly discusses intersectional issues. In the third week, you’ll learn about gender expression, gender resistance, and gender transition. The final two weeks are dedicated to Queer theory and tackle specific issues such as queer parenting, racism in queer communities, and queer sex education in more depth. Overall this course is an excellent fit for everyone who seeks a well-rounded introduction to the topic. The course includes a variety of video lectures, readings as well as graded assignments. All graded assignments are multiple-choice quizzes. On average the self-paced course takes 20 hours to complete. At the time of writing, learners rated the course with 4.8 stars out of 5.

REGISTER HERE

#2 Queering the Schoolhouse: LGBTQ+ Inclusion for Educators

Offered by University of Colorado, Queering the Schoolhouse is a course for educators. The main purpose of the course is to learn about building more inclusive communities. You will explore a variety of key concepts and techniques to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and be challenged to apply them to your classroom or professional context. The first three weeks of the course focus on Allyship, Advocacy, and LGBTQ+ experiences in schools. One activity that stands out is the LGBTQ+ toolbox. Learners are encouraged to develop their own toolbox to talk and act in support of the LGBTQ+ community. At the center of the toolbox is to learn about the lives and realities of LGBTQ+ people, and to reflect on your own privilege and behaviors. Beyond that, dedicated videos provide a variety of suggestions and ideas about what could be inside your toolbox. In week 4 of the course, you will explore five contemporary strategies of LGBTQ+ inclusion in more detail. The fifth week is dedicated to curriculum development, refinement, and evaluation. It includes relevant case studies and examples of social action. Rated 4.8 out of 5, this course is a great choice for educators and students. All members of schoolhouse communities will benefit from it. The entire course takes 12 hours to complete.

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#3 Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Diversity and inclusion is more than an asset. It is essential for human rights organizations and companies alike. This course offered by the University of Pittsburgh is an excellent introduction to gender identity, diversity and inclusion in professional settings. After clarifying essential terminology around gender and sexuality, the course provides an introduction to challenges LGBTQ+ people are facing in the workplace. Contrary to the previous two courses, this course contains a variety of optional discussion prompts enabling learners to discuss critical issues or take their questions to the community. In week 2 and 3 of the course you will learn specifically about sex, gender and workplace discrimination and the strategies to create more inclusive workplaces. Highlighting the importance of intersectionality and critically assessing specific issues such as gender stereotyping, workplace silencing and workplace disclosure, the course will benefit beginners as well as advanced learners. The entire last week is dedicated to transgender topics and explores how to be an ally to transgender colleagues at work. The entire course takes 16 hours to complete.

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#4 Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Offered by the ESSEC Business School, this course focuses specifically on how to leverage diversity to improve workplace performance and innovation. It starts by outlining the importance of diversity and inclusion for firms and delves into key concepts of diversity, including cultural, social, gender, intergenerational and abilities diversity. After you have developed a foundational understanding of diversity and inclusion concepts, the second week of the course is focused on diversity perceptions. In this part of the course you will acquire skills and conceptual tools to analyze your own reactions in interactions in the workplace. The third week of the course is dedicated to the disrupting force of diversity and exploring why diversity can be utilized to improve performance and innovation. In the last week of the course you are encouraged to identify best practices for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. After completing this week you will also be able to assess and evaluate an organizations inclusion policies. The course takes 10 hours to complete.

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#5 Health Across the Gender Spectrum

This course offered by Stanford University follows the intimate stories of six transgender families and their children. Members of the Stanford faculty including physicians, K-12 educators and transgender faculty members discuss these stories and provide practical tips for families, parents, healthcare providers and anyone who aims to foster a more gender-inclusive environment. The course suggests concrete steps to create a more gender-inclusive society. Please note that the providers of this course have chosen not to offer certificates due to the sensitive nature of the topic. The entire course takes approximately 8 hours to complete.

REGISTER HERE

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In 2007 the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, setting minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples and communities. Until today the document is the most comprehensive international instrument for the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights. Despite these efforts, indigenous communities are continuing to face countless issues including lack of political representation, economic exclusion, racism and discrimination and the violation of their resource and land rights. To help defend and promote the human rights of indigenous peoples, it is essential to understand the issues they are facing, their unique history, culture and worldviews. We have compiled a list of 5 courses to learn more about indigenous peoples. All courses in this list can be audited for free. You can opt-in for a paid certificate for an extra fee. Financial aid is available for those who qualify through the course providers.

Screenshot from “Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)”

Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)

Although the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took steps to improve the protection of human rights, serious and systemic challenges remain. Access to safe drinking water, violence against women and girls, unlawful detention and food poverty are some of the biggest issues indigenous peoples are facing in Canada today. In this course offered by University of Alberta, you will learn about the history and contemporary issues of indigenous communities in Canada. The topics covered by the course include indigenous legal systems and rights, political conflicts, indigenous activism, as well as indigenous life, art and forms of expression. Taught by members of the faculty of native studies the course offers a comprehensive introduction to indigenous peoples in Canada. The entire course takes roughly 12 hours to complete and received an average of 4.82 stars out of 5 stars from more than 11,000 learners. While the course is taught entirely in English, videos contain subtitles in Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish.

One highlight of the course are interactive paintings on topics such as governance, aboriginal women, resource use and education that are featured at the end of each week. Learners are invited to explore these paintings on their own, zoom in and out, while the facilitator guides learners through specific areas of interest.

Register here

Aboriginal Worldviews and Education (University of Toronto)

Offered by the University of Toronto, this course explores indigenous worldviews from a political, social and historical perspective. In the first week you will learn why indigenous worldviews matter for the future of Canada, including for demographic reasons, because of climate change and to uphold social justice and human rights. In the beginning of the course the instructor also highlights some excruciating statistics about indigenous peoples in Canada such as “Aboriginal youth are more likely to be jailed than graduate from highschool”, among other eye-opening facts about the issues indigenous communities are facing. The second week of the course is focused on deconstructing stereotypes, while the third week focuses on aboriginal education and intergenerational trauma. One extraordinary aspect of the course is that it contains an entire short television series that was aired first on CBC in 2013.

Another special element of the course are screen side chats where instructors and TAs responded to user queries in the discussion forum when the course first launched. The course also contains a highly active discussion forum with more than 2500 discussion threads enabling new learners to ask questions and explore the perspectives of other community members. To take this course, no prior knowledge is required. To complete the course and receive a passing grade, you need to submit one peer assignment (50%) and two quizzes (25% each).

Register here

Climate Change and Indigenous People and local communities (University of Barcelona)

Indigenous peoples and local communities are disproportionately negatively affected by climate change. At the same time indigenous peoples are least responsible for greenhouse emissions and global warming. In fact indigenous groups are vital to strengthen the ecosystems they inhabit. Indigenous Peoples develop strategies that may help other societies to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. In this course offered by University of Barcelona, you will explore how indigenous peoples and local communities are impacted by climate change and how indigenous groups and communities can be included in climate change research and policy. Hence, the course will be especially useful for everyone who works together with indigenous peoples and local communities through research. Beyond videos, readings and quizzes, the course contains one peer-graded assignment that is required to obtain a certificate.

At the time of writing this course was rated with 4.6 out of 5 stars. With climate change and indigenous peoples rights being two of the most crucial human rights topics of our time, this course is an opportunity to explore how these issues intersect on fundamental levels.

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Indigenous Religions & Ecology (Yale University)

While this course can be taken on its own, it is part of a larger series of courses on Religion and Ecology. The entire series aims to provide learners with a better understanding of the ecological perspectives of different religions, including indigenous religions. The course argues that religions recognize the unity and interdependence of human with nature and highlights some of the significant contributions of Indigenous peoples in Africa, Asia, Americas and Pacific regions to promote environmental understanding. The course focuses on themes such as environmental protection and conservation, NGO workers fighting for ecological justice and religious leaders who promote interreligious dialogue on environmental projects.

Altogether, the course takes roughly 24 hours to complete and is taught entirely in English. Previous learners have rated the entire series with 4.8 stars out of 5 stars at the time of writing. As with other courses, you can either choose to audit the course for free or opt-in for a paid certificate for an extra fee.

Register here

Artic Development (University of Alberta)

The last course in this list is offered by University of Alberta and aims to provide you with a deeper understanding of sustainability concepts, geopolitics, resource management and development. You will learn about the resilience of norther communities, as well as the strategies and initiatives to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the rapidly changing artic. In the first week of the course, you will receive a general introduction to the artic and its geopolitics. The second week of the course focuses on the natural resources in the artic region and how these resources are currently managed by different stakeholders. The third week of the course focuses on community resilience, food security, health care and policing in the artic. Climate change adaption strategies and policy are the focus of the final week.

The shortest course in this list, Artic Development takes roughly 7 hours to complete. At time of writing previous learners rated the course with 4.7 out of 5 stars. To receive a passing grade, learners have to complete 12 short quizzes. The course contains various discussion prompts to explore some of the critical questions that course raises.

The post 5 Essential Courses on Indigenous Peoples’ Activism, Culture and Worldviews appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Advocacy has many meanings depending on its context, but generally, it’s the support and promotion of a cause. In the human rights world, advocates defend and educate on issues like reproductive rights, climate justice, universal healthcare, gender equality, and more. Advocates also help empower groups and individuals fighting for the right to have their voices heard. Professional advocacy careers can be found in victim advocacy, youth empowerment, mental healthcare, law, and research, but anyone can use their voice to support a cause they believe in. Many people have discussed advocacy and its significance in the world. Here are 12 powerful quotes on advocacy from activists, authors, political leaders, and others.

#1. “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) was a Holocaust survivor, author, and activist. He is famous for his memoir Night, which details his experience in a concentration camp. The quote above -arguably his most famous – is from his Nobel Prize speech in 1986. It cuts to the core of advocacy’s purpose, which is to take a side and speak up. Advocacy can’t be neutral. Trying to be neutral takes the side of the oppressor and the tormentor.

#2. “To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen. Society can’t move forward without both.” – Eva Marie Lewis

Eva Marie Lewis first entered the activism world after the murder of Trayvon Martin. She protested alongside her mother in Chicago and has been grassroots organizing ever since. In 2016, Lewis spoke at the United Nations twice. Her awards include the Princeton Prize in Race Relations (2017) and the Rising Star award from the DuSable Museum of African American History (2017). She’s currently the founder and executive director of Free Root Operation, a nonprofit formed in 2015 that – in the nonprofit’s words -strives to “intercept poverty induced gun violence.” In her quote, she highlights the difference between activism and advocacy and how important they both are. Without listening, no one can hope to be a good advocate or activist.

#3. “Advocacy is empathy, compassion and community at work.”- Janna Cachola

Cachola is a New Zealand actress, model, and singer. She also works as a thought leader and speaker. In this quote, she provides a multi-faceted definition of advocacy. It isn’t simply “speaking out” or “raising awareness;” it’s grounded in true care for the cause and people, as well as working within a community. Too many self-professed advocates neglect the community part of advocacy and focus on their own ideas and goals instead of those they’re trying to supposedly help. True advocacy is based on understanding and empowering others.

#4. “When the world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” – Malala Yousafzai

Known as Malala, this Pakistani advocate and activist is best known for promoting education, especially for girls. After surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban, Malala became famous internationally and spoke to the United Nations. In 2014, the then-17 year-old co-won the Nobel Peace Prize with Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist from India. Malala has since graduated from the University of Oxford and continued her activism. Her speeches often center on speaking up for justice and progress, no matter who or where you are.

#5. “I’m convinced of this: Good done anywhere is good done everywhere. For a change, start by speaking to people rather than walking by them like they’re stones that don’t matter. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to do some good.”- Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American poet, author, and activist. She published numerous works, including autobiographies, essays, poetry, plays, and more. Nicknamed the “people’s poet,” she remains one of the most famous writers in the world. She frequently wrote about discrimination, racism, and love. The quote above explores the origins of being a good advocate (and a good person in general), which is simply to treat others like they matter. According to Angelou, doing good in your everyday life is just as meaningful as doing it on a bigger scale.

#6. “I have heard their groans and sighs, and seen their tears, and I would give every drop of blood in my veins to free them.” Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913) was an American activist and abolitionist. Born enslaved, Tubman ran away, but returned to rescue around 70 other enslaved people as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses and abolitionists. She was also a nurse, a women’s suffrage supporter, and a Union spy. She is one of the most famous American icons. In the quote above, Tubman speaks about enslaved people and her drive for justice no matter the cost. Advocates frequently take risks in their work; often, even their lives are endangered.

#7. “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was a famous American orator, writer, and abolitionist. Like Harriet Tubman, he escaped from slavery and helped lead the abolitionist movement. His 1945 autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was a huge bestseller and important text for abolitionists. After the Civil War ended slavery, Douglass advocated for rights such as the right to vote. His quote encapsulates why advocacy is so essential. The powerful never weaken themselves by choice. If no one takes a stand and demands change, nothing changes.

#8. “It can be difficult to speak truth to power. Circumstances, however, have made doing so increasingly necessary.” – Aberjhani

Aberjhani is an American poet, artist, historian, editor, and columnist. Born in Georgia, Aberjhani is known for writing on literature and politics, as well as being the co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. In 2007, he founded the Creative Thinkers International, an online community of artists, filmmakers, photographers, poets, and others supporting creative, nonviolent conflict resolutions following the conflicts after 9/11. The platform went offline in 2015. Aberjahni is also a member of PEN American Center and PEN International. As an artist, Aberjhani has never shied away from controversial and important issues. His quote explains that while it’s difficult, speaking truth to power is more necessary than ever.

#9. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. He’s since become one of the most iconic – and quoted – social justice icons of all time. The quote above is from a sermon given in Selma, Alabama in 1965. Dr. King’s words were especially significant given it was the day after Bloody Sunday. On Bloody Sunday, state troopers attacked civil rights protesters trying to cross the Edmund Pettus bridge. TV cameras managed to film the event, turning the local protest into national news. In his sermon, Dr. King challenges the listener to think about what’s at stake. Advocating for justice and truth means facing billy clubs, tear gas, and police dogs, but refusing to stand up is a different kind of death.

#10. “When an individual is protesting society’s refusal to acknowledge his dignity as a human being, his very act of protest confers dignity on him.” – Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) was a Black leader for civil rights, nonviolence, socialism, and gay rights. He served as an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. and as one of the main organizer of the March on Washington. In the 1980s, he became a more outspoken gay rights activist (he was gay himself). He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. His quote reveals the essence of protest and advocacy; it’s in the acts themselves that people become empowered. Even if a protest doesn’t produce the desired results, those advocating for change have still claimed something – their dignity. Read more quotes about dignity.

#11. When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” -John Lewis

John Lewis (1940-2020) was a civil rights activist and politician who led the march on Bloody Sunday. He served 17 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and always worked for justice and encouraged younger generations. This quote is part of a commencement speech given in May 2016 at Washington University. In the speech, Lewis describes his life in the Civil Rights Movement, including the challenges and violence he faced. He encouraged the graduates to not give up and to work for change in America and the world.

#12. “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was a South African anti-apartheid leader and the first Black president of South Africa. Throughout his life, he focused on ending institutionalized racism and encouraging racial reconciliation. He’s one of the world’s most famous social justice icons. In a speech from 2005 given in support of Africa Standing Tall Against Poverty, Nelson Mandela begins by pointing out that he “should not really be here” because he retired from public life. He then follows that sentence with the quote above. It represents what it means to be an advocate. It’s a role that continues as long as it’s needed. For advocates, true rest is challenging.

The post Top 12 Quotes About Advocacy appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

What are the most pressing issues in the world today? What will demand the most attention in the next 5, 10, and 20+ years? In this article, which frequently refers to the World Economic Forum’s 17th Edition of the Global Risks Report, we’ll highlight 20 current global issues we must address, including issues related to climate change, COVID-19, social rights, and more. While it’s hardly a comprehensive discussion, it’s a solid introduction to the kinds of concerns facing our world today.

#1. Poverty

In fall 2022, the World Bank will update the International Poverty Line from $1.90 to $2.15. This means anyone living on less than $2.15 is in “extreme poverty.” Why the change? Increases in the costs of food, clothing, and shelter between 2011-2017 make the “real value of $2.15 in 2017 prices equal to $1.90 in 2011 prices. As for the World Bank’s goal to reduce extreme poverty to 3% or less by 2030, the pandemic has made it even harder. Extreme poverty isn’t the only poverty we have to contend with. 62% of the global population lives on less than $10/day. While there’s been progress over the years, the end of poverty is still far off.

Learn more about tackling poverty with an online course: Poverty & Population: How Demographics Shape Policy (Columbia University)

#2. Climate change

The IPCC released its sixth report in 2022. In its summary for policy-makers, the report’s authors outlined a series of near-term, mid-term, and long-term risks. If global warming reaches 1.5°C in the near term (2021-2040), it would cause “unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards,” as well as “multiple risks to ecosystems and humans.” In the long term, climate change will present major health issues, premature deaths, risks to cities and settlements, and other dangers. Mitigation is desperately needed – and fast. Because of climate change’s connection to other issues on this list, it’s one of the most serious challenges facing humanity.

Learn more about climate change with an online course: Science and Engineering of Climate Change (EDHEC Business School)

#3. Food insecurity

According to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises, which is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, the number of people in crisis or worse is the highest it’s been in the six years since the report has existed. Close to 193 million people were experiencing acute food insecurity in 2021, which is an increase of almost 40 million since 2020. This represents a staggering 80% increase since 2016. Causes include “economic shocks,” like an increase in global food prices. Domestic food price inflation in low-income countries also rose a lot. “Weather-related disasters” are also a big driver. For 15.7 million people in 15 countries, it was the primary driver of acute food insecurity.

Learn more about food insecurity with an online course: Feeding the World (University of Pennsylvania)

#4. Refugee rights

According to UNHCR, the war in Ukraine sparked the fastest-growing refugee crisis since WWII. Almost 6 million (as of May 10, 2022) people have fled. The UNCHR’s Refugee Brief, which compiles the week’s biggest refugee stories, has recently described situations in places like Somalia, where thousands of people were displaced due to severe drought. Between January and mid-April, more than 36,000 refugees from Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso arrived in Niger. These are only a few examples of the refugee crises, which endangers already marginalized groups – like women and children – and puts them at an increased risk of trafficking, violence, and death.

Learn more about refugee rights with an online course: Refugees in the 21st Century (University of London)

#5. COVID-19

The WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2022. It will continue to be a major issue for the world. The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 discusses COVID’s effects at length, including major economic recovery disparities and social erosion. According to a January 2022 article from NPR, there are also issues with vaccinations as many countries continue to have trouble getting doses. Distribution, vaccine hesitancy, healthcare systems, and other problems also factor into low vaccination rates. While we may never know the exact impact, the WHO estimates that between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021, there were around 14.9 million excess deaths linked to COVID-19.

Learn more about the impact of COVID-19 with an online course: Life After COVID-19: Get Ready for our Post-Pandemic Future (Institute for the Future)

#6. Future pandemic preparation and response

COVID-19 taught the world the importance of prepardeness. In a Harvard blog, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, outlined the lessons the world should take to heart. The first: science has to guide policy. The politicization of the pandemic led to a lot of unnecessary damage. Another lesson is that science must pair with equity or it can actually make inequalities worse. This is obvious when looking at how low-income countries struggled to get the vaccines while wealthier countries stocked up. More resilient healthcare systems are also a must, as well as more coherent, global plans on how to respond. The world must also invest in research on contagious diseases, zoonotic diseases, the effectiveness of outbreak responses, and more.

Learn more about future pandemic response with an online course: Pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response (Politecnico di Milano)

#7. Healthcare

The healthcare industry has experienced major shifts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Economic Forum, there’s been new investments and innovations, especially from the technology and telehealth sectors. In 2021, $44 billion was spent on health innovation. The world will be seeing the effects of these innovations for years to come, though equity will no doubt be a major issue. In places like the United States, the pandemic also reaffirmed how broken healthcare systems can be. In an MIT News blog, Andrea Campbell, a professor of political science, says the pandemic revealed a “dire need” for investments in public-health infrastructure, as well as a need to expand healthcare access and insurance coverage.

Learn more about health inequity issues with an online course: Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)

#8. Mental health

Globally, almost 1 billion people have some form of mental disorder. The pandemic made the world’s mental health worse. According to a scientific brief from the WHO, there’s been a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. Causes include social isolation, fear of sickness, grief, and financial anxieties. Health workers were also severely impacted, as well as young women and girls. The brief also highlights how the pandemic disrupted many mental health services, including services for substance abuse. Countries need to ensure access to mental health services as part of their COVID-19 recovery plans and beyond. It’s an economic decision, as well. The Lancet states that anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy around $1 trillion a year.

Learn more about mental health with an online course: The Science of Well-Being (Yale University)

#9. Disability rights

According to the WHO, over 1 billion people have some form of disability. Half can’t afford healthcare. They’re also more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability, have poorer health outcomes, and have less access to work and education opportunities. Human Rights Watch lists other discriminations disabled people face, such as an increased risk of violence. There’s been progress regarding disability rights, but many countries lack strong protections. The world still has a long way to go to ensure equality for those with disabilities.

Learn more about disability rights with an online courses: Disability Awareness and Support (University of Pittsburgh)

#10. LGBTQ+ rights

Members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination in many forms. According to Amnesty International, discrimination can target sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. Even in more progressive countries like the United States, people face violence and discrimination. According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were proposed in 2022. At least a dozen states are considering legislation that forbids schools from discussing or using a curriculum that covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Considering the United States’ influence in the world, this attack on LGBTQ+ rights will likely have consequences that need to be addressed.

Learn more about LGBTQ+ issues with an online courses.

#11. Reproductive justice

Reproductive justice – which encompasses more than just abortion rights – is threatened by legislation, lack of funding, lack of education, and restricted healthcare access. In most places, wealth is a big determinant of whether a person can access reproductive services. It’s better in some places than others, but as we’ve seen with other issues on this list, even “progressive” countries like the United States are experiencing major shifts. In June 2022, the Supreme Court is expected to overrule Roe v. Wade, a milestone court case that protected a pregnant woman’s right to abortion. The impact would be immediate and will likely influence other countries.

Learn more about reproductive justice and women’s rights: International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Stanford University)

#12. Children’s rights

Children are a very vulnerable group. In 2019, around 5.2 million children under five from mostly preventable and treatable causes. 2.4 million were newborns under 28 days old. Leading causes include preterm birth complications, pneumonia, and malaria. According to UNICEF, the climate crisis also represents a severe threat to kids. Around 1 billion kids live in “extremely high-risk countries” that are hit by the worst effects of climate change. 920 kids have trouble accessing clean water and 600 million are exposed to vector-borne diseases like malaria. Child labor also remains an issue. At the beginning of 2020, around 160 million were forced into labor while COVID-19 put 9 million more kids at risk. That’s almost 1 in 10 children globally. Almost half are in dangerous environments. As is often the case, the other issues on this list – climate change, poverty, COVID, gender equality, etc – factor into children’s rights.

Learn more about children’s rights: Children’s Human Rights – An Interdisciplinary Introduction (University of Geneva)

#13. Gender equality

Global gender equality has gradually improved over the years, but data from the 2021 Global Gender Report shows that the end of the global gender gap is still 135 years away. The pandemic played a huge role in reversing positive trends as women were hit harder financially. According to Oxfam, women experienced a 5% job loss while men experienced 3.9%. That means women lost about $800 million in 2020. This is a low estimate since it doesn’t count the informal economy, which includes millions of women. Women are also more likely to live in poverty, more affected by gender-based violence, and more affected by climate change.

Learn more about gender equality: Gender Analytics: Gender Equity through Inclusive Design (University of Toronto)

#14. Cybersecurity

The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022 (page 9) listed cybersecurity vulnerabilities as a concern. The reason is rapid digitalization, which was triggered in part by COVID-19. Many “advanced economies” are now at a higher risk for cyberattacks. GRPS respondents identified cybersecurity failure as a critical short-term risk. In 2020, malware and ransomware attacks went up by 358% and 435%. There are a few reasons for this, including better (and easier) attack methods and poor governance. Cyberattacks have a swath of serious consequences and erode public trust. As countries become more dependent on digitalization, their cybersecurity needs to keep up.

Learn more about cybersecurity: IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate (IBM)

#15. Disinformation

Rapid digitalization comes with many issues, including the lightning-fast spread of disinformation. The WEF report describes deepfakes, an accessible AI technology, and its potential to sway elections and other political outcomes. Disinformation doesn’t need to be sophisticated to be successful, however. Through social media posts and videos, twelve anti-vax activists were responsible for almost ⅔ of all anti-vaccine content on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Their content flooded the internet with the type of harmful, fear-mongering disinformation that played a significant role in vaccine hesitancy and political radicalization. Because disinformation travels faster online than the truth, it’s a global issue that should be addressed.

Learn more about tackling disinformation: Communicating Trustworthy Information in the Digital World (University of Rotterdam)

#16. Freedom of the press

According to the Varieties of Democracy Institute (as reported in The Economist), about 85% of people live in a country where press freedom has gone down in the past 5 years. After peaking at .65 in the early 2000s and 2011, the global average dropped to .49 in 2021. Major countries like China, India, Russia, Brazil, and Turkey saw significant declines. Journalists and news organizations face threats like violence, imprisonment, lack of funding, and coordinated online attacks and harassment. A free press is essential to a functioning democracy. Without press freedom, all human rights are at risk.

Learn more about freedom of expression: Human Rights for Open Societies (Utrecht University)

#17. Debt crises

In the WEF Global Risks Report (page 7), respondents named debt crises as one of the most pressing issues over the next decade, though respondents believe they will become most serious in just 3-5 years. COVID-19 is a big reason why. Government stimulus was necessary, but many countries are now left with debt burdens. For corporate and public finances in large economies, debt burdens can lead to defaults, bankruptcies, insolvency, and more. This is a far-reaching issue as it affects budgets for areas like healthcare and green energy.

Learn more about the debt: Finance for everyone – Debt (McMaster University)

#18. Corruption

Corruption encompasses a host of actions such as bribery, election manipulation, fraud, and state capture. The World Bank Group names corruption as a barrier to ending extreme poverty and “boosting shared prosperity” for the poorest populations. When it comes to addressing poverty, climate change, healthcare, gender equality, and more, corruption gets in the way. Because corruption is a global problem, global solutions are necessary. Reform, better accountability systems, and open processes will all help.

Learn more about tackling corruption: What is Corruption: Anti-Corruption and Compliance (University of Pennsylvania)

#19. Authoritarianism

According to Freedom House, global democracy is eroding. That includes countries with long-established democracies. In their 2022 report, the organization reveals that global freedom has been declining for the past 16 years. 60 countries faced declines in the last year. Only 25 saw improvements. Only 20% of the global population lives in Free countries. China, Russia, and other authoritarian countries have gained more power in the international system, while countries with established democracies – like the United States – are losing their freedoms. What can be done? Freedom House says success “requires a bold, sustained response that establishes support for democracy and countering authoritarianism.” Governments and citizens engage and stand for democracy.

Learn more about tackling authoritarianism: Citizenship and the Rule of Law (University of London)

#20. Global cooperation

Addressing the issues in this article is not an easy task. True progress is only possible through global cooperation, a fact which is woven through the WEF report. Everything from addressing cybersecurity threats to humanitarian emergencies to protecting democracy depends on strong cooperation between countries. As the report says in its preface: “Restoring trust and fostering cooperation within and between countries will be crucial to addressing these challenges and preventing the world from drifting further apart.” The challenges threatening global cooperation are just as clear as the need, however, which makes it one of the most serious issues of the day.

Learn more about global cooperation: Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World

The post Top 20 Current Global Issues We Must Address appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Although Japan is a liberal democracy and hosts one of the largest economies in the world, many human rights challenges still need to be resolved. Here are ten of the biggest human rights challenges in Japan that should urgently be addressed.

#1. LGBTQ Rights

Although the Tokyo Metropolitan Government adopted a major ordinance that protects sexual minorities from discrimination, the national Japanese government has yet to implement an anti-discrimination bill that protects LGBTQ communities and people. While several prefectural governments have passed laws recognizing same-sex relationships with certificates, these documents are unofficial and not legally binding, highlighting the structural barriers LGBTQ individuals face in Japanese society.

#2. Discrimination against Zainichi Koreans

Zainichi Koreans are ethnic Koreans who permanently live in Japan without holding Japanese citizenship and hold roots from the Japanese occupation of Korea in World War Two. This marginalized group in Japanese society are often heavily discriminated in local communities, schools and the workplace and are often urged to hide their Korean identity to avoid such discrimination. In fact, Japanese firms continue to utilize discriminatory hiring practices against Zainichi Koreans, evident by the ethnic minitoriy’s unemployment levels more than double of the average Japanese national, underscoring the systemic racism that plagues Japanese society.

#3. North Korean abduction of Japanese Citizens

Between the 1970s and 1980s, several Japanese citizens were abducted by the North Korean government, and although only 17 Japanese citizens have been officially recognized as have been abducted, there are continuing speculations that there are hundreds of more Japanese citizens who were abducted by the regime. While Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claimed he wanted to discuss the issue with the North Korean government further, he resigned in 2021 before he could partake in discussions with Kim Jong-Un. Current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has yet commented on the abduction controversy.

#4. Buraku Discrimination/Dowa Issue

Buraku discrimination is a unique human rights issue to Japan that stems from discrimination against the descendants of Japanese social outcasts in the feudal era. As social status was a hereditary trait in the Tokugawa era, these social outcasts were heavily discriminated against and subjected to severe restrictions in all aspects of their lives, including where they lived, their jobs and marriages. These social outcasts were forced to live in “Dowa Districts” and discrimination against them and their descendants are known as Buraku Discrimination.

Although the feudal caste system was abolished in 1871, this has not stopped social discrimination against Burakimin (people with Buraku ancestral roots) – Burakumin in more rural areas of Japan continue to live in sub-par living conditions, lower economic status and educational standing. Furthermore, Buraku discrimination often manifests itself in marriage discrimination and employment practices and many older generation Japanese citizens associate Burakumin with criminality and low social standing.

#5. Death Penalty

Concerns about the death penalty in Japan has long been raised as prison inmates have attested as to having insufficient access to legal resources and given no warning at all before their death sentences. Families of death row inmates are only notified about the execution only after it has taken place and the entire process is shrouded in secrecy.

#6. Migrant Worker Rights

The Japanese government’s infamous “Foreign Technical Intern Training Program” has drawn great criticism for its human rights violations, as foreign workers, typically from Southeast Asia, are bound to their sponsoring employers with no option of changing jobs. These trainees have faced illegal overtime, sub-minimum wages and worked in dangerous working conditions and over 170 technical interns have died between 2012 and 2017.

#7. Children’s Education Rights

Approximately 16% of foreign children living in Japan are not attending school and the prevalence of children out of school contravenes Article 26 of the Japanese constitution which states that “all people shall be obligated to have all children receive ordinary education”. This also violates Japan’s commitment under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and underscores the structural issues that prevent foreign children from obtaining an education.

#8. Criminal Justice

Japan’s criminal justice system has long been criticized for violating the human rights of criminal suspects. Criminal suspects in Japan are held in captivity for long periods of time to coerce a confession under sub-par conditions and Japanese criminal procedure laws prohibit lawyers from being present during criminal interrogations.

#9. Recognition of Indigenous Ainu Peoples

The Ainu people are the traditional custodians of the Hokkaido region in Japan and were forced to assimilate into Japanese culture throughout the 20^th century. Descendants of the Ainu people are disproportionately more likely to live in poverty compared to their Japanese counterparts and continue to face social discrimination in Japanese society due to their misperceptions and hindrance on the welfare systems of the country.

#10. Women’s Rights

Women in Japan face structural barriers that prevent them from taking an active role in society. Women are often subjugated in the workplace through sexual harassment and many employers automatically assume that female workers will take time off from the workforce after giving birth, making it harder for women to get career promotions. Furthermore, women also face domestic violence from their spouses and are victims of stalking incidents, which have sometimes led to assault and murder.

The post 10 Biggest Human Rights Challenges in Japan appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Democracy is a system of government where everyone gets a say. That may be done directly or through elected representatives. Unlike other systems such as monarchies or theocracies, democracy is based on principles like equality, participation, and fundamental rights. To form a basic understanding of what democracy means, we’ll cover the history of democracy, its features, the two main types, and its challenges.

A brief history of democracy

There’s some evidence suggesting prehistoric hunter-gatherers. followed certain elements of democratic processes. In 1943, Thorkild Jacobsen examined Sumerian myths and scraps of records, suggesting that pre-Babylonian Meosoptomia may have practiced something like a democracy where male citizens held most of the power. Many other historians won’t call this system “democracy,” however, because of a lack of clear evidence and how different it most likely was from modern democracy. In the 6th-4th centuries BCE, India may have established somewhat democratic systems, though again, hard evidence is lacking. Most experts agree that Greece is the birthplace of democracy.

Athenian democracy

In 507 BCE, Athenian leader Cleisthenes introduced the “demokratia,” which means “rule by the people.” Democracy in Athens, a city-state, had three parts: the ekklesia, the boule, and the diskasteria. The ekklesia was a sovereign governing body in charge of writing laws and foreign policy. The boule was a council of representatives from the 10 Athenian tribes. The dikasteria was a system of courts where citizens could bring cases and present them to a group of lottery-selected jurors. Democracy in Greece peaked under Pericles, a famous orator and politician.

While Cleisthenes wanted to remove distinctions between the aristocrats, the middle class, and the working class (mostly the army and navy), the “people” in Greece’s democracy still excluded the majority of Athenian society. Women, foreigners, and slaves couldn’t participate. According to History.com, that meant that of the 100,000 citizens, 10,000 resident foreigners, and 150,000 slaves in the mid-4th century, only 40,000 people (male citizens older than 18) could actually participate in democracy.

The Iroquois Confederacy

The Iroquois Confederacy is considered the oldest living participatory democracy in the world. Sometime between 1450 and 1660, it was created after years of conflict between five northeast woodlands tribes – the Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga nations. Hiawatha, chief of the Onondaga tribe, and Deganawida, The Great Peacemaker, are credited with establishing the democratic system. Each tribe agreed to maintain its own leadership and come together in the Grand Council of Chiefs to decide on common causes. The Tuscarora joined in the 1700s, which is why the Iroquois Confederacy is also known as the Six Nations. The group called themselves the Haudenosaunee, or “peoples of the longhouse.”

The Great Law of Peace, an oral constitution, guided the Iroquois Confederacy. It was also recorded through wampum symbols and later translated into various accounts. It established separation of powers, participatory democracy, restrictions on holding dual offices, and processes on how to remove leaders. The Iroquois Confederacy inspired the Founding Fathers and the democratic system they established, though there were some major differences, such as the status of women. The women of the Haudenosaunee had significant social and political power, which the Founding Fathers did not replicate. According to WeForum, the United States is the only country with a continuous democracy older than 200 years.

Principles of democracy

What features need to be present in a functioning democracy? Britannica lists six principles of an “ideal” democracy while Liberties lists 14 principles. We won’t list every single one, but here’s a summary:

Fundamental rights

Democracy is based on the idea that people possess certain rights that can’t be taken away. They have a right to vote, to have that vote counted equally, to participate equally, and to get the information they need to participate in an informed manner. The principle of fundamental rights is essential because without rights, democracy isn’t really democracy.

Equal voting

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights of democracy. Without this right, people don’t have the opportunity to participate in political processes or have a say in what happens in their country. Equal voting means people don’t only have the right to vote, but they have the right for their vote to be counted equally. A person’s vote does not get more or less power based on anything, whether it’s their class, ethnicity, gender, or other traits.

Equal participation

Voting is closely linked to equal participation, but it doesn’t end there. Equal participation also means people either have a direct say in policies and laws or they have the right to choose who represents them. People also have the right to participate equally in town halls, protests, public debates, and so on.

Informed electorate

Before making any decision – whether it’s choosing a political leader or a specific policy – the voting population has the right to any information relevant to their decision. That can include where a politician is getting their money, their voting records, how a policy might affect the future, where money for the policy will come from, what the alternative options are, and so on. Accurate, clear information empowers voters and is key to a functioning democracy.

Accountability

What happens when those in power abuse that power or fail to keep their promises? A functioning democracy needs mechanisms that hold leaders accountable. That can include punishments for corruption, recall elections, fines, and more. Free and fair elections are also part of accountability; if voters no longer like a politician for any reason, they can vote them out. For serious violations, there should ideally be more immediate consequences.

Types of democracies

As a “rule by the people,” democracy is a fairly broad term. There are several forms of democracy which are described in an article on ThoughtCo by Robert Longley, though for our purposes, we’ll highlight the two main types:

Direct democracy

Direct democracy (also called ‘pure” democracy) is when the people directly decide on all policies and laws. Ancient Athens used this type of democracy, though their definition of people was, as we described before, limited. Of those considered people (men over a certain age), they were required to vote on every major government issue. Direct democracy has some advantages. It is a true “rule by the people” and ensures government transparency and accountability. When everyone has to vote on everything, it’s much harder to hide anything. On the other hand, it would be extremely difficult to decide on anything. It could also encourage tension and lead to what the Founding Fathers called “tyranny of the majority.” Those in the minority – which could include the most marginalized groups – would lose their power.

Representative democracy

Representative democracy is the opposite of direct democracy. Instead of directly voting on laws, people elect others to represent them. Almost 60% of the world uses some kind of representative democracy. Within representative democracy, there are different types such as democratic republics and constitutional monarchies. There are some common features, including a constitution that defines the powers of elected representatives. Representatives may also get the right to select other leaders, not just laws. The big advantage of this type of democracy is how efficient it can be. Rather than have thousands of people voting on everything, people select others to represent their interests. If representatives don’t represent voters well, voters can choose someone else. On the other hand, politicians frequently mislead voters or become corrupted. With enough money and powerful backers, even representatives who fail their constituents can keep getting elected over and over again. Representative democracies can also fail to live up to their promises of efficiency and become bogged down with complicated processes.

Challenges facing democracy today

According to Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World 2022” report, democracy is eroding everywhere around the globe. In the report’s words, “The global order is nearing a tipping point…” The authors point to many reasons, including the promotion of autocratic norms, coups, and power grabs. Within established democracies, which are also losing their freedoms, there’s been election perversions, discrimination against migrants, attacks on media freedom, and a weakening rule of law. DemocracyCo, an organization focusing on government reform, names issues like disillusionment, rising inequality, and distrust as challenges to democracy.

In the report, Freedom House names specific countries that saw important developments in 2021. In Russia, President Putin eliminated competition in the parliamentary elections by cracking down on civil organizations and political opponents. In Slovenia, the prime minister grew more hostile toward civil society groups and the media while in Sudan, a military coup blocked a transition to democratic elections. There were positive developments in some areas, like Zambia. Voters elected Hichilema, an opposition leader, in a victory that resisted political violence and other restrictions.

How to protect democracy

What can be done to save democracy? Freedom House lists a handful of policy recommendations, including protecting democracy at the local level, increasing civic education, protecting free and fair elections, and fighting international corruption. Established democracies must commit to democratic norms like supporting and protecting free media and grassroots democratic organizations internationally. Education about democracy through school, online courses, masters and other means is crucial. The private sector must be involved as well by sticking to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and dialoguing with civil society organizations. Democracy means freedom and equality for all. It’s only as strong as society’s willingness to participate and protect it. It takes all hands on deck – individuals, civil society organizations, businesses, governments, and intergovernmental organizations – to keep democracy healthy.

The post What Does Democracy Mean? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

What is social justice? It’s a concept of fairness regarding the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. While human rights focus on providing everyone with the basic rights and freedoms outlined in documents like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, social justice is concerned with fairness, access, equity, and equality. Human rights and social justice are closely aligned, but not interchangeable. This guide describes ten social justice courses available online from the Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn learning platforms.

The courses below cover subjects such as feminism and social justice, social work, data science for social justice, art and music, and Black performance as social protest. As is the case with most online learning platforms, you can audit most of the courses for free. If you want to access all the materials (including graded assignments) and receive a certification, you will usually need to pay a course fee. Most courses offer financial aid opportunities. Coursera and FutureLearn also offer plans where you can subscribe and access most of the courses and certificates on their websites without an additional fee. If you want to take multiple courses on a single platform, these subscription plans are worth considering.

#1. Feminism and Social Justice (University of California Santa Cruz)
#2. Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (University of Michigan)
#3. Love as a Force for Social Justice (Stanford University)
#4. Community Organizing for Social Justice (University of Michigan)
#5. Writing for Social Justice (BerkeleyX)
#6. Data Science for Social Justice (DavidsonX)
#7. Visualizing Women’s Work: Using Art Media For Social Justice (University of Michigan)
#8. Community Awareness: What Is A Socially Just University (University of Michigan)
#9. Black Performance as Social Protest (University of Michigan)
#10. Music and Social Action (Yale University)

#1. Feminism and Social Justice (University of California Santa Cruz)

An adaptation of Distinguished Professor Bettina Aptheker’s course at UC Santa Cruz, this online MOOC defines and explores feminism through the lens of three significant events in the history of feminism and social justice. The course covers the Empire Zinc strike of 1951, the 1971-1972 trial of Angela Davis, and the #metoo movement. Bettina Aptheke leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand Professor Aptheke’s working definition of “feminism”
• Learn about the causes, conditions, and outcomes of the Empire Zinc strike
• Learn about the trial of Angela Davis
• Explore the causes and outcomes of the #metoo movement, as well as recent changes that came from the movement

How you will learn

“Feminism and Social Justice” is divided into four weeks. It takes about eight hours total to complete. Coursework includes readings, videos, discussion prompts and forums, and graded quizzes. The quizzes, which are each worth 25% of your grade, are available to view through the audit track. To pass each quiz, you must score an 80% or higher. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change (University of Michigan)

This course explores the role of social workers, including the history of social work, its roles in different settings, the themes that guide social work practice, and current challenges facing the profession. Students will gain a thorough understanding of social work in the United States and its connection to social justice. The course can be taken on its own or as part of the “Social Work: Practice, Policy, and Research MasterTrack Certificate Program.” Barbara Hilz (Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work and MSW Program Director) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the scope of social work and the skills and roles of social workers
• Apply core frameworks and change efforts to a case situation
• Explore the history of social work
• Learn how to center justice in social work through the Privilege, Oppression, Social Justice, and Diversity framework

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and takes 12 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, practice quizzes, and four graded module quizzes. They are each worth 25% of your grade. To pass, you must score 70% or higher. To receive a grade, you must be on the paid course track. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#3. Love as a Force for Social Justice (Stanford University)

This course explores “agape love,” a concept of compassion and kindness, as a force for social justice. Using the expertise of people from many disciplines, students will learn the biological, religious, psychological, and social perspectives of love. By the course’s end, students will have a deeper understanding of love as the key to creating community, connection, and functional societies. Anne Firth Murray teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand different types of love
• Explore love and the brain, including the neuroscience of empathy
• Discuss love within different religions and ethical systems of thought
• Explore love in action in one-on-one interactions, in businesses, and in NGOs
• Understand love within a social justice context

How you will learn

The course is divided into six weeks and takes about 28 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion forums, and graded assignments. Assignments are peer-reviewed, so you must review three of your peers’ assignments. It appears that the assignments (there are twelve) are available even on the audit track. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.7/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#4. Community Organizing for Social Justice (University of Michigan)

In this course, students will study strategies for community organizing for social justice in a diverse, democratic society. Topics include the core concepts of social justice, practical steps for community-building, and how to develop action plans. The course is based on those working for community change in the metropolitan Detroit area, but it’s useful for anyone no matter where they live. Professor of Social Work Barry Checkoway teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define social justice, community, organizing, and leaders
• Explore stereotypes, discrimination, and social identity
• Develop better communication skills and how to navigate tough conversations
• Learn the seven steps to creating change
• Understand the different elements of strategy for community organizing

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into six weeks and takes about eight hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, and graded assignments. These are six reflections asking about your comprehension of that week’s topic. When you audit, you can see the reflections, but you can’t submit for a grade. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#5. Writing For Social Justice (BerkeleyX)

This edX course teaches students about how writing can change the world, whether it’s on a personal, local, national, or global subject. Students will learn the importance of words in different genres, such as personal journals, letters to public officials, and opinion articles. By the course’s end, students will have a firm grasp on the power of writing for social justice and the skills necessary for a variety of genres. Maggie Sokolik (Director, College Writing Programs) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define social justice
• Learn how to develop powerful vocabulary and strong sentences
• Understand how to use logic to persuade readers
• Learn to craft persuasive and powerful opinion essays
• Explore writing formats and how to get published

How you will learn

When the course is in session and you’re taking the certificate track, you have access to all materials including graded assignments. It takes four weeks with 4-5 hours of work per week. On the audit track, your access expires after about a month. Coursework includes videos, readings, ungraded quizzes, and discussion forums. There are three homework assignments and one final writing assignment. To pass, you need to score 50% or higher as an average of all assignments. You only receive a grade you’re paying for a verified certificate. When the course is not in session, it’s archived and no longer active, though you can see the materials and old discussion forums.

REGISTER HERE

#6. Data Science for Social Justice (DavidsonX)

This intermediate course teaches students how to analyze injustice and structural inequality by applying methods in R. R is a tool and environment for statistical analysis and is used to handle, store, and analyze data. Based on a student’s current R skills, you’ll learn how to use data for social change, see how inequities are embedded in education, health, and housing, and analyze and communicate data using well-designed visualizations like histograms, bar graphs, and boxplots. Laurie Heyer (Kimbrough Professor of Mathematics | Chair of Genomics) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Apply data science to analyze injustice and structural inequality
• Reflect on inequities across communities and regions using data
• Communicate with data with unbiased and well-designed visualizations
• Explore the role of data scientists in social justice

How you will learn

At the time of writing, we couldn’t access the course details. With 3-5 hours of work per week, the course takes about four weeks. Because it’s an intermediate course, students will need to access R and Rstudio, install tidyverse, load data from Excel spreadsheet or .cvs, use R Markdown files, work with projects in R, and recognize categorical/non-categorical variables. Access to any graded materials is limited on the audit track. Access to the course also expires after a certain time with the audit track.

REGISTER HERE

#7. Visualizing Women’s Work: Using Art Media For Social Justice (University of Michigan)

This FutureLearn course teaches students how to view art history through the lens of gender and learn about the historical erasure of women’s work through social justice art. Students will gain a foundation in visual literacy and interpretation, as well as an understanding of how to identify and interpret art-based social justice projects. Melanie Manos, a world-renowned visual and performance artist, leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the basics of visual literacy and different art forms
• Explore the connection between art and social justice
• Identify the history and patterns of gender bias in public art
• Develop strategies for responding to gender bias in public art/memorials and other social justice issues

How you will learn

This course takes four weeks with about three hours of work per week. It’s self-paced though with the audit track, you lose access to the course after four weeks. Coursework includes videos, readings, exercises, and discussions. There don’t appear to be any graded assignments.

REGISTER HERE

#8. Community Awareness: What Is A Socially Just University (University of Michigan)

In this Coursera course, students learn about higher education and how institutions can become more socially just for all groups, especially low-income and historically-underrepresented populations. Students will hear from institutional leaders, professors, and students on topics such as a university’s role in social justice, universities’ contributions to inequality and injustice, and what changes need to be made in higher education. Barry Checkoway (Professor of Social Work), Dilip Das (Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs), and Rachel Neimer (Instructor) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Discuss what a university is and who the institution is for
• Explore the purpose of higher education
• Examine learning and teaching in light of a changing university population
• Learn about the role of faculty members and administration

How you will learn

This course is divided into eight weeks and takes about six hours to complete. There is no paid track (or certificate of completion), so full access is available to everyone. Coursework includes readings, videos, and discussion prompts and forums. There are no graded assignments.

REGISTER HERE

#9. Black Performance as Social Protest (University of Michigan)

In this course, students explore the history of social protest through Black performance, which has been a model for protest around the world. Students will read, watch, and listen to performances throughout American history, learn about patterns of resistance, and produce a reflective manifesto for racial equity through performance. Three professors from the school of Music, Theatre, and Dance (who also have lived experiences as Black performers) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Describe histories of plantation performance
• Understand the geographies and motivations for the Great Migrations between 1917-1935
• Explore performance from the Civil Rights Era and Black Lives Matter movement
• Create a personal manifesto and share it with the class

How you will learn

The course takes five weeks with three hours of work per week. If you’re on the audit track, your access is limited to five weeks. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion forums, and exercises. There are two tools in this course: the Gallery tool and the Workbook tool. The Gallery is a public space where students post their Mixtape and manifesto and receive comments. The Workbook tool is a private space for journaling, reflecting, and drafting. Students can export a PDF version of their Workbook content.

REGISTER HERE

#10. Music and Social Action (Yale University)

How should musicians respond to the state of the world? What are their responsibilities and where are the opportunities for them to participate in social action? This course creates space for these questions and many others. Students will explore the figure of the classical musician as a public figure with an important societal role that can fuel positive change and democracy. Sebastian Ruth (Visiting Lecturer in Community Engagement) leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Discuss what art is and how it contributes to public life
• Explore the connection between art and democracy
• Learn about the social commitment of artists from the 20th and 21st centuries
• Reflect on the role of art, artists, and social action

How you will learn

The course is divided into nine weeks and takes about 26 hours to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion prompts, and graded assignments, which include quizzes and peer-reviewed assignments. To pass the quizzes, you must score a 70% or higher. It doesn’t appear that the assignments are locked behind the paid track. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.7/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

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In the financial world, “equity” can refer to ownership of assets that may have debts (or other liabilities) attached to them. It’s often discussed in the context of real estate. “Social equity,” however, applies to social justice. It’s about providing resources and opportunities to people based on factors like need and access. In this article, we’ll form a more comprehensive definition of social equity and why it matters.

The difference between “equality” and “equity”

“Equality” and “equity” are often discussed in the same breath, but their differences should be defined. Equality is equal treatment, access, opportunity, and distribution of resources and services. No one receives more or less. This protects people against direct discrimination, but a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works out well in the real world. Not everyone has the same life circumstances or needs. Treating everyone “equally” – when they’re not equal in access, opportunity, or needs – fails to achieve real change.

Unlike equality, equity does consider peoples’ unique circumstances. In its description of social equity, the American community development organization Urban Strategies, Inc (USI), emphasizes equity’s flexibility. Rather than simply not discriminating (which is the basic promise of equality), equity recognizes structural oppression and is accommodating based on peoples’ experiences. As USI explains, “the place where race, gender, income, sexual orientation, religion, ability, etc intersect (this is called intersectionality) needs to be understood on an individual basis to truly provide the flexibility that equity needs to uphold.”

Do outcomes matter?

Generally, the equity process focuses more on resources, access, and opportunities because a positive outcome does not necessarily mean a lack of barriers. People often succeed in society despite barriers, but their success doesn’t mean those barriers don’t exist. As an example, electing a female president does not mean sexism isn’t real. At the same time, it’s inaccurate to believe outcomes don’t matter at all. Societal systems (governments, corporations, individuals, etc.) often dismiss unfair outcomes by claiming “everyone” has enough resources, access, and opportunity, so if someone doesn’t thrive, it’s their own fault. “We did our part,” a government might say. “The outcomes are out of our hands.” Did everyone truly have resources, access, and opportunity, though? Outcomes matter because if allegedly “equitable” systems and policies are not producing mostly-fair results, it’s a sign those systems and policies need closer examination.

What makes equity challenging?

A few factors play into society’s acceptance of social equity. The first comes down to the perceived need for equity. Let’s consider the United States and equal rights. According to a Pew Research survey with over 10,000 participants, 34% of adults believe “a little more” could be done to ensure equal rights for all Americans, while 50% believe “a lot more” needs to be done. Of that 50%, 25% believe systems are fundamentally biased against some racial/ethnic groups and need to be rebuilt. Around the same number believe change is possible within existing systems. While this survey paints a picture of a country that mostly believes in social equity, it’s sharply divided by political ideology. Only 2 in 10 Republicans said “a lot more” needs to be done to ensure equal rights. This division makes it very challenging to enact far-reaching, long-term policies.

Social equity is also challenging because simply believing it’s necessary isn’t the end of the journey. When high percentages of Americans say they believe “a lot more” should be done to ensure equal rights, what do they mean? What policies should be established? How is success measured? According to Professor Bernadette McSherry (Emeritus Professor at the University of Melbourne and former Foundation Director of the Melbourne Social Equity Institute), social equity is hard to define because it’s based on “moral values or considerations.” These are not the same for everyone. “Fairness” is a highly subjective concept. People can agree that social equity is necessary, but when it’s time to discuss real solutions, things get complicated quickly.

Where does social equity apply?

Social equity is a process that applies to every area of society. In many places (like the United States), racism is often the focus of conversations about social equity, but people face systemic barriers based on their gender, sexuality, disability, migrant status, religion, and more. Barriers increase when people have overlapping experiences and identities. As an example, the systems in the United States put up more barriers for gay Black women than for gay White men. Here are some of the areas where equity applies:

Education

Social equity can have a big impact on education, which is a human right with reverberating impacts through a person’s entire life and the generations after them. A person’s geographic location, race, gender, family income, disabilities, and more affect the educational resources and opportunities they receive. Systems also need to keep a close eye on digital education and how it can end up making inequalities worse. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization, equity policies should focus on addressing inequalities, increasing opportunities for girls, investing in education and digital skills, and encouraging life-long learning habits.

Disability rights

According to the WHO, 15% of the world’s population has a disability. This includes both visible and “invisible” disabilities. As Daphne Frais, an activist and organizer says, “Disabled people live at the intersection of all systems of oppression and social justice issues. There isn’t one issue or one intersection where you will not find disabled individuals advocating for or experiencing the effects of those issues.” We can see this reflected in data from the National Disability Institute. In the 2019 report “Financial Inequality: Disability, Race and Poverty in America,” the poverty rate for adults with disabilities is 27%, while the rate for adults without a disability is 12%. After adjusting for education level, disabled Black Americans are more likely to be in poverty than other disability groups. While adults with disabilities are more likely to have health insurance, they’re also more than twice as likely to have trouble paying medical bills. Given this information, it’s clear that social equity is needed to protect the rights of disabled people.

Housing

Shelter is a human right, but social injustice and inequity create housing inequality on a massive scale. Some of the root causes of housing issues (such as homelessness) include low wages, unemployment, racial discrimination, and medical debt, which is the cause for ⅔ of people who file for bankruptcy in the United States. Beyond safety, access to housing – specifically home ownership – determines a person’s ability to build wealth. According to a 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances, the median homeowner had 40 times the household wealth of a renter. As a blog from First American (an insurance company) acknowledges, there is risk with homeownership, but it is one of the biggest drivers of wealth-building, especially for those with lower incomes. If systemic barriers restrict people from homeownership, their wealth is deeply affected.

Health and healthcare

Many public health entities prioritize equity. The WHO defines it as “the absence of avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically.” Health equity is when “everyone can attain their full potential for health and well-being.” What does “full potential” mean? It doesn’t mean perfect health. Equity is not striving for universal freedom from all disease and healthcare issues because that’s impossible. Health is a unique area because unlike in, say, housing, there are biological factors that affect an individual’s health and health risks.

In healthcare, equity is about giving everyone access and opportunities to be as healthy as they can and want to be. Outcomes are a piece of it, but often, opportunities and access to resources/services don’t guarantee a specific outcome. The fact that they received equitable opportunities/access is most important. Without equity, society is burdened with an unequal and unfair distribution of disease, high maternal and infant mortality rates, lower life expectancies, and poor mental health.

Food security

Globally, food security presents one of the biggest social equity challenges. According to a special report from the IPCC, the current food system (which includes production, processing, consumption, etc) feeds most of the world’s population and supports the livelihoods of 1 billion people. Climate change is already negatively affecting food security and will only get worse. As food prices increase, low-income populations will be most affected. Climate change also presents greater risks of food insecurity based on ethnicity, wealth, class, age, and gender. Food insecurity is also an issue because of its effect on other rights, such as the right to health, education, and housing. According to Barron Segar, president and CEO of World Food Program USA, social equity policies could look like empowering women (who are more likely to report food insecurity), empowering Indigenous people who have crucial knowledge about plant and crop biodiversity, and establishing farmer organizations.

Why does social equity matter?

If we want to live in a world where everyone has the opportunities and resources they need to thrive, where no one is discriminated against, and where everyone’s rights are protected, we need social equity. We won’t achieve that world by treating everyone the same because not everyone is the same. Trying to achieve equality through equality may seem like it would work, but it ignores both historical and existing oppression. Social equity is a flexible, needs-based process that recognizes inequalities and works toward fairness in every area of society including education, housing, healthcare, and more.

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Asian states have ratified a variety of international human rights conventions. Nevertheless, human rights abuses and violations are common. People and refugees are facing arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearance. Beside learning about human rights from world-class lecturers, studying with a regional focus comes with many unique perks and invaluable experiences. Here are 6 human rights law schools in Asia for you to consider:

University of Hong Kong – Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong

Master of Laws (LL.M) in Human Rights Programme

The University of Hong Kong established its Master of Laws in Human Rights Programme in 1999 in order to focus on international human rights issues, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. As an interdisciplinary programme, students are required to draw upon other disciplines such as history, politics, philosophy and sociology to ensure human rights law is understood in context. By the end of the programme, students will have learned to understand the international human rights legal framework, reflect on human rights challenges from global, regional and domestic perspectives and apply their knowledge to advocate for real change. Teachers include renowned experts in the field from around the world including eminent scholars, judges, United Nations (UN) human rights mandate holders, and heads of non-governmental organisations.

Soochow University – Taipei, Taiwan

Master Degree in Human Rights Program

As the only human rights master degree offered in Taiwan, the Master Degree in Human Rights Program aims to deepen the education and research of international human rights and train students to apply their knowledge to the real world. Students are required to complete 24 credits of coursework focusing on “human rights philosophy topics”, “special topics and research on history of human rights thinking” and “special topics on international human rights law”, alongside a thesis and internship in the field of human rights. To complement the human rights education, Soochow University hosts several seminars and human rights weeks every year to exchange information with international scholars.

Mahidol University – Phutthamonthon, Thailand

Asia Pacific Master of Arts in Human Rights and Democratisation (APMA)

The Asia Pacific Master of Arts in Human Rights and Democratisation (APMA) is a 12-month interdisciplinary graduate program jointly offered by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University (Thailand), Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), University of Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia). The program is designed for students who seek a deeper understanding of regional and global human rights issues and the promotion of democracy, peace and development in the Asia Pacific.

By the end of the program, students will have excellent knowledge of theory and practice of the promotion and protection of human rights and democratization, the ability to undertake independent scholarly research on human rights and democratization issues in the Asia Pacific and apply their knowledge of human rights in real situations.

Students will study at Mahidol University for their first and second semesters and will later proceed to study at their chosen partner university (Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law in Nepal, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, or Universitas Gadjah Madah in Indonesia) where they take their remaining classes.

Paññasastra University of Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Master’s Programmes in International Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law and Public Affairs

The Master’s Programmes in International Human Rights Law is offered by the Faculty of Law and Public Affairs at Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC-FLPA). Offered in English, it is an international level programme that draws on the academic and practitioner strengths of the Faculty as well as the extensive number of human rights experts associated with Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC). Since 2014, the Master’s Programmes
in International Human Rights Law is offered with support from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI), an independent academic institution affiliated with Lund University in Sweden.

By the end of the program, students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of international and regional human rights, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region, hold high level competency in research, writing, critical thinking and analysis, advocacy, legal reasoning and problem-solving and utilize their knowledge and competency to help promote and protect human rights.

University of Jember – Jember, Indonesia

Master Program in Human Rights (MA/LLM)

The Master Program in Human Rights (MA/LLM) is a program offered by the University of Jember’s Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration and aims to promote the research of human rights. To advance the advocacy and research of human rights, the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration conducts annual conferences, inviting world-renowned professors, practitioners and policymakers and publish scholarly articles in the Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights.

Hitotsubashi University – Tokyo, Japan

Democracy and Human Rights Program, Institute for Global Governance Research

The Institute for Global Governance Research of Hitotsubashi University offers its graduate democracy and human rights program, which aims to promote a deeper understanding of the current state of the liberal international order through research on the global situation of democratic and human rights norms and institutions. The program trains students to craft policy proposals that contribute to the maintenance of the liberal international order and research and defend liberal values.

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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – Tokyo, Japan

JICA is a governmental agency that delivers the majority of official development assistance for the Japanese government and aims to bolster socio-economic growth in developing nations and promote international cooperation. JICA offers a specialized application process for new graduates with no prior experience and provides housing and commuting allowances for its staff. Employees are also expected to have overseas assignments across the Asia Pacific every 2-4 years throughout their time at JICA. New graduate recruitment at JICA occurs annually in April and successful applicants will start their position in the following April.

Human Rights Now – Tokyo, Japan

Human Rights Now (HRN) is an international human rights non-governmental organization with UN special consultative status and works for the promotion and protection of human rights with a specialized focus on Asia and Japan. Human Rights Now regularly posts job openings on its website and often recruits motivated individuals with 0-2 year’s experience. Alongside full-time work opportunities, Human Rights Now also has an extensive internship program for university students.

Japan Association for Refugees – Tokyo, Japan

The Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) provides assistance for refugees from their arrival in Japan and until they can lead a self-supporting life.  JAR works as a project implementing partner in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and aims to gain legal, social and integrative support for refugees in Japan. JAR occasionally recruits entry level candidates with 0-2 years of experience who are committed to human rights advocacy and upload job postings on their website.

Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) – Seoul, South Korea

The Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) is the world’s oldest non-governmental organization devoted exclusively to the protection of human rights in North Korea and was the first organization to bring human rights violations in North Korea to the attention of the United Nations and the international community. NKHR periodically posts job openings on their LinkedIn page and are eligible candidates should possess a relevant university degree, in which no professional experience is necessary.

Justice Centre Hong Kong – Hong Kong

Justice Center Hong Kong is a non-profit organisation that works in partnership with community members across Hong Kong to support refugees, asylum seekers and other forced migrants. The organization seeks to recruit passionate individuals committed to the protection of refugees and is open to hiring individuals with minimal professional experience. Justice Center Hong Kong also has an internship program for university students seeking to delve within the human rights industry following graduation.

Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation aimed to promote and protect human rights in Malaysia through its UNDIMSIA! civic education program and strategic litigation approaches. MCCHR is often on the lookout for university graduates with approximately 2 years of experience to join their team and regularly posts new positions on their online job board.

Asia Pacific Forum – Remote

Founded in 1996, the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) has created a strong and united platform that brings together national human rights institutions (NHRIs) from all corners of the Asia Pacific to address some of the most serious human rights challenges in the region. APF works in East Asian and South East Asian countries such as Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, India, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Employment opportunities are often advertised on their website and many of their posted jobs do not require prior professional experience.

Covenants Watch – Taipei, Taiwan

Covenants Watch is a human rights NGO based in Taipei, Taiwan, dedicated to monitoring the implementation of the international human rights instruments by the Taiwanese government. Renowned for its comprehensive research publications in human rights issues and treaty reviews, Covenants Watch recruits both full-time workers and interns on their website and encourages driven individuals to apply.

Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Founded by a group of former political prisoners in 1991 after the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and the conclusion of the Cambodian Civil War, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit and non-governmental organization that seeks to monitor and investigate human rights violations in Cambodia. Alongside its commitment to protect human rights, ADHOC provides free legal assistance and support to victims, empower individuals and communities to enable them to defend their rights, and engage in advocacy work through its Central Office in Phnom Penh and its 17 provincial offices across the country. While ADHOC recruits individuals with varying levels of experience, the organization regularly posts job openings for motivated individuals aged 25 and older who hold a university degree and does not necessarily have prior professional experience.

The post 9 Organizations Offering Early-Career Human Rights Jobs in Asia appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Human Rights are a set of rights everyone has simply because they are human.

The United Nations defines human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In the document, human rights are “inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.” Experts divide up the rights in the Declaration into types: civil and political, and economic, social, and cultural rights. All the types are weighed equally in terms of importance. They include – among others – the right to life and liberty; freedom from torture and slavery; the right to work and education; and freedom of opinion and expression.

The history of human rights

In 539 BCE, King Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon. He established what can only be described as an early form of human rights, which was recorded on a clay cylinder known as the “Cyrus Cylinder.” The laws freed the slaves and granted religious and racial equality. Another human rights milestone came about in 1215 CE England. A group of barons forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, a document of rights like protection from illegal punishment and the right to swift justice. It wasn’t officially adopted into English law until 1297, but the signing of the Magna Carta is world-famous. It inspired other documents like the Bill of Rights in the United States.

Human rights took center stage following the trauma of World War II. The United Nations was founded in 1945 and immediately went to work. The General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a 30-article document describing basic, universal human rights. Other documents followed: The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and two Optional Protocols. Together, these documents form the International Bill of Human Rights, which has been called a Magna Carta for all humanity.

What are human rights?

According to the International Bill of Human rights, all rights fall into five categories: civil, political, economic, social, and cultural. Here are some examples of these human rights:

• The right to life
• The right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
• The right to freedom of religion
• The right to freedom from discrimination
• The right to marry and start a family
• The right to due process and a fair trial
• The right to medical care, adequate food and clean water, housing, and education
• The right to participate in cultural life

There are many other human rights outlined in the International Bill of Human rights and international and regional treaties and constitutions, but what unites them? What is the framework that binds all human rights?

The framework of human rights

We can understand more about the spirit of human rights by looking at the principles of a human rights-based approach (HRBA). Organizations like the UN use this conceptual framework to build international cooperation and anchor human rights into a system. It’s also used in fields like public policy, schooling, medical care, and so on to make sure human rights are protected and promoted. Not every HRBA looks the same, but consistent themes help us conceptualize human rights at their core. Here’s what to remember about human rights:

Universality

This is an essential component of human rights that hasn’t always been present. Universality states that human rights belong to every human regardless of traits like sex, gender, ethnicity, etc. In documents like the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, the listed rights usually excluded groups like racial minorities and women. In the modern understanding of human rights, everyone is entitled to them.

Equality

Human rights must be applied equally. Article 7 of the UDHR addresses discrimination, stating “All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.” Discrimination is highlighted again in Article 23: “Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.” If human rights aren’t applied equally, a just world is beyond our reach.

Interdependence

Are some rights more important than others? It may seem that way, but human rights are interdependent. When one human right is threatened, it has a domino effect on the others. As an example, if women aren’t paid equally, it limits their ability to access rights like education, healthcare, safe food and water, good housing, and more.

Indivisibility

“Indivisible” means inseparable. Humans can’t be severed from their human rights. If one right is removed from a person, it threatens all their other rights. This is an important principle because many societies put people on a hierarchy where some rights are respected and others aren’t. As an example, in the United States, millions of people are prohibited from voting following a felony conviction. There are also “incompetence laws” in 39 states and Washington D.C. that let judges take away voting rights from people with mental disorders like schizophrenia. One can easily see the issues at play with these examples. Laws like these essentially say that certain rights are divisible, which goes against human rights principles.

The future of human rights

Where are human rights now? Issues like climate change, attacks on democracy, and the COVID-19 pandemic present major challenges. Duty-bearers (those responsible for promoting and protecting human rights) need to commit to real action or the future will be grim.

The post What Are Human Rights? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The United Nations is the world’s largest intergovernmental organization. Currently made of five main organs – the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat – the UN serves an important role in the world. How does it protect human rights? In this article, we’ll discuss the history and purpose of the UN, how it fulfills its goals, and what challenges the organization faces.

The story of the United Nations

In 1920, at the Paris Peace Conference that ended WWI, the League of Nations was born. It was the first intergovernmental organization with the goal to maintain world peace. While the organization proved to be ineffective, the concept of a unified group of nations lived on. The United Nations was officially established in 1945 in response to WWII. The League of Nations officially dissolved in 1946.

When the UN first met, there were 51 Member States who ratified the United Nations Charter. In 1948, the assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which elaborated on the Charter’s principles and established universal human rights. This was a high priority for the UN following the Holocaust and other atrocities during the war. The UDHR has since become a guiding document for various human rights treaties and instruments. Currently, the UN has 193 members and is headquartered in New York City.

The purpose of the UN

Article 1 of the UN Charter lays out the purpose of the organization in four parts, which are paraphrased here:

1. To maintain international peace and security (which includes preventing and removing threats, suppressing acts of aggression, and settling disputes)
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respecting the equal rights and self-determination of people
3. To achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems (including promoting respect for human rights and freedoms)
4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations as they try to accomplish these goals

How does the UN protect human rights?

The UN has lofty goals. These are challenging to accomplish, especially given the size and complexity of the UN system. What instruments and entities are used to protect human rights? There are more than we can cover in this article, but here are some key examples.

Treaties and legal instruments

The International Bill of Human Rights

The International Bill of Human Rights is made of three instruments: The UDHR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The UDHR is the foundation of international human rights law. The two covenants reiterate many of the articles in the UDHR, but the covenants are legally-binding treaties.

Conventions

A convention is a legally binding agreement between contracting countries and the UN. Several conventions address human rights issues, such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Entities that address human rights:

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Based in Geneva, the OHCHR is the main UN entity that protects and promotes human rights. It supports the human rights aspects of peacekeeping missions and maintains offices in different regions such as Africa, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe and Central Asia. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has the authority to investigate human rights situations, publish reports, and comment on human rights issues.

The Human Rights Council

In 2006, the HRC replaced the UN Commission on Human Rights. Its mission is to promote and protect human rights. The Council has 47 elected members that address human rights violations, make recommendations, and discuss “thematic human rights issues and situations.” Members are elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis.

The Security Council

The Security Council frequently deals with human rights abuses, especially in conflict zones. The Council has the authority for certain actions. They can investigate, mediate, dispatch a mission, appoint special envoys, dispatch a peacekeeping force, and issue a ceasefire directive. They can also establish travel bans, economic sanctions, arms embargoes, and more.

UN peacekeepers

The UN sends out many peacekeeping operations and peace-building missions. Working on the ground, human rights teams are responsible for protecting civilians, addressing conflict-related human rights violations, and strengthening respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The UN Development Group’s Human Rights Working Group

This group was established in 2009 at the request of the UN Secretary-General. Abbreviated as UNDG-HRWG, this group’s role is to advance human rights mainstreaming efforts with the UN development system. The OHCHR serves as the Chair. Priorities include making human rights expertise available to national development actors and helping the UN development system deliver rights-based development results.

Treaty bodies

There are ten human rights treaty bodies made of independent experts in human rights. They are elected for fixed renewable four-year terms by State parties. Their role is to monitor the implementation of the core international human rights treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Special advisors/experts

Special Advisors

There are two Special Advisors (who are individuals appointed by the Secretary-General) that focus on human rights: the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide and the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect. The Special Advisor on genocide raises awareness of the causes and nature of genocide, warns when there’s a risk of genocide, and advocates for appropriate action. The Special Advisor on protection leads the “conceptual, political, institutional and operational development of the Responsibility to Protect.” The Responsibility to Protect is an international norm identifying the international community’s responsibility to stop genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

Special Representatives

In addition to Special Advisers, the Secretary-General also appoints special representatives who advocate against major human rights abuses. There are currently three special representatives focused on Children and Armed Conflict; Sexual Violence in Conflict; and Violence Against Children.

Special Rapporteurs

The Human Rights Council appoints Special Rapporteurs, who are human rights experts. Their role is to monitor, advise, and report on human rights situations in specific countries and worldwide. They respond to individual complaints, conduct studies, and travel to countries to assess human rights situations.

What challenges threaten the UN’s role in protecting human rights?

The UN has many entities and instruments addressing human rights, but the organization faces significant challenges in its role as a protector of human rights. Here are three problems:

The Security Council veto power

There are mechanisms within the UN system that cause problems. The veto power system of the Security Council is a key example. Because of their role in founding the United Nations, the US, UK, China, France, and Russia get special status as permanent members of the Security Council. They’re also given a special voting power: “the right to veto.” That means if any one of these five Members decides to vote “no” in the 15-member Security Council, the decision or solution won’t move forward. A decision could have support by every single member except one of the five Permanent Members, but their veto stops it cold. When a decision involves a human rights issue – which it often does – that veto power is significant.

The veto system is controversial and often debated. In 2018, Member States called for removing the veto power and expanding the Security Council’s permanent seats. The African Group pointed out that most of the issues the Council discusses relate to the African continent. The meeting coverage reads: “Despite having the largest number of Member States in the United Nations, Africa continues to be undermined and has no representation in the permanent category…”

A damaged reputation

Many scandals and controversies have tainted the UN’s record on human rights. One of the most pressing issues involves the Human Rights Council. In 2020, the General Assembly elected fifteen new members, including China, Pakistan, and the Russian Federation. China managed to be elected despite weak support; compared to its previous election, it lost the support of 41 Member States. Of the countries elected, it got the fewest votes. This is due to China’s deteriorating reputation on human rights, which includes a violent response to pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong and abuses targeting China’s Uyghur Muslim population. The fact that States with poor human rights records can hold a place on the Human Rights Council does not inspire confidence in the UN.

Not enough power to address global issues

The last main challenge facing the UN is the scope and scale of human rights issues. As an intergovernmental, global organization, the UN has a responsibility to deal with all of them. Issues include poverty, climate change, sustainability, children’s rights, disarmament, healthcare, food security, gender equality, forced migration, and more. The cost and complexity of addressing these issues are hard to fathom, but there’s another factor that affects the UN’s effectiveness as a human rights protector: its power.

Despite its size and influence, the UN does not hold much actual power over its Member States. It doesn’t take long to find evidence that many of the 193 Member States are not upholding international human rights law. While Article 6 of the Charter does give the UN power to expel Members who have “persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter,” it never has. Even if it did expel a Member, how does that halt the human rights violations still going on? What can the UN do about countries not bound to its treaties? The UN’s toothlessness leaves many wondering just how effective the organization can be at upholding human rights. As the world deals with increasingly complex issues – like climate change and a rise in authoritarianism – can the UN in its current state fulfill its role? Drastic reform may be needed. For now, the future remains uncertain.

The post What’s the Role of the UN in Protecting Human Rights? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

In 1942, representatives from 26 countries signed the Declaration of the United Nations, marking the first usage of the term “united nations.” It wasn’t the first time the international community had attempted to come together, but the League of Nations, which had been founded in 1920, was failing. The League had its final meeting in 1946, one year after the signing of the United Nations Charter. Three years later, as WWII came to an end, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights established universal human rights and freedoms. Since those early days, the UN has sought to achieve four goals: keep world peace; develop friendly relations between nations; help nations improve the lives of the poor and encourage rights and freedoms; and serve as a center for achieving these goals. What is working for the UN like? In this article, we’ll describe the UN’s structure, the advantages of working for the organization, and the disadvantages.

The structure of the United Nations

The UN is the world’s largest and best-known intergovernmental organization, which is a type of organization made of sovereign states established by a treaty. The UN has five main organs:

The General Assembly

The GA is the main deliberative body. It consists of representatives from all the Member States. Each State gets one vote. It’s based at the UN headquarters in New York City, New York.

The UN Secretariat

This organ is made of staff representing all nationalities that work at duty stations around the world. The Secretariat handles the everyday work of the UN and administers the programs and policies. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is part of this organ.

The Security Council

Made of 15 Members, the Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

The Economic and Social Council

This organ debates economic, social, and environmental challenges and issues policy recommendations. The World Health Organization (The WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are specialized agencies within this council.

International Court of Justice

As the judicial organ of the UN, the Court settles legal disputes between States and provides advisory opinions to the UN and its agencies.

Advantages of working for the UN

The UN has offices in 195 countries and around 37,000 employees. Here are the pros of working for this huge organization:

There are lots of career opportunities

Within the UN system, there are 45 job “families” and nine job networks. Job families are occupations and sub-occupations grouped in a common work field. The job networks are flexible groupings of job families. The reason for this structure is so employees can get multidisciplinary opportunities for new skills and experience within different parts of the UN. The nine networks are:

• Management and Administration- Families include administration, audit, ethics, finance, and human resources
• Economic, Social and Development – Families include environmental affairs, social affairs, sustainable development, and statistics
• Political, Peace and Humanitarian – Families include civil affairs, rule of law, human rights affairs, and electoral affairs
• Information and Telecommunication Technology – Families are media technology, telecommunications technology, and information management systems and technology
• Legal – Families are jurists and legal affairs
• Public information and conference management – Families include conference services, language, protocol, and public information
• Internal security and safety network – Families are security and safety
• Logistics, transportation and supply chain – Families are engineering, facilities management, human settlements, and transportation
• Science – Families are medical and natural and life sciences

The UN works to promote justice and protect human rights

Through its many entities, the UN is the world’s largest organization working for human rights and justice. Whether you want to work in women’s rights, public health, food security, sustainable development, or other similar areas, the UN has many career opportunities.

• UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) – the UN fund focusing on children’s rights and health
• WHO (World Health Organization) – the specialized agency responsible for directing and coordinating international health in the UN system
• WFP (World Food Programme)- the UN program focused on eliminating hunger and malnutrition
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) – the UN body responsible for protecting refugees

You have opportunities to travel

For those who’ve always wanted to travel the world, the United Nations is a great place to work. An employee will likely need to travel at some point. The UN is also a great place to work if you’ve wanted to live in another country. Traveling opens you up to different cultures, food, languages, and experiences. There are offices in 195 countries, including:

• Armenia
• Bahamas
• Chile
• Djibouti
• Greece
• Nepal
• Samoa
• Zambia

The UN generally pays well

There’s a wide range of salaries within the UN system, but generally, the pay is good. The UN has a specific pay structure for Field service and Professional & higher categories. The salary level for Professional staff is set by referring to the highest-paying national civil service. The salary scales for (P) jobs are based on five grades (P-1 to P-5) and two Director levels (D-1 and D-2).

• Entry level (P1 – P3): 37,000 USD – 80,000 USD
• Mid-career (P4 – P5): 67,000 USD – 106,000 USD
• Senior level (D1 – D2): 95,000 USD – 123,000 USD

You can look for salary scales for specific years on the UN’s Salaries, Allowances, Benefits, and Job Classification website. Depending on where you live, even a salary on the lower end can go far.

The UN has great benefits

Many UN careers come with excellent benefits. Not every job comes with the same perks, but the UN is known for good remuneration packages. Benefits can include:

• Dependency allowances for eligible spouses and/or children
• Travel and shipping expenses when you’re moving from a different duty station
• Hardship allowances for working at certain duty stations
• Hazard pay for hazardous and stressful locations
• 18-30 days of vacation time per year
• Possible home leave travel
• UN-sponsored medical insurance plans

Disadvantages of working for the UN

Before considering working for the United Nations, it’s important to understand its downsides. This gives you a realistic and not rose-colored view of the organization and its complexities. Here are the main cons to know about:

It’s hard to get a job at the UN

The first downside of the UN is how challenging it is to get a job there. As the world’s most prestigious international organization, it makes sense that it would have extremely high standards. It’s rare for anyone to just waltz into a (P) level job. Most start with short-term contracts like positions with the United Nations Volunteers. These positions offer a small living allowance and medical insurance to volunteers (who must be at least 25-years old) who serve 6-12 months. There are also Junior Professional Officer positions at agencies like UNICEF and UNHCR. There are age and national restrictions, as well as requirements like a few years of experience. With a structure like this, your career will likely not be stable for quite a while.

The UN system is bureaucratic and complicated

As a huge organization, the UN is difficult to navigate. Settling into a career in such a complex system is frustrating to many people. Recruitment, job structure, and trying to move up in the organization are frequent sources of stress for workers. The UN also has a reputation for depending on processes and systems even when they aren’t effective. This is serious business for an organization dedicated to protecting human rights and striving for world peace. Working for an organization bogged down by bureaucracy can be infuriating and disheartening when lives are on the line. In 2016, Anthony Banbury resigned his position as the Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support. In an opinion piece for the New York Times, he wrote: “If you locked a team of evil geniuses in a laboratory, they could not design a bureaucracy so maddeningly complex, requiring so much effort but in the end incapable of delivering the intended result.”

The UN has a history of scandals

There have been several scandals at the UN, including child sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers. An AP investigation in 2017 exposed a child sex abuse ring in Haiti run by more than 100 UN peacekeepers over 10 years. None were imprisoned for their crimes. The report also found more than 2,000 global allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation over 12 years. In the article covering the abuse, a survivor was quoted: “As far as the U.N. goes, they came here to protect us, but all they’ve brought is destruction.” With the abuse so widespread, it’s reasonable to suspect the problems are systemic. While any organization as large and significant as the UN will have abuse and corruption, the UN must be held to a higher standard.

Working for the UN can be dangerous

Many UN field offices are based in dangerous areas. According to UN data reported by NPR, 56 peacekeepers died from violence in 2017. This represented the highest number of fatalities since 1994. The reason for the increased danger is the heightened violence in conflict areas, as well as the UN’s deeper involvement in the conflicts. According to Conor Foley, who worked as the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations from 2010 to 2012, peacekeepers are pushed to be more assertive in protecting civilians. This is part of the job, but it does put peacekeepers at more risk. Not all UN careers are risky, but it’s important to know that they can be.

Final thoughts

The United Nations is a huge, complicated organization with some serious systemic issues. It is also the world’s largest and most respected international organization committed to peace and human rights. It has access and resources no other organization does. Even if you don’t spend your entire career working at the UN, there are many opportunities available there, including travel, good pay, good job benefits, and projects that make a real difference in the world.

The post Advantages and Disadvantages Working for the UN appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Humanitarian aid refers to mostly short-term assistance in the form of materials (like medical supplies, food, water, etc) and logistic aid. It’s intended to provide help quickly in the aftermath of various crises (floods, conflict, disease outbreaks) until the government and other organizations can develop long-term plans. The goal is to save lives, relieve suffering, and protect human dignity. Meeting these goals is expensive but necessary. Using data from sources like UNICEF’s Global Annual Results Report 2020 as a guide, we can identify 15 key reasons why humanitarian aid is so important:

#1. Hundreds of millions need humanitarian aid

According to a 2021 United Nations report, an estimated 274 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2022. This represents a year-over-year increase of 17%. The report gives more reasons for the higher number, such as a rise in extreme poverty. 43 countries (and 45 million people) are also at risk of famine. To meet this record need, it will take $41 billion, a budget experts like Martin Griffiths, UN Humanitarian Affairs chief, are doubtful about receiving. Humanitarians will do what they can with the funds they get. Last year, even in the face of extreme need due to COVID, the humanitarian system was able to reach 70% of its target. While aid doesn’t fix the causes of a crisis, it undeniably lives and relieves suffering.

#2. Aid saves millions

Saving lives is the main goal of humanitarian aid. When food, water, medical supplies, and other resources are mobilized, human lives are saved from dangers like disease, hunger, thirst, and exposure to the elements. Let’s look at UNICEF as an example. In 2020, 4 million children with severe acute malnutrition were admitted to treatment programs. Without these programs, these kids would likely have died. 17 million kids (age 6 months-15 years) were vaccinated against measles, a disease that killed over 200,000 people in 2019. Without programs targeting issues like hunger and disease, death counts would be higher.

#3. Aid is needed quickly in emergencies

Humanitarian aid is essential during crises like droughts, natural disasters, or conflicts. With very quick turnarounds, organizations mobilize huge amounts of resources and deploy wherever they’re needed. As an example, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) can deploy within 12-48 hours anywhere in the world. Their role is to help during the first phase of an emergency and assist in coordinating incoming international relief. Governments move much slower, so emergency aid is needed as a stop-gap measure.

#4. Aid meets nutritional needs

Food is one of the most important concerns during crises. Without proper nutrition, people are at risk for a host of health problems, as well as death. Organizations like the World Food Programme focus on meeting nutritional needs. It’s the largest humanitarian organization providing school meals to children. In 2020, WFP provided 15 million children with school meals. With UNICEF, WFP also supports governments in adopting an integrated approach to children’s nutrition and health, which includes school meal programs.

#5. Aid addresses water and sanitation issues

WASH (which stands for water, sanitation, and hygiene) is a major focus for many humanitarian groups. Without access to clean drinking water and sanitation, people face the risk of waterborne disease, dehydration, and other problems. A variety of crises can threaten WASH, including natural and man-made disasters. Humanitarian organizations mobilize to build proper systems (like garbage and waste disposal), hand out clean water, and provide education on WASH.

#6. Aid meets health needs

Humanitarian efforts include medical and mental health projects. In just about any crisis, health is a primary concern. Some crises are specifically health crises, like disease outbreaks. Aid consists of things like medical supplies and medical professionals who can deliver services like vaccinations. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of the need for medical humanitarian aid. Vaccinations, supplies, personal protective equipment, and medical personnel are all needed.

#7. Aid addresses a lack of shelter

According to the UNHCR, shelter is “a vital survival mechanism in times of crisis or displacement.” It’s essential to “restoring personal security, self-sufficiency and dignity.” Providing shelter during crises can be complicated. In urban areas, refugees often have to live in public buildings and other informal settlements where conditions can be poor. Shelter concerns include shelter materials, technical support, rental support, cash assistance, safety, privacy, and more. Without proper shelter, it’s very difficult for a community to regroup and rebuild.

#8. Aid protects education for children

Crises disrupt education for children and deprive them of schools, which are a shelter from abuse and exploitation. School is also where many children receive essential services like food, clean water, healthcare, and hygiene. Schools are also a source of psychosocial support, which children will need more of during emergencies. Humanitarian aid should include education, although currently, the education sector gets less than 3% of aid. There are other complications like staff shortages and coordination issues. Organizations like UNICEF work to protect education for children by creating safe learning spaces, training teachers, and supplying materials.

#9. Aid helps communities recover and rebuild

Humanitarian aid addresses emergency needs, but it can also play an important role in communities recovering and rebuilding. This approach, known as “Early Recovery,” is a multidimensional process that begins alongside addressing emergency needs. It focuses on building resilience, strengthening capacity, and contributing to fixing long-standing problems. Local ownership is prioritized, so communities can quickly become self-sustaining. Humanitarian organizations help in this process through various methods, including cash distributions, micro-finances, and livelihood development programs. Humanitarian aid is different from development aid, but in early recovery, humanitarian aid serves as a bridge to longer-term development.

#10. Aid helps communities prepare for crises

Disaster preparedness is part of humanitarian aid. As an example, for five years, 56% of all EU-funded humanitarian projects included a disaster preparedness component. These measures, which include governments, organizations, communities, and individuals, help areas better prepare and respond to disasters. Things like early warning systems, contingency plans, and stockpiling supplies and equipment can save lives, mitigate the effects of crises, and increase community resilience. This makes disaster preparedness a very cost-effective decision that helps aid organizations save more money.

#11. Climate change is a major humanitarian crisis

According to NOAA, the impacts of climate change on food and water are significant and interconnected. Drought harms food production and human health. Flooding spreads disease and damages infrastructure and ecosystems. Existing socio-economic inequities put marginalized groups at an increased risk. According to many experts, climate change is the worst threat humans currently face. This challenges the effectiveness of humanitarian aid, which is already unable to meet the needs of populations around the world. For years to come, humanitarian aid will need more funding to address the effects of climate change.

#12. Women and girls are affected differently by crises

Crises like drought, flooding, and conflict affect everyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable. Women and girls face more risks during displacement and when protective structures and support dissolve. They often handle risky responsibilities, as well, such as caring for people who are sick. In some crisis settings, more than 70% of women experience gender-based violence. COVID-19 worsened gender equality, as well. The global gender poverty gap for women aged 25-34 is expected to increase from 118 women for every 100 men in 2021 to 121 women in 2030. According to the World Economic Forum, COVID-19 added another 100 years to the journey toward gender parity. Many humanitarian organizations prioritize the most vulnerable girls and women to ensure they get the support and resources they need.

#13. Aid protects children and mothers

Like girls and women, children and mothers face unique risks during crises. In 2017, around 295,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth. 94% took place in low-resource settings. Most could have been prevented. Factors like poverty, travel distance to facilities, and poor-quality services contribute to maternal mortality. Groups like UNICEF coordinate initiatives and campaigns targeting the specific needs of moms and kids. In 2020, over 500,000 children and pregnant/lactating women received health services and education. In Yemen, more than 260,000 children under 5 received treatment for severe acute malnutrition. In South Sudan, UNICEF worked with partners to provide 1.9 million pregnant and lactating women with counseling on infant and young child feeding.

#14. Aid is needed to deal with the long-term effects of COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world, reversing positive trends in extreme poverty, gender equality, and more. By the end of 2020, 270 million people were facing acute food insecurity. This represents an 82% increase since COVID started. The humanitarian world mobilized in a way it never has before, but the road to recovery is long and hard. If the world hopes to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, humanitarian aid (as well as government support) is needed now more than ever.

#15. Aid protects human rights (but needs to be anti-racist and equitable)

All human rights matter, but humanitarian aid protects what most people consider the most essential: life, water, food, sanitation, shelter, safety, and education. Governments are primarily responsible for providing and protecting these rights – especially after a crisis – but for one reason or another, many are unable or unwilling to. Humanitarian aid steps in to fill the void. Because of their responsibility, humanitarian organizations must be held to a high standard. That means reckoning with the history of aid and colonialism. In “Race, equity, and neo-colonial legacies: identifying paths forward for principled humanitarian action,” Saman Rejali writes: “In order to create more equitable and anti-racist institutions, the humanitarian sector must first acknowledge the role neo-colonial legacies continue to play in humanitarian assistance and protection activities and within humanitarian organizations, which are most at need of equity-driven systemic changes.”

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Gender equality (sometimes referred to as gender parity) is the state of equality among the sexes. In a gender-equal world, no one faces discrimination because of their gender. No one’s gender is used as justification for restricting economic and social opportunities, legal rights, healthcare services, housing, and more. Gender equality is often discussed in terms of man/woman, but adherence to a strict gender binary is one of the roots of gender inequality. In this short guide, we’ll discuss why jobs in gender equality are important, as well as what issues gender professionals focus on, examples of organizations working in gender equality, and how someone can begin a career in gender equality.

Why the world needs jobs in gender equality

According to UN Women, a new global analysis of gender equality and progress on women’s rights finds the pandemic’s effects have disproportionately affected women and girls. That includes “major disruptions” to women’s health services, which were already not well-funded. Data from the 2021 Global Gender Report also shows that closing the global gender gap will take over 135 years. This represents a backward trend. In light of this reversal, jobs that focus on gender equality are more needed than ever.

When addressing gender inequality, it’s important to know that gender can’t be isolated from inequalities based on sexuality, class, race, physical abilities, and more. Intersectionality, a concept with a long history but coined as a term by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, describes how systems of oppression overlap for those with multiple identity categories. As an example, a Black trans woman deals with layers of oppression that don’t affect a White cis woman. Understanding oppression is essential because for many people, gender equality only means lifting women to be equal in power with men. With this restricted view, the most privileged women inevitably stand on the shoulders of those less privileged. This isn’t equality. For equality to be realized, the hierarchies of power must be dismantled. To truly address the nature of power and oppression in all its forms, jobs in gender equality need to understand intersectionality.

What do gender equality professionals do?

Gender equality professionals work in just about every field. They work as lawyers, researchers, teachers, program directors, administration officers, human resources specialists, DEI consultants, healthcare workers, and so on. Rather than list specific job descriptions, we can get a good understanding of what gender equality professionals do by looking at the causes they focus on:

Education

Equality in education represents one of the major successes in gender equality. Turning again to the WEF’s 2021 Global Gender Report, 95% of the gender gap in Educational Attainment has been closed. 37 countries have achieved gender parity. However, the remaining 5% is closing very slowly and at its current pace, it will take just over 14 years to get there. In certain areas, women’s literacy is much lower than the global average. In Pakistan, Mali, Benin, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Liberia, Angola, and Yemen, less than 67% of the gender gap literacy is closed. In Chad, only 14% of women can read and write compared to 31.3% of men. Gender equality professionals often work on campaigns and programs focused on education for girls. That includes helping families access resources that allow girls to stay in school.

Employment access and equality

58% of the gender gap in Economic Participation and Opportunity has been closed, which makes this area the second-largest of the four gaps the Global Gender Report tracks. While there’s been progress, women make up a small percentage of leadership positions. Wage equality is also moving at a slow pace. The pandemic most likely increased the gap as women were economically hit harder than men. To address these issues, gender equality professionals work to change discriminatory practices and laws, advocate for fair wages, and run programs that teach women how to start businesses, take out loans, and so on.

Reproductive justice

While the reproductive rights movement has historically focused on access to birth control and abortions, reproductive justice is more holistic. In the words of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, reproductive justice is concerned with “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.” For gender equality professionals, working on reproductive justice includes ensuring access to birth control and abortions, but it’s also about sex education, STI prevention and care, prenatal and pregnancy care, domestic violence assistance, safe housing, adequate incomes, and much more.

Political leadership and participation

According to the 2021 Global Gender Report, Political Empowerment has seen the least amount of progress. Only 22% of the gender gap is closed. Of the 156 countries covered by the report, women represent just 26.1% of the 35,500 parliament seats available and 22.6% of the 3,400 ministers worldwide. In 81 countries, no woman has ever been a head of state. Discriminatory laws and policies continue to limit women’s ability to run for office, while factors like less education and resources are at play, as well. In many places, women also face pressure and harassment when participating in political life. Gender equality professionals work to empower women politically, which includes providing training on how to run for office and advocating for policies that allow more women to run for office.

Where are gender equality jobs located?

There are many organizations centered around achieving gender equality both nationally and internationally. Here are some examples:

The Audre Lorde Project

Founded in 1994, the Audre Lorde Project is a Brooklyn, New-York based organization for LGBTQ+ people of color. Its work focuses on community organizing and radical nonviolent activism in the New York City area. On its About page, it reads: “Understanding the historic role of sexism that has negatively impacted all of our communities, and recognizing that women’s leadership continues to be de-valued and discouraged in broader LGBTSTGNC organizations/communities, ALP strives to use anti-sexist practice while supporting and promoting the active participation, leadership, and perspectives of women throughout its structure and work.”

SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective

SisterSong is an Atlanta, Georgia-based national membership organization made of individuals and organizations committed to reproductive justice for marginalized communities. Formed in 1997 by 16 organizations of women of color (Native American, African American, Latina, and Asian American), the organization runs a variety of programs like the RJ Training & Leadership Development program and the Southern RJ Network.

Gender Equality Resource Center

An NGO based in the Philippines, the GERC partners with cooperatives, other NGOs, government agencies, and other organizations to promote gender equality. GERC”s work includes providing training and consultancy to private and government agencies needing assistance with implementing gender equality policies.

European Institute for Gender Equality

Established in 2006 in Lithuania, the EIGE serves as the European Union agency responsible for studying gender equality. The institute collects and analyzes data that helps the EU Member States implement gender equality policies and end gender-based discrimination. It tracks areas like gender mainstreaming and gender-based violence. It also publishes the Gender Equality Index report.

How do you start working in gender equality?

Education is the first step to working in gender equality. Most organizations dedicated to gender equality want job candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree. Higher-level jobs often require master’s degrees or even doctorates. Because the field is so broad, you’ll want to identify what area you want to work in and choose a degree based on that. As an example, if you want to work in healthcare, you’ll need a different education than if you want to work in law. If you don’t get a dedicated degree in gender studies, women’s studies, or human rights, take as many classes as you can in those areas.

While you’re in school, you should also seek out internships, volunteer opportunities, and fellowships even if they aren’t required by your degree program. This gives you valuable experience and networking opportunities. It’s rare to find an entry-level job after graduation that doesn’t require previous experience. Many people find jobs with organizations they volunteered or interned with, though it’s not a guarantee.

The skills gained through education and work experience help you succeed in a gender equality job, but there are many soft skills you’ll need, as well. Excellent communication skills will take you far in any job, even if your work doesn’t involve a lot of speaking or writing. You’ll also need excellent time management, good organization, and patience. Gender equality is a long way away and organizations face significant challenges. As is the case for anyone working in the human rights field, people who work in gender equality are often targeted. Depending on where you live, the risks can be severe. Emotional resilience, problem-solving, and an understanding of the danger are all important skills.

How much do gender equality jobs pay?

Gender equality is more of a work focus than a job category, so it’s difficult to give a specific range for salary. The work of a midwife and the director of an international NGO can both focus on gender equality, but their salaries will be very different. Salary also depends on factors like your education and previous work experience, compensation history, where the job is based, and the size of the organization. For a midwife in the United States, ZipRecruiter lists the average pay as $100,932 a year. A civil rights attorney, who can choose to work on gender equality cases, makes about $82,382 a year in the United States. According to Payscale, the director of a nonprofit in the US makes an average of $59,769 a year.

The post Gender Equality Jobs: Our Short Guide appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every year, the World Economic Forum releases a Global Gender Gap Report. It’s not the only organization that gathers information on gender equality and women’s issues, but it gives us a good idea about the state of things. In 2021, the report concluded that it will take 135.6 years to close the global gender gap. This is an increase by almost 100 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying women’s rights, gender issues, and female leadership is more important than ever, even for those who aren’t working specifically in gender equality. It’s an intersectional issue with far-reaching implications. These ten top-rated courses from Coursera cover topics like international women’s health, human rights, gender analytics, gender-based violence, childbirth, and much more. Courses can be audited for free, though for full access to graded assignments, there’s usually a course fee. If you intend to take multiple courses, it’s worth subscribing to Coursera+.

#1. International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Stanford)
#2. Women in Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change (Case Western Reserve University)
#3. Women in Environmental Biology (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
#4. Gender Analytics for Innovation (University of Toronto)
#5. Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers
#6. Feminism and Social Justice (University of California Santa Cruz)
#7. Diversity and Inclusion in Education (University of Glasglow)
#8. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (University of Pittsburgh)
#9. Childbirth: A Global Perspective (Emory University)
#10.  Breastfeeding: Public Health Perspectives (University of Michigan)

#1. International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Stanford)

This beginner course focuses on women’s health and human rights issues. It examines different stages of life, including issues faced during childhood and adolescence, reproductive health, violence, war, poverty, and aging and end of life. The course was co-created by Consulting Professor Anne Firth Murray (Content Director of the course) and Kevin Hsu (the Design Director).

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the basics of women’s rights and human rights
• Define refugees and discuss women in war and refugee settings
• Explore issues related to women’s quests to escape poverty, including economic empowerment, sex trafficking, and sex work
• Examine positive interventions related to women’s health and human rights

How you will learn

The course is divided into 10 weeks of study. It takes about 58 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, practice quizzes, and assignments. Assignments include peer-graded thought questions, learning checks, graded quizzes, and two “Engage Your Community” peer-graded assignments. For peer-graded assignments, you must also review three of your peers’ work to receive your grade. It appears that the assignments are accessible even if you’re on the audit track, so you don’t need to pay for a certificate to fully participate. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.9/5 rating.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Women In Leadership: Inspiring Positive Change (Case Western Reserve University)

This course is part 2 of 5 courses in the Inspired Leadership Specialization. Its goal is to inspire and empower men and women to engage in career development and leadership for important causes. Through this course, students will understand more complex issues related to professional women and work. They’ll also increase their self-knowledge of their own vision, values, and skills as leaders, managers, and team members. The challenges, opportunities, trade-offs, and organizational dynamics that women experience in work organizations will also be explored. Dr. Diana Bilimoria, Keybank Professor and Chair of Organizational Behavior, leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the current representation and status of women in senior leadership positions and governments across the world
• Discuss the “gender confidence gap” and what self-confidence really means
• Examine leadership skills for effective negotiation
• Explore purpose-driven career development

How you will learn

This course is divided into 5 weeks of study. With 1-3 hours of work per week, you can expect to complete the course in 12 hours. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, and graded assignments. All the graded assignments – including a final peer-graded Praxis paper – are only accessible if you’re paying for the certificate. On the audit track, you can see the assignments, but can’t submit for a grade. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.7/5 rating.

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#3. Women in Environmental Biology (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

This beginner course explores questions like how humans relate to each other, what you need to know to understand current environmental problems, and how much of the knowledge and research has been led by women. Students dive into environmental biology concepts, biodiversity, and how gender perspective plays into our understanding of the world, science, and environmental biology. A team of women researchers designed and developed the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand biodiversity and the different types of living things (plants, insects, vertebrates, etc)
• Identify the different ecosystems and how they interact
• Explore the connection between the environment and human health
• Learn about sustainability and eco-feminism

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks of study and takes about 10 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, and four graded quizzes. Each is worth 25% of your grade. It appears that the quizzes are accessible to everyone, even if you aren’t taking the paid certificate track. To pass a quiz, you must score 80% or higher. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.6/5 rating.

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#4. Gender Analytics for Innovation (University of Toronto)

This course is the introductory course in the 5-course Gender Analytics Specialization. Students will build the foundation needed for Gender Analytics by becoming familiar with key terms and concepts, as well as how policies, products, services, and processes can unintentionally lead to gendered outcomes. By the course’s end, students will uncover their own assumptions, evaluate their skills, and begin their own Self Development Plan. Sarah Kaplan (Distinguished Professor & Director, Institute for Gender and the Economy) leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define Gender Analytics and understand why it’s a useful tool
• Understand the Gender Analysis Competency Framework
• Define key terms like gender, sex, gender identity, intersectionality, and more
• Explore how Gender Analytics can lead to inclusive innovation

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks of study and takes about eight hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, practice exercises, and graded assignments. There are four graded assessments, which are only available to students paying for the certificate track. To pass, you’ll need to score an 80% or higher. With the audit track, you can see the assignments, but can’t submit anything. At the time of writing, the course has a 4.8/5 rating.

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#5. Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers

This course introduces gender-based violence (GBV) from a global perspective. Students will explore the global epidemiology of GBV, health outcomes, seminal research, and clinical best practices for prevention, support, and management. Students will also learn through specific examples and programs from around the world. This is a beginner course, but it’s designed for participants from the healthcare sector. Michele Decker (ScD, MPH, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what GBV is and the forms it takes
• Identify ways to address GBV within healthcare, including safety planning, harm reduction, and psychosocial support
• Learn about clinical assessment, medical, and forensic examinations
• Describe the WHO guidelines for GBV response, as well as challenges

How you will learn

The course is divided into four weeks and takes 22 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of readings, videos, discussion prompts and forums, practice quizzes, and graded assignments. Assignments are peer-graded, so you will also need to review three of your peers’ work to receive a grade. The course has an Honors curriculum, which includes separate graded quizzes. To receive grades in either the regular track or the Honors, you’ll need to pay for the certificate. If you’re auditing, you can see the assignments, but can’t submit them. At the time of writing, the course has a 4.8/5 rating.

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#6. Feminism and Social Justice (University of California Santa Cruz)

This course examines three major events in the history of feminism and social justice: the Empire Zinc strike of 1951, the 1971-1972 trial of Angela Davis, and the Me Too movement. Taught by Distinguished Professor Bettina Aptheke, it’s an online adaptation of her long-running course at UC Santa Cruz. Through the lens of these events, students will dive deeply into the definition of “feminism.”

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand Professor Aptheke’s working definition of “feminism”
• Explore the 1951 Empire Zinc strike, including its causes and outcomes
• Study the trial of Angela Davis, including the movement that supported her
• Discuss the #metoo movement and its contributions to feminism and social justice

How you will learn

The course is divided into four weeks and takes about eight hours total to complete. Coursework includes readings, videos, discussion prompts and forums, and graded quizzes. Each quiz is worth 25% of your grade, but grading is only available to students on the paid certificate track. To pass, you must score an 80% or higher. At the time of writing, “Feminism and Social Justice” had a 4.8/5 rating.

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#7. Diversity and Inclusion in Education (University of Glasgow)

Student diversity (in ability, socio-economic background, ethnicity, race, cultural background, etc) is becoming more common in education systems across the globe. This is good news considering the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 4 speaks about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. Many challenges remain, however. In this course, students will learn the concepts and assumptions around diversity and difference, how to identify barriers to inclusive education, and how to develop inclusive educational spaces. Ines Alves (Lecturer in Inclusive Education at The University of Glasgow) leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what inclusion is, including the core features of inclusion in education
• Identify the different approaches that analyze education contexts and responses
• Learn about students’ experiences with inclusion and exclusion
• Explore how to develop inclusive education

How you will learn

This intermediate course is divided into four weeks and takes about 18 hours total to complete. Coursework includes readings, videos, discussion prompts and forums, practice quizzes, and graded assignments. The assignments, which are end-of-week quizzes, can be only submitted if you’re taking the paid certificate track. They’re each worth 25% of your grade. To pass, you’ll need to score 80% or higher. At the time of writing, the course has a 4.7/5 rating.

REGISTER HERE

#8. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (University of Pittsburgh)

Terms like “sex,” “sexuality,” and “gender” have shifted and evolved over the years. This course aims to explore how these concepts impact culture and work. Through interdisciplinary concepts, tools, and methods, students will be introduced to the field of gender, sexuality, women’s studies, and LGBTQIA identities. Julie Beaulieu (Lecturer from the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program) and guest lecturer Susan Marine (Assistant Professor and Program Director from Merrimack College) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define key concepts about gender, sex, sexuality, and identity
• Understand the history and impact of gender theory and sexuality studies
• Learn how to create inclusive workplaces
• Examine the concept of “genderism” and how it impacts work and society

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into four weeks and takes about 16 hours to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. This means you’ll need to review three of your peers’ assignments before receiving a grade. Grading is limited to students taking the paid certificate track. At the time of writing, the course has a 4.7/5 rating.

REGISTER HERE

#9. Childbirth: A Global Perspective (Emory University)

In low-income and transitional countries, more than 2.6 million infants are stillborn. Nearly 500,000 women die during childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications. This intermediate course tackles the challenges for maternal and newborn health in the developing world. Students will learn about topics like the epidemiology of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity; issues facing the global health workforce; community-based interventions to improve health in this area; and the sociocultural dynamics surrounding birth. Lynn Sibley (Professor at the Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Discuss the global health implications of pregnancy and childbirth in the developing world, including causes of death and signs of progress
• Understand rising maternal mortality rates in the United States
• Describe the importance of well-trained health workers
• Define emergency obsetric care (EmOC)
• Examine the effectiveness of community mobilization for improving maternal and infant health

How you will learn

This course is divided into six weeks and takes about nine hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion forums, and graded assignments. There are five quizzes (each worth 15% of your grade) and a final peer-graded critical reflection focusing on a maternal care issue. It appears that assignments are available to all students, including those taking the audit track. At the time of writing, the course has a 4.7/5 rating.

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#10. Breastfeeding: Public Health Perspectives (University of Michigan)

Guided by the Socio-Ecological Model, this course walks students through how each level of the Model (individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and public policy) impacts breastfeeding in the United States and abroad. Students explore topics like maternal and child short and long-term health benefits, economic and environmental impacts, health professional curricula on breastfeeding education, and breastfeeding practices in the LGBTQ+ community. By the course’s end, students will understand breastfeeding’s impact on public health and feel confident in their ability to identify barriers to successful breastfeeding practices. Olivia S. Anderson (Clinical Assistant Professor of Nutritional Science) teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the application of breastfeeding practices to the Socio-Ecological Model
• Explore maternal self-efficacy, family, and community support for breastfeeding
• Describe the role of healthcare providers and employers
• Understand surveillance tools that monitor breastfeeding practices in the US and globally

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and takes about 13 hours total to complete with 2-4 hours of work per week. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts and forums, practice quizzes, and graded assignments. There are two peer-graded assignments, which require you to submit your own assignment and review three of your peers’ work. There are also two graded quizzes. All graded materials are only available to students on the paid certificate track.

REGISTER HERE

The post 10 Top-Rated Courses in Women’s Rights, Gender Issues, and Female Leadership appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women in areas like culture, politics, the economy, and society at large. Why does this matter? Here are ten reasons:

#1. Each year explores a theme

There are many topics related to women’s rights and gender equality, so it’s only fitting that each International Women’s Day (IWD) highlights a specific theme. 2022’s theme was “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” It focused on gender equality in the context of environmental and disaster risk reduction, as well as climate change. These issues affect everyone, but women are in more danger because they make up more of the world’s poorest communities. Focusing each IWD on a specific theme raises awareness of challenges like climate change.

#2. The day has a long history

Today, International Women’s Day is a global event focusing on women’s rights and gender equality, but it originated as part of the labor and voting rights movements. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German communist/socialist and women’s rights activist, proposed the idea of an international day at a conference. The 100 women present, who represented 17 countries, all agreed. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. It wasn’t until 1977 that the United Nations adopted March 8th as a global holiday. Understanding IWD’s origin helps us better hold to the spirit of the day: radical change.

You may also like: International Women’s Health and Human Rights (Online Course) offered by Stanford University

#3. It’s an opportunity to celebrate women’s accomplishments

History bursts with important events that have made the world a better place. Women have always played essential roles in the movements for voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, children’s rights, and much more. They’ve also accomplished great things in every field, including medicine, science, literature, and politics. International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to recognize all these successes.

#4. The day highlights the work that remains to be done

While International Women’s Day celebrates how far women’s rights and gender equality have come, it’s also important to recognize what still needs to be done. According to the United Nations, women make up 70% of the world’s 1.3 billion people in poverty. Of those displaced by climate-related disasters, 80% are women and girls. The pandemic worsened things for women and girls, as well. A study published in The Lancet found that women experienced worse social and economic consequences than men. It will take a concentrated effort to reverse the effects.

#5. It’s an opportunity to raise funds for women’s issues

When International Women’s Day comes along, it’s a great opportunity to donate to respected organizations working for gender equality and women’s rights. There are many to choose from including international organizations like The Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Global Grassroots. Many local organizations and activists plan special campaigns for IWD, so check your local area if you want to donate or promote a fundraising event.

#6. It’s an opportunity for schools and organizations to provide education

While women’s rights and gender equality are always important topics to learn about, international days are opportunities for more focused education and awareness. By marking a specific day, there’s a concentrated influx of info and education that isn’t normally present. Schools can find resources online or host events, workshops, and other collaborations. Any organization can take advantage of IWD to focus on the women’s rights most relevant to their mission. For example, a clothing brand can provide education on the garment industry’s history of exploitation, as well as initiatives to improve the treatment of female workers.

#7. It’s an opportunity to check on corporations that claim to be progressive

Lots of corporations use the language of progress and the promise of gender equality for good branding. Many don’t follow through. International Women’s Day is a great day to check on corporations and see if they’re pursuing gender equality, whether it’s giving money toward causes or improving parity within their own organization. Many corporations make promises on IWD, so take note of any you see and commit to checking in later. Like governments, corporations should be held accountable for their women’s rights records.

#8. The day connects people from around the world

As the name says, International Women’s Day is about women from all around the world. IWD is a day to celebrate activists on a global level, raising awareness of their work and the challenges they face. It’s also a great opportunity to network and connect with people committed to gender equality. Thanks to social media, connection on an international level is much easier than in the past. Connections made because of IWD can lead to long-term collaboration, friendships, and financial support.

#9. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your own life

Our world has a long history of discrimination against women (which has intersectional implications), so anyone can have biases whether they know it or not. International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on your own beliefs and craft a personal action plan. Think about areas where you might be uneducated or where you might have biases involving gender, sexuality, race, and so on. Commit to being more aware of your actions and educate yourself through books, classes, or other resources.

#10. International Women’s Day is a call to action

IWD matters because at its core, it’s a rallying cry. Some may use it to promote a rose-colored view of the world, but it’s an essential reminder that progress doesn’t happen by accident. All the accomplishments and successes the world celebrates didn’t come easily, but they prove what’s possible. As a call to action, International Women’s Day tells us to look at where we’ve been, see how far we’ve come, and keep fighting for more.

The post 10 Reasons Why International Women’s Day Is Important appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Equality is the granting of equal rights, status, and freedoms to everyone, no matter what their gender is. Equity, which recognizes and addresses historical discrimination and privilege, is a concept of fairness that centers the most marginalized. Equity is needed to reach equality. Discussions about gender equality and equity often focus on women, but gender is not binary. Systems of power and privilege are more complicated than men vs. women. To learn more about gender equality and equity, we’ve looked at ten courses from Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn. Auditing is usually an option, though your access to some materials (especially graded assignments) will be more limited. You can upgrade for complete access and any available certificate for a fee. Many courses offer financial aid if the fee is too steep.

#1. Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity (University of Colorado)
#2. Gender Analytics: Gender Equity through Inclusive Design (University of Toronto)
#3. Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers (John Hopkins University)
#4. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion (University of Pittsburgh)
#5. Understanding Gender Equity (CatalystX)
#6. Menstruation in a Global Context: Addressing Policy and Practice (ColumbiaX)
#7. Seeking Women’s Rights: Colonial Period to the Civil War (ColumbiaX)
#8. Fighting For Equality: 1950-2018 (ColumbiaX)
#9. Understanding Gender Inequality (University of Exeter)
#10. Improving Equality and Diversity with Technology (The Creative Computing Institute)

#1. Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Gender Identity (University of Colorado)

This course explores the history of LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and activism. Students will study major events in global LGBTQ+ history, as well as local histories of queer and transgender people and communities. The course also digs into how LGBTQ+ histories have helped shape conversations about justice, equality, and civil rights. Jacob McWilliams (Director, Gender & Sexuality Center, University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus) and K. Mohrman (Clinical Teaching Track Assistant Professor in Ethnic Studies) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand key concepts and terminology, such as sex, gender, and intersectionality
• Explore gender as a social construct and whether sex is biological or natural
• Learn queer theory as a framework
• Examine contemporary LGBTQ+ issues

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into six weeks of study or about 20 hours total. Coursework consists of readings, discussion forums, videos, practice quizzes, and five graded assessments each worth 20% of your grade. You can see the assessments on the audit track, but to receive a grade, you’ll need to take the paid course track. To pass, you’ll need to score an 80% or higher. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Gender Analytics: Gender Equity Through Inclusive Design (University of Toronto)

Consisting of five courses, this specialization on Coursera teaches students about the Gender Analytics methodology, which creates opportunities in policy and business through gender-based insights. After taking the courses (Gender Analytics for Innovation; Inclusive Analytic Techniques; Human-Centered Design for Inclusive Innovation; Transformational Leadership for Inclusive Innovation; and the Gender Analytics Capstone Project), students will be equipped to apply inclusive analytic techniques and human-centered design. Sarah Kaplan, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Describe concepts like gender, gender identity, sex, and intersectionality
• Apply qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to achieve gender-based insights
• Understand how processes, services, policies, and products produce gendered outcomes
• Develop innovative solutions through human-centered design

How you will learn

Courses vary in length. Completing all five courses in the specialization takes about five months with two hours of study per week. Coursework consists of readings, videos, practice exercises, and grade assessment quizzes. The last course is a capstone project that takes students through the process of using gender-based insights to create an innovative solution. Course 1-4 can be audited on their own, though you won’t be able to receive grades on any assignments through the audit track. If you want to complete the specialization and earn a certificate, subscribing to Coursera+ (as opposed to paying for each course individually) gives you unlimited access to all the courses. At the time of writing, the specialization had a 4.8/5 user rating.

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#3. Confronting Gender Based Violence: Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers (John Hopkins University)

Designed for learners from the healthcare sector, this course introduces students to gender based violence (GBV) including seminal research, global epidemiology of GBV, health outcomes, and clinical best practices for prevention, support, and management. Students will gain a global perspective on GBV. Michele Decker (ScD, MPH, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health) leads the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand GBV and its many forms
• Explore safety planning, harm reduction, psychosocial support, and other ways to address GBV within the health sector
• Understand clinical assessment, medical, and forensic examination
• Describe the challenges, strategies, and WHO guidelines for GBV response within the health sector

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and takes about 22 hours to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts, practice quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. There are also multiple graded quizzes for the Honors curriculum, which is offered for students wanting deeper knowledge into unique populations and specialized topics. All graded materials are limited to students taking the paid track. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

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#4. Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion (University of Pittsburgh

In this course, students are introduced to the gender, sexuality, and women’s studies field. Through an interdisciplinary framework, students learn how the concepts of sex, gender, and sexuality have evolved and how they impact culture and the workplace. Julie Beaulieu (Lecturer, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program) and Susan Marine (Guest Lecturer, Assistant Professor and Program Director from Merrimack College) teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Identify key concepts about sex, gender, and sexuality
• Examine the history and influence of gender theory and sexuality
• Learn to develop inclusive workplace practices for LGBTQ+ people
• Examine genderism and its influence on society

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and takes around 16 ½ hours to complete. Coursework consists of readings, videos, discussion prompts, quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. Graded assignments are limited to students taking the certificate track, though you can see what assignments are when auditing. At the time of writing, “Gender and Sexuality” had a 4.7/5 average user rating.

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#5. Understanding Gender Equity (CatalystX)

This introductory course on edX teaches learners what gender equity is, why it matters, and how to address inequities in the workplace. Students will learn to recognize the many forms of inequity and how experiences vary based on ethnicity, social class, race, ability, religion, and other social identities. The course has several advisors and instructors, including Ashley Rivenbark (Senior Associate of Leading For Equity and Inclusion), Dr. Dnika Travis (Vice President, Research), and Dr. Lauren Pasquarella Daley (Senior Director, Women and the Future of Work).

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the basics of gender equity, including how it’s different from equality
• Explore systemic gender bias and the gender pay gap
• Consider how to address inequities through things like culture, systems, policies, and programs
• Reflect on inclusive leadership and workplace actions

How you will learn

The course is divided into four parts but only takes about 1-2 hours to complete. When the course is in session, discussion forums are active. When a session ends, the course is archived, but materials remain accessible. Coursework consists of videos, knowledge checks, and discussion forums. It isn’t clear if there are graded assignments, but if there are, seeing the assignments and receiving a grade are limited to those paying for the verified certificate track. The certificate track also gives you full access to course content and materials after the course ends. On the audit track, you lose your progress after about a month.

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#6. Menstruation in a Global Context: Addressing Policy and Practice (ColumbiaX)

In recent years, menstruation has received more focus as an important public health issue. As a result, a host of new research, programs, and policies have been launched. This edX course gives learners a foundation on the global menstruation movement, including cutting-edge menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) research, programming, and policies. Learners will better understand the experience of those who menstruate, build practical skills on implementing MHH programming, and understand gaps in current MHH research and practice. Marni Sommer (Associate Professor, Mailman School of Public Health and Director of the GATE Program at Columbia University), Maggie L. Schmidt (Associate Director of the GATE Program), and Caitlin Gruer (Program Manager, GATE Program) teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what menstruation is and why it matters as a public health issue
• Explore MHH programming, experiences, policy, advocacy
• Understand menstruation in emergencies
• Describe MHH challenges and inclusive MHH programming and policies

How you will learn

The course takes 14 weeks with 2-3 hours of study per week. Coursework includes readings, global case studies, discussion forums, and section quizzes. Quizzes are limited to learners taking the certificate track. On the audit track, you only have temporary access (about three months) to the course. When a course session ends, it’s no longer active, but the materials are archived.

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#7. Seeking Women’s Rights: Colonial Period to the Civil War (ColumbiaX)

Part 1 of the “Women Have Always Worked MOOC,” this course begins with the experience of women in Colonial America, including enslaved women, rural housewives, and indentured servants. The course continues to the industrial era as women fought for their individual rights and began to enter the workplace. Students will learn about the customs, cultures, and ideologies that governed women during Colonial America into the early 19th century. Alice Kessler-Harris (R. Gordon Hoxie Professor of American History Emerita) and Nick Juravich (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Women’s History, New-York Historical Society) teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what women’s history matters
• Explore Colonial America, including the daily lives of women, hierarchies, and rebellions
• Examine the customs, cultures, and ideologies of women and the domestic sphere in the early 19th century
• Describe the gendered meaning of “work” in the industrial revolution, including how the shift influenced family life, family relationships, and women’s ability to organize politically

How you will learn

This course is divided into five sections and takes about 10 weeks with 2-3 hours of work per week. Coursework includes readings, videos, discussion forums, ungraded knowledge checks, and reflection activities. We couldn’t see any graded assignments, but if there are any, these are limited to the certificate track. To receive a certificate, you must complete all Activities at the end of each section. When a class session ends, it’s no longer active and the materials are archived.

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#8. Fighting For Equality: 1950-2018 (ColumbiaX)

The last section in the “Women Have Always Worked” edX MOOC, this course examines how the Cold War reinforced ideals of the suburban, nuclear family. As a result, women’s progress to independence and equality was affected. The course explores the conflict between the breadwinner-homemaker system of beliefs, efforts for peace and gender equality, and the evolution of the feminist movement from the 1960s to today. Alice Kessler-Harris (R. Gordon Hoxie Professor of American History Emerita) and Nick Juravich (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow in Women’s History, New-York Historical Society) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the “woman citizen” during the Cold War era
• Explore women’s participation in social and political upheavals
• Describe second-wave feminism
• Understand the influence of gender, race, and sexuality on past and present electoral and advocacy politics

How you will learn

This intermediate course is divided into seven sections and takes about 12 weeks with 2-3 hours of study per week. It’s available to audit, but access to the course is temporary. Coursework includes videos, ungraded knowledge checks, discussion forums, and reflection activities. We couldn’t see graded assignments, but if there are, these are limited to students taking the certificate track. When the session ends, it’s no longer active and the materials are archived.

REGISTER HERE

#9. Understanding Gender Inequality (University of Exeter)

Gender equality and women’s empowerment is an important piece of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Campaigns (like the #MeToo movement) have made gender equality issues mainstream. This course explores the nature and consequences of gender inequality in the media, at home, and in the workplace. Students will learn what gender and inequality are, what’s been done to address inequality, what remains to be done. Lecturer Dr. Emma Jeanes teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the basic history, key terms, and concepts about gender and inequality
• Explore gender inequality in contexts like politics, the workplace, and at home
• Analyze media representations of gender inequality
• Discuss ways to challenge gender inequality

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and can be completed with three hours of work per week. Coursework includes videos, readings, discussions, and quizzes, which do not count toward your course score. With the audit track, your access is limited to four weeks. To earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid track. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.7/5 user rating.

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#10. Improving Equality and Diversity with Technology (The Creative Computing Institute)

This Expert Track (which contains three courses) gives students the tools they need to promote equality and diversity in their fields, whether it’s recruitment, user research, testing, marketing, and so on. You’ll learn how technologies can replicate gender stereotypes and racism, how to design inclusive approaches, and how to create diverse workplace cultures. Created by The Creative Computing Institute, experts like Charlene Hunter (CEO of Coding Black Females), Mark Martin (MBE, co-founder of UK Black Tech), and Andrew Mallinson (co-founder of Feminist Internet) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Describe gender-inclusive design
• Recognize racism within technology
• Discuss various approaches to diverse innovation
• Apply gender-inclusive and anti-racist approaches in your context

How you will learn

The Expert Track takes nine weeks total with four hours of work per week. It doesn’t appear that auditing is an option, though you can take advantage of the free 7-day trial to decide if these courses are right for you. Coursework includes videos, readings, and one peer-graded assignment per course. As an introductory track, no coding experience is required.

REGISTER HERE

The post 10 Courses on Gender Equality and Gender Equity appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

“Reproductive rights” let a person decide whether they want to have children, use contraception, or terminate a pregnancy. Reproductive rights also include access to sex education and reproductive health services. Throughout history, the reproductive rights of women in particular have been restricted. Girls and women today still face significant challenges. In places that have seen reproductive rights expand, protections are rolling back. Here are ten essential essays about reproductive rights:

“Our Bodies, Ourselves: Reproductive Rights”

bell hooks
Published in Feminism Is For Everyone (2014)

This essay opens strong: when the modern feminism movement started, the most important issues were the ones linked to highly-educated and privileged white women. The sexual revolution led the way, with “free love” as shorthand for having as much sex as someone wanted with whoever they wanted. This naturally led to the issue of unwanted pregnancies. Birth control and abortions were needed.

Sexual freedom isn’t possible without access to safe, effective birth control and the right to safe, legal abortion. However, other reproductive rights like prenatal care and sex education were not as promoted due to class bias. Including these other rights more prominently might have, in hooks’ words, “galvanized the masses.” The right to abortion in particular drew the focus of mass media. Including other reproductive issues would mean a full reckoning about gender and women’s bodies. The media wasn’t (and arguably still isn’t) ready for that.

“Racism, Birth Control, and Reproductive Rights”

Angela Davis
Published in Women, Race, & Class (1981)

Davis’ essay covers the birth control movement in detail, including its race-based history. Davis argues that birth control always included racism due to the belief that poor women (specifically poor Black and immigrant women) had a “moral obligation” to birth fewer children. Race was also part of the movement from the beginning because only wealthy white women could achieve the goals (like more economic and political freedom) driving access to birth control.

In light of this history, Davis emphasizes that the fight for reproductive freedom hasn’t led to equal victories. In fact, the movements driving the gains women achieved actively neglected racial inequality. One clear example is how reproductive rights groups ignored forced sterilization within communities of color. Davis ends her essay with a call to end sterilization abuse.

“Reproductive Justice, Not Just Rights”

Dorothy Roberts
Published in Dissent Magazine (2015)

Dorothy Roberts, author of Killing the Black Body and Fatal Invention, describes attending the March for Women’s Lives. She was especially happy to be there because co-sponsor SisterSong (a collective founded by 16 organizations led by women of color) shifted the focus from “choice” to “social justice.” Why does this matter? Roberts argues that the rhetoric of “choice” favors women who have options that aren’t available to low-income women, especially women of color. Conservatives face criticism for their stance on reproductive rights, but liberals also cause harm when they frame birth control as the solution to global “overpopulation” or lean on fetal anomalies as an argument for abortion choice.

Instead of “the right to choose,” a reproductive justice framework is necessary. This requires a living wage, universal healthcare, and prison abolition. Reproductive justice goes beyond the current pro-choice/anti-choice rhetoric that still favors the privileged.

“The Color of Choice: White Supremacy and Reproductive Justice”

Loretta J. Ross, SisterSong
Published in Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology (2016)

White supremacy in the United States has always created different outcomes for its ethnic populations. The method? Population control. Ross points out that even a glance at reproductive politics in the headlines makes it clear that some women are encouraged to have more children while others are discouraged. Ross defines “reproductive justice,” which goes beyond the concept of “rights.” Reproductive justice is when reproductive rights are “embedded in a human rights and social justice framework.”

In the essay, Ross explores topics like white supremacy and population control on both the right and left sides of politics. She acknowledges that while the right is often blunter in restricting women of color and their fertility, white supremacy is embedded in both political aisles. The essay closes with a section on mobilizing for reproductive justice, describing SisterSong (where Ross is a founding member) and the March for Women’s Lives in 2004.

“Abortion Care Is Not Just For Cis Women”

Sachiko Ragosta
Published in Ms. Magazine (2021)

Cisgender women are the focus of abortion and reproductive health services even though nonbinary and trans people access these services all the time. In their essay, Ragosta describes the criticism Ibis Reproductive Health received when it used the term “pregnant people.” The term alienates women, the critics said, but acting as if only cis women need reproductive care is simply inaccurate. As Ragosta writes, no one is denying that cis women experience pregnancy. The reaction to more inclusive language around pregnancy and abortion reveals a clear bias against trans people.

Normalizing terms like “pregnant people” help spaces become more inclusive, whether it’s in research, medical offices, or in day-to-day life. Inclusiveness leads to better health outcomes, which is essential considering the barriers nonbinary and gender-expansive people face in general and sexual/reproductive care.

“We Cannot Leave Black Women, Trans People, and Gender Expansive People Behind: Why We Need Reproductive Justice”

Karla Mendez
Published in Black Women Radicals

Mendez, a freelance writer and (and the time of the essay’s publication) a student studying Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science, and Women’s and Gender Studies, responds to the Texas abortion ban. Terms like “reproductive rights” and “abortion rights” are part of the mainstream white feminist movement, but the benefits of birth control and abortions are not equal. Also, as the Texas ban shows, these benefits are not secure. In the face of this reality, it’s essential to center Black people of all genders.

In her essay, Mendez describes recent restrictive legislation and the failure of the reproductive rights movement to address anti-Blackness, transphobia, food insecurity, and more. Groups like SisterSong have led the way on reproductive justice. As reproductive rights are eroded in the United States, the reproductive rights movement needs to focus on justice.

“Gee’s Bend: A Reproductive Justice Quilt Story From the South”

Mary Lee Bendolph
Published in Radical Reproductive Justice (2017)

One of Mary Lee Bendolph’s quilt designs appears as the cover of Radical Reproductive Justice. She was one of the most important strip quilters associated with Gee’s Bend, Alabama. During the Civil Rights era, the 700 residents of Gee’s Bend were isolated and found it hard to vote or gain educational and economic power outside the village. Bendolph’s work didn’t become well-known outside her town until the mid-1990s.

Through an interview by the Souls Grown Foundation, we learn that Bendolph didn’t receive any sex education as a girl. When she became pregnant in sixth grade, she had to stop attending school. “They say it was against the law for a lady to go to school and be pregnant,” she said, because it would influence the other kids. “Soon as you have a baby, you couldn’t never go to school again.”

“Underground Activists in Brazil Fight for Women’s Reproductive Rights”

Alejandra Marks
Published in The North American Congress on Latin America (2021)

While short, this essay provides a good introduction to abortion activism in Brazil, where abortion is legal only in the case of rape, fetal anencephaly, or when a woman’s life is at risk. The reader meets “Taís,” a single mother faced with an unwanted pregnancy. With no legal options, she researched methods online, including teas and pills. She eventually connected with a lawyer and activist who walked her through using Cytotec, a medication she got online. The activist stayed on the phone while Taís completed her abortion at home.

For decades, Latin American activists have helped pregnant people get abortion medications while wealthy Brazilians enter private clinics or travel to other countries. Government intimidation makes activism risky, but the stakes are high. Hundreds of Brazilians die each year from dangerous abortion methods. In the past decade, religious conservatives in Congress have blocked even mild reform. Even if a new president is elected, Brazil’s abortion rights movement will fight an uphill battle.

“The Ambivalent Activist”

Lauren Groff
Published in Fight of the Century: Writers Reflect on 100 years of Landmark ACLU Cases (2020)

Before Roe v. Wade, abortion regulation around the country was spotty. 37 states still had near-bans on the procedure while only four states had repealed anti-abortion laws completely. In her essay, Groff summarizes the case in accessible, engaging prose. The “Jane Roe” of the case was Norma McCorvey. When she got pregnant, she’d already had two children, one of whom she’d given up for adoption. McCorvey couldn’t access an abortion provider because the pregnancy didn’t endanger her life. She eventually connected with two attorneys: Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee. In 1973 on January 2, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that abortion was a fundamental right.

Norma McCorvey was a complicated woman. She later became an anti-choice activist (in an interview released after her death, she said Evangelical anti-choice groups paid her to switch her position), but as Groff writes, McCorvey had once been proud that it was her case that gave women bodily autonomy.

“The Abortion I Didn’t Want”

Caitlin McDonnell
Published in Salon (2015) and Choice Words: Writers on Abortion (2020)

While talking about abortion is less demonized than in the past, it’s still fairly unusual to hear directly from people who’ve experienced it. It’s certainly unusual to hear more complicated stories. Caitlin McDonnell, a poet and teacher from Brooklyn, shares her experience. In clear, raw prose, this piece brings home what can be an abstract “issue” for people who haven’t experienced it or been close to someone who has.

In debates about abortion rights, those who carry the physical and emotional effects are often neglected. Their complicated feelings are weaponized to serve agendas or make judgments about others. It’s important to read essays like McDonnell’s and hear stories as nuanced and multi-faceted as humans themselves.

The post 10 Essential Essays About Women’s Reproductive Rights appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Advocates go by many names and work in many fields. They’re found in legal, medical, educational, and social service systems. Depending on their role, advocates can support students, conduct research, develop public policies, represent clients in court, write grants, and much more. If you want a job dedicated to helping others, advocacy is a great career path to consider. Here are 10 careers that make a difference:

Victim advocate

When someone is the victim of a crime, it destabilizes their whole world. Victim advocates step in and provide assistance including but not limited to emotional support, information on legal rights and how the justice system works, help with safety planning, intervention with employers, and access to other resources. They work with a client through all the stages of the criminal justice process and are often needed afterward, as well. Advocates work in government law offices, medical institutions, social service organizations, law enforcement offices, and nonprofits.

Like many advocacy jobs, a victim advocate career can take a few paths. You’ll need at least an associate or a bachelor’s degree in a field like criminal justice, social work, human rights or psychology. There are certificates available, too, which when combined with a degree, can open up more job opportunities. Most people need at least 1-2 years of experience in social work (internships often count) before getting an entry-level victim advocate job.

Shelter advocate

Shelter advocates provide support during a crisis, usually to adult and child survivors of domestic violence. They work at domestic violence shelters and perform many supportive and administrative duties. Responsibilities include caring for the health of the client (emotional, physical, psychological), answering a crisis hotline and providing resources to callers, assisting with safety planning and orders of protection, and completing intakes for clients.

Most shelters require at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or another social services field. Previous experience working with survivors is also essential, either in a former job, as a volunteer, or as an intern. Shelter advocates should also have certain certifications to ensure a client’s safety, such as certification in basic first aid and CPR.

Guidance counselor

A safe, supportive school environment is essential for young people. Guidance counselors are advocates for K-12 students. Academics are a focus, but guidance counselors also work with kids on personal and social development. Responsibilities can include helping students with academics, identifying behavioral issues and recommending solutions, and providing training for school faculty.

Bachelor’s degrees in counseling, social science, or an education-related field are the best fit. Most schools also want their counselors to have a master’s degree in school counseling or a similar area. You’ll also need to complete an internship and pass any required exams for licensure or certification. To expand your job options, additional certifications in areas like mental health, career development and college admissions are a good idea.

Youth worker

Like guidance counselors, youth workers advocate for young people. They work in places like juvenile detention facilities, government offices, community centers, schools, and social service agencies. Workers educate kids on healthy behaviors, skills for employment, and skills for emotional regulation. They also advocate for programs and resources that serve kids. The challenges faced by youth workers vary. Sometimes, the kids they’re working with need minimal support and help, but often, the kids are struggling with more serious concerns like mental illness, addiction, abuse, and more. A youth worker based at a juvenile detention facility will have different responsibilities than a worker at a school.

Youth workers need at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like youth work or community studies. After graduation, you’ll most likely need either a postgraduate diploma (in youth work or community work) or a specialist certification. Volunteer work and internships provide necessary experience. Continuing education in the field of social work, behavioral health, and more will benefit a youth worker, too.

Mental health advocate

Those struggling with mental health issues often need help navigating their diagnoses, work, school, and other areas of their life. That’s where advocates come in. Mental health advocates work at a variety of organizations, including schools, hospitals, community clinics, and addiction treatment centers. Responsibilities include providing emotional support to clients, explaining treatment options, and helping them access other resources regarding their diagnosis. Advocates must understand things like health insurance coverage, the legal system, school policies, and whatever else may be relevant to the client. Advocates can also work with organizations destigmatizing mental health and/or lobbying for public policies that improve mental care access.

Organizations that hire mental health advocates ask for different qualifications. There isn’t a specific degree requirement, but if you want a managerial position, you’ll need a degree. Some places ask for a master’s degree in public health, social work, student affairs, or a similar field. For entry-level jobs, 2 or so years of experience in healthcare or social services are usually required.

Community health worker

Community health workers work with social services, nonprofit organizations, clinics, and other institutions to provide health-related care to a community. Trust is very important in this profession as community health workers serve as advocates for the people they serve. The majority of the time, community health workers are hired from within the communities. Responsibilities include providing health education, developing strategies to improve a community’s health, collecting data, and addressing community concerns. They often work alongside health educators.

Community health workers usually have at least a high school diploma, though some areas require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Some areas have certification programs available, too, though a community health worker may not require certification. On-the-job training is the norm, where you’ll cover outreach skills, information on the specific health topics you’re assigned to, and communication skills. Knowledge of multiple languages is also very beneficial.

Social media manager

In the age of the internet, a lot of advocacy happens on social media. That includes drawing attention to urgent issues, raising money for campaigns, and providing educational content. An individual activist can engage in advocacy and support themselves using platforms like Patreon, but many organizations hire people to manage their social media. Responsibilities include developing the organization’s brand, planning and scheduling content, and tracking the social media impact.

Because social media management is a fairly new career, organizations are flexible about what they’re looking for. Many managers have bachelor’s degrees in marketing, business, or related fields, but anyone with a lot of social media experience and a track record of engagement will appeal to employers.

Researcher

Before advocates and advocacy organizations can take action on issues, they need information. Research paints a clearer picture of the issues at hand, allowing organizations to develop the most effective strategies. Researchers are responsible for identifying research goals, identifying sources, gathering and verifying data, and organizing and reporting on their findings. They might also be in charge of analyzing the data in more depth, but not always. Researchers work at just about any organization, including nonprofit advocacy groups, governments, intergovernmental groups, colleges, medical institutions, and more.

Most researchers need a postgraduate degree in the field they want to work in. A master’s degree is usually the standard for entry-level jobs, while you need a doctorate for higher-level positions. Experience is important for this career, so you should work on research projects while a student.

Grant specialist

Many organizations engaged in advocacy depend on public and private grants. Grant specialists are responsible for researching and securing grants. These specialists understand an organization’s mission, what grants an organization is eligible for, and how to convince donors to give them the grants. They might also be responsible for distributing and monitoring the grant money. Colleges, universities, and nonprofit advocacy groups hire grant specialists the most. Specialists may be on staff at an organization or work as a freelancer.

To become a grant specialist, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree. English, communications, and marketing are common majors, but if you want to secure grants for specific causes, a background in that cause may be better. For example, if you want to secure grants for an organization advocating for police reform, a criminal justice degree could be more beneficial. To gain experience, look for internships or volunteer grant writing positions.

Immigration lawyer

Immigration law is complex. In many places, the law is not only confusing but also unfriendly or discriminatory towards immigrants and refugees. The process is very challenging, so people need strong advocates who understand the law. Immigration lawyers represent clients on cases involving student visas, green cards, temporary work visas, asylum, deportation, criminal proceedings, and more. The lawyer’s job is to advocate for their client, ensure they understand what’s going on, and get the best outcome possible. Immigration lawyers work in law large firms, small practices, and networks focused on immigration law.

To become an immigration lawyer, you’ll need a law degree. If possible, you should choose a concentration or specialization in immigration law. This won’t be required to practice law, but it better prepares you for your future career. As you’re completing your education, look for experience wherever you can, whether it’s internships, volunteering, or part-time work. When you take the final exam to become a lawyer, see if there is a certification in immigration law available. This appeals to both clients and prospective employers.

The post 10 Careers in Advocacy That Make a Real Difference  appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Inequity and inequality, which are words you’ll hear in discussions about human rights and social justice, are often used interchangeably. Though subtle, the differences are important to know. In this article, we’ll describe what inequity and inequality are and how they can be addressed.

Inequity and inequality: the definitions

Inequity refers to a lack of equity, which means “justice” or “fairness.” Where there’s inequity in a community, it means injustice, unfairness, and bias are being perpetuated. That might sound exactly like inequality, but inequities are what cause inequality. Let’s say two people have a heart attack. One lives in a city and reaches a good hospital quickly. The other lives in a rural area where healthcare quality is poorer. Because of this inequity, there’s an unequal outcome.

Another way to think about inequity versus inequality is that inequities are avoidable. Rural areas aren’t destined to have poor healthcare. Poor quality is due to factors like budget cuts, fewer physicians, fewer preventative screenings, and more. Inequality, on the other hand, may not be completely avoidable. Even if both patients got to a good hospital quickly, they wouldn’t necessarily have an equal health outcome due to factors like their age. It might not be possible to achieve total equality in society, but dealing with inequities removes avoidable barriers.

What causes inequity?

Continuing to use health as our framework, what are the causes of inequity? In a 2017 report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, researchers identified several main drivers: poverty, lack of public transport, exposure to violence, unemployment, low educational attainment, inadequate housing, and neighborhood deterioration. A person’s behaviors and choices also affect health, but research consistently shows that factors like physical environment, education, income, and so on predict health status.

What are the consequences of health inequity?

Health inequities lead to worse outcomes for many. Here are a handful of examples:

Unequal distribution of disease

The distribution of disease is one of the most glaring examples of health inequality in the United States. Heart disease, which includes any disease affecting the heart or the heart’s blood vessels, affects 30 million Americans. It’s the leading cause of death for both men and women. However, Black Americans are 30% more likely than white Americans to die from heart disease. Biology doesn’t explain a difference this significant. Rather, Black Americans are more likely to experience higher stress, live in food deserts, have less access to good medical care, and possess a distrust of the medical system due to past and current racism.

Higher maternal and infant mortality rates

Every year in the United States, around 700 women die due to pregnancy or complications with pregnancy. About ⅓ of deaths occur during pregnancy, over half occur during labor or the first week after, and the rest occur between six weeks and one year after labor. Because data collection and reporting aren’t the same in every state, even more women are likely dying. Black and Native women are more likely to die than white women. This isn’t inevitable. According to the report, “Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: An Overview,” most pregnancy-related deaths could be prevented. Infants born to women of color face similar challenges. Per infant mortality data from 2018, 10.8 Black infants per every 1,000 live births die, while 9.4 Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander infants die. That’s compared to 4.6 for white infants and 3.6 for Asian infants. The report specifies that “historic and ongoing racism and discrimination” play a role in these disparities.

Lower life expectancy

In a report by the Health Inequality Project using data from 2001-2014, researchers found that the richest Americans got three years added to their lives. The poorest Americans’ life expectancy didn’t change. That means the wealthiest American men live 15 years longer than the poorest men. The wealthiest American women live 10 years longer than the poorest women. This doesn’t mean that increasing a person’s income guarantees them a longer life – there are still other health factors – but when someone is poor, it affects things like how much education they get, what food they eat, where they live, the healthcare they can afford, and the level of stress they experience daily. These all have health implications, which have implications on life expectancy.

Less access to good mental health services

According to data from the American Psychiatric Association, Black Americans and the general population share similar rates of mental illness. However, there are stark disparities. Only ⅓ of the Black Americans who need mental health services get any. When they do get care, it tends to be lower quality. They’re less likely to be offered evidence-based medication therapy or psychotherapy. Black Americans with mental health conditions (especially bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) are also more likely to be incarcerated. There are a handful of reasons for these inequities, including a lack of good insurance and not many providers from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Distrust of providers is also present, which makes sense given how the medical system has historically harmed Black Americans.

How can society solve health inequity and inequality?

A systemic problem requires a systemic solution. A multi-pronged approach has the best chance of success. Since we’ve been focusing on the United States, here are some examples of what needs to be done:

Increased awareness among healthcare providers

Acknowledging the problem is the first step to addressing inequity and inequality. There’s been consistent research showing that discrimination drives unequal health outcomes. That discrimination often comes from the medical system itself. Racial and ethnic minorities and women are more likely to receive inaccurate diagnoses, poorer treatment, and less pain management. These experiences with the medical system – which are often traumatic – discourage people from going to the doctor and can lead to severe health consequences, including preventable deaths. Health Affairs, a leading journal on health policy research, recommends that medical providers increase their awareness of inequities. This includes bias training, hiring more interpreters and translators, employing equity officers, and actively pursuing more diverse pools of physicians and clinicians.

Investments in education

Research shows a link between educational attainment and health indicators, like life expectancy. There’s even an inter-generational link, meaning that a parent’s educational attainment affects their children’s health. As a person becomes more educated, they’re more likely to gain skills that affect health behaviors and qualify them for higher-paying jobs. As we’ve established, a person’s income has close ties to their health. The less education a person has, however, the more likely they are to struggle with health issues. Health also impacts education attainment. They reinforce each other for better or worse. If the United States wants to address health inequities, it needs to address inequities in education, as well.

Improvement of care

Even in places with enough medical providers, the quality may not be good enough. As an example, one working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Black patients were being taken to hospitals with lower survival rates. The report analyzed 20 years of Medicare data, looking at heart attacks. By 2010, the specific hospitals impacted half of the difference in survival rates, even among Black and white patients within the same zip code. To change things long-term, the quality of these hospitals need to improve. In the meantime, the study recommended that physicians provide data on the hospitals, so patients know which ones have better records. Ambulances could also be required to take patients to better hospitals.

Establishment of universal healthcare

Universal healthcare isn’t a magic bullet to inequality, but in the United States, it would be significant. Currently, the American healthcare system is complicated. It’s a mix of federal programs (like Medicare and Medicaid) and private insurance companies. Whether or not someone is employed (and what kind of job they have) ties to insurance coverage. In 2020, about 28 million people didn’t have health insurance at any point during the year. Based on 2018 data, of the people who were insured all year, 29% were underinsured. Addressing inequities through universal health coverage, which is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, would lead to better health outcomes.

Final thoughts

Addressing inequity is the only way to achieve equality. The definitions may seem too similar to matter, but when it comes to policy, the difference is crucial. Let’s consider a policy that prioritizes “equal” over “equitable.” In the United States, the Biden administration launched a program in January 2022 where Americans could get up to four free Covid-19 tests mailed to them. This is equality – every address gets four tests. However, the program did not take into account differences like multi-generational homes or people living with roommates. It also didn’t account for the higher likelihood that those most vulnerable to COVID-19 (and most in need of tests) live in multiple-person households. The program claims that the test limit is in place to ensure “broad access,” but an equitable program (which at the time of this article’s writing was not in place) should account for differences. This would actually ensure more access and therefore more equality.

Health inequity is just one example of the inequities facing the world. There are disparities in education, housing, legal rights, political representation, income, and more. To close the gaps and achieve equality, each issue requires action.

The post Inequity vs. Inequality: An Explainer appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Urbanization is on the rise. According to the United Nations Population Fund, more than half of the world’s population lives in towns or cities. By 2030, that number could reach 5 billion people. This is significant because inequality often slices cities into divisions of wealth and poverty. A human rights approach can address this problem and promote cities as spaces of equality, inclusion, and empowerment. When different stakeholders in a city – the local government, civil society, and private sector – come together to adopt human rights principles and laws, a human rights city is born.

The history of human rights cities

The impact of cities on human rights is not new considering how cities can be home to high levels of poverty, inequality, environmental decay, and so on. The organization the People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning (formerly known as the People’s Decade for Human Rights Education and still known by the abbreviation PDHRE) launched the more formal understanding of human rights cities. It was just after the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria, which represented a reinvigorated commitment to implement human rights instruments. The PDHRE’S Human Rights Cities initiative sought to mobilize communities to engage in dialogue and take action on improving life and security for people based on a human rights standard.

The first Human Rights City

Rosario is the biggest city in the central Argentinian province of Sante Fe and the third-most populous city in the country. Tourists are drawn to its centuries-old architecture in the neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco styles, as well as its many museums. Football legend Lionel Messi is from Rosario. In June of 1997, more than 100 people, including groups representing women, children, the academic community, and indigenous people, met with the municipality at City Hall. The executive director of PDHRE was there, too. The groups signed a proclamation committing to turn Rosario into a “human rights sensitive city” that would promote equity, peace, and respect for human rights.

Rosario drew up plans to implement the proclamation. All sectors of society were represented on a Citizen’s Committee, which began analyzing how human rights violations were connected and initiating neighborhood dialogues about a human rights framework. A sub-committee looked at the government’s obligations under international law and solutions to poverty, violence against women and the LGBTQ community, police brutality, poor education, and more. Human rights experts, educators, lawyers, and media members made a supporting volunteer group while trainings were held for and by police, judges, business people, teachers, and others. Specific principles guided the process: transparency, participation, accountability, reciprocity, and a commitment to eliminate poverty.

Other Human Rights Cities

Other areas embraced the concept of human rights cities. In 2000, Saint-Denis in France adopted the European Charter for the Safe Guarding of Human Rights in the City. In 2009, Gwangju in South Korea established a human rights municipality and in 2011, held the 1st World Human Rights Cities Forum. The event is held annually and is an essential gathering for the human rights cities movement. The forum defined human rights cities as “both a local community and a socio-political process in a local context where human rights play a key role as fundamental values and guiding principles.”

There are currently human rights cities in Asia, Africa, Europe, Canada, the United States, and Latin America. Examples include Timbuktu, Mali; Nagpur, India; Nuremberg, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Seattle, United States; and Winnipeg, Canada.

How do cities become “human rights cities?”

There is no standardized process for a city to become a “human rights city.” According to the Human Rights Cities Network, an online platform that promotes the development of human rights cities, there are two processes: an informal one and a formal one. The informal process is when a city promotes human rights at a local government level without officially labeling itself a “human rights city.” These cities embrace concepts like sustainability (“going green”), welcoming refugees, being inclusive to all genders and sexualities, and so on. The success of these cities varies widely; cities often make big promises they don’t keep. Some cities have embraced human rights agendas and implemented norms, but haven’t adopted broader declarations. Chicago, Illinois is one example. The City Council passed a resolution in 2009 supporting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For the formal process, a city announces itself as a “Human Rights City” and makes an official commitment. They often adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as their norm of governance and establish a process where the community and municipality cooperate on implementing a human rights approach. Implementing a specific human rights framework for governance sets true human rights cities apart from cities that enjoy a human rights label, but aren’t going to take real action. Every city’s process looks a bit different based on relevant issues, government structure, and so on. The key is that policies and governance center residents’ human rights as described in the UDHR.

The benefits of human rights cities

When taken seriously, human rights cities rely on a framework based on human rights principles like equality, participation, transparency, and accountability. This framework is essential because it guides decision-making on every level, ensuring a systemic shift in how cities conduct business. We can see these principles in the Gwangju Guiding Principles for a Human Rights City (2014):

• Non-discrimination and affirmative action
• Social inclusion and cultural diversity
• Social justice, solidarity, and sustainability
• Effective institutions and policy coordination
• Human rights education and training
• Participatory democracy and accountable governance

Let’s consider that last principle more closely: participatory democracy and accountable governance. Democracy, which is a structure that gives power to the people either directly or through elected representatives, creates the best environment for human rights to flourish. Why? Governance guided by a democratic human rights approach doesn’t allow an elite group to call the shots with no participation or accountability from the rest of the community. All city residents – not just a few – are involved in public policy-making and given the space to voice their interests and ideas. If the government fails in its responsibilities, mechanisms allow people to hold them accountable and prioritize (and empower) the most vulnerable. That’s an essential benefit to human rights cities.

Challenges that face human rights cities

Enforcing a human rights approach is arguably the biggest challenge facing human rights cities. It’s a problem consistent with human rights law and practice in general. While the United Nations represents the closest thing to a global enforcer, its powers are severely limited. The institution can draw attention to human rights progress and violations, but its ability to hold States and abusers accountable has earned the UN much criticism. There’s even less oversight of private actors like multinational corporations. Most enforcement falls to individual States and local governments, which often have scant resources or weak political will for strong human rights policies.

The lack of a standardized definition for human rights cities (an issue that Deklerck Jasmien discusses in their thesis Human Rights Cities: “Walking the Walk” or “Talking the Talk”) also makes enforcement a very tricky prospect. There aren’t clear measurements that determine whether human cities are successful. These limitations make it difficult to hold human rights cities responsible for their actions (or lack of actions) regarding human rights. This isn’t to say all human rights cities are doomed to fail. Some cities are better than others at establishing monitoring procedures and enforcement mechanisms, but again, without a clear definition and recognized standards, human rights cities won’t achieve the level of success supporters hope for.

Are human rights cities worth it?

While the values behind human rights cities aren’t new, the implementation is fairly recent. Is it worth the effort? Are the cities working? Let’s look at the city of Gwangju for a case study. Gwangju, South Korea has a history of oppressive governments. In 1980, government troops attacked university students demonstrating against the martial law government. A group of citizens armed themselves in what became known as the Gwangju Uprising. The event is recognized as a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism. Given the area’s history and track record of democratic movements, making Gwangju a human rights city made sense to many progressive residents. Human rights ordinances were established in 2007 and 2009. In 2010, the government established a human rights department. In 2011, the first World Human Rights Cities Forum took place.

According to a 2019 conference paper, human rights indicators show a steady improvement in the city’s human rights levels. Achievements in human rights education (which includes HRE for all government officials) are considered the city’s biggest wins. Issues remain, especially in housing, public safety, and school violence. The paper also points out problems with collaboration between the government’s different departments.

Gwangju has a blend of successes and limitations. That’s likely true for all human rights cities. Is the idea of the “human rights city” worth attempting? It is if it’s taken seriously. Human rights principles like democracy and accountability are essential to the long-term health and success of cities, which are home to billions. The Sustainable Development Goals can’t be achieved without cities, but cities first need to embrace a human rights approach.

The post What Are Human Rights Cities? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of people around the world. Human rights are critical for response and recovery. To promote, claim and defend human rights, you first need to know them. We have compiled a list of 10 top-rated online courses to learn more about human rights, social justice, UN diplomacy and related issues. You can audit the courses for free or opt-in for a paid verified certificate for an extra fee. If you plan to obtain a verified certificate by multiple universities, all courses below are included in Coursera plus.

Table of Contents

#1 Children’s Human Rights (University of Geneva)
#2 International Migrations: A global issue (Sciences Po)
#3 Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (Essec Business School)
#4 Social Norms, Social Change (University of Pennsylvania)
#5 International Organizations Management (University of Geneva)
#6 Global Diplomacy: The United Nations in the World (University of London)
#7 UN Sustainable Development Goals (University of Copenhagen)
#8 Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)
#9 Feminism and Social Justice (University of California, Santa Cruz)
#10 Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection (University of London)

#1 Children’s Human Rights (University of Geneva)

Millions of children experience emotional, physical, or sexual violence. Hundreds of thousands flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, and war. During precarious times and humanitarian emergencies child rights are often affected the most. In this course by Geneva University, you will analyze child rights instruments, explore protection mechanisms, and assess child rights interventions. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the course examines the rights of children from a variety of perspectives. The course is taught by leading experts in the sector of children’s rights from UNIGE’s Center of Child Rights Studies.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Identify human rights violations, and specifically child rights violations
• Outline key elements of the UN Child Rights Convention (CRC)
• Describe the UN monitoring mechanisms with regards to child rights
• Explain strategies to promote, defend and protect child rights

How you will learn

The self-paced course takes roughly 11 hours to complete and is focused primarily on video lectures, readings, and quizzes. To obtain a verified certificate, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. At time of writing the course was rated 4.7 out of 5 stars.

REGISTER HERE

#2 International Migrations: A global issue (Sciences Po)

More people than ever before live in a country they weren’t born in. People move. They always will. In this course offered by one of France’s leading universities, you will learn about international migration from a global perspective, with regional and local case studies. Throughout the course you will explore topics such as migration and development, statelessness, border controls, inclusion and exclusion, discrimination, and freedom of movement. Tackling a key human rights issue, the second week of the course is dedicated specifically to refugees and environmentally displaced persons. The course is taught by Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and consultant to the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define and use crucial terminology regarding migration, refugees, and displacement
• Outline challenges and complexities related to international migrations
• Describe the right to mobility as a fundamental human right

How you will learn

The self-paced course takes roughly 11 hours to complete and is focused primarily on video lectures, readings, and quizzes. To obtain a verified certificate, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. At time of writing the course was rated 4.7 out of 5 stars.

REGISTER HERE

#3 Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (Essec Business School)

The competencies to leverage diversity and facilitate inclusion are more than an asset. They are essential for UN entities, NGOs, governments, and companies alike. Entities that value diversity and inclusion attract more talent and achieve better outcomes. Being one of the top valued skills of employers and HR recruiters, this course provides you with easy access to develop knowledge and skills in this area. The course is hosted by Junko Takagi, Chair of Diversity and Inclusion at ESSEC Business School and features a diverse group of speakers from a variety of backgrounds.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Argue for the importance of diversity and inclusion
• Reflect on your own behaviors and reactions when experiencing diversity
• Outline key concepts of diversity and inclusion strategies
• Analyze and assess diversity and inclusion policies

How you will learn

The self-paced course takes roughly 9 hours to complete and features a broad variety of exercise types. Designed for active learning and engagement, learners will take part in peer-assignments, guided discussions, and complete quizzes. To receive a passing grade, you need to complete one evaluation quiz and two peer-graded assignments. The course was rated 4.7 out of five.

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#4 Social Norms, Social Change (University of Pennsylvania, UNICEF)

Social Change is the transformation of institutions, values, and behaviors. It’s essential for the realization of human rights and social justice. Offered through a partnership of UNICEF and University of Pennsylvania, this course explores how to eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other forms of gender-based violence. The course consists of two parts, focused on theoretical aspects and practical implementation. The course is taught by Cristina Bicchieri, Professor of Social Thought and Comparative Ethics.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Distinguish between different types of social practises
• Use a variety of tools to understand, measure and influence collective practises
• Create new beneficial norms and eliminate harmful ones
• Outline how issues such as child marriage and gender-based violence can be addressed

How you will learn

Both courses together take roughly 22 hours to complete. The lectures consist primarily of videos and readings. Each chapter of the courses also includes an optional discussion prompt. To receive a passing grade, learners must answer 70% of the quiz questions correctly. Learners rated the course 4.7 out of 5 stars.

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#5 International Organizations Management (University of Geneva)

Offered by the University of Geneva, International Organizations Management is a high-level introductory course to the structure, management and operations of the United Nations and other international organizations. Participants of the course will learn about important UN bodies such as the UN Security Council and the UN Secretariat, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The course is taught by eight instructors and the content is adapted from Geneva Universities’ MBA on International Organizations. The course is a useful starting point for individuals who aim for managerial positions at the United Nations, international NGOs, or social enterprises. Current managers who are interested in transitioning into a career with international organizations might also find the course beneficial.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Outline the theory and practice of international organizations
• Discuss the governance, structure, and mandate of the United Nations
• Assess the different types of leadership styles in the United Nations
• Identify challenges/opportunities involved in international organization partnerships

How you will learn

The entire course takes roughly 18 hours to complete and was rated 4.8 by previous cohorts of learners. To receive a verified certificate, learners must answer 80% of the questions in five quizzes correctly. The course mainly consists of video lecturers with additional reading materials and occasional optional guided discussions.

REGISTER HERE

#6 Global Diplomacy: The United Nations in the World (University of London)

Founded in response to the atrocities of the second world war, the main goal of the United Nations is to foster international peace and security, protect human rights and deliver humanitarian aid. To strengthen these goals the UN engages in diplomatic agreements, negotiations, and conflict resolution. Offered by the University of London, this course introduces the UN system, its bodies, functioning and mandate. Participants of the course will develop practical skills to analyze current UN affairs and explore important UN themes.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Outline the core values of the United Nations
• Differentiate between crucial UN bodies, their functioning and mandate
• Analyze the connection between human rights and the United Nations
• Recognize key UN agencies and their role in providing crises response

How you will learn

The self-paced course takes approximately 12 hours to complete and is taught entirely in English. To receive a passing grade, learners have to submit 5 peer-graded assignments on the UN today, the origin of the UN, the UN security council, human rights and crisis response.

REGISTER HERE

#7 UN Sustainable Development Goals (University of Copenhagen)

The 17 UN SDGs were created in 2015 to achieve a better and more sustainable future for everyone. They address global challenges including hunger, poverty, inequality, climate action, clean energy, and economic growth. University of Copenhagen’s course introduces the history, scope, and development of the UN SDGs. Learners will examine multiple key stakeholders involved in the implementation of the SDGs and discuss climate action (SDG 17) more thoroughly. The course is facilitated by Professor Katherine Richardson, who was a member of the panel appointed by the UN Secretary General to write the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report. Multiple other experts are featured throughout the learning experience.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Describe the history, development, and scope of specific UN SDGs
• Outline the causes and mechanisms of climate change
• Discuss human inequality as central obstacle to achieving the SDGs
• Explain the role of key stakeholders in the realization of the UN SDGs

How you will learn

Rated 4.8 out of 5 by previous learners, the course takes around 10 hours to complete. To receive a passing grade, learners must complete three quizzes and answer 80% correctly. Each week of the course consists of video lectures, readings, quizzes and discussion prompts.

REGISTER HERE

#8 Indigenous Canada (University of Alberta)

Indigenous peoples play an important role in the protection of the environment, fighting climate change and the realization of the human right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment. Yet they continue to face exclusion, marginalization, threats and worse. This course offered by the University of Canada explores indigenous worldviews and key issues indigenous peoples are facing in Canada. Participants of the course will learn about land claims, indigenous rights, and legal systems, as well as political conflicts and activism.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Outline the history of indigenous worldviews, arts, and culture
• Describe the goals and principles of indigenous legal systems
• Recognize the consequences of resource extraction of indigenous territories
• Explain the positive impacts of cross-gendered, third and fourth gender identity and two spirited individuals in indigenous societies
• describe the rights pertaining to land that UNDRIP addresses for Indigenous peoples

How you will learn

Learners in previous cohorts rated the course 4.8 out of 5. The course takes approximately 21 hours to finish. To successfully pass the course, learners must answer 70% of the questions in 12 short quizzes correctly. The course primarily consists of videos, readings, quizzes and offers the opportunity to engage in optional discussions every week.

REGISTER HERE

#9 Feminism and Social Justice (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Feminist and social justice activism continue to transform our societies. In this course taught by scholar-activist Bettina Aptheker you will learn about the history and development of feminism and social justice through analyzing essential case studies and key events. Taking an intersectional approach, you will discuss issues related to domestic violence, voting rights, racism, poverty, and prison reform.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Explain the definition of feminism and formulate your own definition
• Discuss the role of protests in feminism and social justice
• Analyze key events and case studies that changed our societies
• Assess the effects of contemporary movements such as the #metoo movement

How you will learn

Feminism and Social Justice takes approximately 8 hours to complete. The course includes videos, readings, quizzes, and optional discussion prompts. To receive a passing grade, learners must complete 4 quizzes and answer 80% of the questions correctly. Previous participants rated the course 4.8 out of 5 stars.

REGISTER HERE

#10 Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection (University of London)

Internally displaced people (IDPs) are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or war. Unlike refugees, they stay within the borders of their home countries because they are unable or unwilling to move to another country. In 2020, a record number of 55 million people were internally displaced. In this course by University of London you will learn about internal displacement as a major humanitarian challenge in today’s world and explore strategies to alleviate human suffering caused by internal displacement.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Outline the scale, causes and effects of internal displacement
• Reflect on IDP protection at global, regional, and national levels
• Describe challenges of IDP protection during conflicts
• Explain the role of advocacy in elevating issues of internal displacement

How you will learn

The self-paced course takes around 27 hours to complete. While the course offers videos, readings, and quizzes, it also includes peer-assignments. To successfully pass the course, learners must complete two quizzes and four peer-graded assignments. The course has been rated 4.8 out of 5 stars by previous learners.

REGISTER HERE

If you plan to obtain a verified certificate by multiple universities, all courses above are included in Coursera plus.

The post 10 Top-Rated Courses on Human Rights, Social Justice and UN Diplomacy  appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Research shows that diverse workplaces are more successful than homogenous workplaces. At the same time, diversity in the workplace can also cause more conflict. Why? Diversity isn’t a magic bullet for a productive, successful organization. There needs to be inclusion. Inclusive work cultures celebrate differences and commit to making the environment safe and welcoming to everyone. Here are seven tips on creating that kind of workplace:

#1. Make your vision clear

Employees (and potential employees) should understand the importance of inclusiveness right away. Websites, social media channels, workshops, and meetings should promote inclusion as a company value. Policies and practices need to back that up, too. Clarity and intentionality will draw new talent, strengthen trust, and guide an organization’s path to specific, effective steps to inclusion.

#2. Establish a D&I committee

Diversity and inclusion committees have four main responsibilities: advise on D&I efforts, integrate the initiatives through the whole organization, assess how effective the initiatives are, and ensure accountability. Membership should represent diversity in race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and age. All stakeholders – including employees at each level and senior managers – should have a place on the committee. Without a committee, it would be very difficult to develop inclusive practices that work and monitor how well practices are working. Successful D&I committees have full support from leadership, clear expectations, and the resources they need to track progress.

#3. Set goals and monitor progress

It’s one thing to say a workplace is inclusive, but without specific goals and a way to measure progress, inclusiveness will remain a pipe dream. Goals can include improved pay equity, a target number of attendants at internal trainings, or rewritten job descriptions with inclusive language. Collecting information is very important when monitoring progress, so companies should commit to high-quality data. Not all progress can be tracked or reported in the same way, but steps like regular employee surveys and other ongoing feedback help a workplace stay on track. The D&I committee plays an essential role in this process.

#4. Provide training to managers

Managers implement the policies and practices that turn a vision of inclusiveness into a reality. They demonstrate values, identify priorities, mentor other employees, and bring concerns to executive staff. If a company wants a more inclusive workplace, they need to make sure their managers are on the same page. This goes beyond simple discussions about inclusion; managers need diversity workshops, training on unconscious bias, cultural training, and more. Managers should receive consistent support, tools, and resources to help them build inclusiveness into their daily work routines. The role of a manager is difficult and while the benefits are clear, leading a diverse workforce comes with challenges. Providing high-quality, ongoing training to managers helps them – and the workplace as a whole – successfully create an inclusive culture.

#5. Promote inclusive language

When shaping a work culture, don’t underestimate the importance of language. Language – both spoken and written – drives communication. Certain words and phrases can confuse or clarify values and priorities. Promote gender-inclusive language, normalize pronouns in email signatures, and take harmful language seriously. Inclusive language can also mean avoiding company acronyms or clichés, which often aren’t accessible to new employees and employees from other cultures. Adjusting to more inclusive language can be tricky at first, but with practice, it gets easier.

#6. Ensure physical and digital accessibility

Navigating a workplace with physical barriers is challenging or even impossible for people with disabilities. Organizations should prioritize safety and comfort for everyone, which means having elevators, wheelchair ramps, wide hallways, and more. Many places require compliance to certain standards – like the Americans with Disabilities Act – but organizations can go further to ensure accessibility. That can mean having a home office budget, so remote workers can buy comfortable chairs, standing desks, or whatever else they need. Digital accessibility is another way to become more inclusive. Websites and other digital materials should support text and screen-readers and video captions.

#7. Encourage open communication and accountability

Organizations won’t hear about inclusion problems if people feel uncomfortable speaking up. The first step is making sure that expectations are clear. This is an ongoing process as new employees come in, policies are updated, and new practices are embraced. When problems arise – and there will always be problems – employees need to feel confident going to their managers. That trust is only gained when managers consistently respond with respect and accountability. A lot of organizations fail at this stage. They spend a lot of time creating practices and talking about inclusion, but when it comes to employee feedback and responding to issues, there’s a lack of understanding and action. Open, ongoing communication that’s rewarded with concrete accountability is a must.

The post How to Create a More Inclusive Work Environment appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action is an innovative master program that intertwines human rights and humanitarian action. It combines a blend of core social science practical and theoretical approaches and includes disciplines such as anthropology, history, sociology, and philosophy to human rights and humanitarians with ‘’an intent to deconstruct the intuitive familiarity between the two fields’’.

The goal of this program is to equip students with analytical skills to be able to deeply analyze issues, dilemmas and challenges related to the fields of human rights and humanitarian action. This intensive two-year program is divided into 3 semester and 1 semester away off campus for a purpose of completing an internship, master thesis, or an exchange study program at a partner university. During the program students attend the courses in international law, gender and human security, and learn about global and regional institutional actors and frameworks as well. Students are given an opportunity to develop their strategic skills that will be applicable in their future careers, including negotiation, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy.

After completing the program, graduates may consider a variety of careers including non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic corps and national administrations, international organizations, journalism, and law such as practicing lawyer.

Admission requirements

• For international students the assessment of application is conducted on a double analysis of the candidate’s application file, on a rolling basis over the course of the application campaign.
• The application process for French students is divided into 2 phases: an analysis of the candidate’s application file, and an oral interview conducted with an admissions committee.

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The Master of Human Rights offered by the University of Minnesota is an interdisciplinary program supported by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the College of Liberal Arts. It prepares students to tackle global human rights challenges through policy analysis, research, and advocacy.

This interdisciplinary program provides a substantive basis for students to methodologically approach the study and practice of human rights. During their studies, students have an opportunity to take courses offered by a variety of departments and schools that match their area of concentration. These courses are taught by leading human rights experts, scholars, thinkers, and activists. Furthermore, students are given an opportunity to complete a 400-hour non-credit internship which takes place usually between the first and second years of study. Students are assisted in finding appropriate internship placements by The Human Rights Program and the Humphrey School Office of Career. Besides an internship, students are given an opportunity to engage in research opportunities and emerge as leaders who can draw up on their knowledge and experiences to respond to complex challenges.

Admission requirements

• A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited US university or foreign equivalent
• CV
• English language proficiency certificate
• Previous coursework in mathematics, statistics, and economics is recommended
• Personal statement
• Diversity statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• Application fee (USD 75 for domestic students and USD 95 for international students)

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All around the world, people face prejudice because of their gender. Prejudice put into action is an attack on human rights, including the right to life and safety, the right to housing, the right to education, to healthcare, to decent work, and so on. When most people hear “gender prejudice,” they assume it refers only to the still-prevalent bias against women and girls. However, gender prejudice also negatively affects trans people and people outside the gender binary. It’s an intersectional issue.

What is gender?

Gender isn’t the same as sex. Sex refers to attributes like chromosomes, gonads, and anatomy. Medically speaking, a person can be born as either female, male, or intersex. Even these definitions are not fixed and there can be variations that make blanket statements about sex inaccurate. Gender, on the other hand, is a social construct. People can identify with the gender that society typically associates with their sex (cisgender) or they might not (transgender). Some don’t identify with the binary at all. Terms vary and shift with time, but anything that expands beyond a binary interpretation of sex, gender, and personal identity challenges societal norms.

What does gender prejudice sound like?

Gender prejudice can be overt or subtle. Learning to recognize what it sounds and looks like is the first step to ending it and the discrimination that follows. Here are three common statements that reveal gender prejudice:

“Women are more emotional than men.”

The idea that women are more emotional and men are more rational is a long-standing assumption in society. For years, this justified keeping women out of politics and the workplace, as well as treating them more like children than adults. Because of a woman’s emotions and alleged tendency to be “hysterical,” men were tasked with decision-making, conducting business, working in government, and so on. Even today, stereotypes about emotions affect women’s ability to get good healthcare, be taken seriously at work, and get elected into political office. Anger is an especially off-limits emotion for women.

Seeing emotions as “womanly” and rationality as “manly” hurts boys and men, too. Many boys grow up believing that “real men don’t cry,” which forces them to suppress their feelings. This leads to issues like anxiety and depression. In fact, while more women report suicidal thoughts, men are more likely to die by suicide. The reasons for difference are complex, but it could mean that many men are not reporting their suicidal thoughts due to the fear of being emotionally vulnerable. Research leans toward the conclusion that men and women are both emotional creatures. One study published in Nature followed 142 men and women over 75 days. After tracking their daily positive and negative emotions, the study found that the men’s and women’s emotional stability was more similar than different. This points to the idea that any differences in emotion between men and women are the result of socialization and gender prejudice.

“She was asking for it.”

This statement is frequently expressed in one way or another after a woman is assaulted. It blames the attack on the victim based on any number of factors, such as what she was wearing, if she’d been drinking, if she stayed out too late by herself, or if she’d engaged in sexual activity before. Even people who don’t intend to blame victims often play into this belief by focusing rape and assault prevention on what the potential victim needs to do, such as never leaving her drink unattended, always staying with a group, and so on. There’s little focus on the perpetrators of violence and their choices. The fear of victim-blaming prevents many from reporting attacks.

Consistently ignoring perpetrators affects other victims of gender-based violence, such as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The “gay panic” or “trans panic” defense is a legal strategy that seeks to dismiss crimes because perpetrators felt threatened or went temporarily insane because of the victim’s gender or sexuality. These victims were, according to perpetrators, essentially “asking for it.”

“That’s women’s/men’s work.”

The belief that work should be distributed by gender persists. It excludes women from leadership positions and roles that require physical strength, while stigmatizing men in roles traditionally occupied by women like domestic and caretaking work. Believing that only women should do certain work – work which often pays lower wages – leads to real effects on women, their families, and the economy as a whole.

Gendering certain kinds of work also impacts how much unpaid labor women are responsible for. According to an ILO report, on average around the world women spend 3.2 times more time than men on unpaid work. There is no country where this labor is split equally. This affects women’s ability to participate in the economy. When certain work is seen as “women’s work,” it loses value due to gender prejudice and affects everyone in those roles, regardless of their gender.

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In 1945, the United Nations was established as a replacement to the League of Nations. The intergovernmental UN has many responsibilities, including maintaining peace and security, developing good relations between nations, promoting international cooperation, and more. It’s the world’s largest international organization. In 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, laying the groundwork for universal human rights and human rights law. The UN system is complex and multi-faceted. Here are five courses exploring the UN and different aspects of its mission:

Social Norms, Social Change

From: the University of Pennsylvania + UNICEF
Time to complete: 4 weeks (13 hours total)

This course explores social norms, which are the rules that hold societies together. Students learn to identify basic concepts and definitions, like conditional preferences, social expectations, and social norms. How they’re different from social constructs like customs is also explored. Over 4 weeks, students will learn why distinguishing social norms is so important for effective policy interventions, as well as how to create new norms and eliminate harmful ones. Many examples are given, such as the norms that lead to behaviors like gender violence and child marriage. “Social Norms, Social Change” is part 1 of a series. Part 2 puts what students learned in part 1 into practice.

No prerequisites are required for this beginner course. The weekly work commitment ranges from 2-5 hours. The course takes 13 hours total spread over 4 weeks.

Global Diplomacy: The United Nations in the World

From: The University of London + SOAS University of London
Time to complete: 7 weeks (12 hours total)

A great choice for anyone interested in the UN, this course introduces the UN “family,” its history, and its key functions. Students will explore major UN themes while developing analytical policy-based skills and communication. Weekly topics include how the UN Security Council works, the place of human rights in international politics, and how the UN responds to crises. By the course’s end, students will have a thorough understanding of the UN, up-to-date research and perspectives, and the ability to discuss the UN.

No prerequisites are required. With a weekly commitment of 2 hours (the first week is just 1 hour), students should complete the course in 7 weeks. The last week (“Where Next for the UN?”) is optional.

The Sustainable Development Goals – A Global, Transdisciplinary Vision for the Future

From: The University of Copenhagen
Time to complete: 3 weeks (about 10 hours total)

One of the UN’s main goals is achieving international cooperation by solving international problems. Launched in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals consist of 17 interlinked global goals – like ending poverty – to build a “better and more sustainable future for all.” In this course, students get a historical overview of sustainability, an intro to the SDGs and how they’re measured, and why they’re relevant to humanity. Students also learn about the stakeholders involved in the SDGs.

As a beginner class, no prerequisites are required beyond an interest in the UN and SDGs. The class takes 3 weeks with a 3-hour weekly study commitment.

International Organizations Management

From: The University of Geneva
Time to complete: 6 weeks (about 18 hours total)

This course takes students through the inner workings of international organizations and the United Nations, and how business and management tools apply to them. Each week focuses on a different facet of international organizations, such as leadership in the UN system, public-private partnerships, and marketing and fundraising. By the course’s end, students will have an understanding of international organizations, the challenges they face, and effective management tools and principles.

“International Organizations Management” is offered by the International Organizations MBA of the University of Geneva, a program geared toward change-makers in NGOs, international organizations, and social ventures. No prerequisites are required. Spread over 6 weeks, the course takes about 18 hours to complete.

The Changing Global Order

From: Leiden University
Time to complete: 7 weeks (about 30 hours)

In this course, students learn how international power relations are changing and how international and regional organizations contribute to global peace and security. Research on the ability of international organizations and actors to prevent and respond to violent conflict is explored, as well as what tools are used. Organizations examined include the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council. By the course’s end, students will understand critical concepts and why studying international relations is part of global peace and stability.

“The Changing Global Order” is an intermediate class, but there aren’t any specific prerequisites listed. A basic understanding of international organizations and the UN system will no doubt be helpful. Course sections are spread across 7 weeks for a total of 30 hours.

The post 5 United Nations Courses You Can Audit for Free appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Description

The Master of Laws (LL.M) in Human Rights Programme (‘Programme’) was established in 1999 in response to the growing demand for knowledge about human rights in the Asia-Pacific region.  The Programme focuses on human rights issues of global concern, including in the Asia-Pacific region, and aims to foster an active learning environment.

The diverse range of courses enables students to 1) understand the international human rights legal framework, 2) reflect on key human rights challenges from global, regional, and domestic perspectives, and 3) apply their knowledge to advocate for real change.  The curriculum covers human rights law but draws on other disciplines such as history, politics, philosophy, and sociology to ensure the law is understood in context.  It also has a clinical option so students can apply what they learn in practice.

Teachers include renowned experts in the field from around the world including eminent scholars, judges, United Nations (UN) human rights mandate holders, and heads of non-governmental organisations.

We attract students from a broad range of backgrounds including lawyers, judges, the staff of national human rights institutions and NGOs, journalists, doctors, scholars, government officials, and many others.  This diversity has enriched the learning experience and contributed to a vibrant international alumni network.

Scholarships

Pam Baker Scholarships in Human Rights (for local applicants); and
Wong Family Scholarships (for applicants from jurisdictions outside of Hong Kong, especially within the Asian region).

Please click on the live links above to access the latest version of the online application forms.

Course Syllabus

To complete the curriculum for the degree of Master of Laws in Human Rights, a candidate shall satisfactorily complete 72 credits in the case of a full-time study in one academic year, including a capstone experience, or 36 credits in the case of a part-time study in each of the two years of study, including a capstone experience.

Candidates are required to complete two 9-credit compulsory courses, at least one capstone experience, and elective human rights courses (the list of course offerings is available at https://course.law.hku.hk/llmhr/) or no more than two courses from other LLM specialist programmes.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must comply with the General Regulations and fulfil at least one of requirements (1) to (3) below AND (if applicable) requirement (4):

(1) hold a degree of Bachelor of Laws with at least second class honours or an equivalent qualification accepted by the University for this purpose; or

(2) hold a degree in a discipline other than law with at least second class honours accepted by the University for this purpose and have at least two years of relevant experience and professional qualifications; or

(3) have obtained either the Common Professional Examination of England and Wales or the Common Professional Examination Certificate of this University, provided that in either case a second class honours degree or a qualification of equivalent standard of this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose has also been obtained; and if applicable:

(4) for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the Faculty English language requirement with one of the following recognized English tests:

i. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – an overall band score of 7 or above with no subtest below 6.5; or

ii. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – 97 or above (internet-based test)

In each case, for admissions purposes, the test score report is regarded as valid for two years of the application deadline.

Subject to satisfying these entrance requirements, applications are considered for admission based on factors including the applicant’s academic record, their relevant experience, academic and other references, the quality of their personal statement, and other information as validly provided in a submission; and in view of submissions received from other applicants and taking into account any admissions quota. 

Apply here

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The Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action is an innovative master program that intertwines human rights and humanitarian action. It combines a blend of core social science practical and theoretical approaches and includes disciplines such as anthropology, history, sociology, and philosophy to human rights and humanitarians with ‘’an intent to deconstruct the intuitive familiarity between the two fields’’.

The goal of this program is to equip students with analytical skills to be able to deeply analyze issues, dilemmas and challenges related to the fields of human rights and humanitarian action. This intensive two-year program is divided into 3 semester and 1 semester away off campus for a purpose of completing an internship, master thesis, or an exchange study program at a partner university. During the program students attend the courses in international law, gender and human security, and learn about global and regional institutional actors and frameworks as well. Students are given an opportunity to develop their strategic skills that will be applicable in their future careers, including negotiation, monitoring, evaluation, and advocacy.

After completing the program, graduates may consider a variety of careers including non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic corps and national administrations, international organizations, journalism, and law such as practicing lawyer.

Admission requirements

• For international students the assessment of application is conducted on a double analysis of the candidate’s application file, on a rolling basis over the course of the application campaign.
• The application process for French students is divided into 2 phases: an analysis of the candidate’s application file, and an oral interview conducted with an admissions committee.

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The LLM (which is an abbreviation of Legum Magister or Masters of Laws) is a postgraduate law degree. Students and professionals often earn an LLM to specialize in a specific field, like human rights. With this degree, a person can show law firms they have advanced legal training and can work in many legal environments. With a specialization in human rights, a lawyer can work on social justice issues, challenge structures that aren’t enforcing human rights law, and protect the rights of the vulnerable. Here are 5 LLM human rights programs you can obtain online:

LLM International Human Rights Law

The University of Law

This postgraduate online degree focuses on building a student’s in-depth knowledge of the subject and how international law protects human rights. It covers topics like the general principles of international human rights law, the connection between humanitarian and human rights law, and the challenges and future of international and domestic human rights. Full-time, the program takes 12 months. Part-time takes 21 months. Modules are assessed by a 3-hour written exam (which must be taken at one of the UK campuses or approved overseas center) or a written coursework assignment. A 15,000-word thesis is also required.

To apply, students need a UK undergraduate degree (any subject) at 2:2 or above, or an equivalent qualification. Proven English proficiency is needed, as well.

LLM with a specialization in human rights

University of London

The University of London is known for its research and teaching on human rights law. The LLM program consists of 16 modules from 4 courses. Each module takes about 115 hours. To earn the human rights specialization, you need to complete 12 modules (three complete courses) from that specialization. The specialization prepares students to work with government, inter-government, and corporate organizations on issues like human rights, immigration, women’s rights, and more.

The program can be completed within 1-5 years depending on your schedule. Courses include the International Rights of the Child; Medical Law and Ethics; The European Convention on Human Rights; and the United Nations Protections of Human Rights. Each module ends with a written exam. There are no oral exams or dissertations required. To apply, you must have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) where 50% of the units taken were law-related. You can also be admitted with an advanced law degree or admission into legal practice by a governing organization. English proficiency is required.

LLM in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Aberystwyth University

This distance learning degree has students examine traditional human rights and humanitarian law subjects and new issues, like the regulation of international society. Studies cover the local, national, and international complexities. The program balances an academic approach with practical concerns. Students gain expertise in human rights with this mixture of practical and theoretical studies, as well as exposure to a wide range of human rights and humanitarian law subjects. Modules are subject to change but include topics like Contemporary Issues In Food Policy and Law, Law and Gender, and International Criminal Law. Assessment involves coursework essays (120 credits) and a 60-credit dissertation on a chosen topic.

To apply, students must have a 2:2 Bachelors (Honours) or an equivalent in law or related social science degree. English proficiency is also required (IELTS 6.5 with a minimum 5.5 in each component or an equivalent). The program takes between 2-5 years.

LLM in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

American University Washington College of Law

In 2015, this LLM became the first hybrid program of its kind with virtual and on-residence courses in Washington, D.C. You also have the option to study in-residence and online only. Students learn practical knowledge from experts in the field, including judges and presidents from international and regional courts, UN special rapporteurs, members of UN human rights committees, and civil society leaders. Virtual courses consist of 2-hour live classes with discussions. Course examples include Advanced Human Rights and Asylum and Refugee Law. To complete the LLM, students need 24 credit hours: 12 in specialized courses, 6 externship credits, and 6 independent studies credits.

To apply, students must have a JD from a US law school accredited by the American Bar Association or a first degree in law from an equivalent foreign law school. International applicants must meet an English Language Proficiency Requirement, as well.

LLM in Transnational Crime and Justice

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

This LLM organized by UNICRI and the University for Peace teaches professionals and university graduates about international law, transnational crimes and transitional justice, humanitarian law, and international human rights law. Students will gain expertise in the theoretical and practical aspects of the subjects; unique insights into the UN and other organizations; and an understanding of how international criminal tribunals and courts work. There’s a distance learning phase and a residential phase at the UN Campus in Turin, Italy. During the Graduation Project at the end of the residential phase, students take part in a Moot Court simulation.

To apply, students must have at least a 3-year university degree in law, political science, social sciences, international relations, criminology, or a relevant academic subject. Full proficiency in English is required.

Explore more human rights masters here.

The post 5 LLM Human Rights Programs That Are Available Online appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Learn more about environmental justice, environmental law, and environmental threats in these courses from leading institutions

Environmental justice is the principle that all people – regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status – have the right to a healthy environment. Unfortunately, many people face severe environmental threats like pollution, improper waste disposal, toxic emissions, and more. As the effects of climate change grow worse, environmental justice has become a more widely-known concept. If you’re new to environmental justice, you may have questions like what communities are affected the most and what does environmental justice look like in practice? In this article, we’ve compiled seven online courses covering topics like environmental justice and health equity, environmental law, organizing for solutions, and more. Courses can be audited for free, though you can also get a verified certificate for a fee.

#1. Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy (The University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill)
#2. Human Health Risks, Health Equity, and Environmental Justice (University of Michigan)
#3. International Climate Change Law and Policy (NewcastleX)
#4. Environmental Challenges: Justice in Natural Resource Management (University of Leeds)
#5. Creating Sustainable Solutions to Complex Environmental Threats (University of Maryland)
#6. Thawing Permafrost: Environmental Justice in the Arctic (Woodwell Climate Research Center)
#7. Housing Justice: A View From Indian Cities (Indian Institute for Human Settlements)

#1. Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy (The University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill)

Not sure what environmental law and policy entail? In this course, you’ll get a thorough introduction to the basics, including how to read cases, how to apply legal principles, what the strengths and weaknesses of using the court system to address environmental problems are, and more. Topics covered include the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act; the role of risk in environmental law and policy; and whether current systems of environmental law are good enough. By the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the legal structures surrounding pollution, water law, endangered species, toxic substances, environmental impact analyses, and environmental risk.

Donald Hornstein (Aubrey L. Brooks Professor of Law) teaches the course. He’s been featured as one of the United States’ best law teachers and has represented environmental organizations before the U.S. Supreme Court. “Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy” takes about 14 hours to complete over 6 weeks. There are no prerequisites, so it’s a good course even if you have no background in law.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Human Health Risks, Health Equity, and Environmental Justice (University of Michigan)

This course is the last part of the Impacts of the Environment on Global Public Health Specialization, which explores how human contact with the environment influences public health outcomes. The four courses introduce the field of environmental health sciences. “Human Health Risks” covers environmental justice and risk assessment and management. By the end, you’ll be ready to explain environmental health threats, understand who is most at risk, and use the risk assessment and management framework to examine human health risks.

Dr. Richard Neitzel teaches the course. He’s an exposure scientist, a Certified Industrial Hygienist, and an associate professor in environmental health sciences. While this course is the last part of a specialization, no prerequisites are required. On its own, the course takes about 4 weeks or 17 hours total.

REGISTER HERE

#3. International Climate Change Law and Policy (Newcastle University)

This law course explores the international laws and policies targeted at climate change, including the 2015 Paris Agreement. You’ll cover topics like the evidence for climate change, the international frameworks and policies, and the Standard-Price-Approach. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to analyze and apply Environmental Economics theory, analyze the causes of climate change, and show intercultural awareness and sensitivity to other nation’s social and economic perspectives. It’s a great course for people working in the environmental and resources sectors, public policy, sustainability consulting, and government sectors.

Elena Aydos (Senior Lecturer), Sven Rudolph (Associate Professor at Kyoto University), and Christopher Kellett (Professor) teach the course. With 2-3 hours of work per week, the course takes about 4 weeks to finish. While there are no prerequisites, this course is intermediate, so you’ll benefit from some background knowledge or experience in law and/or economics.

REGISTER HERE

#4. Environmental Challenges: Justice in Natural Resource Management (University of Leeds)

Every culture in the world values justice, but equality is still very difficult to achieve. In this course, you’ll explore three aspects of justice and apply them to natural resource management around the world. Topics covered include the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Terms of Reference, the difference between economic approaches, and major figures like John Rawls and Douglass North. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to explain Arrow Impossibility and the problems with collective decision-making; discuss institutional economics and transaction costs; and produce a Terms of Reference for Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Jon Lovett, who is Chair of Global Challenges at the School of Geography, teaches the course. He also works on institutional economics. This course is a great choice for anyone interested in environmental justice. No prerequisites are required. With 5 hours of work per week, the course takes just 2 weeks. It provides 14 hours of CPD time, though you’ll need to pay for a certificate to verify you’ve completed the course.

REGISTER HERE

#5. Creating Sustainable Solutions to Complex Environmental and Societal Threats / Stakeholder Collaboration: Organizing for Environmental Justice and Equitable Solutions (UMD, USMx, UMCES)

Creating Sustainable Solutions to Complex Environmental and Societal Threats is a program that provides you with a professional certificate in Environmental Project Management: Co-Creating Sustainable Solutions. There are three courses, including “Stakeholder Collaboration: Organizing for Environmental Justice and Equitable Solutions.” In this course, you’ll learn about trans-disciplinary approaches to co-designing complex environmental solutions. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to identify the different stakeholders involved in environmental management projects; create a shared vision; work with different engagement tools; and manage conflict.

There are four instructors for both the program and specific course: Richard Arnold (Director of STEM Engagement), William Dennison (VP for Science Application), John Johnson (Professional Programs Manager), Bill Brantley (Faculty), and Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen (Science Integrator with the Integration and Application Network). If you take all three courses, the program takes 4 months with 3-5 hours of work per week. The “Stakeholder Collaboration” course, which is intermediate, takes 5 weeks. There are no prerequisites, so you can take the course by itself.

REGISTER HERE and HERE

#6. Thawing Permafrost: Science, Policy, and Environmental Justice in the Arctic (Woodwell Climate Research Center)

Climate change has transformed the Arctic, which is now warming at more than three times the global rate. This has a severe effect on permafrost, which is soil frozen solid for years at a time. What happens when this permanently frozen ground thaws? This course discusses the threats thawing permafrost poses on people, ecosystems, the land, and infrastructure. Topics covered include the policy responses, Indigenous-led adaptation frameworks, and the global permafrost carbon feedback loops. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to discuss what permafrost is and why it thaws, the impact thaws have, why emissions from thawing permafrost should be part of the world’s climate targets, and how to support Indigenous-led frameworks.

Brendan Rogers and Susan Natali teach the course. Brendan is an Earth System scientist at Woodwell and deputy lead of the Permafrost Pathways project. Susan is the Woodwell Arctic Program director, Senior Scientist, and leader of the Permafrost Pathways project. This course benefits policymakers, environmental justice advocates, and anyone who wants to learn more about permafrost thaw. With 2 hours of work per week, the course takes 4 weeks to complete.

REGISTER HERE

#7. Housing Justice: A View From Indian Cities (Indian Institute for Human Settlements)

Environmental justice and housing justice are closely linked. In this course, you’ll learn about the different approaches to housing justice, which include material, ecological, social, and spatial approaches. While it uses Indian cities as its main example, you’ll learn more about housing justice on a global scale, too. Topics covered include adequate housing, rental housing, collective action, and modes of action. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to meaningfully discuss housing justice frameworks and concepts, analyze housing justice in light of your own experiences, and clearly outline your own ideas and views on housing justice.

Swastik Harish and Gautam Bhan teach the course. Swastik is a consultant whose research focuses on housing for the urban in India, heritage planning and management, data visualization, and urban infrastructure provision. Guatam is the associate dean for the School of Human Development with research experience on displacement and resettlement of the urban poor in Delhi, regimes of urban welfare and social security, and more. With between 1-4 hours of work per week, you can complete the course in 7 weeks. There are no prerequisites.

REGISTER HERE or READ OUR REVIEW

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Not so long ago, it was fairly unusual to find human rights studies at universities. People working in human rights came from a variety of educational backgrounds, like law, history, philosophy, or economics. However, human rights weren’t often discussed or brought into other types of workplaces, at least intentionally. Things are much different now. More and more people are interested in working in human rights or bringing a human-rights approach into their field. Many universities now offer interdisciplinary human rights programs that give students a strong foundation to build on. While a specific major may not be required to work in human rights or social justice spaces, human rights programs open up more opportunities. Here are five examples of the majors offered by top universities:

Barnard College (all women’s college)

New York City, New York

The human rights program at Barnard College provides basic skills and insights for students interested in human rights activism. As an interdisciplinary program, it’s studied alongside a major with a disciplinary or area studies focus, such as American Studies, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Women’s Studies, Religion, and so on. This gives students a joint major. The Barnard program works closely with the Human Rights Program at Columbia College.

During the program, students learn about the four fields of intellectual inquiry in human rights studies: the laws, institutions, and principles of social justice; the data on human rights; the analysis of human rights; and the response or remedial strategies. To complete the program, students must complete one introductory course, two Core courses, three related courses, and a senior thesis.

Trinity College

Hartford, CT

This program was the first human rights program at a United States liberal arts college. Both a major and minor are available. Like most programs of this kind, the college takes an interdisciplinary approach. Students will take courses in departments such as Philosophy, History, American Studies, Anthropology, and Economics. With such a variety of course selections, it’s easy for students to tailor their major in an area of their interest.

To major in human rights, a student will take 10 courses (three Core courses and seven electives) and complete a senior project. Courses change frequently, but some examples include classes on post-colonial women’s writing, human rights advocacy, global radicalism, and abolition history. Internships and study away opportunities are also available.

Columbia College

New York City, New York

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia College hosts the undergrad human rights program. Students will strengthen their knowledge, skills, and commitment to human rights both in and outside the classroom. Academic and extracurricular activities, special resources, and other opportunities are available for undergrad human rights students.

To obtain the major in human rights, students complete 10 courses with a seminar as one of the distributional or specialization courses. For the distributional requirement, students need to take one course in three of four categories, such as politics and history, social and economic processes, and political theory and philosophy. For the specialization requirement, students take four courses within one department or institute. Departmental honors are also available for students that meet certain requirements.

Malmö University

Malmö, Sweden

This 3-year bachelor’s program takes a multi-disciplinary approach. Students will learn about human rights through the perspectives of law, politics, and philosophy. This covers human rights from the ground up: what role do human rights have in international law? How do governments and communities address human rights? Why do human rights matter? With this program, students are equipped to work in many sectors of the human rights field, the business world, and/or to study further at a master’s or doctorate level.

The syllabus can change year to year, but to give you an idea of what to expect, the Autumn 2022 coursework includes introductions to human rights; the environment and human rights; global justice; children’s rights, and so on.

Carleton University

Ottawa, Canada

The Human Rights and Social Justice B.A. at Carleton University provides students with an overview of historical and modern human rights issues, as well as how they impact humanity within different cultural contexts. Students will critically examine and assess human rights instruments used to address issues, as well as social movements, challenges, and the future of human rights. The program relies on five frameworks: Critical Principles; Human Rights Laws and Institutions; Political Repression: Marginalized Groups; and Social Justice.

To earn the standard B.A. in Human Rights and Social Justice, students will need to complete 15 credits. As an interdisciplinary program, you’ll take classes in departments like Political Science, Philosophy, and Law. The program is also available as an Honors and Combined Honors program.

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Because of their ever-expanding power and influence, businesses can significantly help or harm human rights. Issues like child labor and forced labor remain prevalent, making organizations that focus on economic justice, sustainability, and the right to decent working conditions so important. Here are ten organizations offering jobs in business and human rights:

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI)

This UK-based independent body monitors the supply chains of member NGOs and companies. To remain a member, all companies must commit to the ETI Base Code of labor practice, which is modeled after the International Labour Organization’s standards. Through trainings and programs, ETI guides companies on how to implement the code and improve supply chains.

ELEVATE

ELEVATE is an independent sustainability and supply chain services provider. It provides sustainability and supply chain assessments, consulting, program management, and analytics. To meet the needs of every client’s supply chain, they develop social responsibility programs. Their ELEVATE Responsible Sourcing Audit Standard serves as their code of conduct. They work around the world. Careers are available in fields like analytics, corporate and IT, and program management.

The Consumer Goods Forum

Led by CEOs, the Consumer Goods Forum is the only organization bringing together consumer goods retailers and manufacturers. The group collaborates with other key stakeholders to increase consumer trust and fuel positive change. There are many challenges in the industry involving environmental issues, social sustainability, health, and more. As part of their work to address these challenges, The Consumer Goods Forum establishes coalitions on areas like human rights. That coalition’s main purpose is to end forced labor and foster fair and decent working conditions.

Ceres

This nonprofit organization aims to transform the economy and create a just, sustainable future for everyone. Using a network of global collaborators (investors, nonprofits, and companies), Ceres works on economic and policy solutions. Areas of focus include climate change, water protection, and inclusive economies. In their Roadmap for Sustainability, the organization lays out how companies should protect human rights.

The United Nations Global Compact

The UN Global Compact is the world’s biggest corporate sustainability initiative. It boasts 13,000 corporate participants and stakeholders in more than 170 countries. The mission? Further the ten principles in global business activities (which include the protection of human rights and elimination of forced labor) and support the broader UN goals, like the Sustainable Development Goals. Because the Compact doesn’t have the power to regulate, it serves as a discussion forum and network for governments, companies, and other organizations to communicate.

Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)

Founded in 2009, this leading international think tank aims to “shape policy, advance practice, and strengthen accountability” so human rights are a part of everyday business. IHBR has established free-standing organizations and initiatives, such as the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and the Centre for Sports and Human Rights. Areas of focus include global supply chains, inequality, climate change, and other emerging human rights issues. IHBR produces reports, briefings, and other commentary.

The International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)

This coalition of human rights groups focuses on corporate accountability in the United States. They identify and promote frameworks for accountability, call for the strengthening of current measures, and defend existing policies and laws. Organizations like Amnesty International and Earth Rights International lead the Steering Committee. Work includes removing corporate influence from government, protecting free speech and the right to protest, and preventing corporate human rights abuses. ICAR is a project of the Tides Foundation.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

An independent and international nonprofit organization, the Centre works in partnership with Amnesty International and leading academic institutions. It’s built an online library that documents the activities of more than 4,500 companies around the world. Through Regional Researchers, briefings, and contact with companies accused of human rights violations, the Centre empowers advocates and strengthens corporate accountability.

Shift

Shift is an independent, nonprofit center focused on human rights and business. The team was involved in the creation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; now they help businesses put those principles into action. They also support governmental action on human rights protection. Shift’s goal is to “build a world where business gets done with respect for people’s dignity.”

SOMO (The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)

An independent nonprofit research and network organization, SOMO has operated since 1973. It works on social, ecological, and economic issues connected to sustainable development. Research areas include economic justice; natural resources; rights, remedy and accountability; and sustainable supply chains. While based in Amsterdam, SOMO works closely with civil society organizations worldwide. It provides custom services (research, training, advice, and analysis) to international nonprofits and governmental organizations wanting to meet their sustainability goals.

The post 10 Organizations Offering Jobs in Business and Human Rights appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Most young professionals enter a NGO career through studying a degree, volunteering or joining an internship program. Networking often plays an important role as well. Here are five steps that will increase your chances to start a career in an NGO:

#1 Get a master’s degree

Do you really need a degree to start a career in an NGO? The short answer is: yes. Most NGO jobs require a master’s degree in a relevant subject. Some NGO job descriptions outline that they accept a bachelor’s degree with several years working experience in lieu. However, most NGO careers are highly competitive and several hundred applications per job are not unusual for larger organizations. With this fierce competition and automated systems ranking the applications in some instances, it can be difficult to reach the recruiters if you don’t entirely fulfill or exceed the requirements. Without a master’s degree, it might also be more difficult for you to advance in your career later. Mid-career and senior-level positions very frequently require a master’s degree. While your marks really don’t matter to most employers, one very important task during your studies is to make friends. A good network of supporters can significantly increase your chances of success later in life.

• If you are a young professional: Study a master’s degree
• If you are a mid-career professional with several years of experience: Consider a part-time master program or a short master’s program

#2 Complete relevant trainings

Many international organizations and NGOs offer trainings that are relevant to start a career in an NGO. The easiest way is to take an online course in a relevant subject area such as Human Rights, Health or Social Justice. Trainings and online courses will equip you with the relevant terminology and a basic understanding of how NGOs work and what they do. This will help you during your job applications and interviews. Beyond that, online courses, workshops and trainings can help you explore and discover your own interests. It’s essential for a purpose-driven career, that you actually care about the cause. Other options to complete relevant trainings include taking part in events, workshops or summer/winter academies.

• Take part in online courses to improve your skills and knowledge
• Take part in events, workshops and summer/winter academies

#3 Get a paid internship

Ironically, many internships in the NGO sector are still unpaid. But if you aim for a proper career in the NGO sector or don’t have the financial means to work for free, unpaid internships aren’t an option. It also won’t impress any recruiters if you did one unpaid internship after the other. Therefore, we have listed a variety of organizations offering paid internships on our website to save you time exploring your options. To get the best out of your internship, be humble, supportive and openly communicate to others about what your career goals are. You want them to think of you and let you know, when an opportunity comes up. Support your working colleagues and contribute to solving challenges and issues they face. This way you build trust with them and they will advocate for you when new jobs are available. Don’t be afraid to take on responsibility. You are here to learn and its okay to make mistakes. If you can put in some extra hours to learn faster, explore innovative ideas and excel in your tasks, do it. One thing organizations hope to gain from paid interns is indeed fresh ideas and new (outside) perspectives.

• If you are an early career professional: Apply for paid internships
• If you are a mid-career professional: Apply for paid internships or consider slightly more advanced options such as traineeships and fellowships
• If you are a senior-level professional: You might want to skip this step and instead aim to develop transferable skills in your current job that you can later put emphasis on when you apply for NGO jobs.

#4 Tailor your application materials

With hundreds of people applying for one NGO job, your application materials need to be excellent. Spelling mistakes are a reason to be screened out quickly. Beyond that, you need to tailor each application to the job you are applying for. Clearly outline how you meet the requirements. Demonstrate how you were able to perform the required tasks in the past. The recruiters will more likely consider you, if they can see that you can easily grow into the role from your previous internships or experience. Most importantly, spend time exploring the organization’s website, mission, language, goals, mandate, structure, team, programmes and language. Using the same terminology as the organization will literary convey that “you speak the same language”.

It can also be useful to break down your application materials in different content elements that you can re-use and adjust for future applications. You can use the different elements to highlight skills or experiences that are particularly relevant for the job you apply for. Developing excellent application materials is normally a long-term task. Don’t hesitate to contact your friends, family, colleagues, fellow students or previous lecturer to ask for input.

NGO recruiters rarely have much time. They often aren’t only recruiting but have dozens of other tasks such as conducting trainings, managing the well-being of staff, organizing events and more. Scanning applications might be a small percentage of their daily work. For this reasons, recruiters normally don’t read the entire application at first and only skim-read the application initially to reduce the number of candidates they have to choose from. A good structure is paramount to leave a good first impression and increase your chances to get shortlisted. Also avoid any extraordinary visual features. Recruiters prefer simple, plain formats that are immediately clear.

#5 Apply for NGO jobs

All NGOs have in common that they work for social change and the community. There are many websites where you can search for NGO jobs. The largest NGO job boards are reliefweb and idealist. However, you might also want to consider niche job boards such as Human Rights Careers or AidBoard. Below is a more extensive list of job boards that could be useful for you.

• Idealist
• Reliefweb
• Human Rights Careers
• AidBoard
• NGO Job Board
• Impactpool

We have published more articles that can help you launch your NGO Career. Check them out below:

• 10 human rights organizations offering entry level NGO jobs
• 10 Tips for a Great Human Rights Cover letter
• 5 NGO Courses You Can Take Anywhere, Anytime

The post How Can I Start a Career in an NGO? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Many human rights jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but for those committed to a career in this field, a graduate degree is a wise idea. After a human rights graduate program, you’ll have more knowledge, more opportunities, and more access to high-level jobs working on issues like poverty, gender equality, human rights law, and more. Here are ten human rights graduate programs to consider:

Human Rights MA (Columbia University)

The Institute for the Study of Human Rights offers the Human Rights Studies MA. It’s an interdisciplinary program focusing on human rights theory and practice. The Institute and departments like History, Sociology, and Political Science host classes. Students can also take classes offered by the other schools at Columbia, like the law school. There are 30 credits in the program, which can be taken part-time or full-time.

Master of Human Rights (Curtin University)

This master’s program prepares anyone interested in human rights for work in the field. It uses theoretical and practical learning methods to analyze modern institutions, political development, social movements, and more. To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in the arts/humanities, psychology, education, law, journalism, health, or social work. If you have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, you should have one year of paid or unpaid work experience. The full-time program takes 1.5 years.

Master of Human Rights (University of Minnesota)

This 2-year program at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs offers classes at a variety of departments and schools. Instructors teach students the practical knowledge and theoretical knowledge of human rights. To graduate, students need to take 45 credits, complete a 400-hour non-credit internship, and complete a capstone project or professional paper.

MA In International Human Rights (University of Denver)

Offered by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, the MA in International Human Rights includes a handful of method and theory courses. Core courses cover methods and skills, human rights, and international studies. Specializations include human rights themes, economic development and health rights, regional focuses, and more. The program takes 2 years to complete.

European Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation (Global Campus of Human Rights)

This 1-year, full-time course provides students with a multi-disciplinary study of human rights and democratization. Academics representing different EMA participating universities – as well as representatives from NGOs – prepare students to work in human rights organizations and research institutions. The program is open to just 90 candidates from EU and non-EU countries. You must have a university degree related to human rights and a certified knowledge of English.

The Master’s Programme in Governance and Human Rights (Leuphana University of Luneburg)

A 2-year distance learning program, this master’s program educates students on the theory and practice of governance and human rights. Over seven modules, students will design and complete their own project addressing a challenge related to governance and human rights. Project-based learning is essential to this program. Students come from everywhere, so the program is supported by online resources, technical infrastructure, and distance-learning staff.

Arab Master in Democracy and Human Rights (Global Campus of Human Rights)

This program is designed for students interested in the field of democratic governance and human rights in North Africa and the Middle East. It’s coordinated by St. Joseph University and supported by partner universities from the area. Students take an intensive advanced course that combines action and policy-oriented approaches. The first semester is held in Beirut, while the other is at a participating university.

Theory and Practice of Human Rights (University of Oslo)

Offered by the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, this 2-year program earns students a master of philosophy in the theory and practice of human rights. Students must complete nine courses and a written master’s thesis. There are a variety of courses to choose from, as well as five mandatory courses. By the program’s end, students will be prepared to work in the human rights field, pursue an academic career in human rights, and work with various human rights institutions.

The LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (Global Campus of Human Rights)

This 1-year intensive course is open to only 25-30 students each year. For six months, students study in Pretoria at the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria, South Africa) and then the next six months at one of the partner universities in Africa. Students will earn an LLM/MPhil degree when they’ve completed the program. Graduates also become members of the HRDA Alumni Association. It is open to students from African countries with law degrees or an Honours degree in a discipline aligned with human rights and democratization.

MA in Applied Human Rights (University of Applied Arts Vienna)

Taught in English, this 2-year, full-time MA program requires students to take 120 ECTS. It was established in 2020 as a response to the current human rights challenges presented by digitalization, neoliberalism, and globalization. Using an interdisciplinary approach, students examine the legal and diplomatic practices of human rights, as well as the impact of culture and art in promoting human rights. Students will be ready to work in the human rights field or take their knowledge into the arts and culture space.

The post 10 Human Rights Graduate Programs For Your Consideration appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Interested in working for an NGO in London? While competitive, working in London can be a very rewarding experience that provides great networking opportunities. In this guide, let’s explore why London is a great location, what organizations are offering jobs, and how to land an NGO job in the city.

Why work for an NGO in London?

For years, many leading NGOs in human rights and humanitarian aid have established headquarters in London. Save the Children, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Anti-Slavery International, and Oxfam are just a few. With so many major organizations in the city, a person can gain valuable NGO experience, build network relationships, and access more career opportunities. London is also one of the most multicultural cities in Europe with more than 300 languages represented. Employees for NGOs can expect a diverse working and living environment.

What human rights issues do NGOs in London focus on?

London-based NGOs work on local and international human rights concerns. Locally, a big change came in the form of the UK leaving the European Union on January 31, 2020. That, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected human rights. Already vulnerable people bore the brunt of challenges related to health, housing, domestic violence, and discrimination. According to Amnesty International’s 2020 breakdown on the UK, the intersection of racial injustice, the effects of the pandemic, and police powers was also an issue. NGO jobs focusing on the London/UK area will no doubt prioritize these specific issues while internationally-focused ones continue human rights work on a global scale.

Which organizations offer NGO jobs in London?

There are many NGOs offering work in London. Here’s are some of the most prominent:

Amnesty International

Amnesty International has a country office and its main headquarters in London, making this organization a great choice if you’re based in London or hoping to move there. This international NGO first focused on abolishing the death penalty and torture, but has since expanded its priority issues to include deadly force and police accountability; gender, sexuality, and identity; climate justice; and technology. AI uses a “three-pronged approach” focusing on research, mobilization of activists and members, and advocacy.

Save the Children UK

Founded in 1919 to help children in the aftermath of the war, Save the Children UK is one of the world’s leading independent organizations for children. Not to be confused with the United States Save the Children nonprofit, the Save the Children Fund (or Save the Children UK) has its international headquarters in London. The umbrella organization has 29 national member organizations working in 122 countries. Activities are coordinated with a central body – Save the Children International – which also oversees humanitarian aid. The organization focuses on food, medicine, and medical care.

Médecins Sans Frontières UK

Also known as Doctors Without Borders, this organization has an office in London. MSF focuses on crisis response, including running various healthcare projects (short-term and long-term), responding to climate emergencies, running emergency logistics, and more. The organization works in more than 70 countries.

Other NGOs in London

The Equal Rights Trust – fights discrimination and promotes equality

Human Rights Watch – research and advocacy on human rights

ActionAid UK – focuses on women and girls in poverty

Anti-Slavery International – the world’s oldest international human rights organization that focuses on ending slavery and related human rights violations

The Refugee Council – provides support for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

How to get an NGO job in London