Between 1910 and 1970, around six million Black Americans moved from the Southern states to the Northern, Midwestern and Western parts of the country. According to experts, it’s one of the largest movements of people in the nation’s history. Why did so many people move? In this article, we’ll explore the history of this phenomenon, which is known as “The Great Migration.” We’ll also examine its causes and the most significant facts about this six-decade period.

The Great Migration refers to the period of 1910-1970 when around six million Black Americans moved from the South to the North, Midwest, and West. This movement was a response to the racial violence, discrimination and limited opportunities of the American South, and while the other parts of the country offered the hope of safety and better jobs, systemic racism remained a problem.

What’s the history of the First Great Migration?

Historians divide the Great Migration into two parts. World War I sparked the First Great Migration, which is believed to have lasted from 1910-1940. As fighting in Europe broke out, white men left to join the military, while immigration from Europe stalled. Factories, especially those in the North and Midwest, needed new workers, but thanks to bans on hiring people of color from other countries, recruiters didn’t have a lot of options. According to information from the National Archives, Black people began to move North in 1910 in search of job opportunities and freedom from the Jim Crow system of the South.

Things weren’t always safer in the North. In 1919, around 500,000 Black Americans had moved to Northern cities, but many of their white neighbors weren’t happy. When Black veterans returned home from WWI, they were often mistreated. Racist sentiments reached their peak during the Red Summer of 1919. Mobs of white people began attacking Black people. Some riots got so violent that President Woodrow Wilson had to send out troops. Washington D.C., Virginia and Chicago saw some of the worst violence, but Black people defended themselves and refused to be driven from their new homes.

What’s the history of the Second Great Migration?

According to the National Archives, the Second Great Migration began at the start of World War II and ended around 1970. Because of the war, the expanded defense industry needed more workers, and once again, many Black Americans from the South took the opportunity this presented. After the war ended, migration steadily continued. Millions of Black Americans moved North, as well as West into cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland

The biggest difference between the First and Second Migration is where people moved. During the First Migration, the vast majority of people moved to Northern and Midwestern cities. During the Second, a lot more people moved West to pursue jobs in the defense industry. California, which had just 50,200 Black Americans living in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland in 1930, experienced an increase to over 250,000 in just 20 years.

What caused the Great Migration?

At the dawn of the First Great Migration, life was very difficult for Black Americans living in the South. While the Civil War had ended slavery, the United States faced an uncertain future. According to the Library of Congress, the Reconstruction era (1866-1877) was meant to ease the South back into the Union and define how white and Black people could live together. While many worked to ensure full equality and freedom for the recently freed Black population, many Southerners and even Northern leaders resisted. While they couldn’t enslave Black people again, they searched for other ways to discriminate and erase the handful of gains in voting rights, land ownership and employment. The Jim Crow laws, which have origins as early as 1865, codified a system of racial apartheid that oppressed Black people. Here are some of the effects of the Jim Crow system:

• Made it much harder to vote thanks to “the grandfather clause,” which stated that men could only vote if their ancestors had been voters before 1867
• Required more difficult literacy tests only for Black voters
• Legalized racial discrimination in movie theaters, hotels, restaurants and other public spaces
• Segregated public schools and underfunded schools for Black students
• Restricted Black workers to certain professions
• Banned interracial marriage

Restricted economic opportunities and racial segregation weren’t the only causes of the Great Migration: racial violence was also prevalent. Between 1882 and 1968, the NAACP recorded 4,743 lynchings, although with no formal tracking system, it’s difficult to know just how many people were killed. Most lynchings occurred in Mississippi, while Georgia and Texas had high numbers, as well. While some Black people were lynched based on often false allegations of robbery, murder and other crimes, many weren’t even accused of doing anything illegal. Life in the South could be terrifying, so it only made sense to move North in hopes of a better life.

The Jim Crow system is one of the clearest examples of systemic racism. While these laws no longer exist, systemic racism is still a problem in many places.

What facts should everyone know about the Great Migration?

The Great Migration covers 60 years of history, but here are five critical facts everyone should know:

#1. The North offered better, although still limited, economic opportunities

Many Black Americans left the South to flee racial violence, but they were also hoping for better job opportunities. Before WWI, jobs in the North were few and far between, which was why there wasn’t a larger migration earlier. However, the war changed things, which made the region more appealing. According to a 1987 article in Monthly Labor Review, many Americans who traveled North at this time remembered hearing about job availability from friends and family who’d already moved. The jobs weren’t always ideal as many Black Americans were only offered the jobs white people didn’t want to do. Many Black migrants worked as servants, janitors, cleaners and so on. While the jobs didn’t pay much and many unions didn’t allow Black members, the jobs were still better than what could be found in the Southern states.

People who moved during the Great Migration wanted their civil rights protected and respected. Check out our article on what civil rights are and why they matter.

#2. Finding good housing was a big challenge

While leaving the South gave Black people an escape from Jim Crow laws, the rest of the country wasn’t exactly welcoming. Housing could be especially hard to secure, and while segregation wasn’t the law of the land, many white neighborhoods did not want Black people. Black Americans were often forced to live in the worst parts of a neighborhood despite issues like overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. The practice of redlining, which denies people access to credit based on where they live, began in 1934. The group responsible for redlining, the Federal Housing Administration, decided that home loans couldn’t be “economically sound” if Black people were living in a neighborhood. Their reasoning, which was based on pure racism, was that property values would decline. The Fair Housing in 1968 banned discrimination in mortgage lending and real estate, but the legacy of redlining still reverberates to this day.

#3. The Great Migration changed the political landscape of the US

Millions of Black Americans moved out of the South during the Great Migration. A movement this large always has political ramifications. What were the effects of the Great Migration? The biggest is that while Black Americans were severely restricted from voting in the South, moving to the North gave them more voting rights. According to an article published online by Cambridge University Press, this led politicians to adapt their existing approaches and appeal specifically to Black voters. The article’s author, Keneshia N. Grant, argues that the increased presence of Black migrants made Black voters essential to presidential campaign strategies after WWII. This would mark a huge shift in electoral politics. While once the interests of Black people were ignored or actively fought against, they now had more power.

#4. The Great Migration and the Civil Rights Movement are closely linked

Many historians believe the Great Migration helped fuel the Civil Rights Movement, which was an intense period of civil rights activism that ran from 1954-1968. As Black people moved North and gained more rights, their influence on politics and culture on a national scale also expanded. The Harlem Renaissance is a key example. During this era (1918-1937), Harlem, New York became the center of Black culture, creativity and artistry. It was closely linked to civil rights organizations like the NAACP, Black labor unions and prominent activists. The Harlem Renaissance had a major impact on Black literature and thought around the world. While it was hardly the only spark for the Civil Rights movement, it played a key role made possible by the Great Migration.

#5. A new Great Migration is happening now

Something interesting has been happening in the United States. According to data from Brookings and other sources, many Black Americans are moving to the South in a reversed Great Migration. It began in the 1970s right at the end of the Second Great Migration, and increased in the 1990s as more Black people began leaving Northern and Western cities. Areas in Texas and Georgia grew. Why? The North changed. The jobs in industry that had once attracted Black Americans disappeared, while the impact of redlining and underfunded neighborhoods took its toll. The South was recovering, too, which made a return more economically advantageous. According to Pew Research, 56% of Black people lived in the South in 2021, while 17% lived in the Midwest/Northeast and 10% lived in the West. What will be the long-term impacts of the new Great Migration? It remains to be seen.

Learn more about racial justice and anti-racism with these online courses.

The post The Great Migration: History, Causes and Facts appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

“NGO” stands for “nongovernmental organization.” The United Nations Charter, written in 1945, was the first document to include the term. While vague, the text established NGOs as nonprofit groups independent from governments. Today, the term NGO has an even more flexible meaning, but nongovernmental organizations play a vital role in today’s world. They’re dedicated to causes like fighting poverty, achieving gender equality, preserving natural habitats and much more. In this article, we’ll describe 15 of the biggest NGOs in the UK, which is home to some of the world’s oldest and largest charities.

#1. Amnesty International

Headquartered in London, Amnesty International is a global nongovernmental advocacy organization. It was founded in 1961 to support political prisoners, but it has since expanded to promote awareness of all human rights. Areas of focus include armed conflict, child rights, the death penalty, torture and police brutality. The NGO works through research, advocacy and lobbying, and campaigns and action. As an international organization, Amnesty International works in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. Information on current campaigns, donations, volunteer opportunities and careers can be found on the website.

#2. Anti-Slavery International

Founded in 1839, Anti-Slavery International (then called the Anti-Slavery Society) was the project of abolitionists committed to ending slavery worldwide. While the Transatlantic slave trade is over, modern slavery remains a persistent problem. Anti-Slavery International works to free everyone from slavery by raising awareness, acting as an ally to survivors and those at risk of slavery, and working on laws, policies and practices that keep everyone safe from slavery. Its 5-year priority areas include ending child and youth slavery, responsible business, migration and trafficking, and slavery and the environment. The NGO focuses on capacity building, collaboration, learning and influencing. You can find more information on impact, accountability and ways to take action on the website.

#3. British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation is a cardiovascular research charity. It funds around £100 million in research every year, making it the largest independent funder of research in this field. Its goal is to reduce deaths caused by heart and circulatory diseases by more than half. By 2030, the NGO hopes to see advances across diseases, including better prevention and better, longer lives for those with existing conditions. To learn more about the foundation’s work, visit its website for resources on donations, careers and other ways to take action.

NGOs address issues like poverty, gender inequality, climate change and more. Here are 15 examples of the social issues facing the UK.

#4. British Red Cross

The British Red Cross Society is the UK’s branch of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. In the UK, the NGO offers mobility support, cost of living support, refugee services, UK emergencies and international services. It also conducts research, advocacy and education. The Red Cross also operates charity shops and an online store. Visit the NGO’s website to learn more about donations, fundraising, volunteering and jobs.

#5. ChildHope

Established in 1989, ChildHope works toward a world where children are free from abuse and injustice. Priorities include street-connected children, child labor, modern slavery, early marriage, gender equality and so on. Its projects focus on improving math education, harnessing community action to fight against trafficking, and providing water sanitation and hygiene. The NGO’s approach is based in local partnerships and collaboration. To learn more about ChildHope’s work, leadership and finances, visit the website.

#6. Equal Rights Trust

Established in 2007, The Equal Rights Trust fights discrimination and promotes equality as a basic human right and principle of social justice. In 2008, the NGO worked with 128 experts from over 40 countries to launch the Declaration of Principles on Equality. Since then, the NGO has conducted research and established projects that support civil society movements. According to its website, the Equal Rights Trust is the only international organization focused exclusively on the right to equality. It has identified four gaps in protection, implementation, application and practice that must be addressed. You can find information on donations, partners and opportunities on the NGO’s website, as well as reports and a copy of the Declaration of Principles on Equality.

Check out our article on 10 online courses on fighting inequality and discrimination.

#7. Macmillan Cancer Support

In 1911, after his father died of cancer, Douglas Macmillan founded the Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer. The organization has changed its name a few times – it became Macmillan Cancer Support in 2006 – but its mission has remained consistent. It provides practical, emotional, physical and financial support, raises money, runs advocacy campaigns, performs research and much more. In 2022, the NGO reached around 2 million people living with cancer and raised more than £221. The website offers reports, resources and information on jobs.

#8. National Alliance of Women’s Organisatons

The National Alliance of Women’s Organisatons (NAWO) was founded in 1989. It’s an umbrella organization under which 100 organizations and individuals work to ensure women’s access to their human rights. Membership includes specialist organizations, faith groups, health centers, arts organizations and more. The group uses a Four Nations approach, performs research on the best strategies, builds alliances and works with young women to develop a Young Women’s Alliance. Information on the group’s members, campaigns and reports can be found on the website.

#9. Oxfam UK

Established in 1942, Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charities focused on ending global poverty. Priority areas include climate change, women’s rights, water, food and emergencies. Oxfam UK was also home to many charity shops, though many have closed following a sexual abuse scandal. The shops have traditionally offered a variety of goods like clothing and books. Its current campaigns focus on climate justice, a call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, and equality. Information on donations, Oxfam’s work and impact can be found on the charity’s website.

Check out our article in 5 essays about poverty.

#10. Save the Children

Established in 1919, the UK-founded Save the Children Fund works to improve the lives of children around the world. It operates around the world on priorities like education, health, hunger, children’s rights and emergencies. Through its programs and over 600,000 supporters, it’s helped 45 million kids across the 115 countries it works in. The organization also has general consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council. You can visit the website to learn more about the NGO’s impact, finances and donation opportunities.

#11. SolarAid

Founded in 2006, SolarAid is a London-based international charity working to fight poverty and climate change. Through its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, it provides access to solar lights in Zambia and Malawi. The charity also has partner organizations in Uganda and Senegal. Because of this approach, the money is reinvested back into SolarAid’s work and the local economy. Agents reach rural communities with safe, affordable, and clean solar lights, which can replace candles and kerosene lamps. SolarAid has distributed 2.3 million worldwide, reached 12 million people with light and averted 2.4M tonnes of C02 from the atmosphere. Learn more about the charity’s impact, partnerships and careers on the website.

#12. The Aegis Trust

The Aegis Trust campaigns to prevent genocides around the world. It’s based at the UK’s National Holocaust Centre but has its largest presence in Rwanda, where it established the Kigali Genocide Memorial. In the UK, the trust provides the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Genocide Prevention. Other activities include research, evidence-based policy and advocacy, genocide remembrance, education and more. Its website offers educational resources and ways to get involved.

#13. The Refugee Council

The UK-based Refugee Council works with asylum seekers and refugees. Every year, the NGO works with over 13,000 women, men and children seeking safety in the UK. Its services include crisis advice, mental health counseling and practical support. The Refugee Council also advocates on behalf of asylum seekers and refugees. Its research examines emerging issues, provides evidence for change and works with decision-makers to influence policy. Supporters can participate in campaigns, donate money, organize fundraisers and so on. The charity’s website also offers information for those seeking assistance.

#14. WaterAid

Established in 1981, WaterAid is a UK-based international nonprofit working to make clean water, good toilets and good hygiene accessible to everyone. With supporters and partners, the NGO has reached almost 30 million people with clean water, 30 million with decent toilets, and over 20 million with good hygiene. Water, sanitation and hygiene affect – and are affected by – issues like climate change and gender inequality, so WaterAid also works on climate justice and empowering women and girls. Visit WaterAid’s website to learn more about how to get involved.

#15. The World Wide Fund for Nature

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which is a Swiss-based environmental charity, works to preserve nature and reduce the human impact on the environment. For more than 60 years, WWF has worked with communities, governments, companies and individuals to tackle climate change, create a sustainable food system and restore threatened habitats. In the UK, the WWF has the Living Planet Centre, which its website says is one of the greenest buildings in the nation. You can learn more about the charity’s work, impact, leadership and careers on its website.

Interested in learning more about environmental issues? Here’s our article on 20 of the most important ones.

The post The Biggest 15 NGOs in the UK appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Maya Angelou is one of the United States’ most interesting and important people. Born in 1928, she worked just about every job you could imagine but became best known as a writer. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, plays, films, TV shows and more. She was active during the Civil Rights Movement and remained an activist for racial equality, gender equality, and social justice. Her work has won countless awards, and in 2011, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She passed away in 2014 at age 86, but her words remain. In this article, we’ll explore 15 of her most inspiring quotes found in books and interviews over her lifetime.

#1. “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

This quote is from one of Maya Angelou’s most important books: I Know Why The Caged Birds Sings. First published in 1969, the autobiography describes Angelou’s life starting from when she was a 3-year-old sent to live with her grandmother to when she became a 16-year-old mother. It’s fitting this quote comes from the first of Angelou’s autobiographies, which share the story of a life well-lived.

#2. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”

Letter to My Daughter, Maya Angelou’s third book of essays, was released in 2009. While Angelou has no daughters of her own, she wrote this book in honor of the many women who saw her as a mother figure. Quotes like this emphasize the importance of resilience and hope. As Angelou knows from personal experience, life is full of defeats, but they should not define our entire lives and prevent us from continuing on.

#3. “Nothing will work unless you do.”

This quote is from Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now, Angelou’s first book of essays published in 1993. It takes its title from the African-American spiritual “On My Journey Now.” In the book, Angelou shares insights into topics such as faith, grieving, racism and self-care. It’s considered one of Angelou’s “wisdom books.” In just a few words, the quote above encapsulates how everyone must take action if they want anything to happen in their lives.

#4. “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”

Another quote from Letter to My Daughter, these words are especially moving considering Maya Angelou’s life. At age 8, she was abused by her mother’s boyfriend, and after he was killed, Angelou went mute for almost five years. She faced many other difficulties in her life, but as her quote says, she was not reduced by any of them.

#5. “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”

The Heart of a Woman was Maya Angelou’s fourth autobiography. It covers her life from 1957-1962 when she traveled extensively through California, New York, Egypt, and Ghana, all while raising her teenage son, becoming a published author, and working in the Civil Rights Movement. Her life during this time sang with courage, and as this quote emphasizes, courage is the foundation of every other virtue.

#6. “Also, I encourage courtesy. To accept nothing less than courtesy, and to give nothing less than courtesy. If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And if we have the effrontery to talk to anybody with less than courtesy, we tell ourselves and the world we are not very intelligent.”

Maya Angelou wrote and spoke often about identity and self-empowerment. In this quote, which is pulled from Psychology Today’s 2009 interview with the author, Marianne Schnall has just asked Angelou what she wished she knew as a child. Angelou first says, “courage,” but then continues with why courtesy matters, too. Accepting anything less than courtesy harms a person’s self-esteem while treating others without courtesy affects both our view of ourselves and how others see us.

#7. “I wish that we could look into each other’s faces, in each other’s eyes, and see our own selves. I hope that the children have not been so scarred by their upbringing that they only think fear when they see someone else who looks separate from them.”

In the Psychology Today interview, Marianne Schnall asks Angelou, “What is your wish for children of the future?” Angelou’s answer, quoted above, represents one of the author’s most enduring sentiments. She always encouraged people to focus on the similarities we share and embrace our identity as humans.

Check out our article on the top 12 quotes about advocacy.

#8. “I know that one of the great arts that the writer develops is the art of saying, “No. No, I’m finished. Bye.” And leaving it alone. I will not write it into the ground. I will not write the life out of it.”

In 1990, Maya Angelou was interviewed on stage at the YMHA in Manhattan, New York, in front of an audience of mostly women. The interviewer, George Plimpton, asked Angelou how she began her work day. While writing, she describes trying to pull the language into shape, into sharpness, and taking a few weeks to describe what she’s seeing. Plimpton then asks how Angelou knows when the work is done, to which she says it’s done when it’s the best she can do. It may not be “the best,” but as Angelou’s quote above says, knowing when to let a piece of writing go is one of a writer’s best tools. This interview appeared in Issue 116 of The Paris Review.

#9. “So I decided to try everything, to keep myself wide open to human beings, all human beings — seeing them as I understand them to be, not as they wish they were, but as I understand them to be.”

The quote above comes from Bill Moyer’s first interview with Maya Angelou in 1973. It’s a response to Moyer’s question about how Angelou stays open to the world and to hope, even when the world was so closed to Black women. She describes coming to a place where she realized she had nothing to lose, so closing herself up was foolish. Instead, she resolved to try everything and stay wide open, while recognizing the reality of what people can be.

#10. “Take as much time as you need to make up your mind, but once it is made up, step out on your decision like it’s something you want.”

Maya Angelou always encouraged people to take action when they could. That doesn’t mean she advocated for quick decisions. Rather, she said people should take as much time as they need, but once a decision is made, it’s time to act. The quote above comes from A Song Flung Up To Heaven, the sixth of Angelou’s autobiographies. It takes place between 1965 and 1968. During these years, Angelou faces the assassinations of both Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr while adjusting to her return to the US after living in Ghana.

#11. “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

Much of Maya Angelou’s writings focus on womanhood, motherhood, and other aspects of being a woman in this world. According to the New York Times, this quote first appeared in a video endorsement for Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president in 2007.

#12. “You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.”

This is an excerpt from “Still I Rise,” one of Maya Angelou’s most famous poems. It appears in the book And Still I Rise, which is the writer’s third poetry collection from 1978. It acknowledges hatred, racism, and violence, but triumphantly declares “I’ll rise.” The rest of the poem follows a similar structure that recognizes the injustices against Black people but always ends with a deeply hopeful, determined message.

Poetry often centers on deep themes. Here’s our article listing 10 poems about equality.

#13. “History, despite its wrenching pain / Cannot be unlived, but if faced / With courage, need not be lived again.”

In 1993, Maya Angelou read the poem “On the Pulse of Morning” for Bill Clinton’s first inauguration. Her performance became famous. The excerpt above represents Angelou’s deeply held beliefs about facing history and its injustices, but not letting it reduce or defeat us. Courage, which Angelou believes is the most important virtue, is what helps us never repeat the pain of the past.

#14. “One must nurture the joy in one’s life so that it reaches full bloom.”

This quote comes from Rainbow in the Cloud: The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou. The book collects excerpts from Angelou’s many works on topics like family, community, equality, spirituality, parenting and more. Guy Johnson, Angelou’s son, also contributed with some words his mother would share with him and their family.

#15. What I really want to do is be a representative of my race, of the human race. I have a chance to show how kind we can be, how intelligent and generous we can be. I have a chance to teach and to love and to laugh. I know that when I finish doing what I’m sent here to do, I will be called home. And I will go home without any fear, trepidations, wondering what’s gonna happen.”

This quote appeared in the trailer of Beyonce’s Netflix film Homecoming, which explores the artist’s preparation for her iconic 2018 Coachella performance. According to Oprah Daily, the quote comes from Maya Angelou’s interview with George Stroumboulopoulos in 2014. It was one of her last sit-down interviews.

The post 15 Inspiring Quotes from Maya Angelou appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The goal of social justice is to end discrimination and achieve equality. Everyone should be able to access opportunities, participate equally in society, and have their human rights respected. Since 2007, the World Day of Social Justice has been celebrated on February 20th. Each year recognizes a different theme, but the focus is always on how social justice reduces poverty, strengthens equality, and makes societies better. What are some ways to celebrate Social Justice Day? Here are 15 ideas:

#1. Donate to a social justice organization

Countless organizations are working to achieve social justice goals around the world. Social Justice Day is a great opportunity to learn more about these groups, what they’re doing, and how you can help their work. Most organization websites make it easy to donate online. They may also run a specific fundraising campaign for Social Justice Day, so you know exactly what your money is going toward.

Here are 10 social justice organizations to consider donating to!

#2. Volunteer

Nonprofits, grassroots community groups, and other organizations need lots of help meeting their goals. Volunteers are essential to the social justice movement, so in honor of Social Justice Day, consider volunteering your time! You don’t need to volunteer on February 20th for it to count, so choose a day that’s convenient for both you and the organization. If you want to participate in social justice more often, organizations love regular volunteers. Can’t volunteer in person? Many organizations offer remote options. Check out the VolunteerMatch website, which helps connect volunteers with organizations with virtual opportunities. You can search by location and cause area.

#3. Create a personal action plan

Social Justice Day is just one day, but the world needs people committed to social justice all year round. To celebrate the holiday, consider creating a personal action plan. What social justice issues matter the most to you? What can you do to promote social justice at work, at school, within your social circles, within your spiritual community, or in any other area of your life? Creating a personal action plan helps you reflect on your values and how you can live them out in tangible ways.

#4. Research your area’s most pressing social justice issues

You’re likely aware of global social justice issues like poverty and gender equality, but what affects your community most urgently? Is a lack of affordable housing a problem? A lack of funds for education? Hunger? On Social Justice Day, take the time to research what social justice issues are right outside your door and what local organizations are doing to address them. If you’re already involved in local social justice work, use Social Justice Day to raise awareness!

Want to learn more about social justice? Read our Social Justice 101: Meaning, Principles, Facts and Examples article.

#5. Write letters or sign petitions regarding a specific social justice issue

There are always social justice issues working through the political system. For Social Justice Day, find out what legislation in your area protects or threatens social justice. With a group of like-minded people, spend a few hours writing letters or signing petitions you can send to your local politicians. There may already be letters or petitions circulating, so be sure to sign your name to those, too. Not sure how to write an effective letter? Amnesty International offers tips such as keeping your text brief, polite and factual.

#6. Host a community panel

Community panels are a great way to bring together various sectors of society to discuss the most urgent social justice issues. They’re based on the belief that the best decisions are made by involving those most impacted by a decision. A panel can focus on specific cause areas – like homelessness or education – or on local issues as a whole. If you’re interested in hosting a panel, you first want to decide on the location. Libraries, universities, religious centers and other places are good choices, although you can also hold community panels virtually.

#7. Host a fundraiser

Do you have a favorite social justice organization? Social Justice Day is a great opportunity for a fundraiser! Thanks to social media, just about anyone can run an online fundraiser, but if you neglect to promote your fundraiser, you likely won’t raise much money. The best fundraisers are carefully planned. As an example, before your fundraiser starts, you can connect to local businesses and ask about matching gifts. These are arrangements where businesses agree to match donations up to a certain amount. This builds your fundraiser on a strong foundation and motivates people to give because they know their impact is doubled.

#8. Organize a food drive

Food insecurity is one of the most persistent issues in many places around the world. Without proper nutrition, every area of a person’s life suffers. It’s especially devastating to children. According to data from the UN, around 45 million kids under the age of five endured the deadliest form of malnutrition in 2021. Food drives, which help collect and distribute food to people struggling to afford items, are a great way to celebrate Social Justice Day. Most communities have some form of food-centered charity, such as a food bank. For a food drive, connect with one of these groups to find out what they need, let people know where they should drop off their items, promote your drive and then deliver your donations.

Here are 30 organizations working to end hunger.

#9. Take a class on a social justice topic

Social justice covers a variety of topics such as tackling poverty, achieving gender equality, fighting racial discrimination and much more. To learn more about social justice on Social Justice Day, consider taking an online class! Institutions like Stanford University and Berkeley offer classes you can audit, while Amnesty International’s Human Rights Academy offers several free classes, too. Most classes are self-paced, so you can learn at your own speed.

We’ve compiled a list of 10 online courses on social justice.

#10. Host a listening party

Music is one of the most powerful tools for social justice, so if you love music, consider hosting a listening party for Social Justice Day! With a group, curate a list of songs about social justice, print out the lyrics, and listen together. Once a song is over, talk about how the music made you feel and what the lyrics mean. As the host, it’s a good idea to provide some information about the song, like who the artist is, why they wrote it, and if it has special meaning to a social justice movement. Don’t forget refreshments! You can provide snacks and drinks, or ask attendants to each bring something.

Not sure what songs to analyze? Here’s a list of 10 social justice songs.

#11. Watch a movie about social justice

Movies often feature social justice topics like poverty, gender equality, racial equality and much more. Social Justice Day is a good day to pick a movie about social justice, watch it with a group, and discuss what you learned and felt. You can keep it small and simple with just a few family members or friends, or host a larger screening with your workplace or a nonprofit. If you want to include kids, just be sure the movie covers topics relevant to a younger demographic.

Here’s a list of 13 social justice movies everyone should see! 

#12. Host an art night

An art night is a fun, meaningful way to celebrate Social Justice Day. It can be a great way to include kids, as well! For your art night, collect a bunch of craft supplies and have participants make art based on prompts such as a world without injustice or specific social justice topics like gender equality or children’s rights. You can show participants examples from other artists and describe what social justice means as they work on their pieces. There’s no wrong way to do art, so let everyone’s imagination flow free!

#13. Host a social justice book club

Countless books – both fiction and nonfiction – have been written about social justice topics. While reading a book is a bigger time commitment than watching a movie, books go more in-depth about issues like gender discrimination, children’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and so on. If finishing a whole book isn’t doable at this time, you can probably focus on one chapter or essay with a reading group. This will increase participation and make the book club more accessible to those who would like to be involved but can’t commit to hours of reading.

Check out our list of 15 of the best books about social justice in the United States.

#14. Bring social justice into the classroom

If you’re a student, teacher, or other education professional, Social Justice Day is a great time to introduce social justice into the classroom! Teaching kids about human rights and social justice is very important as it helps them understand their rights, empathize with others, respect human rights values, and develop skills like critical thinking. There are lots of student-friendly activities and classroom resources available online on websites like Learning For Justice.

#15. Examine your school or workplace’s social justice initiatives

While reducing poverty and achieving gender equality have been important goals for decades, social justice as a concept has become increasingly recognized in recent years. Corporations, universities and other institutions are gradually realizing their roles and establishing initiatives designed to improve social justice. Does your school or workplace have initiatives in place? This Social Justice Day, examine what programs or actions the organizations you’re involved with are undertaking. If applicable, consider participating more in these initiatives. If your organization has been neglecting its social justice duties, now is a good time to see if you can encourage them to do better.

The post 15 Ideas to Celebrate Social Justice Day 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.

The post 15 Root Causes of Health Inequities appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

According to Amnesty International, more than 1 billion firearms are in global circulation. Most of those guns belong to private individuals while the rest belong to the military and law enforcement agencies. Gun violence is a serious issue in many places. In the United States, guns recently outpaced car accidents as the leading cause of death for children. What drives gun violence? In this article, we’ll explore 15 of the root causes.

You may also like: Reducing Gun Violence in America: Evidence for Change (Online Course)

#1. Poverty

Poverty is a root cause of so many serious issues in society. Gun violence is just one example. According to data from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the United States experienced an increase in firearm homicides between 2019 and 2020. Upon closer examination, the counties with the highest poverty levels saw a higher increase in firearm homicides compared to countries with the lowest poverty levels. The link between gun violence and poverty remains strong even after controlling for race, ethnicity, sex, age, and other factors.

#2. Income inequality

Income inequality is the gap between individuals’ or households’ income. The wider the gap, the more issues emerge. Gentrification, which is when wealthier people move into a lower-income area and displace current residents, is just one expression of income inequality. It can increase the risk of gun violence. According to one study, gentrified neighborhoods have a 62% higher firearm injury rate than non-gentrified neighborhoods. The reasons why are complex, but could include the social disruption that comes with gentrification. People experience higher levels of stress and fear as their neighborhoods undergo change and costs go up.

#3. Poor education

When people receive a poor-quality education, they’re more likely to face limited job opportunities, poverty, poor health and other serious, long-term issues. Education and poverty go hand in hand; poverty makes it hard to get a good education, whereas a good education can help people leave poverty. Because of its strong links to economic instability, poor-quality education also contributes to an environment where gun violence is more likely.

#4. Housing instability

Housing is a human right, but when people can’t access safe, affordable housing, the risk of gun violence increases. According to a Kansas City Star article about the city, experts named housing issues, like blight, evictions and homelessness, as one of the factors driving up gun violence. Without stable, safe housing, people experience high levels of stress and are more likely to arm themselves. People also struggle with more mental health issues, which can increase their risk for suicide.

Interested in housing justice? Read our article here.

#5. Lack of good employment

Unemployment (or underemployment) plays a big role in poverty and income inequality. When people are stressed financially, they may turn to risky, illegal activities that involve firearms. According to a study examining unemployment and crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found that “economically motivated” crimes can involve violence. They also wrote that employment can act as a buffer because it generates income, helps people form stronger bonds and reduces how much time people have to engage in crime. Another study found that the increase in unemployment during the first months of the pandemic was associated with an increase in firearm homicide and violence in 16 American cities.

#6. Lack of affordable healthcare

In places without Universal Health Coverage, the cost of healthcare is a serious concern for many people. It not only forces them to delay or avoid care entirely, but it can lead to bankruptcy. According to a 2019 article, medical issues are a key factor for ⅔ of those who file for bankruptcy in the United States. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization estimates that about 20 years of global progress toward Universal Health Coverage was lost. When people don’t have affordable healthcare, they’re more likely to slip into poverty, struggle with poor mental health, turn to substances or deal with other risk factors for gun violence.

Want to learn more about healthcare? Check out our article on health equity.

#7. Gun availability

One of the root causes of gun violence is very simple: the availability of guns increases the risk of violence. According to the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, a review of the literature found that gun availability is a risk factor for homicide in high-income countries like the United States. This makes sense; when something is easily available, it’s more likely to be used. Accidental shootings become more likely, as well. While it’s difficult to collect precise data, children in the US are at a higher risk of unintentional gun injury and death compared to other high-income countries.

#8. Weak gun control laws

The United States has the highest rate of death by firearms, and weak control laws are part of the reason why. The Center for American Progress examined some of the states with the weakest laws and what sort of gun violence they experience. Mississippi, which has the country’s weakest gun laws, also has the country’s highest firearm death rate. In 2020, the state also had the highest rate of crime gun exports. Nationwide, weak gun laws increase the risk of mass shootings. A 2019 study found that states with weak gun laws and higher gun ownership have higher rates of mass shootings.

#9. Gun trafficking

Gun trafficking is the illegal movement of guns. It’s a major issue in the United States. According to American Progress, trafficked guns often appear at crime scenes. From 2010 to 2020, the amount of out-of-state guns involved in violent crimes went up around 10% in New York. In Haiti, trafficked guns and ammunition are a big part of the increase in gang violence, which has contributed to murders, kidnappings and displacements. According to data, homicides and kidnappings doubled in 2022.

#10. Exposure to violence

Violence has a cyclical effect. When people are exposed to violence, they’re more likely to experience – and even perpetuate – more violence in the future. According to research, a study examining 500 Black American youth revealed that direct exposure to violence predicted whether an individual engaged in gun-related crimes at a later time. In another study, ⅓ of survey respondents who had been exposed to gun violence said they were now considering buying a gun. Only 1% already owned guns, which shows how exposure to violence can influence people to purchase firearms and possibly endanger themselves, family and friends.

#11. Poor mental health

Mental health is often scapegoated as the sole cause of gun violence, but the reality is most people with mental illnesses are never violent. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mental illness only contributes to about 4% of all violence, not just gun violence. However, the risk for gun violence does increase when people have a history of physical and sexual abuse, or trauma, which can also cause mental illness. Mental illness may not be a significant factor for violence against others, but it is a predictor of suicide. According to a Stanford study, owning a handgun was associated with a “dramatically elevated” risk of suicide. Guns tend to be very effective as a method of death. Using a gun for a suicide attempt results in death nearly 85% of the time.

#12. Drug involvement

Drug involvement and guns have a close association. Many people who are involved with drugs in some way (use and/or sales) also have access to guns, which increases the risk for violence. In one study on opioid use, researchers found that those dependent on opioids were more likely to carry guns, commit gun violence or be victims of gun violence than those dependent on alcohol. The reasons vary but often have to do with feelings of safety. Those who use drugs struggle with fear and stress, so owning a gun can seem like a protective measure.

#13. Alcohol abuse

Drug use comes up a lot in discussions about gun violence, but alcohol is a serious factor, as well. According to research from the Center for Gun Violence Solutions, around ⅓ of gun homicide perpetrators had drunk heavily before the murder, while 30% of gun homicide victims had been drinking. Heavy drinking is also a factor in around ¼ of gun suicides. Research suggests that “acute and chronic” alcohol consumption can reduce a person’s inhibitions, trigger violent impulses and make them less likely to assess threats properly. Alcohol and guns are a dangerous combination, and while the solution isn’t to ban alcohol, it does need to be examined as a factor in gun violence.

#14. Violent misogyny

In the United States, more men than women die from gun violence, but women and girls are often targeted. According to research, around 53 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month. If an abusive partner has access to guns, they’re five times more likely to kill their female victim. Violent misogyny is also closely linked to mass shootings. One study found that around ⅓ of mass shooters from 2014-2017 were suspected of domestic violence.

#15. Distrust of law enforcement

Policing in the United States has deep roots in violent racism extending into the present day, which fuels distrust of police within the communities they’re supposed to be serving. According to a report by the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a lack of trust between law enforcement and communities drives gun violence across the United States. Issues like police brutality, unsolved shootings and over-policing make people less likely to trust police and more likely to arm themselves. That distrust continues when police punish gun possession instead of gun violence. In Chicago, a 2017 investigation found that police were dropping off people in dangerous areas to coerce information about guns. This type of behavior contributes to violence.

Read more: 5 Essays about Gun Violence

The post 15 Root Causes of Gun Violence appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

This Masters is also available in FRENCH. 

Embark on a transformative educational journey and become a driving force in revolutionizing global health procurement and supply chain management with our prestigious Master of Science program. Developed by the esteemed Empower School of Health in partnership with UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), this immersive 24-month online experience is designed to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and global perspectives necessary to tackle complex challenges in the field. Delve into 16 comprehensive modules, meticulously crafted to cover all key topics and equip you with the expertise demanded by the industry. As you near the culmination of your studies, immerse yourself in a captivating ‘problem-solution’ focused research project, directly applicable to your own organization or country. Join us at the forefront of innovation and make a profound impact on global health systems through high-quality learning solutions developed by UNITAR, an esteemed body committed to nurturing individual, institutional, and organizational capacities. Ignite your potential and unlock a world of opportunities in the dynamic realm of global health procurement and supply chain management. Furthermore, it will give you the opportunity to explore how health, dignity, and work are interconnected in the fields of supply chain management and most importantly how it impacts the next generation of young leaders.

Why this course is for you?

• Comprehensive Global Perspective: Gain a deep understanding of the fundamentals of procurement and supply chain management, while exploring its intricate connections with the dynamic world of global health. Develop a holistic view that equips you to navigate the complexities of the field.
• Mastering Operational Excellence: Acquire essential knowledge of management structures and systems essential for the seamless operations of PSM. Learn to optimize processes, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiency in the procurement and supply chain domain.
• Mitigating Risks and Overcoming Bottlenecks: Develop the critical skills to identify and assess potential risks in supply chains and address bottlenecks effectively. Equip yourself with the tools and strategies needed to ensure smooth operations and uninterrupted flow of essential resources.
• Project Design and Execution Expertise: Gain the ability to design and execute projects that enhance the effectiveness of procurement and supply chain management. Learn to identify areas for improvement, implement innovative solutions, and drive tangible impact within your organization or country.
• Leadership and Management Excellence: Cultivate vital leadership and management skills that propel your career growth. Acquire the acumen to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and navigate the complexities of the global PSM landscape. Prepare yourself for impactful leadership roles.
• Experience a transformative educational journey that equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the realm of global health procurement and supply chain management. Seize this opportunity to shape the future of PSM and propel your career to new heights.

Target Audience

The course is for aspirants who would like to prepare for the world of procurement and supply chain of healthcare products and learn to manage PSM challenges in healthcare systems. Specifically, the course is designed for pharmacists, doctors, scientists, engineers and management professionals, and any graduate or professional who is interested in becoming a supply chain/logistics professional.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this course you will need to fulfill the following criteria:

• To have completed, at minimum a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
• To be able to communicate confidently in the English language (written and verbal).
• To fill out an application form and complete a personal essay.
• To be able to commit at least 25 hours per month over a period of 24 months (about an hour a day).
• To have prior work experience (preferable, though not necessary).

Course Content

In this course, you will be covering the following modules:

Introduction to Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Public Health Commodities
Quantification and Supply Planning
Global Health Procurement
Inventory Management
Storage & Distribution
Rational Use of Medicines
PSM Support Functions & Systems
PSM Plan Assignment
Effective Responses of The Public Health Procurement and Supply Chain to The COVID Pandemic and Future Proofing Supply Systems
Emergency, Pandemic and Humanitarian Public Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Procurement and Supply Chain Management for Medical Devices, Diagnostics and Equipments (MDDE)
Introducing New Health Technologies into Public Health Supply Chains
Managing Product Quality Assurance in Public Sector Procurement and Supply Chains
Risk Management in Public Health Procurement and Supply Chains
Financial Evaluation of Investments in Public Health Supply Chain (in partnership with Global Fund)
Leadership in Global Health (in partnership with the Center for Leadership Development)
Master’s Thesis

Contact: Daniel Nazarov: daniel.nazarov@unitar.org

I'm interested

Aperçu général :

Embarquez pour un voyage éducatif transformateur et devenez une force motrice pour révolutionner la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement dans le domaine de la santé mondiale grâce à notre programme. Développée par la réputée Empower School of Health en partenariat avec l’UNITAR (Institut des Nations Unies pour la Formation et la Recherche), cette expérience immersive en ligne de 24 mois est conçue pour vous permettre d’acquérir les connaissances, les compétences et les perspectives globales nécessaires pour relever les défis complexes dans ce domaine. Plongez dans 16 modules complets, méticuleusement conçus pour couvrir tous les sujets clés et vous doter de l’expertise exigée par l’industrie. À l’approche de la fin de vos études, plongez-vous dans un projet de recherche captivant axé sur la résolution de problèmes, directement applicable à votre organisation ou à votre pays. Rejoignez-nous à la pointe de l’innovation et ayez un impact profond sur les systèmes de santé mondiaux grâce à des solutions d’apprentissage de haute qualité développées par l’UNITAR, un organisme réputé qui s’engage à renforcer les capacités individuelles, institutionnelles et organisationnelles. Enflammez votre potentiel et ouvrez un monde d’opportunités dans le domaine dynamique de la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement dans le secteur de la santé mondiale. En outre, il vous donnera l’occasion d’explorer la manière dont la santé, la dignité et le travail sont interconnectés dans les domaines de la gestion de la chaîne d’approvisionnement et, surtout, la manière dont ils influencent la prochaine génération de jeunes dirigeants.

Pourquoi ce cours est-il fait pour vous ?

• Vous découvrirez des opportunités illimitées pour une carrière internationale dans le domaine de la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement (GCA).
• Une perspective globale et complète : acquérez une compréhension approfondie des principes fondamentaux de la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement, tout en explorant ses liens complexes avec le monde dynamique de la santé mondiale. Développez une vision holistique qui vous permettra de naviguer dans les complexités du domaine.
• Maîtrisez l’excellence opérationnelle : Acquérez les connaissances essentielles des structures et systèmes de gestion indispensables au bon fonctionnement de la GCP. Apprenez à optimiser les processus, à rationaliser les flux de travail et à améliorer l’efficacité dans le domaine des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement.
• Attenez les risques et surmontez les goulets d’étranglement : Développez les compétences essentielles pour identifier et évaluer les risques potentiels dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement et traiter efficacement les goulets d’étranglement. Équipez-vous des outils et des stratégies nécessaires pour assurer le bon déroulement des opérations et le flux ininterrompu des ressources essentielles.
• Expertise en matière de conception et d’exécution de projets : Acquérz la capacité de concevoir et d’exécuter des projets qui améliorent l’efficacité de la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement. Apprenez à identifier les domaines à améliorer, à mettre en œuvre des solutions innovantes et à produire un impact tangible au sein de votre organisation ou de votre pays.
• Excellence en matière de leadership et de gestion : Cultivez des compétences essentielles en matière de leadership et de gestion qui vous permettront de progresser dans votre carrière. Acquérez la perspicacité nécessaire pour diriger des équipes, influencer les parties prenantes et naviguer dans les complexités du paysage mondial de la GSP. Préparez-vous à occuper des postes de direction à fort impact.
• Faites l’expérience d’un parcours éducatif transformateur qui vous donne les connaissances, les compétences et la confiance nécessaires pour exceller dans le domaine de la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement dans le secteur de la santé mondiale. Saisissez cette opportunité de façonner l’avenir de la GCA et de propulser votre carrière vers de nouveaux sommets.

Audience ciblée

Ce cours s’adresse aux jeunes diplômés qui souhaitent découvrir le monde de l’approvisionnement et de la chaîne logistique des produits de santé et apprendre à gérer les défis liés à la gestion de la chaîne logistique dans les systèmes de santé. En outre, le cours s’adresse aux pharmaciens, médecins, scientifiques, ingénieurs et professionnels de la gestion, ainsi qu’à tout diplômé ou professionnel désireux de devenir un professionnel de la chaîne d’approvisionnement/logistique.

Conditions d’admission

Pour être éligible à ce cours, vous devez remplir les critères suivants :

• Avoir obtenu, au minimum, une licence dans n’importe quelle discipline.
• Être capable de communiquer avec assurance en Français (à l’écrit et à l’oral).
• Remplir un formulaire de candidature et un essai personnel.
• Pouvoir s’engager à consacrer au moins 25 heures par mois sur une période de 24 mois (environ une heure par jour).
• Avoir une expérience professionnelle antérieure (de préférence, mais pas obligatoirement).

Contenu du cours :

Dans ce cours, vous couvrirez les modules suivants :

• Introduction à la gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement
• Produits de santé publique
• Quantification et planification de l’approvisionnement
• Approvisionnement en matière de santé mondiale
• Gestion des stocks
• Stockage et distribution
• Utilisation rationnelle des médicaments
• Fonctions et systèmes de soutien GCA
• Attribution du plan GCA
• Réponses efficaces de la chaîne d’approvisionnement de la santé publique à la pandémie de COVID et préparation des systèmes d’approvisionnement à l’avenir
• Gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement en matière de santé publique en cas d’urgence, de pandémie et d’action humanitaire
• Gestion des achats et de la chaîne d’approvisionnement pour les dispositifs médicaux, les diagnostics et les équipements (MDDE)
• Introduction de nouvelles technologies de la santé dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement de la santé publique
• Gestion de l’assurance qualité des produits dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement du secteur public
• Gestion des risques dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement du secteur public
• Évaluation financière des investissements dans les chaînes d’approvisionnement en santé publique
• Leadership dans le domaine de la santé mondiale (en partenariat avec le Centre pour le développement du leadership)
• Mémoire de maîtrise

Contact

Daniel Nazarov: daniel.nazarov@unitar.org

Je suis intéressé(e)

The post Master of Science in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Feminism refers to a range of ideas and socio-political movements centered on the belief that women face unequal treatment because of their gender, and that society must establish equality of the sexes.

Feminism believes all sexes and genders deserve equal economic, social, and political rights and freedoms. For centuries, feminist movements have sought to improve the status of women and girls in society through campaigns such as the right to vote, the pro-choice and reproductive freedom movements, and the right to equal pay. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the basics of feminism, including its definition, important facts, and how people can take action.

What’s the definition of feminism?

At its core, feminism is about equality of the sexes. However, because feminism refers to the full range of ideas and socio-political movements that have developed over the years, a more accurate definition is more complex. To get a clearer view, let’s consider the phases (often known as “waves”) of feminism.

The first wave

There have always been people fighting for women’s rights, but the term “feminism” or “feminisme” in the original French, wasn’t coined until 1837. Utopian Socialist Charles Fourier was the first to associate the term with women’s rights. By the 1890s, the term was popular in America and Great Britain, but the first wave of feminism had already begun. In America, Great Britain, and New Zealand, activists were pushing for voting rights for women. In 1893, New Zealand gave some women the vote in national elections. In 1920, America followed, and then Great Britain in 1928.

The second wave

Feminism always included diverse groups of women, but white women had gotten the most attention as feminism’s figureheads. In the 1960s and 70s, that started to shift with the Civil Rights movement, the fight for reproductive rights, the fight for equal pay, and the establishment of more women’s studies departments at universities. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act in the US finally gave all Black Americans the full right to vote, while in 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that abortion was a constitutional right. While the first wave of feminism focused on voting rights for a select group of women, the second wave expanded the definition of feminism to include economic rights for all women.

The third wave

Rebecca Walker, daughter of Alice Walker, coined the phrase “third wave” after watching the 1991 Anita Hill hearings, where Hill, a lawyer, testified that Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. The hearings drew attention to the lack of protection still facing women in the workplace and society at large. After Clarence Thomas was confirmed, a record number of women entered politics. The “riot grrl movement” was also vital to third-wave feminism. Feminist musicians began exploring topics like sexism, abuse, racism, sexuality, and more through their music.

While the third wave was less cohesive than the first and second waves, it built on what came before and emphasized the work still to be done.

Feminism today

The waves of feminism are very Western-focused, so they don’t represent a perfect encapsulation of feminism. In many places, women and girls still lack the basic rights others take for granted, such as the right to an education and full voting rights. Globally, women are also facing increased threats to reproductive freedom, even in places where progress has been won. In response to these worldwide threats and with the help of new technologies and literature, the feminism of today is intersectional, inclusive, anti-racist, and multicultural.

What five facts should everyone know about feminism?

People have been writing books and articles about feminism and feminist ideas since the 1800s, but here are the five most important facts everyone should know:

#1. Feminism is not about hating men

Feminism as it’s represented in mainstream media can seem like it’s about hating men. There are countless jokes and memes making fun of men and claiming everything would be better if women were in charge. While this type of commentary is often an ironic response to the centuries of hatred and harm women have endured, it can muddy the definition of feminism. Feminism is not about switching the power hierarchy so women are in charge and men are beneath them. It’s about equal rights and freedoms. When men have been prioritized for so long, any change can feel like an attack, but the reality is, feminism wants to make things equal and fair.

#2. Feminism has racism in its history

Feminism is about equality, but certain branches of feminism have not always taken that seriously. During the suffrage era, wealthy white feminists were only interested in the rights of other wealthy white women. They did not consider Black women equals. This trend has continued today, leading to critiques of “white feminism.” This is a type of feminism that centers the needs and goals of white women while ignoring the multi-faceted oppression faced by women of color. Since the 1990s, intersectional feminism (a term coined in 1989) has sought to explain and address the layers of oppression women of color and other minoritized communities deal with.

#3. Feminism wants to make systemic changes

Feminism wants to address the cultural worldviews and everyday interactions that amplify and sustain sexist attitudes, but systemic change is just as important. That includes changing workplace policies, economic legislation, and other structural institutions that prioritize men, limit women’s rights, and reinforce heteronormative, restrictive gender roles. As an example, a feminist approach to childcare and maternity leave must include paternity leave. Only providing maternity leave reinforces the false belief that mothers alone are responsible for caregiving and child-rearing, while fathers don’t play a significant role. Systemic changes tackle gender inequality and discrimination at the root.

#4. Anyone can be a feminist

Feminism isn’t a worldview only women can hold and promote. Anyone who believes in equality of the sexes and women’s liberation is a feminist. While not everyone identifies with the term “feminist” (“womanist” is the preferred term for many Black feminists and other feminists of color), the sentiment remains true. People of all genders can be feminists and fight for equal rights and freedoms. Why would someone not consider themselves a feminist? It’s often because they have a specific definition in mind. Some people believe feminism promotes a victim complex, a hatred of men, or a hatred for women who chose to be wives and mothers. If everyone understood the true definition of feminism, very few people would find fault with it.

#5. The world still needs feminism

After the victories of the second-wave feminist movement, many people believed we didn’t need feminism anymore. The third wave was a direct response to this belief, but even today, some still question the need for a strong feminist movement. You only need to glance around the world to see why it’s still vital. Reproductive rights are under attack, COVID-19 set back gender equality significantly, women are leaving the workforce, and women perform 2.5 times more unpaid labor than men. According to the Global Gender Gap Index, there are still major gaps in political empowerment, as well as economic participation and opportunity. No country has reached total gender equality, while some are experiencing declines. As long as there’s still work to be done, the world needs feminism.

How can you take action to support feminism?

If you believe in gender equality, what can you do to support feminist values? Here are five ways to take action:

#1. Donate to gender equality organizations

There are hundreds if not thousands of organizations committed to gender equality. Some focus exclusively on the rights of women and girls, while others prioritize gender equality among other goals. You can donate to organizations supporting education, healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, employment, legal protections, and much more. Websites like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and GuideStar can help you find organizations that align with your values.

#2. Educate yourself

Education alone doesn’t change the status quo, but if you want to get more involved in feminist movements, you should understand its history, its major figures, its ideas, and so on. You can find books by searching for curated lists online and by typing “feminism” into online retailers like Bookshop.org. There are also great essays, videos, courses and other feminist content available online.

#3. Focus on local feminist issues

While technology lets you give money to just about any organization in the world, you can have the most direct impact by focusing on local issues. No matter where you live, there will be something you can do to help improve the state of gender equality in your community. Check for local organizations and grassroots groups. They’ll run a variety of campaigns throughout the year but will accept money at any time.

#4. Volunteer or work for a feminist organization

Organizations need money for their operations, but they need people, too. Employees and volunteers are the lifeblood of feminist organizations; without them, progress is impossible. Connect with local organizations if you’re able to do in-person work, and if you can’t, look for organizations that use remote volunteers or employees. Even if you’re only able to volunteer during a limited timeframe or for a specific campaign, it makes a difference.

#5. Support women in politics

Despite some progress in many countries, women are underrepresented in politics. You can take action by supporting organizations dedicated to empowering women in politics, voting for candidates with good track records on gender equality, and donating to female candidates who reflect your values. Remember, not every female politician will support policies that advocate for gender equality and feminism. You should always research a candidate before supporting them.

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Racial justice is the equal and fair treatment of everyone regardless of ethnicity or race. To achieve racial justice, societies must tackle racial prejudice, discrimination, and systems that disproportionately harm some while favoring others. What do you need to know about racial justice? In this article, we’ll explore important definitions, examples of racial justice, and learning opportunities like courses and books.

Racial justice reckons with the legacies of discrimination, removes existing barriers to racial equality, and promotes equity.

Definitions: Where do race and racism come from?

The world didn’t always believe in race. According to author and activist George M. Fredrickson, race and racism first emerged during the Middle Ages. The 13th and 14th centuries in particular saw an increase in antisemitism, which the Southern Poverty Law Center refers to as “the oldest hatred.” However, the word “race” didn’t start to have its modern meaning until the 17th century. Scientists, philosophers, and other academics were categorizing plants, animals, and other parts of the natural world using reason and science, so it only made sense to them to categorize humans in the same way. Through the 18th century, Europeans projected their ignorance, biases, and hatred into their categorizations, creating racial hierarchies that put white people on top. “Race science” justified the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, colonization, and other atrocities.

While race as a social construct is very real, research consistently disproves the merits of race science; there is no genetic basis for race. This is important to understand because inaccurate views about so-called “inherent” racial differences often justify inequality. In reality, racial injustice is sustained by three types of racism: interpersonal, institutional, and systemic racism.

Interpersonal racism springs from an individual’s beliefs and attitudes about race. It occurs between individuals and can include slurs, biases, and hate crimes. Institutional racism manifests within an organization and includes discriminatory behaviors, biased policies, and organizational practices that create inequitable outcomes. Systemic racism is society-wide and refers to systems of racial biases that privilege certain groups while disadvantaging others. Racial justice requires a reckoning with interpersonal, institutional, and systemic racism.

What are some examples of racial justice?

You now have a clearer idea of where ideas about race and racism come from. How have people fought against racial injustice over the years? Here are three major examples:

#1 Ending segregation

Case study: South Africa

For almost 50 years, South Africa had a society segregated by race. The process took centuries following the arrival of Dutch settlers in South Africa. Even though white settlers made up a minority of the population, they eventually gained total control of South Africa’s government and economy in 1948. The all-white National Party enforced harsh racial segregation, which separated people based on their race, criminalized interracial marriage, and denied Black South Africans equal rights and opportunities.

For the anti-apartheid movement, racial justice efforts took many forms. The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict lists strategies such as school boycotts, mass demonstrations, memorials, economic boycotts, and much more. In the late 1980s, change finally arrived. The government began negotiations with anti-apartheid groups and in 1993, the prime minister agreed to hold the first all-race, democratic election. Nelson Mandela was elected and in 1994, the apartheid system finally ended.

The legacy of segregation continues to impact South Africa. As an example, while the ANC funded almost 2 million homes for Black South Africans between 1994-2004, the homes’ locations reinforced segregation and existing issues like limited access to public services, high costs, and long commutes. In 2022, South Africa was the most unequal country in the world; 10% of the population held more than 80% of the wealth. Race is still a big reason why, so while apartheid may have ended, racial justice is still being fought for.

#2 Reforming the criminal justice system

Case study: The United States

The United States criminal justice system is racially biased. According to data from the NAACP, Black Americans make up 22% of fatal police shootings, 47% of wrongful conviction exonerations, and 35% of those who receive the death penalty. Black people make up just 13.4% of the US population. These numbers aren’t disproportionate because Black people are inherently more criminal. In her book The New Jim Crow, legal scholar Michelle Alexander points to projects like the war on drugs, which was part of Ronald Reagan’s “Southern strategy” to appeal to poor and working-class white people resentful of the gains of the Civil Rights movement.

To improve racial justice, the criminal justice system must be reformed. In an overview of criminal justice reform in 2022, the Sentencing Project lists trends like reducing prison admissions, adopting sentencing alternatives for drug offenses, limiting incarceration for parole violations, and ensuring incarcerated voters get access to voting. How police operate in the country must also be challenged. Police violence (which is a global problem) and the level of protection violent cops receive are two major racial justice issues.

#3 Paying reparations

Case study: Harvard University

The OHCHR defines reparations as “measures to redress violations of human rights by providing a range of material and symbolic benefits to victims or their families as well as affected communities.” In the United States, reparations come up during discussions about the legacy of slavery. Since 1991, NAACP has affirmed reparations such as a national apology, financial payment, social service benefits, and land grants. While there are currently no federal reparations programs, universities have begun adopting them.

Harvard University is one example. In 2022, the school released a report documenting its ties to slavery, which included direct, financial, and intellectual connections. As part of its reckoning, Harvard announced it was setting aside $100 million for an endowment fund and other actions. It does not mention direct reparations to descendants of those impacted by Harvard’s history with slavery. Harvard isn’t the only university to adopt some form of reparations; Georgetown University has the Reconciliation Fund. This fund gives $400,000 annually to projects directly impacting descendents of those enslaved on the Maryland Jesuit plantations. Reparations are controversial. While 77% of Black adults think descendants of enslaved people should receive some kind of reparations, just 18% of white U.S. adults agree.

Where can you find learning opportunities about racial justice?

This article only scratches the surface of racial justice, so here are three courses where you can learn more:

Anti-Racism Specialization (University of Colorado Boulder)

This 3-course specialization is a great choice for students interested in race and racism, especially in the United States. You’ll learn about critical race theory, historical and linguistic constructions of race in the US, and the theory of intersectionality. You’ll also learn to apply what you’ve learned outside the US, develop an interview project, and create a plan for practicing anti-racism.

Shawn O’Neal and Jennifer Ho from the Ethnic Studies department teach the course. If you take all three courses, the specialization takes about 3 months with 6 hours of work per week. No prerequisites are required.

REGISTER HERE

Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the US (University of Michigan)

Racial health disparities are very common in the US. This course digs into the reasons why and teaches students how to identify solutions. By the course’s end, you’ll be ready to describe the impact of structural racism, identify what causes current racial health inequities, and apply public writing strategies to combat racial health inequities.

Paul Fleming (Assistant Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education) and William D. Lopez (Assistant Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education) teach the course, which is divided into three modules. It takes 17 hours total to finish the course. No prerequisites are required.

REGISTER HERE

Beyond Diversity: Anti-Racism and Equity in the Workplace (Berkeley University of California)

This professional certificate is great for diversity professionals interested in further career growth. Over three courses, you’ll learn how to navigate complicated group dynamics, communicate in challenging situations, and make critical decisions. By the end, you’ll be ready to identify and respond to unconscious and implicit bias, understand the perspectives of minoritized employees, implement equitable hiring practices, and create an equitable, inclusive workplace for everyone.

Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton (Professor of Psychology) leads the course. With 5-8 hours of work per week, you can finish the certificate in about six months. As the courses are intermediate, some background knowledge is valuable, but there are no specific prerequisites.

REGISTER HERE

What racial justice books should you read?

If you’re looking for texts about racial justice, here are five good ones to start with:

The Third Reconstruction: America’s Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century (2022)

Peniel E. Joseph

Historian Peniel E. Joseph frames 2020 as the “climax” of a Third Reconstruction and new struggle for Black Americans. With insight into centuries past, Joseph tracks the Third Reconstruction from Barack Obama’s election to the January 6th assault on the capitol. While the first two Reconstructions fell short, can the Third Reconstruction achieve victory?

To Exist is to Resist: Black Feminism in Europe (2019)

Francesa Sobanade (editor) and Akwugo Emejulu (editor)

In this book, activists, artists, and scholars explore how Black feminism and Afrofeminism are practiced in Europe. Gender, class, sexuality, and legal status are just a few examples of what’s covered in this text. With sharp insight, the authors imagine a future beyond the boundaries of neocolonialism and modern Europe practices.

Caste: The Origins of our Discontents (2020) 

Isabel Wilkerson

Why is America the way it is? In this book, Isabel Wilkerson describes a hidden caste system, which goes beyond race, class, and other factors. She describes the eight pillars that uphold caste systems across time, including stigma, bloodlines, and divine will, and explores how American can move on from artificial divisions toward true equality.

So You Want to Talk About Race (2019)

Ijeoma Oluo

How do you talk about race? In this book, Ijeoma Oluo provides a roadmap for talking about race with the people in your life, including family and coworkers. She covers topics like police brutality, the model minority myth, and cultural appropriation. Written with all races in mind, this book is a valuable tool for anyone interested in tough, honest conversations.

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective (2017)

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor (editor)

In the 1960s and ‘70s, a group of radical Black feminists formed the Combahee River Collective. This book collects essays and interviews with the group’s founding members and contemporary activists reflecting on the group’s groundbreaking influence. How We Get Free is a vital read for anyone interested in feminism and racial justice.

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Every night, hundreds of thousands of people in America don’t have a permanent, safe place to stay. Homelessness can look like living in a car, hopping from shelter to shelter, or staying temporarily with different people. While collecting accurate data is challenging, there are certain facts human rights advocates should know about homelessness in the United States.

Homelessness in the United States has many causes, but the outcomes always include a lack of safety and vulnerability to other serious issues. Without major changes, homelessness in the US is expected to increase.

#1. There are about half a million people experiencing homelessness in the United States

While homelessness is a global issue, the United States has faced a sharp rise in recent years. In January 2020, 580,466 people were experiencing homelessness. That included people staying in shelters and on the streets. It’s difficult to know if this number is completely accurate. Why? The number comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count. PIT is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on one night in January. That can limit the accuracy of the count. Also, unsheltered youth often don’t seek out traditional homelessness assistance programs, so they can easily be undercounted.

#2. Homelessness has many causes

In the United States, several factors intersect and build on one another to create conditions that lead to homelessness. Poverty is a major cause. While affordable housing has decreased, wages haven’t kept up. This churns up a perfect storm of high housing prices, low pay, and reduced public assistance. A lack of affordable healthcare drives homelessness, as well. Several studies show a close link between healthcare costs and bankruptcy, which can quickly lead to homelessness. While addiction and mental illness can also cause people to lose their housing, research shows addressing poverty, wages, affordable housing, and healthcare costs would significantly reduce homelessness.

#3. Certain groups are at a higher risk of homelessness

According to HUD data, certain groups are more likely to experience homelessness than others. Out of 10,000 men, 22 are homeless, while 13 out of 10,000 women are homeless. HUD data also finds that race and ethnicity affect risk; racial and ethnic groups that have faced marginalization – like Black Americans and Native Americans – experience increased rates. This makes sense considering the long-standing discrimination and inequalities in American society. What about disabled people? According to data described in a 2022 “Immigration and Human Rights Law Review” article, disabled individuals have a higher risk for homelessness. 20% of people with disabilities live in developed countries, but those same countries don’t provide sufficient housing. In the United States, the number of disabled people experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness increased by 8.5% from 2018 to 2019.

#4. LGBTQ+ youth are uniquely vulnerable

For a few reasons, LGBTQ+ youth are at high risk for homelessness. Of the roughly 1.6 million young people who experience homelessness each year, up to 40% identify as LGBTQ+. According to a 2013 Child Trends article, these young people are also more likely to experience homelessness at a younger age than other unsheltered youth. Rejection from family is a common reason. About 50% of teens report getting a negative reaction when they come out, while 1 in 4 get kicked out of their homes. Without safe, stable options, these rejected kids often end up on the streets and vulnerable to violence, criminal activity, and other serious outcomes. Books on homelessness like No House to Call My Own, which was written in 2015 by Ryan Berg, help educate advocates on what LGBTQ+ youth face and how to provide the best care.

#5. Veterans face increased risks, but there’s been significant progress

In the United States, veterans face the usual risks for homelessness – a lack of affordable housing, poverty, and unemployment – but they also have higher risks for mental illness, substance abuse, and social isolation. Historically, these factors have made veterans more likely to experience homelessness than non-veterans. In 2009, The National Coalition for the Homeless found that veterans made up 23% of the homeless population. 47% were from the Vietnam War era, which severely affected returning soldiers. According to a VA survey, half a million of those who served in Vietnam suffered from PTSD, high rates of suicide, divorce, and substance abuse. The real number is likely much higher as surveys tend to only reflect a portion of the truth. Since 2009, progress has been made. In November 2022, HUD published a press release announcing a 55.3% reduction in veterans experiencing homelessness since 2010.

#6. Many cities address homelessness by criminalizing it

Unfortunately, many places in the United States respond to homelessness by categorizing it as a crime. That doesn’t mean laws directly say “being homeless makes you a criminal,” but cities have created webs of laws that end up essentially criminalizing homelessness. “Hiding Homelessness: The Transcarceration of Homelessness” from the California Law Review lays out several examples, including bans on sleeping outside, camping, standing near a building for too long, receiving food, and so on. For unhoused people, it becomes nearly impossible to avoid breaking these laws.

Consequences include harassment from law enforcement, criminal charges, and jail time. Framing homelessness as a crime also increases the likelihood that unhoused people will be treated poorly and face even more marginalization. It also penalizes people who want to help. In October 2022, an Arizona woman was arrested for sharing food with unhoused people in a park. Why? The city had passed an ordinance that forbade people from sharing prepared food in parks for “charitable purposes.” Before her arrest, the retired restaurant owner had been distributing free food for four years.

#7. Homelessness is a health issue

Being homeless can have catastrophic effects on a person’s health. According to a 2019 fact sheet from the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, unhoused people have higher rates of illness and die around 12 years earlier than the general U.S. population. Issues include a lack of safe places to store essential medications, an increased vulnerability to communicable diseases on the streets or in shelters, and poor nutrition. Even seemingly minor issues, like cuts, can easily develop into infections. Homelessness also has a major effect on a person’s mental health. While mental illness is a risk factor for homelessness, being homeless makes existing conditions worse and increases mental strain on those who were healthy before. In turn, poor mental health makes a person more vulnerable to substance use, reckless behavior, self-harm, and suicide. When addressing homelessness, the United States needs to understand the health impacts.

#8. Many unhoused people in the United States have jobs

There’s a very common misconception that if unhoused people just got jobs, they could get off the streets. However, in the US, thousands of unhoused people are already employed. In a 2017 survey, 8% of unhoused individuals said they were working part-time, seasonal, or temporary jobs. 27% of unhoused adults with children said they worked part or full-time jobs. In 2018, 10% of the nearly 5,000 unhoused people in San Diego, California said they were working. This number is likely higher because many unhoused people don’t come forward about their housing status. Unhoused people who are working are also likely to hide their status from employers and coworkers to avoid discrimination. A recent analysis also found that most people who experience homelessness get government benefits. The fact that so many unhoused people are working and/or getting benefits already clearly demonstrates that existing support isn’t enough to prevent homelessness.

#9. Homelessness is very stigmatized in the United States

While the causes of homelessness are closely linked to poverty, a lack of affordable housing, and soaring healthcare costs, huge portions of American society see homelessness as a personal issue. The rhetoric around homelessness can be deeply dehumanizing. Narratives about moral failings, laziness, filth, danger, and so on abound. It’s not uncommon to hear public figures talk about homelessness using phrases like “zombie apocalypse” or see news broadcasts film piles of trash or tents while they talk about homelessness like it was an infestation.

A 2021 Psychology Today article highlights a research study on perceptions of homelessness using Twitter. Beliefs about unhoused people being “dirty” were very common, as well as “socially deviant,” “lazy,” violent,” “criminal,” and so on. It was also very common for Twitter users to believe unhoused people brought it on themselves and therefore didn’t deserve help. This widespread dehumanization makes it easier for cities to criminalize homelessness and create us versus them narratives. This fuels further discrimination and violence against the homeless population.

#10. There are effective solutions to ending homelessness

Solutions like framing housing as a human right (which is described in one of the essays in this article) and tackling the roots of homelessness are effective. However, the United States lacks a cohesive, national housing policy. Homelessness solutions are currently left to state and local governments and organizations, which creates a patchwork of efforts with inconsistent results. According to the Coalition for The Homeless, which is the country’s oldest advocacy and direct organization for unhoused people, long-term housing assistance is the best solution. Federal housing assistance, permanent supportive housing, and “housing first” are cost-effective and proven to reduce homelessness.

The post 10 Facts About Homelessness in the United States 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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Every society wrestles with the nature of justice, punishment, fairness, and order. The iconic image of a blindfolded woman wielding a set of scales – or sometimes a sword – has endured as a symbol around the world. Beyond a symbol, what is justice? This article covers the three main types of justice, what the earliest justice systems looked like, and the famous philosophers who developed theories of justice.

Justice refers to concepts of fairness, equality, moral behavior, lawfulness, and order. It seeks to answer questions like “What are people owed?” and “What makes a punishment just?” Everyone from philosophers to policymakers to humanitarians is interested in what justice means.

What are the three main types of justice?

Justice can be boiled down into three types: distributive, retributive, and restorative.

Distributive justice

Distributive justice is about the fair division of resources within a community. “Fair division” means everyone either gets or has access to the same services and physical goods. Why? The basis of distributive justice is that everyone is morally equal. Distributive justice affects areas like income, wealth, opportunities, jobs, welfare, and infrastructure. Principles of distributive justice include equity, need, and proportionality. While the basic definition of distributive justice is simple, how a society should fairly distribute resources is complex.

Retributive justice

Retributive justice, which can also be called criminal justice, focuses on how to punish crime. It’s based on the idea that when wrongdoing is committed, the wrongdoer should get a proportionate punishment. That doesn’t mean the wrongdoer should be subjected to exactly the same ordeal (i.e. if someone hits someone in the face, they don’t need to be hit back as their formal punishment), but it needs to be proportionate. Those who study retributive justice also tend to emphasize the need for indifference, meaning that justice shouldn’t be personal or based on revenge. While many justice systems include some kind of retributive justice, its effectiveness is debatable. Considering the flaws in many criminal justice systems, retributive justice can also end up harming innocent people or unfairly punishing certain groups over others.

Restorative justice

Restorative justice was developed in the 1970s, though many of its tenets come from Indigenous justice practices. Restorative justice focuses on helping victims of crimes, but it also wants to help offenders understand the harm they’ve caused. The goal is repair, not punishment. Engagement, accountability, cooperation, and community are all essential principles. Restorative justice practices have been used in many criminal justice cases, but they’ve also been adopted during conflicts involving families, schools, and workplaces. Unlike retributive justice, restorative justice doesn’t focus on what criminals deserve, but rather on what victims need to heal and what communities can do to prevent re-offending.

You can learn more about Justice in this course by Harvard University.

What were the world’s earliest justice systems?

Societies have changed drastically over the millennia. Justice systems are no exception, although all have dealt with concerns like property rights, murder, theft, marriage, and so on. Here are three examples of early justice systems:

Mesopotamia

The oldest law code from Mesopotamia – known as the Code of Urukagina – is referenced in other texts, but no copies exist today. We know more about the Code of Ur-Nammu (2100-2050 BCE), which is named after the ruler Ur-Nammu. The Code, which consists of 57 laws, establishes fines for all punishments except capital offenses, which are dealt with more harshly. The Code of Hammurabi, named after the first king of Babylon, is more famous than the earlier Ur-Nammu code. Through its 282 rules involving marriage, inheritances, crimes, punishment, violence, and more, Hammurabi’s code established a comprehensive legal code. Unlike Ur-Nammu’s code, Hammurabi’s tended to adopt an “eye for an eye” framework. This included harsh punishments like the cutting off of eyes, ears, tongues, and hands. It also said someone accused of a crime should be considered innocent until proven guilty. It’s believed that the Code of Hammurabi inspired other ancient justice systems.

What about a court system? In Mesopotamian society, disputes between individuals could be settled privately, but if that wasn’t possible, they could go to court. There were no lawyers, however. A local council would hear a case, followed by a judge or a court. Local courts tended to deal with civil and criminal cases, such as theft and property issues. Only men served in the courts.

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian law was based on the concept of ma’at, which means harmony. Egyptians even had a goddess named Ma’at, who personified truth, justice, and harmony. She held the universe in balance. Without her, everything would descend into chaos, which to Egyptians was the same as injustice. Ma’at was also an important figure in the Afterlife. After a person died, they would travel to the Hall of Judgement where their heart was weighed on a scale against Ma’at’s feather of truth. If their heart was balanced, they could continue to the Afterlife. If it didn’t, the person ceased to exist.

Historians haven’t found an ancient Egyptian code like the Code of Ur-Nammu or Hammurabi, so specifics are unknown. We do know that religious principles governed Egyptian law, so the king, as a god on earth, served as society’s top judge. There were also local courts that dealt with village concerns. Land, water rights, and other property issues were common. Those accused of crimes were considered guilty until proven innocent, so if someone made a false accusation and was found out, punishments were harsh. In ancient Egyptian society, justice was about avoiding chaos, so anything that threatened harmony was met with severe consequences. Murder, tomb-robbing, and rape were punished with death or mutilation.

Ancient China

Confucius, who we’ll learn more about shortly, had a major impact on ancient China’s view of justice and law. Confucius and his disciples believed a harmonious society depended on five relationships. These were the relationships between a ruler and subject, a husband and wife, a father and son, an older and younger brother, and a friend and friend. When everyone worked on being a good person, cared for these relationships, and fulfilled their responsibilities, society wouldn’t even need strict laws or punishments.

The imperial Chinese code during the Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE) rejected Confucius’ teachings in favor of Legalism, which taught that humans were naturally violent. To prevent humans from falling into their natural, evil state, Legalism taught that the government needed to take full control. Li Si, the counselor to the first emperor, created a harsh code following the unification of China. The emperor appointed district officials who served as judges and investigators. Those accused of crimes were guilty until proven innocent while trials didn’t have lawyers or juries. Punishments varied based on the crime, but many were harsh. Fines, hard labor, beatings, and banishment were doled out for minor violations. Serious crimes were punished with mutilations, castration, and death. When the Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE) made Confucianism the state philosophy, China’s justice system softened.

How have philosophers defined justice?

The earliest justice systems didn’t come from thin air; many were deeply impacted by influential philosophers. Philosophy has continued to play a leading role in how society develops and deploys justice. As justice is one of history’s most discussed topics, it’s challenging to distill it to just a few figures. There are many other important thinkers not included in the following list, but the four here are a good starting point.

Confucius (551-479 BCE)

We’ve already discussed Confucius a little, but there are a few other things worth knowing about his views on justice and law. He based everything on the belief that humans were naturally good, which meant they understood the difference between right and wrong and were drawn to doing the right thing. They still needed guidance, however, but instead of specific laws, Confucius advocated for a code of ethics that included Five Constants and Four Virtues. These included Zhong (loyalty) and Yi (justice and righteousness). By following this code of ethics and maintaining a hierarchy of authority (sons obey fathers, younger brothers obey older brothers, and wives obey husbands), Confucius believed strict justice systems wouldn’t be necessary. In Confucius’ view, justice is about ethical behavior (which comes naturally to humans) and maintaining hierarchies.

Plato (428/7-348/7 BCE)

Plato built on his teacher Socrates’ ideas about justice and the belief that absolute truths exist. Because absolute truth exists, Plato believed justice couldn’t be subjective. Balance and control were essential, as well as a hierarchy. Plato’s vision of a “just” society had three classes: craftspeople, auxiliaries, and guardians. The guardians were in charge, but to achieve justice, all classes must embody certain virtues. Craftspeople should be temperate, auxiliaries should be courageous, and guardians should be wise. In Plato’s mind, only guardians – who were led by a philosopher king – could understand what justice looked like. Like Confucius, Plato’s concept of justice depends on groups staying in a hierarchy and living moral lives.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who is considered one of the modern West’s most influential figures, centered his ideas about justice on freedom. In his view, freedom is what gives human beings our dignity; it’s our only innate right. All laws must be created through the lens of freedom, bearing in mind that people don’t have the right to infringe on the freedom of others. For Kant, the only moral laws were laws that saw people as free, equal, and independent. What about crime and punishment? Kant believed in retributive justice and lex talonis, which is the theory that punishments need to inflict similar harm as the wrong done. If someone commits murder, death is the only equivalent punishment. Kant does also advocate for forgiveness, however, saying that repaying a wrong out of revenge or hatred is not virtuous. Kant devoted a good deal of his work to justice, applying his theories to private, private, and international law.

John Rawls (1921-2002)

In 1971, John Rawls published A Theory of Justice, which is one of the 20th century’s most important books. In this book, Rawls sought to define what a just society looks like. He performed a thought experiment where a group of people live behind “a veil of ignorance.” The veil hides the differences between the individuals, such as their social, economic, gendered, racial, and historical differences. With no outside influences, people wouldn’t try to benefit one group over another. Eventually, the group would settle on two principles. The first states that everyone has the same basic liberties that can’t be taken away, but that may be limited only if someone’s liberties are infringing on those of another person. Rawls’ second principle focuses on equality, including equal opportunities to hold private and public offices, as well as equal (or as close to equal as possible) wealth distribution. To be just, a society must reduce inequalities as best as it can. Rawls called his theory “justice as fairness.” His ideas have been very influential in academic discussions about social justice and human rights, as well as policy-making.

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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

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What does it mean to be human? Philosophers have pondered this question for thousands of years, but it’s something we’ve all asked ourselves at some point. Are humans simply animals who’ve evolved uniquely? Are we good or evil at heart? Here are fifteen quotes from writers, artists, thinkers, activists, and others that explore the human experience, human nature, and how humanity can shape the world:

#1. “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” – Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was an anti-apartheid activist and South Africa’s first Black head of state, as well as the country’s first democratically-elected president. Mandela was politically active his entire life, spending three decades in prison for his actions. After his term as president, Mandela remained an advocate for peace, social justice, and human rights. He is often described as the “Father of the Nation.” In the quote above, Mandela draws the connection between human rights and humanity. Without rights, a person is dehumanized.

#2. “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama

Since 1940, the 14th Dalai Lama has been the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born to a farming family in 1935 and recognized as the reincarnated Dalai Lama at age 2. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy on freeing Tibet. Today, he is the world’s most famous Buddhist teacher and viewed as a role model for his teachings on peace, compassion, and nonviolence. The quote above defines love and compassion as essential human characteristics.

#3. “The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) was an Indian lawyer and anti-colonial activist famous for his nonviolent worldview. To free India from British rule, Gandhi organized peaceful protests such as hunger strikes, mass boycotts, and the Salt March, a 240-mile journey to the Arabian sea where Gandhi collected salt in defiance of restrictive laws. Other civil rights movements – like the Civil Rights Movement in the United States – took inspiration from Gandhi’s nonviolent teachings, which are reflected in the quote above. “Mahatma” is an honorific.

#4. “We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.” – Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian writer famous for novels like War and Peace (where the above quote is from) and Anna Karenina. His writing explores themes like love, death, society, wealth, and religion. He was also a frequent critic of governments and embraced pacifism later in life. While many people uphold humans as the most impressive and intelligent creatures for everything we know, Tolstoy’s quote turns that concept on its head. For him, knowing we know nothing is the most impressive thing a human can acknowledge.

#5. “Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.” ― Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison (1914-1994) was a writer famous for just one book: Invisible Man. Written in 1952, it’s considered one of the best novels of the century. In the story, the nameless main character – a Black man – leaves the racism of the South only to find he’s invisible in New York City because of his race. The quote above comes from the book’s epilogue, reflecting both a hopeful, but realistic view of reality. Our identity as humans is only “won” through living our lives and not letting others control us, even when the game is rigged against us.

#6. “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” – Anne Frank

Anne Frank (1929-1945) was a Jewish girl forced into hiding with her family when the Nazis took over the Netherlands. Over the next two years, Anne wrote about her experiences and feelings in a diary. After the Nazis discovered the family’s hiding place, Anne and her family were sent to camps. Only Otto, Anne’s father, survived. Anne’s diary was eventually published and translated into 70 languages. The quote above, one of the diary’s most famous, is a testament to Anne’s resilience and hope in humanity.

#7. “I still believe in man in spite of man. I believe in language even though it has been wounded, deformed, and perverted by the enemies of mankind. And I continue to cling to words because it is up to us to transform them into instruments of comprehension rather than contempt. It is up to us to choose whether we wish to use them to curse or to heal, to wound or to console.” ― Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016) was a writer and activist famous for his book Night, a memoir of his time in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. He went on to write many more books, including Open Heart (2012), which is where the above quote comes from. Wiesel was a man who experienced the worst humanity has to offer, but he remained hopeful.

#8. “Humans said one thing with their bodies and another with their mouths and everyone had to spend time and energy figuring out what they really meant.”― Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler (1947-2006) was a visionary Black science fiction author who explored ideas not common in many other sci-fi books at the time, including climate change, women’s rights, political inequality, and more. The quote above comes from the novel Imago, which is the conclusion of the “Lillith’s Brood” trilogy. In the series, an alien race merges its genetic material with humanity, blurring the line between what we consider “alien” and “human.” The quote touches on a hypocrisy common with people; they say one thing, but then do another.

#9. “All people have three characters, that which they exhibit, that which they are, and that which they think they are.” – Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Karr (1808-1890) was a French journalist, novelist, and critic. His most famous saying is “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” In the quote above, Karr explores how humans hold many contradictions. They are afraid – or unable – to show who they really are, even to themselves.

#10. “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” – Mark Twain

Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain (1835-1910), was one of America’s most famous writers and humorists. He wrote novels (like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and many short stories. The quote above comes from the chapter epigraphs of Pudd’nhead Wilson’s New Calendar. In his characteristically sharp style, Twain compares humans to the moon, where one side – the dark side – is always hidden.

#11. “Nothing ever stays the same, whether it be poems or humans.” – Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo is an award-winning poet, musician, playwright, and editor. She’s a member of the Mvskoke Nation and the second poet ever to be appointed for a third term as U.S. Poet Laureate. As a poet, her work explores themes like community, grief, healing, myth, and music. The quote above comes from the poetry book She Had Some Horses, a classic originally published in 1983.

#12. “We deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity.”― Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado is an acclaimed American short story writer, essayist, and critic. As a speculative fiction writer, her work embraces surrealism, horror, and unique structures. The quote above comes from In The Dream House, Machado’s memoir about her relationship with an abusive woman. Abuse within gay relationships is not often discussed, but pretending as if queer people are incapable of wrongdoing denies them their full humanity. This applies to any group. All humans have the capacity to harm.

#13. “To be rendered powerless does not destroy your humanity. Your resilience is your humanity. The only people who lose their humanity are those who believe they have the right to render another human being powerless. They are the weak. To yield and not break, that is incredible strength.”― Hannah Gadsby

Hannah Gadsby is an Australian comedian who rose to international fame in 2018 with Netflix’s release of Nanette, Gadsby’s special. It is not your typical comedy special as it features commentary on trauma, LGBTQ+ perspectives, inequality, and more. Among its many accolades, the special won a Peabody award.

#14. “I don’t feel there’s a difference between the real world and the fairy-tale world. They contain psychological truths and, I guess, projections of what the culture that tells them thinks about various things: men, women, aging, dying – the most basic aspects of being human.” – Helen Oyeyemi

Helen Oyeyemi is a British novelist and short story writer known for her imaginative, dark riffs on fairy tales like Snow White (2014’s Boy, Snow, Bird) and Hansel & Gretel (2019’s Gingerbread). In the quote above, she highlights the significance of what fairy tales say about humanity. Fairy tales aren’t just fantasy stories for kids; they tell the truth.

#15. Human beings are members of a whole, in creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, the name of human you cannot retain. – Sa’adi

Born in 1213, Sa’adi was a Persian poet and one of the most important figures in classical Persian literature. One of his poems, known as Bani Adam (translated to “Sons of Adam” or “human beings”), emphasizes how connected humans are and how we each have a responsibility to care for each other. In 2005, the owner of a carpet workshop in Isfahan gave the United Nations a carpet with the poem’s words woven in gold lettering.

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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.

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

The post 10 Online Courses on Social Justice  appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Consumers are increasingly concerned with aligning their values with their spending habits. Areas like labor rights, sustainability, and charitable giving affect a corporation’s brand and reputation with consumers. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is when a business recognizes its influence in society and commits to positive changes. What do CSR strategies look like? Where does a corporation start? For this guide, we examined ten courses on the topic. They are all available online from Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn. All courses can be audited for free, though some may limit material access. For a fee, you can upgrade for complete access, grading, and a certificate. If the fee is too expensive, many courses offer financial aid to students.

#1. Global sustainability and corporate social responsibility: Be sustainable (Macquarie University)
#2. Sustainable Vikings: Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia (Copenhagen Business School)
#3. Business Strategies for Social Impact (Wharton University of Pennsylvania Online)
#4. The 360° Corporation: Tools for Achieving Corporate Purpose (University of Toronto)
#5. Corporate Sustainability: Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity (Universita Bocconi)
#6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Strategic Approach (University of Pennsylvania and The Satell Institute)
#7. Discovering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Louvain X)
#8. CSR Reporting and Communication (Louvain X)
#9. From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation (Babson X)
#10. Responsible Marketing And The Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility (University of Central Lancashire)

#1. Global sustainability and corporate social responsibility: Be sustainable (Macquarie University)

These days, organizations can’t afford to focus only on profit. Stakeholders expect more. To be competitive internationally, organizations must recognize their societal impact while balancing financial success. This course is part 3 of 4 of the Strategising: Management for Global Competitive Advantage Specialization. It’s also part of the Global Master of Business Administration (Global MBA) degree. Edward Wray Bliss, an Associate Professor in the Department of Management, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the definition and origins of sustainability
• Analyze the developments of industrialization, neoliberalism, and globalization
• Examine contemporary business practices and sustainable strategies like CSR and business ethics
• Learn to develop a sustainable strategy in your organizations

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into six weeks of study and takes about 27 hours total. Coursework consists of videos, readings, practice exercises, and quizzes at the end of each week. To pass the quizzes, you’ll need at least an 80%. If you’re taking the free audit track, you can view the quizzes, but can’t submit your answers for a grade. At the time of writing, this course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Sustainable Vikings: Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility in Scandinavia (Copenhagen Business School)

This course introduces students to world-leading sustainability and corporate social responsibility practices. Focusing on Scandinavian firms like Novo Nordisk, which lead the major sustainability and CSR performance indicators, this course examines what managers and firms anywhere in the world can learn. Dr. Robert Strand, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the basics of sustainability and CSR
• Learn why Scandinavia is such an effective example of CSR
• Examine Novo Nordisk as a case study
• Reflect on becoming a “sustainable viking”

How you will learn

This beginner’s course is divided into six weeks and takes about 13 hours. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts, graded quizzes, and a peer-graded assignment. There are eight quizzes each worth 10% of your grade. The peer-graded assignment, which is a summary and reflection of what was covered in the course, is worth 20%. You’ll also need to review three of your peers’ assignments. You can see the quizzes with the audit track, but to submit anything for a grade, you’ll need to take the paid tier track of the course. At the time of writing, “Sustainable Vikings” had a 4.7/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#3. Business Strategies for Social Impact (Wharton University of Pennsylvania Online)

This course introduces students to the basics of impact investing and creating a business strategy that drives social impact. Students will learn good business practices and innovative, effective strategies for positive social impact. By the course’s end, individuals, organizations, and investors will understand how to lead with purpose. Wharton professors Katherine Klein (Edward H. Bowman Professor Management) and Chris Geczy (Adjunct Professor Finance) teach the course. It’s part 4 of 4 in the Business Strategies for a Better World Specialization.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the importance of purpose-driven leadership using five models of social purpose
• Learn the methods businesses use to create environmental and social impact
• Examine how to assess the success of an organization’s social impact
• Understand impact investing’s risks and rewards

How you will learn

Divided into four weeks, this course takes around 11 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, and four 30-minute module quizzes. Each is worth 25% of your grade. While you can see the quiz questions, grading is locked in the paid tier track. To pass, you must receive a 70% or higher. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.6/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#4. The 360° Corporation: Tools for Achieving Corporate Purpose (University of Toronto)

Based on Professor Sarah Kaplan’s course at the Rotman School of Management and book “The 360° Corporation: From Stakeholder Trade-offs to Transformation,” this course introduces students to CSR, sustainability, stakeholder capitalism, and more. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, social responsibility is more important than ever, and this course will help students reexamine the role of business in society. Anyone can benefit from this course, not just people with roles in social responsibility, racial equity, sustainability, and so on. Sarah Kaplan leads the course, which was developed with support from the University of Toronto and the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship at the Rotman School of Management.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand The 360° Corporation’s four modes of action
• Identify stakeholder trade-offs
• Analyze how innovation and experimentation address tougher trade-offs
• Explore your role as a leader and necessary actions

How you will learn

The course is divided into four weeks and takes around nine hours total to complete. Coursework consists of readings, videos, practice quizzes, discussion prompts, and graded assignments. The graded assignments are weekly reviews each worth 25% of your grade. To pass, you’ll need an 80% or higher. With the free audit track, you can see the review questions but will need to upgrade to the paid track to receive a grade. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.7/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#5. Corporate Sustainability: Understanding and Seizing the Strategic Opportunity (Universita Bocconi)

The UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development calls for balanced economic, social, and environmental development. How do organizations take on the challenge of this call to action while generating business opportunities and value for stakeholders? This course explores how by discussing ideas and examples on CSR and how to transition into new opportunities. Maurizio Zollo, Dean’s Chaired Professor in Strategy and Sustainability in the Management and Technology Department, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the significant global sustainability challenges within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Learn the basics of corporate sustainability, sustainability challenges that businesses face, and opportunities
• Assess challenges related to managing the integration of sustainability-related processes
• Learn how to develop a road map for transitions into sustainability

How you will learn

“Corporate Sustainability” is divided into six weeks of study or about 16 hours total. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts, and graded assignments. There are five weekly quizzes (each worth 15% of your grade) and a final essay where you must describe a case of a change initiative towards a sustainable enterprise in marketing, HR, governance, or another area from the course. You must review two of your peers’ essays, too. To pass quizzes, you need an 80% or higher. The free audit track lets you see the questions, but to receive a grade and earn a certificate, you’ll need to take the paid track of the course. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.6/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Strategic Approach (The University of Pennsylvania and The Satell Institute)

This edX course is designed for anyone who wants to run a business and make a systemic, positive, and sustainable impact. The tools and knowledge gained can be adapted for many sectors, locations, and community contexts. It’s led by Peter Frumkin, professor at the School of Social Policy and Practice, Research Director at The Satell Institute, and Faculty Director at the Center for Social Impact Strategy.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the CSR landscape and theory
• Learn how to manage CSR’s effects on the firm’s core functions
• Explore corporate-community relations
• Analyze frameworks for assessing CSR

How you will learn

This CSR course is currently archived, but all the materials are still available. Because it’s archived, it’s completely self-paced. You can set weekly learning goals for 1 day a week, 3 days a week, or 5 days a week. Coursework includes videos, discussion questions, quizzes, and forums. The forums aren’t active in the archive, but you can read past discussions.

REGISTER HERE

#7. Discovering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) (Louvain X)

On a global level, companies are investing resources into CSR. In this course, students will learn what CSR is, why it matters, and how to implement strategies. Anyone interested in industry, public policy, or academics working in CSR will benefit. Current and future business leaders will also learn how to embrace responsible leadership and sustainable production. The course is led by Valérie Swaen (Professor, Corporate Social Responsibility and Marketing), Barbara Dupont, and Jessica Lieberman.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what CSR is, including who the stakeholders are and what criticisms exist
• Learn about the Sustainable Development Goals
• Examine how to implement CSR
• Explore leadership, including adaptive leadership and transformational leadership

How you will learn

When in session, the course takes nine weeks with 5-7 hours a week. After class sessions, the course is archived. Many materials will remain accessible, but discussion forums and any grading are no longer active. Coursework includes videos, interviews, exercises, and case studies of Solvay Group and Nestlé. If you take the audit track during an active session, your access to course materials is limited and expires after about a month.

REGISTER HERE

#8. CSR Reporting and Communication (Louvain X)

As companies spend more time and resources on corporate social responsibility, how do they organize their reporting on performance and activities? How do companies avoid “CSR-washing?” Is everything communicated to all stakeholders? This edX course explores these questions and offers benefits to anyone, including business managers, teachers, and anyone interested in more informed consumer choices. If you’re interested in understanding CSR and examining it with critical thinking, this is a great choice. The instructors are Valérie Swaen (Professor, Corporate Social Responsibility and Marketing), Barbara Dupont, and Jessica Lieberman.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Identify what CSR is and its key issues
• Explore case studies of different companies on CSR strategy and reporting
• Learn reporting frameworks, evaluation criteria, and challenges
• Analyze communication tools and channels

How you will learn

When in session, this self-paced course takes nine weeks with 6-7 hours per week. When a class session ends, it’s archived, but many of the materials are still available. Coursework includes videos, interviews, and multiple-choice quizzes. Because “CSR Reporting and Communication” is an intermediate course, prior knowledge of CSR is helpful. The instructors recommend taking “Discovering Corporate Social Responsibility” first. If you take the audit track during an active session, your access to course materials is limited and expires after about a month.

REGISTER HERE

#9. From Corporate Social Responsibility to Corporate Social Innovation (Babson X)

As the world gets more complex, the old approaches to philanthropy and corporate social responsibility aren’t enough. Social innovation is on the rise and new methods and strategies are developing. This course brings in the real-world experiences of business leaders leading social innovation efforts and new models for business engagement. Anyone interested in understanding and applying Corporate Social Innovation is welcome, no matter what position you have in your organization. Cheryl Kiser (Executive Director at the Lewis Institute & Babson Social Innovation Lab) and Ken Freitas (Executive in Residence, Social Innovation Fellow at the Lewis Institute Babson College) lead the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the evolution of corporate responsibility
• Learn management frameworks and how to prioritize
• Explore how to rethink organizational design
• Understand sustainability reporting

How you will learn

When in session, this course takes four weeks with 4-6 hours per week. If you take the free audit track, your access to materials is limited (you can’t access any graded materials) and expires after a month. Coursework includes videos, knowledge checks, discussions, and graded field inquiries. After a course session ends, it’s archived, but you can still access much of the material.

REGISTER HERE

#10. Responsible Marketing And The Fundamentals of Corporate Social Responsibility (University of Central Lancashire)

This FutureLearn course explores the significance of responsible marketing, including the theory, principles, and applied examples. Students will learn fundamentals, the purpose of CSR, and engage in discussions with other students on marketing sustainability topics. This course teaches students to apply what they’ve learned to their personal and professional lives. Maria Sherrington (Senior Lecturer in Marketing) and Nicholas Passenger (Principal Lecturer for Business and Marketing) lead the course. A Professor of Waste Management from the School of Engineering facilitates the recycling, plastics, and pollution topics of the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand what CSR is, as well as traditional vs. contemporary CSR
• Learn how to apply sustainability principles
• Define responsible marketing
• Describe responsible consumption

How you will learn

With the free audit track, course access is limited to four weeks. The course is divided into four weeks with 2 hours of study per week. Coursework includes videos, readings, quizzes (which are available when auditing), discussions, and weekly assessments (which are not available when auditing). If you upgrade to the paid track, you get complete access to the course as long as it’s on FutureLearn, as well as a digital and print certificate.

REGISTER HERE

The post 10 Corporate Social Responsibility Courses You Can Take Online appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The Genocide and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP) is an annual, intensive, graduate-level summer course that explores fundamental issues relating to gross violations of human rights and the prevention of genocide. Taught by leading experts over a 2-week period, this course is comparative and interdisciplinary in nature, and incorporates genocide theory, history, sociology, political science, anthropology and international law.

The GHRUP provides participants with the intellectual framework to understand the numerous, complex, and often emotional issues related to genocide. An examination of several major cases of genocide provides the foundation for comparative analysis, while the exploration of specific case studies and conceptual themes vary from year to year. This year, three new units have been added to the program: The Uyghurs, Language and Lenses of Destruction: Attrition, Disposable Peoples, and Necropolitics, and Looking Forward at Genocide and Mass Atrocity: Environment, Artificial Intelligence, and Non-Conventional Warfare. Students join from all over the world to participate in this structured forum to explore universal questions relating to human rights and their gross violations. To learn more about the 2022 program, please visit https://www.genocidestudies.org/2022-program

We are pleased to announce that after the success of the 2021 online program, and due to ongoing uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute) will again be hosting this program online from August 1-12, 2022.

Admissions Requirements / How to Apply

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree.

Students interested in applying to the GHRUP program must download and complete the application forms found at https://www.genocidestudies.org/apply and submit the following:

• Most recent university transcripts
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Resume
• Application essay: a personal narrative on your passion for making a difference and how you envision that fits with the GHRUP program (maximum 2 pages)

All complete applications will be reviewed in June 2022. Due to the nature of the course, only a limited number of applicants are admitted to the program. Selection will be based on a combination of strength of interest, scholastic aptitude, and relevance of the course to the candidate’s future.

Registration for the 2022 program is now open! To apply for the 2022 online program, please visit https://www.genocidestudies.org/apply. The application deadline is on May 31, 2022.

Tuition

The tuition fee is $250.00 CAD. Payment must be completed within two-weeks after acceptance to hold your seat in the program. Please pay through the Institute’s donation page: https://www.genocidestudies.org/donate.

Cancellation

Students who withdraw after registration will be refunded 50% of tuition fees. Program fees are non-refundable if withdrawal is made after program commencement, for any reason.

The post The Genocide and Human Rights University Program Is Open for Applications 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.

While Black History Month only lasts through February, there’s no time limit on learning more about Black art, history, and activism. In our list of top-rated courses, you’ll learn about nonviolence, inclusive leadership and diversity, anti-racism and designing anti-racist spaces, racial health inequity, and more. Whether you work in activism, DEI, healthcare, human rights, design, or you simply want to continue your education, these courses help you build your knowledge base and engage with valuable material through readings, videos, reflection questions, and graded assignments. Courses can be audited for free, but if you want a certificate that proves course completion, you’ll need to pay a fee. If you want to earn certificates for all or a handful of these courses, it might be worth paying for Coursera Plus, a subscription that opens access to over 90% of the site’s courses.

Table of Contents

#1. Narratives of Nonviolence in the American Civil Rights Movement (Emory University)
#2. Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity (University of Colorado)
#3. Anti-Racism I (University of Colorado Boulder)
#4. Anti-Racism II (University of Colorado Boulder)
#5. Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
#6. Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)
#7. Designing and Building Institutional Anti-Racist Spaces (Wesleyan University)
#8.  Reimagining Blackness and Architecture (MoMA)
#9. Community Awareness: Police Brutality in the U.S. (University of Michigan) 
#10. Take Action: From Protest to Policy (Wesleyan)

#1. From Freedom Rides to Ferguson: Narratives of Nonviolence in the American Civil Rights Movement (Emory University)

Course description – The Civil Rights Movement challenged the United States to extend democratic principles to African Americans and all people. What kind of strategic planning went into this movement? This course examines the history of the campaigns, the different groups and coalitions involved, the philosophies and methods of nonviolent direct action, and the contemporary application of nonviolent conflict transformation. Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. who was involved in the Civil Rights Movement’s organization, leads the course. Guest speakers include Constance Curry, Andrew Young, and Reverend C.T. Vivian.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the chronology and phases of the Movement and Civil Rights campaigns
• Analyze the importance of organizing groups and strategy
• Identify the six strategies of nonviolence
• Assess the future of nonviolence

How you will learn

This self-paced course is divided into five weeks and takes about 15 hours to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion questions, practice exercises, and a 30-minute quiz at the end of each week. To earn your certificate, you’ll need to earn a passing grade (80% or higher) on each graded assignment. The quizzes are each worth 25% of your grade. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#2. Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity (University of Colorado)

Course description – Employees value diverse and inclusive workplaces. To create environments that are safe and supportive of everyone, leaders need to understand diversity and inclusion. This course guides aspiring leaders on how to develop inclusive workplace cultures no matter what type of workplace they’re in. Dr. Brenda J. Allen, a retired Chief Diversity Officer and renowned educator in inclusion, racial equity, and strategic leadership, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand why inclusion and inclusive leadership matter
• Identify the six traits of highly-inclusive leaders
• Describe communication practices related to the six traits
• Develop strategies for applying what you’ve learned in a workplace

How you will learn

The course is divided into four weeks and takes 22 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, practice exercises, and a quiz at the end of each module. Each quiz is worth 25% of your grade. Three take 45 minutes while one takes an hour. You must receive a score of 80% or higher to pass. You can see the quizzes with the audit track but must upgrade to the paid track to submit and receive a grade. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.9/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#3. Anti-Racism I (University of Colorado Boulder)

Course description – This beginner’s course introduces students to race and racism in the United States. It’s a good fit whether a student is completely unfamiliar with the topic or only has a basic understanding. The course explores concepts like “whiteness,” white privilege, systemic and institutional racism, and more. The course is taught by Shawn O’Neil, a musician and race scholar in the department of ethnic studies, and Jennifer Ho, the director of the Center for Humanities & The Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Professor of Ethnic Studies.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Define race through definitions of whiteness
• Identify the impact of race, racism, and anti-racism
• Understand the historic context for systemic racism
• Apply the terms and concepts you’ve learned

How you will learn

“Anti-Racism I” is divided into three weeks of study and takes about 16 hours total. Coursework consists of videos, readings, a quiz, and a peer-graded assignment. The quiz, which is on anti-racism glossary terms, is worth 25% of your grade. To pass, you need an 80% or higher. The peer-graded assignment (you will also need to review three of your peers’ work) is worth 75% of your grade. To submit these assignments and receive a grade, you’ll need to take the paid track of the course. At the time of writing, this course had a 4.6/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#4. Anti-Racism II (University of Colorado Boulder)

Course description – This course builds off “Anti-Racism I,” so it’s designed for students who have completed that course or who already have a basic knowledge of racial issues in the United States and globally. “Anti-Racism II” guides students on how to have deeper conversations about race, as well as gender and sexuality. Students will be equipped to engage with and discuss complex topics such as toxic masculinity and intersectionality. Like “Anti-Racism I,” Shawn O’Neil (musician and scholar in ethnic studies) and Jennifer Ho (Professor of Ethnic Studies) teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand settler colonialism, race and racism, and hyper/toxic masculinity
• Recognize the costs of racism
• Explore linguistic constructions of race and racism
• Understand and analyze the concept of intersectionality
• Practice how to have conversations about race and racism

How you will learn

“Anti-Racism II” is divided into four weeks and takes about 20 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, discussion prompts, and two graded assignments. The first assignment – a discussion prompt assignment – is worth 25% of your grade. The final project – a recorded interview about race and racism – is worth 75% of your grade. You will need to review three of your peers’ assignments, as well. To access grading and a certificate upon completion, you’ll need to take the paid course track. At the time of writing, “Anti-Racism II” had a 4.8/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#5. Race and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Course description – This course leads students into a deeper understanding and appreciation of how race, ethnicity, and cultural diversity have shaped American institutions, ideology, law, and social relationships. This course focuses on the historical and social relationships among European Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Latino/as, and Asian/Pacific Americans. Race and ethnicity are treated as dynamic and complex ideological and cultural processes. James D. Anderson, who is the Edward William and Jane Marr Gutsgell Professor and Interim Dean of the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana, teaches the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the concept of “race” and its use in the United States
• Explore the historical legacies of race in the US
• Understand how race is lived today
• Investigate institutional racism, systemic social inequalities, and discrimination patterns

How you will learn

This course is divided into four weeks and takes about 8 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, and four peer-graded assignments. There’s a self-reflection assignment (15% of your grade), an annotated resource listing (10%), a research project proposal (25%), and a full research paper (50%). You must also review three of your peers’ assignments to pass. At the time of writing, this course had a 4.6/5 user rating.

REGISTER HERE

#6. Addressing Racial Health Inequity in Healthcare (University of Michigan)

Course description – Through the years, racial inequities in healthcare have become increasingly more recognized. Significant gaps in understanding and action remain, however. This specialization provides students with the history and sociological contributions causing racial inequities in healthcare (course 1). Students are also taught how to critically analyze the causes of racial inequities (course 2) and how to achieve equity (course 3). Dr. Minal R. Patel, an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, teaches the specialization.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Recognize the history that created disproportionate disease burdens within racial/ethnic groups
• Understand what causes ethnic and racial disparities in health status and outcomes
• Analyze approaches to achieving racial equity such as community health centers and reparations
• Understand the similarities between the lack of healthcare access/representation and other sectors in the US and globally

How you will learn

The entire specialization takes about four months to complete with four hours of work per week. Coursework includes videos, readings, practice exercises, and one peer-reviewed assignment in week 3 of each course. In the first course, students create a “health profile” of a selected country, U.S. state, city, or town. In the second course, students choose a country or U.S. state and create a “healthcare structure profile.” In the last course, students select a country or U.S. state and create an intervention to address a specific racial/ethnic disparity.

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#7. Designing and Building Institutional Anti-Racist Spaces (Wesleyan University)

Course description – The goal of this course is to teach students the tenets of equity, anti-racism, and cultural justice. Students are also taught how to apply these ideas in pursuit of social change, as well as how to explore creative approaches to social justice, racial justice, and advocacy. Educators, administrators in education, lawyers, and advocates working in equity and civil rights will all benefit from this course. Jonathan Andrew Perez, a visiting lecturer, teaches.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand implicit bias, prejudice, racism, equity, equality, and other essential concepts
• Apply design thinking for equity and justice
• Examine shifting narratives of looting, rioting, and protesting
• Analyze your institution and identify what needs to change and how to change it

How you will learn

The course is divided into four weeks and takes about 21 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, practice quizzes, discussion prompts, and two peer-graded assignments. Both assignments (which are each worth 50% of your grade) are two short essays. You must also review three of your peers’ essays to complete the course. At the time of writing, there were no user reviews yet.

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#8. Reimagining Blackness and Architecture (MoMA)

Course description – This course looks at the relationship between architecture and Blackness as both an identity and a lived experience. It’s structured around five themes: Imagination, Care, Knowledge, Refusal, and Liberation. Black artists, architects, scholars, and writers will discuss how they reimagine their surroundings and how Black makers have changed the world. Arlette Hernandez, a Volkswagon Fellow for Digital Learning, and Sean Anderson, an Associate Curator, teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand key terms and concepts surrounding architecture and Blackness
• Recognize how race and racism impact architecture and the built environment
• Explore the work of Black architects, artists, and other makers
• Examine the role individuals play in building a just and equitable world

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into six weeks and takes about 14 hours to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, and six quizzes at the end of each module. The first quiz is worth 10% of your grade while the others are worth 18%. To submit your answers and receive a grade, you’ll need to take the paid course track. A passing quiz grade is 80% or higher. At the time of writing, the course had a 4.9/5 user rating.

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#9. Community Awareness: Police Brutality in the U.S. (University of Michigan)

Course description – In 2020, the United States experienced a historic burst of protests against police brutality. This free course digs into the context behind the protests, including the history of police violence, the laws and policies that derail accountability, the demands of protesters, and the knowledge and tools that can spark change. This course is adapted from a Teach-Out launched in July 2020. It’s led by Teach-Out Experts involved in social work, government, law, higher education, and activism.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand the history of modern policing in the U.S.
• Examine how police violence affects individuals and communities
• Explore the practices of modern policing and why they make accountability so challenging
• Recognize the various ways individuals and communities respond to police violence
• Develop an action plan on how to apply what you’ve learned in your community

How you will learn

This course is divided into five weeks and takes around 17 hours total to complete. Coursework consists of videos, readings, and discussion prompts. There are no graded assignments. Because there is no paid track or certificate for this course, all materials – including the discussion forums – are accessible to anyone who signs up. At the time of writing, “Community Awareness” didn’t have a user rating yet.

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#10. Take Action: From Protest To Policy (Wesleyan University)

Course description – This beginner’s course introduces students to four strategies for transforming activist work into policy change. First, how to use the courts to raise awareness, gain information, mobilize, and change the law. Next, how to analyze the benefits of communication across platforms. Third, how to connect power through stakeholder analysis and issue framing. Lastly, students study the benefits of local work. By the course’s end, students will know how to create a comprehensive plan for real-world change. Sarah Ryan (Associate Professor in Information Science) and Mary Alice Haddad (John E. Andrus Professor of Government; Professor, East Asian Studies; Professor, College of the Environment) teach the course.

What you will learn (excerpt)

• Understand how courts can be used to change policy
• Recognize how communication platforms can reach diverse audiences
• Identify stakeholders and how to frame issues to get support
• Apply what you’ve learned to a local context
• Create a plan to turn a specific issue from protest into policy

How you will learn

This beginner course is divided into six weeks and takes about 34 hours total to complete. Coursework includes videos, readings, quizzes, and peer-graded assignments. These assignments include questions about a court hearing; a compare-and-contrast exercise; creating a stakeholder chart; and completing a final paper (worth 20% of your final grade) on a plan for policy change. For the peer-graded assignments, you must also provide feedback to three of your peers. At the time of writing, there were no user ratings for this course yet.

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The post 10 Courses To Learn More About Black Art, History and Activism appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Words resonate through time. Speeches, articles, poems, and books may be written for a specific time to a specific audience, but truly great ones hold meaning years later. This is true of many quotes from the era of abolition and the Civil Rights movement. While they should be understood in the context they came from, their messages remain valuable to people everywhere. Here are ten quotes that made history:

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) was an American writer, orator, abolitionist, and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader in the abolitionist movement. His first autobiography – Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass – was a major bestseller in 1845. Douglass continued to advocate for the rights of freed slaves after the Civil War.

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” – Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) was a founder of the NAACP and an investigative journalist. Born into slavery, she was freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. In the 1890s, she documented lynchings in the United States. At the time, many claimed lynching was a punishment for criminals. Wells’ work exposed it as a brutal tactic to terrorize and oppress Black people. Harnessing journalism as her light, Wells’ work helped ensure that the injustice of lynching was not kept in the dark.

“Rule-following, legal precedence, and political consistency are not more important than right, justice and plain common-sense.” – W. E. B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was a sociologist, historian, author, Pan-Africanist, and civil rights activist. Among his many accomplishments, he was one of the founders of the NAACP in 1909. He wrote against Jim Crow laws and discrimination, advocating for full civil rights and political representation for Black people. Black Reconstruction in America (1935), where the above quote is from, challenged the then-mainstream belief that Black people were responsible for the failure of the Reconstruction Era.

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” – Malcolm X

Malcolm X (1925-1965) was a Black civil rights leader and a major figure in the Nation of Islam. He was born Malcolm Little but took on the letter X to represent his unknown African ancestral name. For years, he was famous as the public face of the Nation of Islam, speaking about Black empowerment and racism. Malcolm X eventually left after a series of disagreements. In 1965, he was assassinated by Nation of Islam members, though serious questions about the killing and the government’s involvement remain. Two of the men convicted were exonerated in 2021.

“I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) was a leader in the civil rights movement and helped thousands of Black Americans in Mississippi become registered voters. She also supported the community through programs like the Freedom Farm Cooperative. The “sick and tired” quote comes from one of her most famous speeches in 1964 which she gave at a church in Harlem. In that speech, she described the injustices and violence faced during her attempts to vote. The quote is on her tombstone.

“O, let America be America again –

The land that never has been yet –

And yet must be – the land where every man is free.”

– Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1901-1967) was an American poet, writer, and leader in the Harlem Renaissance. His work celebrates Black cultural life and addresses racism. This line from the poem “Let America Be America Again” challenges the Utopian promise of America and reveals the harsh reality. Hughes expresses a longing for America to live up to its promise.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968) was the face of the Civil Rights Movement and a powerful writer and orator. This quote comes from “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” which he wrote in 1963 after being arrested for nonviolent demonstrations against segregation. The letter was a response to one written by white religious leaders who criticized Dr. King’s tactics and labeled him an “outsider” because he wasn’t from Birmingham. Dr. King’s words explain his reason for coming to town.

“No.” – Rosa Parks

In December of 1955, Rosa Parks (1913-2005) was riding the bus home in Montgomery, Alabama. When the driver ordered her to give her seat up to a white passenger, Parks refused. She was arrested. Activists used this injustice to launch a bus boycott. Parks became a major Civil Rights icon because of her action and spent her life as an activist working for housing rights, political prisoners, and more.

“The very serious function of racism…is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” – Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a critically-acclaimed author known for works like Beloved and The Bluest Eye. She won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. Her writing centers on the Black American experience. The above quote comes from a 1975 speech. It remains relevant because as anyone who has experienced racism knows, speaking about it is exhausting.

“The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” – Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was a Black lesbian feminist writer and activist who addressed racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia. Her quote on the master’s tools comes from her famous essay of the same title, which is part of the book Sister Outsider. In the essay, she critiques non-intersectional feminism and questions whether change is possible within a racist, patriarchal framework. Throwing off that framework is the key to change.

The post 10 Civil Rights Quotes That Made History appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

M.A. Higher Education – Diversity and Social Justice

The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, United States, is currently accepting students for their Master of Arts in Diversity and Social Justice program. Spread over two years of full-time study, the program is intended to prepare students to address a variety of issues that stem from inequality and to improve diversity in private and public settings after completion. All students complete six credits of coursework related to higher education and 12 credits of coursework related specifically to diversity and social justice. Students are also expected to complete a practicum experience, a research project and cognate coursework offered in departments chosen with the assistance of an advisor. Students must submit GRE scores with their applications, and non-native English speakers are also required to verify fluency with IELTS or TOEFL scores.

M.A. Social Justice and Education

The University College London in London, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Arts program in Social Justice and Education. The objective of the program is to examine how political and social factors affect education both in terms of policy and practice and how access to education affects issues like citizenship and social inequality. Coursework requires 1 full year to complete with all classes held at the university’s campus. The program includes mandatory modules in the sociology of education and interpreting education research. Then, students select two additional modules of coursework based on their interests and goals. To be considered for admission, students must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and show that they are fluent in English either through status as a native speaker or by submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores

M.A. Social Justice & Public Policy

All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland, offers multiple graduate programs in Social Justice and Public Policy. Intended to be a part-time curriculum, the program can culminate in a graduate certificate with 30 credits of study, a graduate diploma with 60 credits of study or a master’s degree with 90 credits. Those who opt to earn the full degree will spend 2 years completing the program requirements on campus. Ideal for anyone who is currently involved with public policy that influences social justice as a part of their careers or for those interested in pursuing a career path in the field, the program includes classes in economics, social change, communications and strategic planning. Students must also complete a dissertation and take courses on research methods.

M.A. Social Justice and Equity Studies

Brock University in St. Catharine’s, Canada, is accepting students for their Master of Arts program in Social Justice and Equity Studies. The purpose of the program is to enable students to take a critical look at issues related to social justice, so that they are better able to fight for equality in regards to age, gender, race, sexuality, class and other categories. After graduation, students may choose to pursue doctoral-level degrees or be properly prepared to work as consultants or advocates for nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Courses are taught by faculty members from 16 different departments for a thorough multi-disciplinary approach to the study of social justice. The program requires 16 months of full-time study for completion and is open to native English speakers and non-native speakers with sufficient IELTS and TOEFL scores.

M.Sc. Justice Studies

Arizona State University in the Southwestern city of Tempe in the United States is offering a Master of Science degree in Justice Studies. An interdisciplinary program, the course of study typically requires a year of full-time study to complete. Students are free to choose from one of five areas of concentration: citizenship and migration, globalization and economic justice, law and policy, media and technology and social identity and communities. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and have maintained an average GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent during their final 60 semester hours of undergraduate study. Students that graduated from a foreign university are also expected to provide IELTS or TOEFL scores to demonstrate fluency in English

M.A. Justice Studies

The University of Regina offers a Master of Arts degree program in Justice Studies at their campus in Regina, Canada. Intended to be a full-time course of study that lasts for 2 years, the program takes a multi-disciplinary look at justice with courses in public safety, health, learning and justice theory. Students are permitted to conduct research in one of four areas: the social factors that contribute to crime, corrections and victims services, international justice and human rights and social justice as it relates to gender, political participation, economic status and ethnic and cultural identity. In order to qualify for admission, students must hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and have a graduation average of 70 percent or the equivalent. Fluency in English is also required

M.A. Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice

The Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia offers a Master of Arts degree in Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice. A full-time program, the curriculum includes courses held at the university’s campus in Vancouver, Canada, and typically requires 12 to 18 months of study to complete. There are a number of focus areas that students may elect for their studies. Some of the many options include women’s studies, race theory, migration and radicalization, health and media studies. Graduates are prepared for doctoral-level study or for work in the public or private sectors in advocacy, public policy and related fields. Admission to the program is very competitive. Students must show evidence of having maintained a B+ average in their third and fourth year undergraduate coursework to be considered for admission

M.A. Human Rights, Culture & Social Justice

Goldsmiths, University of London offers a Master of Arts program in Human Rights, Culture and Justice for individuals who are currently employed in or hope to one day work in the field of human rights advocacy. A flexible course of study that can be completed 1 year with full-time study and within 2 years with part-time study, the program includes three core modules, through which all students progress. The modules examine how human rights are constructed, how human rights are organized and how human rights issues can be researched and evaluated. At the conclusion of the first two modules, students complete an essay. A research proposal is submitted at the end of the third module. Students then proceed to complete a culminating research project.

M.A. Communication and Social Justice

The University of Windsor in currently offering a Master of Arts program in Communication and Social Justice as a full-time course of study at their campus in Windsor, Canada. This multi-disciplinary graduate-level program focuses on the intersections between communication and media and both culture and the political economy. Students are encouraged to examine how communication affects social, political and economic power in societies today and how social justice and communications have been interconnected in the past. Some topics that are covered during the program include propaganda, censorship, communication laws and regulations, global media systems and advertising. Course work also delves into how race, gender, class, sexuality and ethnicity have historically and are currently being portrayed in the media. Because all classes are conducted in English, students must demonstrate fluency through IELTS or TOEFL scores for admissions consideration.

M.A. Social Justice and Human Rights

George Mason University is accepting applicants for their Master of Arts degree program in Social Justice and Human Rights. This program requires two years of full time study at the university’s campus in Fairfax, Virginia, in the United States near the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Intended for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and either have an interest in working in human rights advocacy or are currently employed in the field, the program allows students to focus on an area of concentration of specific value to them. Possible areas of emphasis may include race studies, gender studies or queer studies. The location of the program gives students access to notable human rights groups, providing opportunities for field work and experiential learning. Non native English-speaking applicants must show fluency in English prior to admission.

M.A. Social Justice and Community Engagement

Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford, Canada, is currently accepting applicants for their Master of Arts degree program in Social Justice and Community Engagement. Intended to be completed through one year of full-time study at the university’s campus, the program involves a number of requirements that allow students to investigate how issues of social and environmental justice play out in real community settings. All students complete a set group of courses and are expected to participate in a 160-hour community placement. A culminating capstone project is also required. The focus of the program is equipping graduates to help fight discrimination, poverty and environmental abuse after graduation. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree, submit a writing sample and demonstrate fluency in English to be considered for admission.

M.A. Social Justice and Human Rights

Arizona State University in the city of Phoenix in the state of Arizona in the Southwestern United States is currently offering a Master of Arts degree in Social Justice and Human Rights. Students with a bachelor’s degree and interest in topics like family structures, labor, human security, education, environmental protection, children’s welfare and migration are invited to apply. All students take classes in grant writing, addressing social problems and research methods in social justice. An internship is also a mandatory part of the program. This master’s course of study consists entirely of campus-based classes and is only offered as a full-time program. Students who earned their undergraduate degrees in non-English speaking countries must submit ELTS or TOEFL scores for admissions consideration.

M.A. Social Justice

The University of Colorado Denver in Denver, Colorado, United States, is offering a Master’s degree in Social Justice at their campus. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to the topic of social justice, allowing students to gain an understanding of how various issues and factors contribute to social justice or interfere with justice being equally given to certain racial groups, minority groups or classes within societies. Law, political science, education, consumerism and the media are all covered during the coursework. Students take classes full time to complete the program, and 1 year of study is required to complete all of the course requirements. Classes are taught only in English. Prior to admission, applicants who are non native speakers must verify their fluency by submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores.

M.Sc. Social Justice, Development and Health

Queen Margaret University is currently offering a blended Master of Science degree program in Social Justice, Development and Health. Students take courses both online and at the university’s campus in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. Very flexible, the program can be completed as a full-time course of study for one year or as a part-time course of study for two years. Anyone who is interested in furthering the fight for social justice in a senior position can benefit from the program. Students will approach the topic of social justice from many angles, seeing how anthropology, health policy and public health, sociology, management and psychology all play a role in justice. Because classes are taught only in English, foreign students who are not native speakers are expected to submit TOEFL or ELTS scores for admissions consideration.

M.Ed. /M.A. Social Justice Education

The University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada, offers both Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees in social justice education. This multi-disciplinary program can be completed full-time or part-time at a pace determined by the student, provided that the course of study lasts for at least 1.5 years and a maximum of 3 years full time or 6 years part time. Upon admission to the program, students are able to select their own area of interest from a broad range of options, including media and communication, gender studies, queer studies, disability studies, cultural contexts in education, democracy and ethics, indigenous studies and race relations. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, at least 12 months of work experience in a field related to social justice and demonstrated fluency in English to be considered for the program.

M.A. Equity and Social Justice in Education

San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California, United States, offers a Master of Arts degree in Equity and Social Justice Education for individuals who already work in or plan to work in a field related to adult education. A full-time, campus-based program, the curriculum includes four required courses, a seminar in educational research, a field study and a master’s thesis. Students also have the flexibility to choose between a number of education-related elective courses to complete the required number of credits. Admissions are competitive. Only students who hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent and have a “B” average GPA of 3.0 or above or the equivalent will be considered. Applicants who are not native English speakers will need to demonstrate that they are fluent with acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores.

M.A. Conflict Transformation and Social Justice

Queen’s University in Belfast, Ireland, is currently accepting students into their Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice program. Requiring one year of full time or two years of part time study to complete, the program includes course work in many different disciplines, including political science, law, anthropology, history, philosophy, psychology and sociology. Literature and creative arts classes are included in the course of study, providing a fully rounded look at the subjects of conflict and social justice in global societies. Classes are taught in English, and applicants must show fluency with adequate IELTS or TOEFL scores to be accepted for admission.

M.Sc. Social Justice and Community Action (Online Distance Learning)

The University of Edinburgh of Edinburgh, Scotland, is currently accepting applicants for their Master of Science in Social Justice and Community Action program. A completely online course of study for distance education students, the program is taken on a part-time basis over a period of 24 months. The course of study is intended for recent bachelor’s degree recipients who wish to obtain positions in social justice-related fields as well as professionals who are already working in areas of social justice research, policy writing or grassroots organizations in any sector. Course formats include podcasts, distance-based group assignments and independent studies.

M.A. Global Urban Justice

The School of Geography at the University of Leeds in Leeds, United Kingdom, is accepting applicants to their Master of Arts in Global Justice program. Classes can be taken full time for 1 year or part time for 2 years and focus on the theme of justice and injustice in urban areas. Students must participate in a collaborative research placement and write a dissertation to receive the degree. Research methods are covered in the compulsory course work, and students will consider a broad range of issues, including citizenship, climate change and migration through the course work. All classes are taught in English, so prospective students must display fluency through satisfactory IELTS or TOEFL scores.

M.A. Social Justice

Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Canada, is currently accepting applicants for their Master of Arts in Social Justice program. Students can choose from the traditional course of study or a specialization in women’s studies at the start of the 24-month, full-time course of study. For further flexibility, students have the option to choose four different streams to earn the degree: coursework, creative project, research project or practicum. All students complete classes in research methods and social justice theory to prepare them for the work in their individual curricula. All courses are taught in English, and fluency must be demonstrated via TOEFL or ELTS scores to be considered for admission.

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For decades, the death penalty has been decreasing around the world, but it hasn’t disappeared yet. According to data from Amnesty International, there were 579 executions in 2021, which represents a 20% increase from 2020. 108 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, while 144 countries have abolished it in law or practice. Even as executions decrease, questions about the death penalty’s place in society remain. Does it deter violent crime? How many innocent people have been executed? How does living in a society with the death penalty affect humanity’s psyche? Here are 10 articles about the death penalty:

Content warning: Non-gratuitous references to violence, murder, and executions

#1. Valuing Black Lives: A Case for Ending the Death Penalty

Columbia Human Rights Law Review | Alexis Hoag

Released in the Columbia Human Rights Law Review, this article tackles the intersection of race and death penalty in the United States. Racial disparities have long been an issue with the death penalty, leading to courts and juries treating cases with white victims as more serious. As a result, Black murder victims’ lives are – in the words of the article – “undervalued.” The death penalty also targets those Hoag describes as the “most disfavored members of society,” including poor people, people with mental illness, and Black people. Because of racial disparities, Hoag argues that the 14th amendment, which deals with equal protection under the law, could be used to challenge the death penalty. This challenge would force the government to deal with how racism and prejudice affect who the death penalty protects and who it’s reserved for. To guarantee Black victims get equal protection, the best remedy is ending death penalty completely. As Hoag says, “Rather than expand or even reform capital punishment, the only solution is abolition.”

#2. They went to prison as kids. Now they’re on death row.

The Marshall Project (in partnership with Slate) | Keri Blakinger + Maurice Chammah

According to research, there are dozens of death row prisoners who spent time in youth lockups. Most of these lockups are in Texas and are infamous for their abuse of prisoners. As the article relates, the experiences of young people in youth lockups set them on paths that led to death row. At 16, Terence Andrus went to a juvenile prison for robbery. The prison’s mission? To provide him with treatment, skills, and education. The lockup ended up exposing him to gangs, drugs, and frequent stretches in solitary confinement. After leaving the prison, 20-year-old Andrus killed two people while trying to steal cars. Andrus takes responsibility for his actions, but like many death row prisoners who went through the juvenile system, it’s clear his experiences in lockup impacted his mental health and exacerbated the abuse already suffered at the hands of his mother. While some want to believe people like Andrus are inherently criminal and violent, reality paints a much different picture. Andrus’ death sentence was initially vacated because his lawyer was proven ineffective, but on appeal, the sentence was reinstated. In June 2022, the Supreme Court declined to review Andrus’ appeal. At the time of writing, he remains on death row.

#3. Interview with Jim Brazzil

PBS Frontline

Prison chaplain Jim Brazzil has witnessed over a hundred executions. He’s been featured in media like the New York Times, where an article from 1997 describes an execution in Texas. In this interview with PBS, Brazzil discusses his feelings about his job, what he sees as his purpose, and what happens during an execution. Brazzil sees his role as that of a spiritual advisor, so he doesn’t take a position on the death penalty. He’s only focused on the needs of the prisoner as they face their death. It takes him about three days to prepare for an execution and about three days or longer to recover. As a witness, Brazzil also gets an idea of how executions affect everyone present, such as the officers and medics who are also part of the process. Throughout the interview, Brazzil repeats a variation of a specific phrase: “It’s always going to be a part of you.”

#4. Sister Helen Prejean On Witnessing Executions: “ I Couldn’t Let Them Die Alone”

NPR Fresh Air transcript

In this transcript from Fresh Air, Terry Gross interviews Sister Helen Prejean. Prejean is known for her social justice activism and her book Dead Man Walking, which was adapted into a 1995 film starring Susan Sarandon. In 1957, Prejean joined the congregation of St. Joseph and by the 1980s, she was focusing on the poor and imprisoned. In 1982, she became a spiritual advisor to a murderer on death row. She’s since accompanied six people to their executions. Her latest memoir from 2019 – River of Fire – explores her spiritual journey. In the interview, Prejean talks about her life, including what she first imagined her life would be like as a nun, her views on the church, what drew her to social justice, and more. Unlike Jim Brazzil, Prejean does take a stance on the death penalty: she’s opposed.

#5. California’s Longest-Serving Death-Row Prisoner on Pain, Survival, and Native Identity

The Marshall Project | Douglas Ray Stankewitz as told to Richard Arlin Walker

In 1978, a 21-year-old was carjacked and killed in California. Douglas Ray Stankewitz, a Monache and Cherokee Indian from the Big Sandy Rancheria, was convicted at age 20 and sentenced to death by gas chamber. After a new trial, he received another death sentence. He’s spent 43 years in prison for the crime, which he says he didn’t commit. In 2019, his sentence was reduced to life without parole, but not before Stankewitz became what’s likely California’s longest-serving death row prisoner. This article, which uses Stankewitz’s own words, describes his experiences, which include isolation, meager meals, and abuse from guards.

Stankewitz’s team has made multiple attempts to get him released. In the years since his conviction, testimony against him has faltered, most notably the testimony from one of the co-defendants, who recanted his testimony. Records show the co-defendant did not have a lawyer or parent with him despite being a minor. In light of this information, a resentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2023.

#6. Sentenced to death, but innocent: These are stories of justice gone wrong

National Geographic | Phillip Morris | Photography: Martin Schoeller

In this 2021 article and photo essay, Phillip Morris interviews people who faced execution after being falsely convicted. The subjects include Kwame Ajumyu, who lives within walking distance of Morris. Ajamu was sentenced to death in 1975 when he was just 17. The primary testimony against Ajamu came from a 13-year-old boy, who claimed he saw Ajamu and another young man attack Harold Franks, a money order salesman. No evidence – physical or forensic – connected Ajamu to the murder. He still received a death sentence. 39 years later, it came out that the 13-year-old witness had immediately tried to recant his statement, but police told him his parents would be charged with perjury. In 2003, Ajamu was released on parole after 27 years in prison. Morris’s article includes other stories as well as informational graphics on the death penalty.

#7. Why the fight for racial justice in the US requires the abolition of the death penalty

The Conversation | Bharat Malkani

A senior lecturer at The School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, Malkani argues that the fight for racial justice in the United States – most recently manifested by the protests in the summer of 2020 – requires the abolition of the death penalty. This article explains how America’s history of lynchings, slavery, and racial violence are linked to death penalty. As an example, when campaigns against lynching caused a reduction in extrajudicial killings in the 1920s and 1930s, state-sanctioned executions increased. Racism is still baked into the death penalty today. Data shows a person is much more likely to receive a death sentence for killing a white person versus killing a Black person. If a Black person kills a white person, their chance of getting a death sentence increases even more. Malkani is the author of Slavery and the Death Penalty: A Study in Abolition (2018).

#8. The Case Against the Death Penalty

The ACLU

For those curious about why so many activists and organizations oppose the death penalty, this piece from the American Civil Liberties Union explains their stance. It first describes death penalty in the modern era beginning in 1972. The Supreme Court stated that under then-existing laws, the death penalty violated the Eighth and Fourteen Amendments. However, four years later, new state death penalty statutes had been written and several hundred had been sentenced to death. In 1976, the Supreme Court changed course, saying that “the punishment of death does not invariably violate the Constitution.” The piece then lists and explores the ACLU’s objections to the death penalty, including that the death penalty doesn’t significantly deter crime, it’s not applied fairly, and it’s barbaric to everyone involved.

#9. Meet the former state executioner who’s cheering for the decline of capital punishment in America

ABC News | James Glenday and Emily Olson

For 17 years, Jerry Givens was Virginia’s chief executioner. During his career, 25 prisoners were executed by lethal injection while 37 died in the electric chair. Not even his family knew what his job was; Givens was ordered to keep it secret. In this article from 2019, Givens describes what it was like to carry out an execution, from the physical exam that made sure the prisoner was healthy to the walk to the death chamber before 9:00 pm. After a death row inmate narrowly avoided execution – and was later exonerated of the crime completely – Givens started to doubt his role in the system. A 4-year stint in jail himself – as well as his faith – also played a part in transforming Givens into an anti-death penalty activist. The article also discusses how the death penalty (and support of it) is declining. Jerry Givens passed away in 2020.

#10. Ex-prison worker in Japan who witnessed execution speaks of shocking experience

The Mainichi | Takayasu Ogura

Alongside the United States, Japan is one of the few “developed” countries that maintains the death penalty. The specifics are often shrouded in mystery. This article translated from Japanese describes the experience of a defense lawyer who once witnessed an execution while working as a prison officer. He explains how prisoners are notified only a day before their scheduled deaths, at which point they’re taken to a room for constant monitoring. When it’s time, inmates are blindfolded and handcuffed before they’re executed by hanging. Witnessing the execution deeply affected the officer. After four years as a ministry of justice official, he resigned and became a lawyer. Currently, Japan notifies prisoners only hours before they will be executed, which many rights groups say is inhumane. As of November 2022, there were about 100 people on death row.

The post 10 Articles About The Death Penalty appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

This master program aims to prepare students to be able to tackle ethical questions which are at the forefront of today’s high-tech industries like artificial intelligence and data protection, while ensuring that developments in this area rather complement than impinge human rights protections. The program is based on a combination of a rigorous foundation in data science with philosophy and legality to ensure a proper implementation of protections and policies.

During the program students undertake a set of rigorous postgraduate courses and acquire knowledge from a well-established data science and international human rights curriculum. Students are given an opportunity to tailor their studies in accordance with their particular field of interest since courses topics vary from climate policy to health communications. During the final semester students engage in an internship with an already approved partner. A selected number of students may also opt to apply to attend the Oxford International Human Rights Summer School.

Admission requirements

• Online application form
• Personal statement
• CV
• Two letters of recommendation
• A proof of proficiency in English
• Official transcripts
• Standardized Test : GRE Optional.
• Essay (prospective students should write a concise 1000 words essay providing an example of when they might been called upon to ‘think outside of the box’ in the academic, professional or personal life.

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The MA in International Human Rights provided by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver teaches students to explore issues affecting human dignity while critically assessing institutions, norms, and processes designed to promote and protect human rights. This interdisciplinary program aims to connect human rights to security, humanitarian assistance, health, development, while putting an emphasis on both the theory and practice.

The core curriculum of the program consists of courses in history, foreign policy, laws, human rights theory, economic development and foreign policy. To advance their practical skills, students are offered an opportunity to undertake an internship in the US or in another country. The program maintains partnerships with Amnesty International, Free the Slave and the Aspen Institute, all of which offer internship opportunities. Students also have an opportunity to participate in various human rights research and advocacy projects through conferences, film series, research centers, and guest lectures. Upon graduating students usually find an employment in international nonprofits, international rights advocacy organizations, international aid agencies, governmental and intergovernmental organizations, the human rights legal profession and academia.

Admission requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Essay (Prospective students should write a 500-750 words essay discussing an international issue they wish to address in their careers and how the Korbel school will prepare them to do so.)
• CV

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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.

An LLM in human rights is an internationally recognized advanced law degree that focuses on the laws that protect and guarantee human rights at the local, national, regional, and international levels. Programs are often offered by universities that have established human rights research centers on their campus. In addition to providing educational opportunities, many programs also include mandatory or optional internships with non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

What you’ll learn in a LL.M. in Human Rights Law

Students in LLM human rights programs can expect to learn about a variety of legal fields, including human rights law, international law, humanitarian law, international criminal law, and refugee law. Moreover, they will learn about international courts, human rights protection mechanisms and the functioning of international organizations. Schools may have a particular regional or topical focus or offer a broad introduction to human rights law.

How much does an LLM in Human Rights Law cost?

The cost of LLM programs varies from university to university. Often, students can receive financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans to offset the costs. Generally, costs are in the range between 10,000 and 20,000 USD in Europe and can reach more than 50,000 USD in the USA. Fees for programs often depend on your status e.g. whether or not you are a domestic or international student. In addition, some LLM programs require students to pay a fee for their application.

What are the career prospects for graduates of an LLM in human rights program?

Graduates of LLM in human rights degree programs often work for international law firms focused on human rights. Moreover, they may find employment with non-governmental organizations such as Oxfam and Amnesty International, advocacy groups, the United Nations (UN), and other international organizations or human rights entities including human rights courts. There are plenty of options available for LLM graduates.

12 LL.M. Human Rights Programs for Your Consideration

You can find LLM human rights programs all over the world, but many of the best programs are based in the United States, the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Students often prefer schools that are located near The Hague, Geneva, Washington, D.C., New York City or London, as these are areas where human rights entities and organizations are headquartered.

Let’s take a look at some top universities where you can study a human rights LL.M.

#1 University of Law (United Kingdom)

LLM International Human Rights – Full-time
LLM International Human Rights – Part-time

Key information
University	University of Law
Country	United Kingdom
Learning mode	Online, On-Campus
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	12 to 24 months
Tuition fee	£9,200 (Domestic), £12,360 (Non-Domestic)
Application deadline(s)	September
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The University of Law (ULAW) is UK’s largest law school. Founded in 1876, ULAW is among the top universities to study a LLM in International Human Rights Law globally. The curriculum of the LLM focuses on international human rights law, human rights protection and includes practical training on human rights advocacy, international criminal law and dispute resolution. Moreover, the masters programme offers a comprehensive module on research methods. The LLM in International Human Rights Law opens up a variety of career paths for those who want to become human rights lawyers, researchers or advocates.

The LLM is offered in a full-time (12 months) and part-time (21 months) track and accepts students from legal and non-legal backgrounds. Students from non-legal backgrounds are required to do an additional entry exam. Students can choose to study on-campus or online. University of Law offers a range of funding options for prospective students, including scholarships, bursaries and student loans.

The university of Law has nine campuses all over the UK, including in Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Guildford, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield, as well as an international branch in Hong Kong.

#2 Columbia University (United States)

General LLM with specialization in Social Justice and Human Rights

Key information
University	Columbia University
Country	United States
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time
Duration	10 months
Tuition fee	$82,467
Application deadline(s)	September
Funding	Scholarships and Fellowships
Official Website	Click here

Open to lawyers from around the world, Columbia University is offering a general LLM programme where students can choose from various specializations, including social justice and human rights. For this programme a limited amount of scholarships is available for outstanding students. If you would like to be considered for financial aid, the submission of a Fellowship essay is required upon application.

In the first part of the programme you will receive an Introduction to American Law and develop your skills in legal and research writing. Moreover, you will attend introductory programs on career development where you can explore careers in the private sector, social justice and the office of Judical Clerkships.

Students are required to pay $85 for application.

#3 Geneva Academy (Switzerland)

LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

Key information
University	Geneva Academy
Country	Switzerland
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time
Duration	12 months
Tuition fee	CHF 18,000 (≈ 18,700 USD)
Application deadline(s)	November
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The Geneva Academy offers both full and partial scholarships for its LLM program in Human Rights. Full scholarships cover the cost of tuition and living expenses in Geneva for ten months. This is a one-year postgraduate degree and one of the most innovative LLM programs in international human rights law in Europe. Students are presented with intellectually challenging material on some of the most essential human rights issues of the day.

The program provides practical training in both international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as international criminal law, and highlights the ways all three affect each. Faculty includes renowned institutions and human rights entities, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

While core classes offer a firm foundation in a variety of legal areas concerning human rights, students can tailor their program to a specific interest. Examples of these interests include armed non-state actors, the regulations concerning international courts or tribunals, and counter-terrorism.

#4 Leiden University (The Netherlands)

LL.M. in European and International Human Rights Law

Key information
University	Leiden University
Country	The Netherlands
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	12-24 months
Tuition fee	€19,300 (Full-time), €9,650 (Part-time)
Application deadline(s)	Before September
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

University of Leiden in The Netherlands offers a LLM in European and International Human Rights Law. The programme is offered in a full-time and part-time version and costs €19,300 (Full-time) or €9,650 (Part-time)

The master is specialised on the comparison of human rights protection systems in Europe and around the world. You will study international law in action and also explore different strategies for the promotion of human rights. The master aims to turn students into effective advocates for promoting the basic rights and fundamental freedoms that are inherent to all human beings.

The lectures and workshops during the study are taught by in-house academic staff and by renowned human rights experts working for the UN, the EU, NGOs or other organisations. The LLM includes a study trip to Strasbourg and Geneva to experience international courts first-hand.

#5 Queen Mary University (United Kingdom)

Human Rights Law LLM

Key information
University	Queen Mary University
Country	United Kingdom
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	12-24 months
Tuition fee	£17,250 and £26,250
Application deadline(s)	Before September
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

Queen Mary’s program is the first association between a graduate school and a non-governmental organization. It’s designed to offer cutting-edge theory to students pursuing scholarship in human rights. Tuition costs between £17,250 and £26,250. The School of Law at Queen Mary offers a range of funding opportunities (scholarships and studentships) for postgraduate study.

The program focuses on issues that are currently at the forefront of the world stage. These issues include international women’s rights, socio-economic rights and issues, the rights of children, and the rights of other just as vulnerable groups based on economic status, culture, language, and other areas.

It’s one of the top ten law schools in the UK, and many of the staff are nationally recognized experts, both in law and NGO experts in socio-cultural theory. The law center also offers specialized training in critical thinking and writing to give you the skills necessary to write effective briefs and hone your academic, legal writing skills. You’ll also have access to some of the best databases and brick and mortar libraries in the world to do your research. The law center is located within walking distance to many law firms and the University of London Library at Senate House.

#6 University of Dundee (Scotland)

Business and Human Rights LLM

Key information
University	University of Dundee
Country	Scotland
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time
Duration	12 months
Tuition fee	£19,900 (International Students), £8,350 (England, Ukraine, Scotland)
Application deadline(s)	July for International Students / August for UK students
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The University of Dundee offers two full scholarships for students demonstrating honors level work in law and a commitment to work in human rights. The University of Dundee is one of the top-ranked law schools in Scotland and focuses on areas such as business and human rights, climate change and gig economy. Students can choose from optional modules in corporate governance, investment law and water law.

Classes are taught by staff members nationally ranked in their field and dedicated to their work. Students have a combination of classes, seminar, and research methods. Students also participate in legal research courses to hone vital academic research skills in this field, culminating in a written dissertation at the end.

Law students can apply for a global internship with Pagoda Projects to develop employability skills and gain valuable international work experience.

#7 American University (United States)

LL.M. in International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

Key information
University	American University
Country	United States
Learning mode	On-Campus, Online, Hybrid
Pace	Full-time
Duration	12 months
Tuition fee	$58,724
Application deadline(s)	May and October
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

American University’s Washington College of Law offers many opportunities for LLM students to apply for full tuition funding and fellowships. It offers scholarship assistance to students showing aptitude for law and a dedication to the areas of human rights and advocacy.

The LLM program is a hybrid masters program with both onsite and online curriculum offerings, allowing students a wide range of flexibility to acquire their advanced degree. It’s offered in both English and Spanish, making it one of the most accessible LLM programs in international human rights law in the world.

The residential component of the degree is taught by experts from the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian law during its summer intensive courses. These are specialized courses designed for an intensive introduction to the world of international human rights, and students are required to be available for two three-week sessions during the summer term.

The virtual courses are taught in live two-hour sessions in which students from around the world interact with the faculty and each other. Students participate in the coursework and benefit from working with their peers from around the world.

The faculty themselves are experts in the field and practicing lawyers in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. They are essential contacts for future employment and include NGO members, international tribunal judges, and members of UN treaty bodies, among other experts.

Note: Online and hybrid students who receive the LL.M. in International Human Rights & Humanitarian Law will not be eligible to sit for the NY bar exam.

#8 University of Bristol Law School (United Kingdom)

LLM in Human Rights Law

Key information
University	University of Hong Kong
Country	Hong Kong
Learning mode	Hybrid
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	1-2 years
Tuition fee	£20,900 (overseas students) / £10,900 (UK students)
Application deadline(s)	July/August
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

Ranking among the top 10 UK Law School’s, University of Bristol is offering a LL.M. in Human Rights Law that can be completed within 1-2 years. The curriculum of the programme is focused on learning about human rights frameworks and protection mechanisms at regional and global level. Moreover, the programme offers specalised modules on employment law, mental health, migration and other optional topics. The Master of Laws also aims to equip students with excellent legal, analytical and research skills.

Taught by leading academics from the Human Rights Implementation Centre, the LL.M. offers students the opportunity to participate in legal clinics to hone their practical skills. Alumni of the programme work as solicitors, barristers, lawyers and researchers in international and European organisations, such as the United Nations or the European Commission.

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 10% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study.

#9 University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

Master of Laws in Human Rights

Key information
University	University of Hong Kong
Country	Hong Kong
Learning mode	Hybrid
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	12-24 months
Tuition fee	42,100 and 171,000 HK$ per year
Application deadline(s)	February
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The Master of Laws (LL.M) in Human Rights 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.

Lecturers of the programme include experts in the human rights sector from around the world including eminent scholars, judges, United Nations employees and directors of NGOs.

The programme attracts students from a broad range of backgrounds including lawyers, judges, human rights professionals working for international organizations, NGOs or institutions. Moreover, investigative journalists, human rights scholars, government officials and doctors are among the alumni of the Masters.

#10 Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Germany)

Master of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – LLM

Key information
University	University of Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Country	Germany
Learning mode	Hybrid
Pace	Full-time, Part-time
Duration	12-24 months
Tuition fee	€ 6.100 for LL.M. Program (full- and part-time study)
Application deadline(s)	February
Funding	External Sources
Official Website	Click here

The Master of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law aims to prepare students for careers in policy making, international, public and governmental service as well as public and private legal practice. Moreover, graduates of this programme work for non-governmental organizations or pursue an academic teaching or research career.

The programme is focused on human rights protection in the context of armed conflict. Many of its modules are designed to explore the linkages and occasionally contradictions of human rights law and international humanitarian law. In addition to developing theoretical knowledge, the master aims to equip students with reliable practical skills in the application of their theoretical knowledge.

Students will learn to apply international standards of protection in specific circumstances, in particular in international court proceedings and other institutional procedures, the investigation of facts, or conflict resolution.

#11 University of Edinburgh (Scotland)

LLM in Human Rights

Key information
University	University of Edinburgh
Country	Scotland
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time
Duration	12 months
Tuition fee	£14,400 (UK), £25,300 (International / EU)
Application deadline(s)	Every 3-4 months
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The LLM in Human Rights is designed to provide you with a theoretical and practical understanding of international human rights law in its broader political context, with a particular emphasis on human rights in times of transition, including conflict situations or other political and societal movements.

You will have the opportunity to not only explore the global role of human rights and the international and domestic machinery that promotes and enforces rights, but also how academic debates connect to the practice of human rights.

The programme has a flexible structure, including some interdisciplinary options, that enables you to tailor your curriculum to best suit your individual interests and career plans, drawing from a choice of specialised courses from the Law School and the School of Social and Political Science.

#12 University of Essex (United Kingdom)

LLM International Humanitarian Law

Key information
University	University of Essex
Country	United Kingdom
Learning mode	On-Campus
Pace	Full-time
Duration	12 months
Tuition fee	£9,200 (Domestic Students), £19,740 (International Students)
Application deadline(s)	October
Funding	Scholarships and Bursaries
Official Website	Click here

The School of Law at the University of Essex in Colchester, England, United Kingdom, runs the Essex Human Rights Center, a major hub for cutting-edge research in the field of human rights. Students in the International Humanitarian Law LLM program have an opportunity to participate in these studies. In addition, the school offers a Master of Arts degree in Human Rights and Cultural Diversity, and a Master of Arts degree in Theory and Practice of Human Rights.

Find out more about human rights masters

The post 12 LL.M. Programs for Human Rights Law appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Most of the time, delegates going to a Model UN (MUN) conference need to submit a position paper. These are essays that cover your assigned country’s stance on the conference’s topics. By completing the paper, you get a clear understanding of your country and its foreign policies. The best papers can also receive awards based on their quality, consistency with geopolitics, consistency with the UN’s constraints, and analysis of the issues. How do you write a position paper that helps you understand your country and sets you up for the most success? Here’s what to do:

#1 Study your background research packet

The committee chair will send you a background research packet complete with questions. It’s important to know what these questions are because you want to make sure your position paper addresses them all. This shows that you thoroughly understand the packet’s guidelines and requirements. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the packet, you can move on to writing the paper.

#2 Create an outline

All papers benefit from having an outline. It helps you organize everything you need to include in your paper and it saves you time later on when you start filling things in. Now is the time to look at your conference’s guidelines. They’ll be clear about the structure they want. Usually, position papers are three paragraphs total. You’ll also see guidelines on formatting (font, font size, paper length, etc) based on what committee you’re in – traditional or crisis. Following these guidelines to the letter ensures you have the best chance at awards or other recognitions.

#3 The first paragraph: background

The first paragraph introduces the topic from your country’s point of view. Answer questions like “What is the history of the issue from (your country’s) perspective?” and “Why does this issue matter?” This is typically the shortest paragraph in the paper, so you’ll want to keep the history brief. As an example, let’s say your topic was about access to birth control. You would include information about where birth control access stands in your country compared to other countries, challenges to access, and why it’s so important. Relevant data should be included.

#4 The second paragraph: analysis

This is when you get into a more detailed analysis. This paragraph thoroughly explains your country’s position and shows off all the research you’ve done. Identify and describe your country. Explain (using hard data) how the topic affects your country. By the end of the paragraph, any reader should be able to answer questions like, “Where does this nation stand on the topic? What policies have worked and haven’t worked?” You’ll want to include any relevant statements made by the leaders of your country, as well as any aspects of the UN Charter, agreements, treaties, or resolutions that have involved your country. The second paragraph takes up the bulk of the position paper, so include lots of information gleaned from your research. That said, make sure that the information is relevant. If you research well, you’ll have lots of facts in your mind, but not all will fit.

Only choose data that supports the topic.

What if your country doesn’t have a strong position on the assigned topic? That can happen. Build your argument based on what else you know about the country and how it tends to lean on related issues. Look up countries with similarities to yours and see if they have a stance.  Your argument should make sense based on the information you find, but because your country lacks a hard stance, it’s more difficult for other delegates to challenge you.

#5 The third paragraph: solutions

Your last paragraph explores solutions. You want to show how your country will address the issue, why they work, who is involved, and how you’ll address challenges that pop up. The goal is to get your proposals included in the passed resolution, so be sure you aren’t presenting anything you’ll later contradict in the actual session. To inform this section of the paper, look at reports from the UN and recommendations already brought up in your committee. Your proposals should be limited to what your particular committee has the power to do. Your policy ideas should also follow the SMART MUN strategy, which stands for specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timely.

#6 Works cited page

You need to cite your sources in a bibliography or works cited page. As you research, be sure your information is coming from reliable places. If you’re getting information from a specific source and it’s not considered “general knowledge,” you’ll need to use footnotes throughout your paper. As an example, you’ll need to cite where you got statistics and quotes.

#7 Tips to remember

Positions papers are short. We mentioned that your second paragraph is your longest, but it’s still only one paragraph in a one-page paper. Because you have so little space, choose your words carefully. If you have information that doesn’t quite fit but you feel it’s important, you can save it for later. A position paper’s goal is to show you did the research and understand your country’s stance; it isn’t a comprehensive analysis. Our last tip: don’t worry too much about a conclusion. Other types of papers can summarize everything in a concluding paragraph, but for MUN position papers, there’s no space. A single, strong statement is all you need.

The post How To Write a Position Paper For MUN appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Feminism is one of the oldest movements in global history. There’s no single definition, but feminism boils down to ending gender discrimination and bringing about gender equality. Within this goal, there are many types of feminism. Instead of describing them in isolation from each other, feminism can be divided into “waves.”

The wave metaphor is the most common explanation for feminism’s movements, though it’s not without flaws. It can oversimplify a complicated history of values, ideas, and people that are often in conflict with each other. With this simplification, one might think feminism’s history is a straightforward arc. The reality is much messier. There are many sub-movements building on (and fighting with) each other. That being said, the wave metaphor is a useful starting point. It doesn’t tell the whole story, but it helps outline it. There are four waves:

The first wave

The first wave in the late 19th-century was not the first appearance of feminist ideals, but it was the first real political movement for the Western world. In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft published the revolutionary Vindication of the Rights of Woman. In 1848, about 200 women met in a church. They came up with 12 resolutions asking for specific rights, such as the right to vote. Reproductive rights also became an important issue for early feminists. After years of feminist activism, Congress finally passed the 19th amendment in 1920 and gave women the vote. This was almost 30 years after New Zealand became the first country where women could vote.

First-wave feminism had a fairly simple goal: have society recognize that women are humans, not property. While the leaders of 1st-wave feminism were abolitionists, their focus was on white women’s rights. This exclusion would haunt feminism for years to come.

The second wave

Second-wave feminism took place in the 1960s and ‘70s. It built on first-wave feminism and challenged what women’s role in society should be. Inspired by the Civil Rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War, activists focused on the institutions that held women back. This meant taking a closer look at why women were oppressed. Traditional gender and family roles were questioned. Queer theory became more established. There were major victories in this era including the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Roe v. Wade in 1973, and other Supreme Court cases.

Three main types of feminism emerged: mainstream/liberal, radical, and cultural. Mainstream feminism focused on institutional reforms, which meant reducing gender discrimination, giving women access to male-dominated spaces, and promoting equality. Radical feminism wanted to reshape society entirely, saying that the system was inherently patriarchal and only an overhaul would bring liberation. It resisted the belief that men and women were basically the same. Cultural feminism had a similar view and taught that there’s a “female essence” that’s distinct from men.

The third wave

Thanks to the institutional victories of second-wave feminism, women enjoyed more rights and power going into the 1990s. They were able to think about other aspects of their identity, welcoming individuality and rebellion. This was an era of reclaiming. Important cultural touchstones include Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, the Guerilla Girls, and punk rock riot grrls. Many women more freely expressed their sexuality in how they spoke, dressed, and acted. This sometimes bewildered 2nd-wave feminists, many of whom had resisted traditional femininity. While many ideas and mini-movements swirled around in this time, the one “rule” was that there weren’t rules. A woman should choose how she lived her life.

Third-wave feminism also became more conscious of race. Kimberle Crenshaw, a gender and critical-race scholar, coined the phrase “intersectionality” in 1989. The term refers to how different kinds of oppression – like those based on gender and race – intersect with each other. While mainstream first and second-wave feminism had largely ignored or neglected racial disparities within gender, the Third wave paid more attention.  The phrase “third-wave feminism” was coined in 1992 by Rebecca Walker, a 23-year old Black bisexual woman. When the internet became more commonplace, it was even easier to hear perspectives and ideas from feminists around the world. Feminism was expanding.

The fourth wave

Some people think we’re still in the third wave of feminism since the fourth wave isn’t so much of a shift as the continued growth of the movement. However, with the MeToo movement and a resurgence of attacks on women’s rights, many believe we’re living in a new wave. Social media activism has propelled the movement firmly into the technological age. It builds on the third wave’s emphasis on inclusivity and asks hard questions about what empowerment, equality, and freedom really mean.

Fourth-wave feminism continues to reckon with intersectionality. Critics of “white feminism,” which ignores the unique struggles of women of color, expose how non-white feminists and ideas have been – and continue to be – suppressed. Trans rights are a big part of the conversation, too. Feminism has often been an unwelcoming and hostile place for trans women and others who reject the gender binary. Many fourth-wave feminists are working to combat this exclusion. As with every wave before it (and any wave that comes after it), the fourth wave is complex. It encompasses many movements that both complement and clash with each other. This tension is unavoidable. While some types of feminism can have harmful impacts, having a variety of voices makes feminism more inclusive and successful.

The post Types of Feminism: The Four Waves appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Guest Article By Professor Bettina Aptheker

Feminism, activism, and social justice have transformed and impacted society in countless ways throughout history. From my first protest at nine-years-old, my activism in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s and ‘70s, and my role as a professor in the feminist studies department at UC Santa Cruz, I’ve gained insights from history and my own personal experiences that can help guide us as we continue to advocate for change in today’s society. Understanding the modern women’s movement and the intersectionality of all social justice work can help us pave a path toward progress.

One of the main things about the contemporary women’s movement is we see it as what we call intersectional. We mean that race is not separate from gender. Gender is not separate from disability. Race is not separate from class. Everything is intertwined because it’s all about intertwined systems of domination. So, if you try to change one thing, it’s going to impact something else.

For example, when women organized against sexual and domestic violence, they first worked to change the laws. Our legal system was inherited from British Common law. Originally, rape was a property crime in which the sexual predator violated the property rights of the husband or father of the woman. She was merely an object. In our early U.S. laws, domestic violence was legal. It took many decades of struggle beginning in the late 19th century, and then again an upsurge in the late 20th century to see real substantive changes in the law so that women were treated as full human beings — and violence against women was made a crime.

However, when you change the laws and have men who are found guilty of sexual violence, arrested, and incarcerated, you run into the problem of the racism of the criminal justice system. That is, police are far more likely to arrest men of color than they are to arrest white men, and prosecutors are more likely to seek stiffer penalties against people of color. This creates the system of mass incarceration, where a disproportionate number of Black and brown men are incarcerated, often having ‘plea-bargained.’ This means they forego a trial and many legal protections. The racism of the criminal justice system also makes women of color far less likely to call on the police. So often, this ends in tragedy for the men and women. So, if you’re going to have a women’s movement that’s multiracial, how are you going to carve out opposition to violence against women that doesn’t at the same time reinforce a racist criminal justice system? New initiatives for Restorative Justice and Transformative Justice are being implemented in many urban communities. These are some of the things you have to think about to build a coalition that counters all forms of violence.

Kimberle Crenshaw, a professor of law at Columbia and UCLA, illustrated the relationship between race and sex in a piece on intersectionality she published in the Stanford Law Review in 1991. This was an important essay because she pointed out the flaws in civil rights law and affirmative action law. If a Black woman wanted to file a lawsuit for discrimination, she had to decide whether to file it on the basis of race or the basis of sex. In the law’s original incarnation, it couldn’t be filed on the basis of both. Her essay highlighted the senselessness of forcing Black women to make an impossible separation between their race and sex, both of which are core parts of their identities. Crenshaw’s piece on intersectionality became a hallmark in feminist thinking, organizing, and scholarship. It also helped to change the law.

What work do we need to do as Intersectional Women’s Rights advocates today?

Voting rights have been an essential struggle for women beginning in the mid-19th century. In August 2020, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment passage, in which women won the right to vote. However, in practice, the Nineteenth Amendment was limited by segregationist laws and violence against Black enfranchisement in southern states. In fact, it was white southern opposition to woman suffrage that delayed its passage for decades. This was a consequence of the legacy of slavery. Thus, Black women in the south did not win the right to vote until the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. Likewise, Native American women could not vote until after 1924, when Native Americans were finally granted U.S. citizenship. Similar conditions existed for Mexican Americans in the Southwest, and Chinese people were denied the right to become naturalized citizens until the mid-20th century. In all of these ways, the history of woman suffrage illustrates the ways in which race, class, and citizenship were intertwined with the right to vote.

Today, we are faced with a situation of increasing efforts to prevent people from voting. For example, many states enacted strict ID laws, which tend to impact poor people and people of color more than white people. Likewise, states have carried out purges of voting rolls that have been contested and ultimately reversed in the courts. In addition, many states prevent anyone convicted of a felony from ever voting, even after they have been released from prison, thus reinforcing the racism of the criminal justice system as it intersects with voting rights. In Georgia today, Stacey Abrams and other leaders in the Black community have built powerful coalitions to restore voting rights and register people to vote. Their movement, called Fair Fight, changed the outcome of the Presidential election in 2020. Similarly, another organization called Four Directions has mounted a massive voter registration drive among Native Americans and encouraged people to vote even when they have to travel vast distances to be able to do so. We need to continue to build these kinds of coalitions to expand voting rights, remove current voting restrictions, and increase the number of people that can vote.

We, social justice activists, wherever we are, must not get discouraged. It’s tough, but don’t get discouraged because it takes a long time. There are setbacks, but there’s also progress. If you get discouraged, and you stop, then nothing is gained. So, you keep doing the best you can with the resources and tools you have available to try to make change.

How can we be progress-makers?

Everything is about coalition. Everything is about working with the community, working with other people, listening to other people, and forging an alliance across gender, race, class, and sexuality to protect human rights.

You can’t take on the power structure as a single entity. Obviously, you can’t take it on as a single individual, but even as a group, you need allies. So, you have to build a movement that can contest power.

The main thing is you can’t do it alone. You need to find other people and groups in different communities, find common ground, and seek ways of working together.

I also teach a course on Feminism and Social Justice, and I’m very grateful that it should be in some way useful. The first presentation in this course is about this intersectional approach to defining feminism. I then talk about a social justice movement involving Mexican-American workers in a strike in New Mexico in 1951. In the third lecture, I discuss the trial of Angela Davis that took place between 1970 and 1972. Professor Davis is a well-known Black scholar-activist, an advocate for prison reform and civil rights, who also worked with the Black Panther Party. She was also prominent in the movement against the Vietnam War and in developing a Black feminist movement. In the 1970s, she was charged with three capital offenses and called a ‘terrorist’ by the then President of the United States. We built a vast coalition of support in the United States and a global movement of hundreds of thousands of people for her freedom. This finally won her right to bail. It also allowed us to put together a stellar legal team and exercise all of the constitutional options for a fair trial. She was found not guilty by an all-white jury in San Jose. Since then, she has become an icon of social justice and prison abolition throughout the world. The fourth and final lecture in the series explores the #MeToo movement, using the intersectional and coalition approach described above.

My teaching philosophy is to create an energy that is compassionate and loving, and kind while articulating issues that matter in people’s lives. Then, I create a space that they can choose to walk into and take what they need.

Progress is incremental — people’s consciousness changes when they’re engaged in movements.

Dr. Bettina Aptheker is a prominent American activist, distinguished professor in the feminist studies department at the University of California, Santa Cruz and teaches an online course on Feminism and Social Justice.

The post Intersectional Feminism 101 appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

When the world recognizes human dignity, it’s recognizing that humans have inherent value. As a result, all people are entitled to certain rights simply because they are human. The word “dignity” has traditionally referred to a person’s merit based on traits like wealth, power, and social status. We still think in that vein when we hear the word “dignified.” However, the phrase “human dignity” is linked to respect and the belief that everyone has merit based on their humanity. Here are ten quotes about this concept:

“Yet what greater defeat could we suffer than to come to resemble the forces we oppose in their disrespect for human dignity?” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Before her time on the court, she was an important figure in gender-discrimination litigation in the 1970s. This legacy continued while she served on the Supreme Court, a position she held until her death in 2020.

“For now, let us simply observe that the assault on human dignity is one of the prime goals of the visitation of fear, a prelude to the domination of the mind and the triumph of power.”- Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian playwright, essayist, and poet. In 1986, he became the first sub-Saharan African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. His speech criticized apartheid and racial segregation. Throughout his career, he’s criticized political tyrannies and military dictators. A lot of his work addresses oppression.

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” – Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid leader and philanthropist. As President, he served as South Africa’s first Black head of state, focusing on dismantling institutionalized racism and encouraging racial reconciliation. He’s considered one of the most important social justice and human rights icons.

“What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.” – Baltasar Gracian

Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658) was a Spanish Jesuit writer, philosopher, and Baroque moralist. His style, known as Conceptism, depends on concentrating as much significance and meaning as possible into a short form.

“Human rights rest on human dignity. The dignity of man is an ideal worth fighting for and worth dying for.” – Robert C. Maynard

Robert C. Maynard was an American journalist, editor, and newspaper publisher. At one point in his career, he bought The Oakland Tribune after serving as editor. He became the first Black American to own a major newspaper and transformed it into a Pulitzer Prize-winning publication. Maynard also co-founded the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.

“Helping others is a good effort to instill human dignity.” – Gift Gugu Mona

Dr. Gift Gugu Mona is a South African poet, songwriter, philosopher, and philanthropist. Her Doctorate is in Public Health, while ancient African storytelling practices and divine wisdom inspire her writing.

“Without dignity, identity is erased. In its absence, men are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in which they are forced to live.” – Laura Hillenbrand

Laura Hillenbrand is an award-winning American author best known for the books Seabiscuit and Unbroken. When she was 19, she was struck with an illness eventually diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome. She wrote about her experiences in the award-winning essay “A Sudden Illness.”

“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 was the primary organizer of the March on Washington and an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. Because he was gay, he took a less public role than other activists. Later in his life, Rustin was involved in the gay rights movement. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King. Jr was a social activist and religious leader in the Civil Rights movement. As the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, he was one of the era’s most public social justice figures. He promoted nonviolent protests through his many speeches and writings. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. In 1968, he was assassinated.

“Today, no walls can separate humanitarian or human rights crises in one part of the world from national security crises in another. What begins with the failure to uphold the dignity of one life all too often ends with a calamity for entire nations.” – Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan was the secretary-general of the UN from 1997-2006. In 2001, he was the co-recipient with the UN for the Nobel Peace Prize. During his time at the UN, he prioritized restoring the UN’s reputation, fighting AIDS, and addressing human rights abuses.

The post 10 Quotes About Human Dignity appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Race Forward

Race Forward is a social justice organization that catalyzes movement building for racial justice. They  envision ‘’a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose’’.

They work with communities and other organizations to build strategies to advance racial justice in policies, institutions and culture. They conduct cutting edge research on pressing racial justice issues and focus on the significance of race in society. Their work also entails pushing forward the conversation on race in the media, mainly through their award-winning daily news site Colorlines, as well as advocating on complex racial justice issues in several other ways.

Equal Justice Initiative

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) was established in 1989 by a popular public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson to ‘’end mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenge racial and economic injustice, and to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.’’

EJI works with marginalized communities to change the narrative about race in America. They also provide legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted or abused in state prisons. They challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment, and provide assistance to formerly incarcerated people. Recently, they also have been creating memorials to address the legacy of lynching, slavery, and racial segregation.

Transgender Law Center

The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a trans-led social rights organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to pursue their lives as they wish. They change laws, policies, and attitudes so that everyone can live free from discrimination regardless of their expression or gender identity.

For almost two decades, TLC has been has been challenging the legal system to respect the dignity and humanity of transgender and gender nonconforming people. They believe in justice and liberation for all trans people, including those most impacted by the system they fight against such as imprisoned trans people, black and brown trans migrants, black trans women, trans people living with HIV, and trans youth.

Fair Fight

Fair Fight works on promotion of fair elections in Georgia and around the United States by encouraging voter participation in elections and educating them about their rights. They bring awareness to the public on election reforms and advocate for election changes at all levels.

Fair Fight works against voter suppression of voters of color and young voters and engages in their mobilization by conducting education activities and advocating for progressive issues. They had mounted significant programs to combat voter protection suppression and initiated programs to actually support voter protection across the country.

National LQBTQ Task Force

The National LGBTQ Task Force fights for freedom and equality of LGBTQ people. They work to build a future where everyone can be themselves in every aspect of their lives. To achieve this, they train and mobilize activists to deliver a free world.

Their advocacy team advocates on opportunities to advance full freedom, justice, equality and equity for LGBTQ people. They achieve this through queering the progressive movement and mobilizing the LGBTQ community and allies at places of intersectionality to end discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights.

GLSEN

GLSEN was founded in 1990 by a group of teachers who knew that educators play key roles in creating affirming learning environments for LGBTQ students. Today, their network has more than 1.5 million members and includes students, families, educators and education advocates.

They advocate for comprehensive policies that protect LGBTQ students and students of marginalized identities. Their network spreads across 43 chapters in 30 US states, to ensure that they reach every LGBTQ student so that they are able to grow and learn in a school environment free from harassment and bullying.

Color of Change

Color of Change is one of the largest online racial justice organizations helping people respond effective to injustice in the world that surrounds them. It has around 7 million members moving decision-makers in corporations and government to create less hostile world for black people in America.

They lead campaigns to rebuild real power for black communities, through which they challenge injustice by holding political and corporate leaders accountable. They also conduct research on inequality systems and provide solutions for racial justice that can transform the world.

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) was founded in 2000 in the aftermath of the police shooting and death of Charles Sanders. Since then, they became an organization that deals with police brutality on an ongoing basis.

They work on extreme cases of abuses, brutal police killings and other incidents. Their goal is to ‘’create a climate of resistance to abuse of authority by police organizations and to empower local people with a structure that can take on police brutality and actually bring it to an end’’. They provide constant support for survivors of police brutality and their families so they are able to reclaim their dignity and join the struggle to end this form of violence.

Brennan Center for Justice

Brennan Center for Justice strives to uphold the values of democracy and stands for equal justice and the rule of law. They work to strengthen democracy, protect liberty and security and end mass incarceration.

Their programs focus on criminal justice, democracy, protection of fundamental freedoms and securing the balance of power. They conduct research to reach transformative solution and advocate and fight in courts with elected officials to advance legislations. They also act a cutting-edge communications hub by taking their message directly to the press and public.

Assata’s Daughters

Assata’s Daughters is a black woman-led social justice organization that works on organizing young black people in Chicago and providing them with political education, mentorship, leadership development, and revolutionary service.

They were formed in 2015 as collective of black women, gender nonconforming people and femmes, with a goal of addressing a shortage of programs in these communities. In 2018 they shifted to a formal organizational structure ‘’led by black women using a black queer feminist lens and relationship-based tactics to organize bases of young black people in divested-from areas of Chicago’’.

The post 10 Social Justice Organizations Fighting for Equality appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

UC Social Justice

The Law Center for Race, Gender and Social Justice of the University of Cincinnati grew out of the joint program in law and women’s studies, during which students develop their own research projects and have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a variety of settings.

A team of professors and recent graduates at the Center run a blog that “aims to prepare law students to tackle social justice issues and serves as a communication bridge between communities by providing insightful articles”. They also directly help survivors of domestic violence, advocate for LGBTIQ rights and work with feminist organizations.

Janet Mock

Janet Mock is an American author, director, producer, television host and transgender rights activists. A native of Honolulu, she attended the University of Hawaii and earned her master’s degree in journalism from the New York University.

Her book titled Redefining Realness became a New York Times bestseller. She is also a former staff editor of People’s magazine and a contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine. Janet lives in New York and Los Angeles and runs a blog about race, gender and culture, written about from an analytical point of view.

Campus Pride

Campus Pride is a nonprofit organization based in the USA that brings together leaders from campuses on entire continent to speak about LGBTIQ issues and highlight events in their college community.

Their blog explores issues related specifically to LGBTIQ college students and fights for a safe college atmosphere and race equality. They envision “campuses and a society free of anti-LGBTIQ prejudice, bigotry and hate”. They work to develop student leaders, campus networks, and future actions to create such positive change.

Hollaback!

Hollaback! started working in 2005 to end gender based harassment in public space, commonly known as street harassment. Later on they expanded to work on harassment in all spaces taking into account different groups such as women, LGBTIQ, black people, indigenous groups and more.

Their blog is supported by local activists in 84 cities and 24 countries. It provides an online space for people to speak about times they have been harassed on the street with a purpose of raising awareness about street harassment through personal stories. Hollaback! envisions “a world where street harassment is not tolerated and where we all enjoy equal access to public spaces”.

Crunck Feminist Collective

The Crunck Feminist Collective (CFC) serves a space of support for hip hop generation feminists of color, straight and queer. They build a rhetorical community to discuss ideas, express their feminist views, challenge and debate one another, as well as support each other.

The CFC is a community of scholar-activists coming from different professional areas to share their work in an online blog community. The word crunk derives from the terms crazy or chronic and with drunk and paired with feminism, suggests people become intoxicated with the complexity of the term. The  blog, thus, covers insightful topics while raising controversial discussions about social justice.

Real Colored Girls

Real Colored Girls is a blog written by Christina Bell, a spoken word poet, and Mako Fitts Ward, a writer, activist and a feminist educators. Their blog is affected by women of the African diaspora revolving around the issues on the ways they are being represented globally.

On their blog they talk about issues affecting representation of minorities in the media with a goals of putting an end to stereotypes that appear in the public space. They empower women of color to achieve the meaning of real in different ways, professionally, emotionally, politically and spiritually.

Parenting for Social Justice

Parenting for Social Justice is a blog run by a non-profit Act for Justice. They work with a goal of reducing harm and to create safe, healthy and just communities. They engage in community social work, human rights, restorative justice in schools, radical finance, and starting up a social justice collective.

The blog is run by Abi and Angela, who are challenging themselves to be more intentional about bringing social justice books, conversation, and action into their parenting. They work to understand seven social justice principles and through Parenting for Social Justice blog they share their ideas, attempts, mess-ups and resources.

Peace and Justice Center

The Peace and Justice Center is Vermont based non-profit that provides support on a variety of economic and social issues. They work with community members, local business, other non-profits and activists to achieve their goals.

They work on the interconnected issues of peace, human rights, and economic, social, and racial justice by utilizing education, leadership development and community building. Since their ultimate goal is to create a just and peaceful blog they run a blog covering issues around racism, gender discrimination and LGBTIQ.

Feministing

 Feministing describe themselves as ‘’an online community run by and for young feminists’. Their team is made up of more than a dozen editors, columnists and interns publishing feminist analysis covering topics from pop culture to politics, while inspiring youth to make real world feminist changes.

On their blog they publish on a broad spectrum of intersectional feminist issues, from campus sexual violence, reproductive justice to transgender rights. They act as a gateway to the feminist movement for young people, giving them a way to take concrete actions in their communities.

BGD Blog

BGD was created by an award-winning writer Mia McKenzie to amplify the voices, expressions and experiences of trans and queer people of color. With focus on social justice from a QTPoC perspective, BGD is the only blog if this kind on the web.

Since it was started in 2011, BGD Blog has featured over 300 diverse writers from three countries reaching over seven million readers globally. It is a place where voices are heard, and where queer and trans people of color can express their views on issues affecting them.

The post 10 Thought-Provoking Social Justice Blogs Everyone Should Read appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Internationally, there is no legal definition of corruption, but it includes bribery, illegal profit, abuse of power, embezzlement, and more. Corrupt activities are illegal, so they are discreet and done in secrecy. Depending on how deep the corruption goes, there may be many people aware of what’s going on, but they choose to do nothing because they’ve been bribed or they’re afraid of retaliation. Any system can become corrupt. Here are five essays that explore where corruption exists, its effects, and how it can be addressed.

Learn more about anti-corruption in a free course.

Corruption in Global Health: The Open Secret

Dr. Patricia J. Garcia
The Lancet (2019)

In this published lecture, Dr. Garcia uses her experience as a researcher, public health worker, and Minister of Health to draw attention to corruption in health systems. She explores the extent of the problem, its origins, and what’s happening in the present day. Additional topics include ideas on how to address the problem and why players like policymakers and researchers need to think about corruption as a disease. Dr. Garcia states that corruption is one of the most significant barriers to global universal health coverage.

Dr. Garcia is the former Minister of Health of Peru and a leader in global health. She also works as a professor and researcher/trainer in global health, STI/HIV, HPV, medical informatics, and reproductive health. She’s the first Peruvian to be appointed as a member to the United States National Academy of Medicine

‘Are women leaders less corrupt? No, but they shake things up”

Stella Dawson
Reuters (2012)

This piece takes a closer look at the idea that more women in power will mean less corruption. Reality is more complicated than that. Women are not less vulnerable to corruption in terms of their resistance to greed, but there is a link between more female politicians and less corruption. The reason appears to be that women are simply more likely to achieve more power in democratic, open systems that are less tolerant of corruption. A better gender balance also means more effective problem-solving. This piece goes on to give some examples of lower corruption in systems with more women and the complexities. While this particular essay is old, newer research still supports that more women in power is linked to better ethics and lower corruption levels into systems, though women are not inherently less corrupt.

Stella Dawson left Reuters in 2015, where she worked as a global editor for economics and markets. At the Thomson Reuters Foundation and 100Reporters, she headed a network of reporters focusing on corruption issues. Dawson has been featured as a commentator for BBC, CNB, C-Span, and public radio.

“Transparency isn’t the solution to corruption – here’s why”

David Riverios Garcia
One Young World

Many believe that corruption can be solved with transparency, but in this piece, Garcia explains why that isn’t the case. He writes that governments have exploited new technology (like open data platforms and government-monitoring acts) to appear like they care about corruption, but, in Garcia’s words, “transparency means nothing without accountability.” Garcia focuses on corruption in Latin America, including Paraguay where Garcia is originally from. He describes his background as a young anti-corruption activist, what he’s learned, and what he considers the real solution to corruption.

At the time of this essay’s publication, David Riverios Garcia was an Open Young World Ambassador. He ran a large-scale anti-corruption campaign (reAccion Paraguay), stopping corruption among local high school authorities. He’s also worked on poverty relief and education reform. The Ministry of Education recognized him for his achievements and in 2009, he was selected by the US Department of State as one of 10 Paraguayan Youth Ambassadors.

“What the World Could Teach America About Policing”

Yasmeen Serhan
The Atlantic (2020)

The American police system has faced significant challenges with public trust for decades. In 2020, those issues have erupted and the country is at a tipping point. Corruption is rampant through the system. What can be done? In this piece, the author gives examples of how other countries have managed reform. These reforms include first dismantling the existing system, then providing better training. Once that system is off the ground, there needs to be oversight. Looking at other places in the world that have successfully made radical changes is essential for real change in the United States.

Atlantic staff writer Yasmeen Serhan is based in London.

“$2.6 Trillion Is Lost to Corruption Every Year — And It Hurts the Poor the Most”

Joe McCarthy
Global Citizen (2018)

This short piece is a good introduction to just how significant the effects of corruption are. Schools, hospitals, and other essential services suffer, while the poorest and most vulnerable society carry the heaviest burdens. Because of corruption, these services don’t get the funding they need. Cycles of corruption erode citizens’ trust in systems and powerful government entities. What can be done to end the cycle?

Joe McCarthy is a staff writer for Global Citizen. He writes about global events and environmental issues.

The post 5 Essays About Corruption appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Gun violence impacts every part of society. There are certain places in the world where it’s more prevalent. According to a 2018 report, the United States had the 28th highest rate of gun violence deaths in the world. That puts the US above other wealthy countries. Gun violence is also a major issue in places like the Caribbean, Central America, and Venezuela. Here are five essays that address the financial and emotional impact of gun violence, how people use art to cope, and how the problem can be addressed.

“What Does Gun Violence Really Cost?”

Mark Follman, Julia Lurie, Jaeah Lee, and James West

This article opens with the story of a woman and her fiance shot on their way to dinner. After being close to death and staying in a hospital for five months, Jennifer Longdon couldn’t move her body from the chest down. After more hospitalizations, the bills got close to $1 million in just the first year, forcing her to file for personal bankruptcy. More expensive hospital stays followed for problems like sepsis, while wheelchair modifications for her house added up, as well.

For many people, their knowledge of gun violence comes from the news or movies. These venues tend to focus on the moment the violence occurs or the emotional impact. The long-term financial consequences as a result of health issues are less known. This article examines the existing data while telling a personal story.

“I Think of People Who Died At Sandy Hook Every Day”

Mary Ann Jacob

In this essay from 2016, Mary Ann Jacob remembers the horrific elementary school shooting from 2012. She worked at the library at the time and recalls hearing shouting from the intercom on the morning of December 14. Believing someone had pushed it by mistake, she called in, only to have the secretary answer the phone and shout, “There’s a shooter!” Mary Ann Jacob lived through one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. The essay goes on to describe what happened after and the steps survivors took to advocate for better gun control.

“You May Not See Me On TV, But Parkland Is My Story, Too”

Kyrah Simon

In 2018, a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killed 17 students and wounded 17 others. Several students became vocal afterwards, challenging the lack of gun control in the face of such violence. They founded an advocacy group and many of the young people became household names. Kyrah Simon, a senior at the school, lost one of her best friends. She also wanted to speak up and share her story but realized that the media wanted certain speeches, certain faces. She writes, “I was just a girl that lost her friend. And it wasn’t enough.” Raw, honest, and enlightening, this personal essay is a must-read.

“Mexican Artist Transforms 1,527 Deadly Guns Into Life-Giving Shovels To Plant Trees”

Danielli

In Culiacan, Mexico, the city with the highest rate of deaths by gun violence in the country, an artist and activist began a special project. Pedro Reyes used local media and TV ads paid for by the city’s botanical garden to advertise his gun-trading project. In exchange for bringing their weapons, people received electronics and appliances coupons. Reyes made over 1,500 trades. What came next? The guns were crushed by a steamroller and melted down. Reyes used the material to create shovels. He made the same number of shovels as guns, so each gun was represented as something new.

Turning guns into art is not an uncommon action. Reyes has also made instruments while other artists make sculptures. The transformation of an object of death into something that plays a part in fostering life – like planting trees – sends a powerful message.

“Forum: Doing Less Harm”

David Hemenway

What is the best approach to gun violence? David Hemenway, a professor of health policy and director of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center and Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center, advocates for a public-health approach. He believes gun violence is a public-safety problem and a problem-health problem, but gun lobbyists dismiss both claims. The gun lobby focuses on the shooter – the individual – so attention is diverted from the firearms industry. In focusing so much on who to blame, prevention is left out of the equation.

A public-health approach returns the attention to prevention and asks everyone to work together on the issue. Hemenway uses motor-vehicle injury prevention as a blueprint for why gun violence prevention can work. Not sure what prevention could look like? Hemenway provides examples of how actors like healthcare workers, consumers, and the federal government can work together.

Learn about the consequences of gun violence in America and which interventions are most effective to reduce gun violence in homes, schools and communities!

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What is racial injustice? It’s racism in action. Racism is the belief that certain people are superior based solely on their race. Historically, white supremacy has been a dominant form of racism. When racist beliefs dictate political actions and systems, racial injustice becomes widespread. Those belonging to the “superior” race are granted more privileges, freedoms, and opportunities than others. Racial segregation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansings are all forms of racial injustice. Here are ten quotes that describe and challenge racial injustice:

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.” – Maya Angelou

Writer and activist Maya Angelou experienced racial injustice and prejudice firsthand throughout her career. She was a prolific creator, writing autobiographies, essays, poetry, plays, and more. Her work frequently addressed race and gender. In this quote, she describes prejudice as a burden that affects every space in time – the past, present, and future. It’s disorienting and dangerous.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

James Baldwin didn’t finish his manuscript he called Remember This House, but it gave us this quote. It was also the basis of the documentary “I Am Not Your Negro.” Remember This House was going to be an account of the lives and assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. While many apply this quote to a variety of difficulties, Baldwin was specifically talking about racial injustice and America. America has a long history of racism and has not truly reckoned with its past. To move forward, that past must be faced.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde described herself as “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” She wrote frequently about the intersection of race, class, and sexuality. As someone with many different identities, she understood how differences can be twisted to justify discrimination. In this quote, she emphasizes how it’s not the differences themselves that are divisive, but that society fails to celebrate them.

“The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” – Toni Morrison

Celebrated author and speaker Toni Morrison wrote at least twelve books in her career. In 1993, she became the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize. In this quote, she describes a major consequence of racism for those who experience it.

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word”. – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In this quote from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Dr. King expresses his belief that people will one day leave racial injustice behind. He aligns racism with war, and peace with brotherhood. In line with his adherence to nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, he states that truth and love will ultimately win.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” – Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu is a South African Angelical cleric, theologian, and human rights activist. In the 1970s and 80s, he spoke out against apartheid and drew international attention to the racial injustice of the system. In 1984, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. This quote expresses the importance of being vocal about injustice and taking a side.

“As long as there is racial privilege, racism will never end.” – Wayne Gerard Trotman

Wayne Gerard Trotman is an award-winning British author. He’s written in a variety of genres, including children’s literature, horror, fantasy, sci-fiction, screenplays, and more. In this quote, he hits upon the fact that privilege based on race and racism can’t be disconnected from one another. As long as certain races get more opportunities and freedom than others, there will always be racism.

“Defeating racism, tribalism, intolerance and all forms of discrimination will liberate us all, victim and perpetrator alike.” –Ban Ki-moon

Former Secretary-General of the UN from 2007-2016, Ban Ki-moon’s tenure included making sustainable development a priority and increasing the number of women in senior management. In this quote, Ki-moon lists racial injustice in its different forms, saying that ending it benefits everyone.

“The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” – Ijoema Oluo

Ijoema Oluo is an American editor and best-selling writer. Her work includes the book So You Want To Talk About Race. This quote makes it clear that to be anti-racist, we must all be willing to take a hard look at ourselves. To fight racial injustice, we must all take responsibility for how and where we hold racist beliefs.

“Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.” – John Lewis

John Lewis was an American politician, civil rights leader, and Medal of Freedom awardee who served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his death in 2020. In this quote, Lewis emphasizes how the struggle against racial injustice is persistent. Every generation must participate in the dismantling of racism and racist systems.

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What does “women’s empowerment” mean? It refers to the process of giving women control over their choices and access to the opportunities and resources that allow them to thrive. While there’s been progress, gender inequality remains a persistent issue in the world. Empowering women politically, socially, economically, educationally, and psychologically helps narrow the gap. Here are five essays about women’s empowerment that everyone should read:

Women’s Movements and Feminist Activism (2019)

Amanda Gouws & Azille Coetzee

This editorial from the “Empowering women for gender equity” issue of the journal Agenda explores the issue’s themes. It gives a big picture view of the topics within. The issue is dedicated to women’s movements and activism primarily in South Africa, but also other African countries. New women’s movements focus on engaging with institutional policies and running campaigns for more female representation in government. Some barriers make activism work harder, such as resistance from men and funding, If you’re interested in the whole issue, this editorial provides a great summary of the main points, so you can decide if you want to read further.

Agenda is an African peer-viewed academic journal focusing on feminism. It was established in 1987. It publishes articles and other entries, and tutors young writers.

5 Powerful Ways Women Can Empower Other Women (2020)

Pavitra Raja

Originally published during Women’s History Month, this piece explores five initiatives spearheaded by women in the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship community. Created by women for women, these innovations demonstrate what’s possible when women harness their skills and empower each other. The initiatives featured in this article embrace technology, education, training programs, and more.

Pavitra Raja is the Community Manager for social entrepreneurs in Europe, North America, and Latin America. She’s consulted with the UN Economic Commission for Europe and also has experience in legal affairs and policy in the private and public sectors.

The Key to Improving Women’s Health in Developing Countries (2019)

Because of gender inequality, women’s health is affected around the world. Factors like a lower income than men, more responsibilities at home, and less education impact health. This is most clear in developing countries. How can this be addressed? This essay states that empowerment is the key. When giving authority and control over their own lives, women thrive and contribute more to the world. It’s important that programs seeking to end gender inequality focus on empowerment, and not “rescue.” Treating women like victims is not the answer.

Axa is a leading global insurer, covering more than 100 million customers in 57 countries. On their website, they say they strive for the collective good by working on prevention issues, fighting climate change, and prioritizing protection. The company has existed for over 200 years.

Empowering Women Is Smart Economics (2012)

Ana Revenga and Sudhir Shetty

What are the benefits of women’s empowerment? This article presents the argument that closing gender gaps doesn’t only serve women, it’s good for countries as a whole. Gender equality boosts economic productivity, makes institutions more representative, and makes life better for future generations. This piece gives a good overview of the state of the world (the data is a bit old, but things have not changed significantly) and explores policy implications. It’s based on the World Bank’s World Development Report in 2012 on gender equality and development.

Ana Revenga and Sudhir Shetty both worked at the World Bank at the time this article was originally published. Revenga was the Sector Director of Human Development, Europe and Central Asia. Shetty (who still works at the World Bank in a different role) was the Sector Director, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, East Asia and Pacific.

The Side Of Female Empowerment We Aren’t Talking About Enough (2017)

Tamara Schwarting

In this era of female empowerment, women are being told they can do anything, but can they? It isn’t because women aren’t capable. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. As this article says, women have “more to do but no more time to do it.” The pressure is overwhelming. Is the image of a woman who can “do it all” unrealistic? What can a modern woman do to manage a high-stakes life? This essay digs into some solutions, which include examining expectations and doing self-checks.

Tamara Schwarting is the CEO of 1628 LTD, a co-working community space of independent professionals in Ohio. She’s also an executive-level consultant in supply chain purchasing and business processes. She describes herself as an “urbanist” and has a passion for creative, empowering work environments.

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There are many inequalities in our world. Progress has been made, but institutions and systems continue to favor some groups over others based on traits like race, class, and gender. Without significant change, these systems will limit progress. You can find countless think pieces, research, and academic essays about equality, but poetry captures something unique. Using elements like rhyme, structure, and word choice, poems bring beauty and passion to the table. They can also challenge a reader’s perspective. Here are 10 poems about equality:

“I Dream A World” – Langston Hughes

A major figure in the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes wrote “jazz poetry,” plays, and short stories. His works celebrate black culture while also acknowledging racism and discrimination. In 2015, on Hughes’ 113th birthday, Google featured a doodle of the poet writing on his typewriter. The animated sequence showed lines from the poem “I Dream A World.”

Hughes frequently referenced dreams in his poetry. In this poem, he describes a dream where the world has embraced equality and love. There’s no more racial inequality, everyone is free, and there’s peace. While Hughes was American, his vision applies to the whole world. For those familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, it’s easy to see where Dr. King might have been inspired. Hughes and Dr. King did write letters, but there’s no record of the activist citing Hughes as a possible inspiration for the speech.

“The Anti-Suffragists” – Charlotte Perkins Gilman

A recent report showed global gender equality could take as long as 300 years. Why is there still so much of a gap? Who opposes gender equality? It’s not just men. This poem from the American suffragette era calls out the different kinds of women who held back the movement. This includes wealthy women who have all their needs met, “ignorant” (but sometimes college-educated) women, and religious women. While the poem focuses on a specific movement, it reflects the fact that causes are often divided or opposed by people we might assume would be on board. The gender wage gap still exists and some women don’t see it as a problem today.

We want to point out the irony in this poem: Charlotte Perkins Gilman was racist. Her definition of equality does not include women of color. While she chastises different kinds of women in her poem for holding back equality, she herself held views that allowed inequalities to flourish. Poems like this force us to reckon with their authors and consider who they excluded from their narratives.

“the child is not dead” – Ingrid Jonker

Ingrid Jonker (1933-1965) was a South African poet and one of the founders of modern Afrikaans literature. She began writing at just six years old. Her work denounced the National Party’s apartheid system (her father was a leading member of the party), as well as censorship in media and literature. After struggling with her mental health, Jonkers took her own life at just 31 years old. Her work has been widely analyzed and translated into many languages.

One of her most famous poems, “the child is not dead,” was a response to the police violence inflicted on Black South Africans protesting apartheid. Apartheid, which lasted from 1949 to 1991, formalized racial inequality and segregation in South Africa. The freedom and economic opportunities of Black South Africans were severely restricted. Jonker’s poem resonated with protesters and in 1994, Nelson Mandela read the poem aloud during his inaugural State of the Nation address.

“Equality” – Maya Angelou

Writer and activist Maya Angelou (1928-2014) is known for her poetry, memoirs, essays, and more. She’s one of the most important artists in history. Her life included professional dancing, songwriting, lecturing, and writing. The variety of her experiences, unique perspectives, and sharp insight inform her work.

“Equality” addresses racism and discrimination. The poem’s speaker – “I” – stands for all African-Americans. “You” represents white Americans and those preventing equality through direct action or by ignoring the problems. Through repetition, Angelou emphasizes the poem’s message. The line “equality and I will be free” repeats six times like the powerful chorus of a song.

“The Black Unicorn” – Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) was a Black poet and feminist. She described herself as “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” Her poetry focuses on intersecting identities found within race, gender, and class. Before the term was officially coined and well-known, Audre Lorde was an intersectional feminist. Her work centers on injustices and her unwavering spirit to combat them.

There are layers of emotion in “The Black Unicorn.” The first lines describe the black unicorn as “greedy” and “impatient.” These are terms privileged people often use when talking about oppressed groups standing up for their rights. Lorde describes her fury at being mocked, but the emotion continues to grow deep within her. In the last lines, the unicorn is described as “restless” and “unrelenting,” which are more positive variations on the original terms. Why does the black unicorn feel this way? She is not free.

“Let America Be America Again” – Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes returns to our list with this poem from 1935. It builds on many of the themes Hughes wrote about during his career, including disillusionment with America’s hollow promises and hope that the country could someday live up to its own ideals.

Hughes’ poem challenges nostalgia for the “good old days,” as well as the myth of America as a land of equality and freedom. He wrote it while thinking about the difficulties he faced in his career, but he expanded it beyond his personal experiences. He makes references to the farmer, the “worker sold to the machine,” “the man who sailed those early seas,” and others drawn to America’s promises. Those promises have never been fulfilled: “There’s never been equality for me, Nor freedom in this “homeland of the free.’”

“An Ode We Owe” – Amanda Gorman

Born in Los Angeles, Amanda Gorman was the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history at just 22 years old. She’s performed her work for the Obama White House, the Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress, and many other notable audiences. She’s the recipient of many awards. Through her work, she explores topics like oppression, power, feminism, and race.

In 2022, Gorman performed a poem during an appearance at the UN General Assembly. In “An Ode We Owe,” Gorman focuses on the importance of children and young people as change-makers. A message of equality is woven throughout the piece. In one section, Gorman writes:

This morn let it be sworn
That we are one one human kin,
Grounded not just by the griefs
We bear, but by the good we begin.

“Until We Could” – Richard Blanco

This poem boldly celebrates queer love and the fight for marriage equality. It describes a couple first seeing each other across a room. They fall in love and commit to one another, but they can’t get married. Between larger blocks of text, short lines like “Yes, I knew, but still we couldn’t….” express deep longing. Then, triumph, as gay marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts. There’s joy, but also an acknowledgment that there are still couples who can’t marry.

In 2014, the Freedom To Marry Campaign commissioned Richard Blanco to write this poem. It marked the 10th anniversary of gay marriage becoming legal in Massachusetts. One year later, in 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that states with bans on same-sex marriage could no longer enforce them. Gay marriage was finally legal everywhere in the United States.

“All Oppression is Connected” – Staceyann Chin

Staceyann Chin is a Jamaican spoken-word poet, artist, and LGBTQ+ rights activist. She’s been featured in places like The New York Times, The Washington Post, 60 Minutes, and more. She’s won numerous awards for her activism, poetry, and other writing. Her first full-length poetry collection was published in 2019.

“All Oppression is Connected” opens with the line, “Being queer has no bearing on race my white publicist said.” A few lines later, she says, “the New Age claims that sexual, racial and economic freedom has finally come for all,” but it’s a lie. All oppression is connected, Chin cries, and groups who are celebrating victories need to stand with those still suffering. Equality only happens when we understand how oppression is connected. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “No one is free until we are all free.”

“Unity” – Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was a Chilean poet and diplomat who won the 1971 Nobel Prize in Literature. He began writing poetry at 13 years and experimented with various styles throughout his career, including surrealist poems, historical epics, and love poems. He’s considered the national poet of Chile and one of the most popular poets of the 20th century.

“Unity” is a striking, complex poem that requires attention from the reader. There are references to physical objects such as stones, water, ivory, leather, and wood, but also more abstract concepts like sleep, age, and time. Neruda describes being “encircled by a single thing, a single movement,” but there are many facets at play in the poem. The final line gives us insight into this paradox between unity and fractured things: “a distant empire of confused unities reunites encircling me.” There are many ways to interpret this poem, but in the context of equality, it demonstrates an understanding of how differences can be reconciled. Pablo Neruda was a socialist, so he always reckoned with the complexities of unifying many different groups. As the poem explores, things don’t have to melt into a single identity to be unified. When working for a more just, equal society, all parts of that society should come together.

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Human rights art encompasses a variety of mediums, including paintings, poetry, and film. Many people might not think cartoons fall under this umbrella, but they have a unique place in human rights activism and advocacy. Cartoons present ideas, issues, and events in a way that an essay or article can’t. As art, cartoons can be purely visual and don’t need text to convey a message. They transcend language. When they do include text, it’s still more readable than traditional books or articles. Thanks to the internet, political and human rights-focused cartoons have an expansive reach. This allows cartoonists to connect with people across the world. Human rights can be a complex and emotionally-challenging subject. Here are five examples of human rights cartoons and artists:

“The Challenges of War” (series)

Somalia experienced a civil war in 1991. It’s been three decades, but conflict still rages on. Millions of Somalis have left, while those who stay must bear the effects of violence. In this series from PositiveNegatives, produced for Peace Direct, artist Pat Masioni depicts the stories of three Somalis: Abdi, Lembaka, and Ayaan. Each story is three pages and available to view on the PositiveNegatives website.

Peace Direct is an international charity that supports local people in their efforts to end war and build peace. Their goal is to provide skills and resources. PositiveNegatives is a group that produces comics on international social issues and human rights. They are funded by media, charity, and philanthropic organizations that use the comics for outreach, advocacy, and education. Team members travel the world to hear stories and capture their context as accurately as possible.

Ali Ferzat (artist)

When cartoonists are attacked for their art, their power is obvious. Ali Ferzat, an award-winning cartoonist from Syria, is familiar with danger. In 1989, he had an exhibition in France, which included a cartoon called The General and the Decorations. It depicted a general handing military decorations to an Arab citizen instead of food. The exhibit prompted Saddam Hussein to threaten Ferzat’s life, while Iraq, Jordan, and Libya banned the artist. Ferzat continued his work, becoming more direct in his criticism of the Syrian government during the Syrian Civil War. In 2011, masked men attacked him, breaking his hands. Ferzat left Syria and Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Many of his cartoons can be viewed on various websites. In the selection on the Guardian link, Ferzat includes a comic of a gun with a razor replacing the trigger. A severed finger lies beneath it. He drew the cartoon in 2002 to represent how violence hurts those who are targeted and those who perform the violence.

“70 Years of Human Rights” (series)

In 2018, the UN Human Rights Office collaborated with Cartoon Movement to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They held a cartoon contest where artists from over the world submitted comics representing the declaration’s 30 articles. One cartoon per article was selected by a public vote. There’s a variety of styles depicted and countries represented. These comics are a great resource for people interested in discussions about the UDHR.

Cartoon Movement is a web platform for professional editorial cartoonists around the world. Their network consists of more than 500 cartoonists. They also commission for clients. All cartoons are available for purchase and should not be used without permission.

March (graphic novel trilogy)

John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

Congressman John Lewis (1940-2020) tells his life story in this trilogy of graphic novels. There are a lot of ways to learn about Lewis. Anyone who loves comics and graphic novels will appreciate this form. While focusing on Lewis’ journey as a major figure in desegregation and the fight for civil rights, the cartoons also ruminate on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. The final and third book in the series was released in 2016.

“March” was co-written with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by New York Times best-selling artist Nate Powell. The trilogy has won multiple awards including the Eisner Award. It was the first graphic novel to win a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.

Maus (graphic novel)

Art Spiegelman

One of the most famous graphic novels of all time, Maus tells the story of the artist interviewing his father about the Holocaust. It is notable for depicting Jews as mice and Germans as cats, which has been a source of criticism. Alongside the story of his father’s survival, Spiegelman digs into the difficult relationship they share. Originally serialized between 1980-1991, Maus uses a distinct postmodern style and blends genres like fiction and memoir. In 1992, it won a Pulitzer Prize, becoming the first and only graphic novel to win the award. Alongside comics like Watchmen, Maus changed the public’s perception of what cartoons could be.

Art Spiegelman worked on comics magazines Arcade and Raw. He was also a contributing artist for The New Yorker for ten years. In 2004, he released In the Shadow of No Towers, which described his experiences on September 11th. He lived close to the towers at the time of the attack.

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Many see “diversity” as an empty buzzword. It’s only empty when it isn’t truly engaged with. In basic terms, diversity encompasses traits that make people unique from one another. This includes race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, and more. A “diverse” environment is one where differences are welcomed, respected, and appreciated. Here are five essays that expand on the concept of diversity:

“How Diversity Makes Us Smarter” (2017) – Dr. Katherine W. Phillips

Diversity is a hot topic these days. What are the benefits? In this article, Katherine Phillips explores how diversity fuels innovation, creativity, better problem-solving, and more. Decades of research support this. That doesn’t mean diversity is easy. Research also shows that social diversity within a group can cause discomfort. Communication and trust can be more challenging. It’s still worth it. Phillips compares the painful parts of diversity with the pain of exercise. After a good workout, you may be sore, but continuing to exercise is the only way to strengthen and grow your muscles. Diversity works the same way.

Scientific American originally published this article in 2014. The version on Greater Good Magazine was revised and updated. Dr. Phillips was the Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics Management at Columbia Business School. She passed away in January 2020.

“Why Diversity Matters” -Ruchika Tulshyan

Many companies are embracing diversity and inclusion. At the same time, this shift makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Some even argue against diversity. In this essay, Ruchika Tulshyan breaks down why diversity is so valuable to the business world. Prioritizing diversity and inclusion is necessary to draw in – and keep – the best talent. It also results in better products and better customer service. When it’s actively embraced and engaged with, diversity is hard. It’s also important if companies want to evolve and thrive.

Ruchika Tulshyan is the founder of Candour, an inclusion communications and strategy firm. She’s also the author of “The Diversity Advantage: Fixing Gender Inequality in the Workplace.” She’s covered leadership and diversity for Forbes and written pieces for The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Time, and more.

“Diversity in publishing – still hideously middle-class and white?” (2017) – Arifa Akbar

This essay opens on an incident in 2015. The British publishing world was accused of lack of diversity based on literary festivals and prize nominations. Book list after book list came out, all with only white authors. Did they correct the course? Arifa Akbar describes some initiatives that the publishing industry tried. The only way to achieve systemic change, however, is for inclusivity to reach the top. This isn’t for the benefit of authors. Those excluded find smaller presses or even start their own. Traditional publishing needs diversity if it hopes to appeal to the next generation.

Arifa Akbar is the Guardian’s chief theatre critic. She also worked at the Independent for 15 years as a news reporter and then as an arts correspondent and literary editor.

“Diversity in STEM: What It Is and Why It Matters” (2014) – Dr. Kenneth Gibbs Jr.

An older piece from 2014, this article brings up points that are still important today. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is a highly-innovative field. It produces research and inventions that touch every part of society. However, when it comes to diversity in this field, there’s disagreement. Kenneth Gibbs Jr. explores what “diversity” means and why it matters in science. Benefits include excellence within research teams and better talent.

Kenneth Gibbs Jr. is a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. He works on policy-relevant research that strengthens the research enterprise. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Postdoctoral Association.

“Does Teacher Diversity Matter in Student Learning?” (2018) – Claire Cain Miller

Diversity within the workplace is much-discussed, but what about the classroom? In this article from the New York Times, Claire Cain Miller takes a closer look at the effects of diversity. Research shows that male students in particular benefit when teachers share their gender or race. Digging deeper into that, black boys are also more affected by poverty and racism. On the other side of things, role models and high-quality schooling have a significant, positive impact. Most teachers today are white women. Research implies that more diverse teachers would benefit a classroom. In the meantime, schools can train their teachers about bias and stereotypes.

Claire Cain Miller joined The Times in 2008. With a team, she won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for public service by reporting on workplace sexual harassment. She writes about families, gender, and the future of work for The Upshot.

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According to the UN, the number of international migrants surpassed 270 million in 2019. This represents an increase of 51 million since 2010. Nearly half of all international migrants moved to one of 10 countries. 19% of the world’s total immigrant population lives in the United States. One of every seven international migrants is younger than 20 years old. What are the stories behind these statistics? What does the world think of immigrants? To start answering these questions, here are five essays about immigration:

“Out of Eden Walk” (2013-present) – Paul Salopek

At the time of this 2019 essay, Paul Salopek has been walking for seven years. In 2013, he started from an ancient fossil site north of Ethiopia. His plan? Cover 21,000 miles over ten years, retracing humankind’s walk out of Africa. While he’s walking through the past, his project is also timely. Numbers-wise, we’re living with the largest diaspora in human history. More than 1 billion people are on the move, both within their own countries and beyond borders. During his journey, Salopek covers climate change, technological innovation, mass migration, and more. Through essays, photographs, audio, and video, he creates a vivid tapestry of stories from people rarely heard from. This essay is a great introduction to Salopek’s “slow journalism.” You can find more at OutofEdenWalk.org.

Journalist and writer Paul Salopek is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. He has reported for publications like The Atlantic and National Geographic Magazine. John Stanmeyer, who took the photos for this essay, is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and photographer.

“Mohsin Hamid: why migration is a fundamental human right” (2014)

Author Mohsin Hamid was born in Pakistan and educated in the US. He lives in the UK. In this essay, he explains how he wishes for “a world without borders.” He believes the right to migrate (which includes emigration and immigration) is as vital as other human rights, like freedom of expression. People have always moved, crossing borders and sharing cultures. Humans are also migrants in that simply by living, we move through time. Unfortunately, this human right has been denied all over the world. Hamid looks forward to a day when migration is respected and welcomed.

Mohsin Hamid is the author of several books, including Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York, and London. He writes both fiction and nonfiction.

“I’m a Dreamer. Ask my 80+ Employees if I should be deported.” (2020) – Victor Santos

Young and brilliant, Victor Santos is the founder of Airfox, a Boston-based tech startup. On the surface, Santos is living the American Dream. In this essay in the Boston Globe, he describes that for the past 10 years, he’s worried about ICE taking him away. He’s an undocumented immigrant dependent on DACA. Santos briefly describes his experience growing up in the US, working through college, and getting opportunities because of DACA. Following the publication of this piece, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration cannot immediately end DACA. For now, Santos and the other hundreds of thousands of Dreamers are protected.

Victor Santos is the founder and CEO of Airfox, a loan app that uses mobile data to estimate credit risk. He was on the list of MIT Technology Review in Spanish’s Innovators Under 35 Latin America 2018.

“My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant” (2011) – Jose Antonio Vargas

Vargas opens this essay describing how, at 12-years old, he left the Philippines for the US in 1993. At 16, while going to get his driver’s permit, he was told his green card was fake. He realized he was undocumented. In this essay from 2011, partially inspired by four students who walked from Miami to Washington to lobby for the DREAM Act, he spoke out. The essay describes Vargas’ life and career in America, navigating the system with his secret. It’s a vivid, personal look at Vargas’ experience of “hiding” in plain sight and an act of courage as he owns his story.

Jose Antonio Vargas is a former reporter for the Washington Post. He shared a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting. He is also a filmmaker, writer, and immigrant rights activist. He founded Define American, a nonprofit that strives for dialogue about immigration, in 2011.

“A Young Immigrant Has Mental Illness, And That’s Raising His Risk of Being Deported” – Christine Herman

Immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, deal with a variety of challenges. One of them is the mental health care system. Those with untreated mental illnesses are at higher risk of getting in trouble with the law. When the person who is mentally ill is also undocumented, things get even more complicated. Deportation to a country with an even worse mental healthcare system could be a death sentence. This story from NPR is about a specific family, but it highlights issues that affect many.

Christine Herman is Ph.D. chemist and award-winning audio journalist. She’s a 2018-2019 recipient of a Rosalyn Carter fellowship for mental health journalism.

The post 5 Essays about Immigration appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Around the world, people experience homelessness. According to a 2005 survey by the United Nations, 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing. The causes vary depending on the place and person. Common reasons include a lack of affordable housing, poverty, a lack of mental health services, and more. Homelessness is rooted in systemic failures that fail to protect those who are most vulnerable. Here are five essays that shine a light on the issue of homelessness:

What Would ‘Housing as a Human Right’ Look Like in California? (2020) – Molly Solomon

For some time, activists and organizations have proclaimed that housing is a human right. This essay explores what that means and that it isn’t a new idea. Housing as a human right was part of federal policy following the Great Depression. In a 1944 speech introducing what he called the “Second Bill of Rights,” President Roosevelt attempted to address poverty and income equality. The right to have a “decent home” was included in his proposals. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration also recognizes housing as a human right. It describes the right to an “adequate standard of living.” Other countries such as France and Scotland include the right to housing in their constitutions. In the US, small local governments have adopted resolutions on housing. How would it work in California?

At KQED, Molly Solomon covers housing affordability. Her stories have aired on NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other places. She’s won three national Edward R. Murrow awards.

“What People Get Wrong When They Try To End Homelessness” – James Abro

In his essay, James Abro explains what led up to six weeks of homelessness and his experiences helping people through social services. Following the death of his mother and eviction, Abro found himself unhoused. He describes himself as “fortunate” and feeling motivated to teach people how social services worked. However, he learned that his experience was somewhat unique. The system is complicated and those involved don’t understand homelessness. Abro believes investing in affordable housing is critical to truly ending homelessness.

James Abro is the founder of Advocate for Economic Fairness and 32 Beach Productions. He works as an advocate for homeless rights locally and nationally. Besides TalkPoverty, he contributes to Rebelle Society and is an active member of the New Jersey Coalition to End Homelessness.

“No Shelter For Some: Street-Sleepers” (2019)

This piece (by an unknown author) introduces the reader to homelessness in urban China. In the past decades, a person wouldn’t see many homeless people. This was because of strict rules on internal migration and government-supplied housing. Now, the rules have changed. People from rural areas can travel more and most urban housing is privatized. People who are homeless – known as “street-sleepers” are more visible. This essay is a good summary of the system (which includes a shift from police management of homelessness to the Ministry of Civil Affairs) and how street-sleepers are treated.

“A Window Onto An American Nightmare” (2020) – Nathan Heller

This essay from the New Yorker focuses on San Francisco’s history with homelessness, the issue’s complexities, and various efforts to address it. It also touches on how the pandemic has affected homelessness. One of the most intriguing parts of this essay is Heller’s description of becoming homeless. He says people “slide” into it, as opposed to plunging. As an example, someone could be staying with friends while looking for a job, but then the friends decide to stop helping. Maybe someone is jumping in and out of Airbnbs, looking for an apartment. Heller’s point is that the line between only needing a place to stay for a night or two and true “homelessness” is very thin.

Nathan Heller joined the New Yorker’s writing staff in 2013. He writes about technology, higher education, the Bay Area, socioeconomics, and more. He’s also a contributing editor at Vogue, a former columnist for Slate, and contributor to other publications.

“Homelessness in Ireland is at crisis point, and the vitriol shown towards homeless people is just as shocking” (2020)#- Megan Nolan

In Ireland, the housing crisis has been a big issue for years. Recently, it’s come to a head in part due to a few high-profile incidents, such as the death of a young woman in emergency accommodation. The number of children experiencing homelessness (around 4,000) has also shone a light on the severity of the issue. In this essay, Megan Nolan explores homelessness in Ireland as well as the contempt that society has for those who are unhoused.

Megan Nolan writes a column for the New Statesman. She also writes essays, criticism, and fiction. She’s from Ireland but based in London.

The post 5 Essays About Homelessness appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

In 1960, Harper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird. Taking inspiration from her family and an event in her childhood, Lee told a story of racism, injustice, and growing up in 1930s Alabama. The book was an instant classic but became one of the most challenged books in schools around the country. What makes this book so enduring and so controversial? How can readers wrestle with its themes and flaws? Here are five essays about To Kill A Mockingbird:

“How Do We Teach “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Honestly Confront Racism?” – DJ Cashmere

The author of this essay read To Kill A Mockingbird in 8th grade. He loved it. Later, when he tried teaching the book to his students, the kids didn’t connect to it. This isn’t unusual. Why? Cashmere states that it’s because too many white teachers neglect to discuss how racial justice has changed over the years. This gap in understanding also hurts students of color. Cashmere explores five ideas on how to teach this book today, including decentering whiteness and including Go Set A Watchman, the sequel that shook white readers’ view of Atticus Finch.

DJ Cashmere is a print and audio journalist in New York. He covers urban policy, culture, and education.

“We Shouldn’t Always Feel Comfortable: Why ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Matters – Christina Torres

Similar in theme to the first essay, “We Shouldn’t Always Feel Comfortable” addresses a recent reason schools aren’t reading Mockingbird: its racial themes cause discomfort. Torres, a middle-school English teacher, believes that discomfort is a sign the novel should still be read. The use of the N-word in the novel should make both students and teachers uncomfortable. Torres writes that it’s important for teachers and students to wrestle with the word. Good education includes facing uncomfortable things. It’s the only way to change. Note: In the comments section, Torres does say she understands that in majority-Black classrooms, the novel may be too problematic. The “good discomfort” she’s describing applies to classrooms where non-Black students wrestle with their own biases and history.

Christina Torres is a teacher and writer. Her work has appeared in Honolulu Civil Beat, Teaching Tolerance, and EdWeek Teacher. She writes about culture, education, race relations, and fitness.

“To Kill a Mockingbird: a story for white people” (2019) – E.R. Shipp

Aaron Sorkin adapted To Kill A Mockingbird for Broadway, where it opened in 2018. It was a huge success. Jeff Daniels played Atticus Finch, who is centered as the main character instead of Scout, the novel’s narrator. E.R. Shipp saw the play, describing Daniels as “magnificent.” There were updates she appreciated, such as Calpurnia having a bigger role. Still, as Shipp watches the stage, she realizes how clear it is that Mockingbird is for white people. They like to imagine themselves as friends of Atticus and fighters for justice. Even adjusted for the times, Mockingbird still centers whiteness.

E.R. Shipp is a journalist. In 1996, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. She’s the journalist in residence at Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication.

“The Courthouse Ring” (2009) – Malcolm Gladwell

Drawing on the history of Southern politics, this essay compares Atticus Finch to Jim Folsom, the populist Alabama governor in the 1940s and 50s. On the surface, Folsom and Atticus are both progressives. However, even though Atticus stands up to racists, he doesn’t address the racist system. When Tom Robinson is found guilty, Atticus just hangs his head. He isn’t angry with the town’s blatant disregard for justice. While many readers adore Atticus, seeing him compared to a real person – Jim Folsom – reveals the problematic aspects of his character.

Since 1996, Malcolm Gladwell has been a staff writer for The New Yorker. He’s also a best-selling author, podcaster, and public speaker.

“Go Set A Watchman: Why Harper Lee’s New Book is so Controversial” (2015) – Dara Lind

We shouldn’t ignore Lee’s controversial sequel in an article about To Kill A Mockingbird. Announced in 2015, many questioned Lee’s involvement in Go Set a Watchman. Did she give informed consent? Was this just about money? Then the book came out. Many readers were horrified to learn that Atticus Finch is racist. This essay digs into that revelation and asks what this means for To Kill A Mockingbird.

Dara Lind has worked at Vox since the site’s launch in 2014. She’s one of the US’ leading immigration reporters and also covers stories on federal data, police shootings, and more.

The post 5 Essays About “To Kill A Mockingbird” appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Housing is a human right, but millions lack this basic right. According to a 2005 global survey, over 1.5 billion people don’t have “adequate” housing. It’s difficult to identify more precise numbers because countries have different definitions of “homelessness.” Tracking the issue is also expensive, so updated records are not common. Regardless, we know that homelessness is a major concern around the world. In recent years, many countries have seen their rates increase. Here are 10 root causes of homelessness:

Stagnant wages

While the cost of living increases, wages haven’t. In the United States, the minimum wage has gone up around 350% since 1970. The Consumer Price Index has increased by over 480%. This makes it challenging to cover everyday living expenses, let alone save money for homeownership down the line or emergencies. Without the ability to save money, an unexpected expense can devour a person’s income. Around the world, low wages keep people trapped in poverty and more vulnerable to homelessness.

Unemployment

While low wages contribute to homelessness, unemployment is also a significant factor. Reasons for unemployment vary and some countries have higher rates than others. Once a person is unemployed for a time, they can easily slip into homelessness. Research shows that most unhoused people want to work but face obstacles, such as not having a permanent address.

Lack of affordable housing

High housing costs are a global issue. A global survey from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy showed that out of 200 polled cities, 90% were considered unaffordable. This was based on average house prices being more than three times the median income. Without affordable housing, people find themselves with fewer options. It becomes harder to find housing near a place of work or in a safe area.

Lack of affordable healthcare

Healthcare is very expensive, but many people are uninsured or underinsured. This means spending large amounts of money on healthcare while struggling to pay for rent, food, and utilities. It can also mean neglecting routine checkups and procedures, leading to higher medical costs down the road. One serious injury or accident could push an individual or family into homelessness.

Poverty

On a global scale, poverty is one of the most significant root causes of homelessness. Stagnant wages, unemployment, and high housing and healthcare costs all play into poverty. Being unable to afford essentials like housing, food, education, and more greatly increases a person’s or family’s risk. To address homelessness effectively, governments and organizations need to address poverty.

Lack of mental health and addiction treatment services

The two-way connection between mental health, addiction, and homelessness is clear. In the US, around 30% of “chronically homeless” people have mental health conditions. In 2017, the National Coalition for the Homeless found that 38% of homeless people depend on alcohol. 26% depend on other substances. Having a mental illness or addiction makes a person more vulnerable to homelessness and makes it more difficult to find permanent housing. A lack of stable housing also exacerbates mental health and addiction issues. Without treatment services, it’s very difficult for someone to break the cycle.

Racial inequality

In the United States, racial minorities experience homelessness at a higher rate than the white population. According to research from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, black Americans are 3 times more likely to lose housing. Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are also minorities disproportionately affected. The reasons why are based in racial inequalities such as racial discrimination in housing and incarceration.

Domestic violence

Women and children are especially vulnerable to violence-triggered homelessness. To escape domestic violence, people will flee their homes without a plan. If they don’t have a place to stay, they can end up living in cars, shelters, or the street. Even for those who stay, the toll that domestic violence takes makes them more vulnerable to homelessness in the future. This is because trauma often leads to mental health issues and substance abuse.

Family conflict

Closely related to domestic violence, family conflict can also lead to homelessness. This is especially true for the LGBTQ+ community. Coming out is risky. Families can kick out the individual or make the home environment dangerous. According to the True Colors Fund, 1.6 million young LGBTQ+ people end up homeless each year. This population is also at an increased risk for homelessness at a younger age.

Systemic failures

While homelessness can occur because of an individual’s or family’s circumstances, we cannot ignore the systemic failures. Homelessness occurs when society fails to identify and support people at risk of becoming unhoused. Failures in areas like correctional services, healthcare services, and child welfare are very common. A society’s failure to address racial inequalities, increase wages, and provide affordable housing also contribute to homelessness rates.

Learn more these issues with books about homelessness.

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“Equality” is one of those words that seems simple, but is more complicated upon closer inspection. At its core, equality can be defined as “the state of being equal.” When societies value equality, their goals include racial, economic, and gender equality. Do we really know what equality looks like in practice? Does it mean equal opportunities, equal outcomes, or both? To learn more about this concept, here are five essays focusing on equality:

“The Equality Effect” (2017) – Danny Dorling

In this essay, professor Danny Dorling lays out why equality is so beneficial to the world. What is equality? It’s living in a society where everyone gets the same freedoms, dignity, and rights. When equality is realized, a flood of benefits follows. Dorling describes the effect of equality as “magical.” Benefits include happier and healthier citizens, less crime, more productivity, and so on. Dorling believes the benefits of “economically equitable” living are so clear, change around the world is inevitable. Despite the obvious conclusion that equality creates a better world, progress has been slow. We’ve become numb to inequality. Raising awareness of equality’s benefits is essential.

Danny Dorling is the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford. He has co-authored and authored a handful of books, including Slowdown: The End of the Great Acceleration—and Why It’s Good for the Planet, the Economy, and Our Lives. “The Equality Effect” is excerpted from this book. Dorling’s work focuses on issues like health, education, wealth, poverty, and employment.

“The Equality Conundrum” (2020) – Joshua Rothman

Originally published as “Same Difference” in the New Yorker’s print edition, this essay opens with a story. A couple plans on dividing their money equally among their children. However, they realize that to ensure equal success for their children, they might need to start with unequal amounts. This essay digs into the complexity of “equality.” While inequality is a major concern for people, most struggle to truly define it. Citing lectures, studies, philosophy, religion, and more, Rothman sheds light on the fact that equality is not a simple – or easy – concept.

Joshua Rothman has worked as a writer and editor of The New Yorker since 2012. He is the ideas editor of newyorker.com.

“Why Understanding Equity vs Equality in Schools Can Help You Create an Inclusive Classroom” (2019) – Waterford.org

Equality in education is critical to society. Students that receive excellent education are more likely to succeed than students who don’t. This essay focuses on the importance of equity, which means giving support to students dealing with issues like poverty, discrimination and economic injustice. What is the difference between equality and equity? What are some strategies that can address barriers? This essay is a great introduction to the equity issues teachers face and why equity is so important.

Waterford.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving equity and education in the United States. It believes that the educational experiences children receive are crucial for their future. Waterford.org was founded by Dr. Dustin Heuston.

“What does equality mean to me?” (2020) – Gabriela Vivacqua and Saddal Diab

While it seems simple, the concept of equality is complex. In this piece posted by WFP_Africa on the WFP’s Insight page, the authors ask women from South Sudan what equality means to them. Half of South Sudan’s population consists of women and girls. Unequal access to essentials like healthcare, education, and work opportunities hold them back. Complete with photographs, this short text gives readers a glimpse into interpretations of equality and what organizations like the World Food Programme are doing to tackle gender inequality.

As part of the UN, the World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focusing on hunger and food security. It provides food assistance to over 80 countries each year.

“Here’s How Gender Equality is Measured” (2020) – Catherine Caruso

Gender inequality is one of the most discussed areas of inequality. Sobering stats reveal that while progress has been made, the world is still far from realizing true gender equality. How is gender equality measured? This essay refers to the Global Gender Gap report’s factors. This report is released each year by the World Economic Forum. The four factors are political empowerment, health and survival, economic participation and opportunity, and education. The author provides a brief explanation of each factor.

Catherine Caruso is the Editorial Intern at Global Citizen, a movement committed to ending extreme poverty by 2030. Previously, Caruso worked as a writer for Inquisitr. Her English degree is from Syracuse University. She writes stories on health, the environment, and citizenship.

The post 5 Essays to Learn More About Equality appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Art is a powerful tool for advocacy and human rights awareness. As a visual medium, it transcends language and even cultural barriers. While a viewer may not be an expert on what they’re seeing, the use of color, form, and symbol triggers an emotional response. People feel a connection to events or causes that they may otherwise be ignorant about. This encourages them to research a painting’s subject further. For this reason, human rights and art have always been linked. Here are six powerful human rights paintings:

Guernica (1937) – Artist: Pablo Piccaso

Considered one of the most powerful anti-war paintings of all time, Picasso painted “Guernica” while in Paris. It is a response to the bombing of Guernica, a town in northern Spain. The painting was first exhibited at the 1937 Paris International Exposition and toured to raise funds for the Spanish war relief. It depicts humans and animals suffering, their faces and bodies contorted in pain and grief. Picasso had originally planned another painting. When he heard about Germany and Italy bombing Guernica and talked to poet Juan Larrea, he decided to focus his painting on the horrific event. There’s much debate about the symbolism in the painting, but there’s no doubt that the work provokes a strong emotional reaction in anyone who sees it. It’s credited with drawing more international attention to the bombing. A tapestry reconstruction hung in the UN Headquarters for almost 25 years.

The Face of War (1940) – Artist: Salvador Dali

Iconic surrealist painter Salvador Dali was often inspired by war. He completed this work between the Spanish Civil War and WWII. It shows a disembodied head. The empty eye and mouth sockets are filled with smaller skeletal faces. In the sockets of those faces are more faces. Snakes coil around the head, which sits in a lifeless desert. The repetition of the ghastly faces speaks to the cycle of grief and pain caused by war. While many war/anti-war paintings show specific events or battles, this work represents their emotional toll.

Human Laundry (1945) – Artist: Doris Zinkeisen

In 1945, British soldiers discovered the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. They found 10,000 bodies and 60,000 dying prisoners. The British also captured German nurses and doctors at a nearby hospital. A well-known painter at the time, Doris Zinkeisen worked as an artist for the Red Cross. “Human Laundry” shows the captured nurses and doctors washing and delousing the recently-freed camp prisoners. After their treatment, the malnourished prisoners were sent to an improvised Red Cross hospital. The contrast between the white-clad, well-rounded medical professionals and skeletal, colorless former prisoners is striking. Paintings like “Human Laundry” were some of the first visual records of the Holocaust. They forced the world to reckon with the horrors of the war.

Sunagawa #5 (1955) – Artist: Nakamura Hiroshi

Nakamura Hiroshi was trained by the Japan Art Alliance, a post-war group that focused on realist paintings with political themes. He covered protests on the U.S. military bases in the mid-1950s. In the small town of Sunagawa, the U.S. military planned to take land to extend the airplane runway. This order would have evicted over 100 families from the land their ancestors cared for. Naturally, the farmers protested, attracting the attention of student groups and labor unions. Sunagawa #5 depicts the protesters and police locked in violent conflict. A small priest stands at the center of the painting, facing the police. The “Sunagawa Struggle” would continue for years. In 1968, the military canceled the runway expansion. In 1977, the entire base was given back to Japan.

The Problem We All Live With (1964) – Artist: Norman Rockwell

Many people aren’t aware of how political American artist Norman Rockwell was. They think of his slice-of-life work, like the famous Thanksgiving dinner painting, that depicts romanticized life in America. In the 1960s, he did something different with “The Problem We All Live With.” The painting was originally published in 1964 in Look. Rockwell had recently left the Saturday Evening Post, where he had worked for decades. The publication restricted political themes, so Rockwell went to Look. The piece shows 6-year old Ruby Bridges in 1960. As a black girl going to an all-white school, deputy marshals escorted her for protection. The presence of smashed tomatoes, the initials “KKK,” and the N-word on the wall heighten the tension. From July-October 2011, the painting hung in the White House at Ruby Bridges’ suggestion.

Unite (1971) – Artist: Barbara Jones-Hogu

Barbara Jones-Hogu was a co-founder of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (abbreviated as AfriCOBRA). This collective incorporated Afrocentric aesthetics and perspectives. The screenprint “Unite” depicts black Americans raising their fists, a symbol of black power. Strong and solemn, the figures represent boldness and determination. The word “unite” crisscrosses above and through the figures. Jones-Hogu, who passed away in 2017, was known for incorporating words into her art, making her meaning clear. “Unite” was displayed at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ 2017 exhibition. The message of “Unite” continues to resonate.

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Have you ever read an excellent piece of writing that has inspired you? Perhaps it brought tears to your eyes, caused you to laugh out loud or made you tingle from head to toe. This article gives five examples of excellent womxn’s empowerment essays that you should read. It then gives some suggestions on how to write your own empowerment essay.

The word womxn is chosen in this article in order to encompass women, as well as transgender, non-binary and queer folk, who choose to identify with womxnkind. There is a live debate in society right now regarding whether inclusion within the category of ‘woman’ is a matter of biological sex, or gender. To put it simplistically, if being a woman relates to sex, this limits the opportunities for those who were not born female to self-identify as a woman. If being a woman is a matter of gender identity, this widens the opportunity for individuals to self-define as a woman, regardless of their appearance, the sex in which they were born, or other characteristics. Several of these womxn empowerment essays engage with this topic by discussing the relationship between sex and gender. Different authors have different opinions regarding what the word woman should mean. The spelling ‘womxn’ is used to be inclusive, whilst acknowledging the belief of many Feminists that it is legitimate to reserve the term ‘women’ for those who meet certain biological criterion.

Five womxn’s empowerment essays that you should read

There is a plethora of wonderful essays on womxn’s empowerment. The following articles span a time period of 1929 to the present day, and include writers from Africa, the United States, Australia, and Europe.  Each of these essays speak to different aspects of womxn’s experiences.

We should all be Feminists Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author who discovered that she was a Feminist when she was fourteen years old, in an argument with a childhood friend. In this essay, she discusses her experience as a Nigerian woman who views herself as a Feminist. Speaking of society’s tendency to place men in leadership positions, she says ‘if we see the same thing over and over again, it becomes normal.’ She quotes Kenyan Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai saying ‘The higher you go, the fewer women there are’ and questions why this is the case. Whilst Ngozi Adichie acknowledges the role of biological differences between men and women, she argues that socialization ‘exaggerates these… and then starts a self-fulfilling process.’ She therefore urges us to look towards ‘[a] world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves.’ Ngozi Adichie suggests that in order to improve the position of women in the future, ‘we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently.’

Transgender: A dialogue In this essay, philosophers Sophie-Grace Chappell and Holly Lawford-Smith engage in a discussion regarding the identity of trans women. By entering a meaningful dialogue, they attempt to address some of the divisions that have arisen with the LGBTQI movement regarding how trans people should be identified within discussions of sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

Chappell speaks out against some of the negative stereotypes which have arisen against trans women. For example, she notes tendencies within society to sexualise transwomen and to suggest that transwomen are a sexual threat to other women. These stereotypes are then used to support arguments to exclude trans women from female only spaces such as bathrooms, despite the absence of evidence to suggest that trans women present a real risk to women. Chappell suggests that rather than being a constraint, gender is a script, which individuals can use creatively when presenting themselves to others.

In response, Lawford-Smith describes herself as a gender-critical feminist. She argues that rather than a flexible script, gender is experienced by many women as cage, which oppresses them. She cites examples of domestic violence, child marriage, and forced prostitution. She suggests that the female physiology is intrinsically linked to these disadvantages. Therefore, rather than focusing on the right to define your own gender identity, Lawford-Smith, argues in favor of the abolition of gender.

One of the highlights of this piece is that the two authors discuss how trans women and other feminists can be allies to each other in their movement towards empowerment.

The uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism Audre Lorde was an African-American Feminist, who spoke about race, gender and sexuality. In this speech, given in 1981, she speaks about the anger that she felt as a black woman responding to racism. She describes this as an anger ‘of exclusion, of unquestioned privilege, of racial distortions, of silence, ill-use, stereotyping, defensiveness, misnaming, betrayal and co-optation.’ Lorde asks society to confront this anger, and not to simply indulge in guilt which she argues is ‘only another form of objectification.’ She expresses the hope that this anger can be used to create a world ‘where all our sisters can grow, where our children can love, and where the power of touching and meeting another woman’s difference and wonder will eventually transcend the need for destruction.’

Why be non-binary? In this essay Robin Debroff, an assistant professor at Yale University, discusses the suffocating nature of male and female identities, which, they suggest ‘weld gender to assigned sex.’ They give the example of an experience of being searched at an airport, and feeling frustrated by the determination of the security official to place them neatly in the category of male or female. Debroff questions society’s insistence upon categorising men and women. Being non-binary, they argue, is an ‘escape hatch’ through which it is possible to transcend gendered expectations.

A Room of One’s Own Virginia Woolf is English writer, who was born in 1882. In this essay, she speaks about the challenges of being a female author. The title of the essay relates to her need to assert her independence, especially her financial freedom, in order to write fiction. Woolf laments the ‘reprehensible poverty of our sex.’ Whilst the world has moved on since her time, women are still more likely to live in poverty than men. In many instances, women still earn less than men for the same work, and struggle to get recognised for their intellectual contributions to society. Woolf deserves a space on this list because, in the era of our great grandparents, she wrote about women’s empowerment issues that still resonate with us today.

Top tips for writing your own womxn’s empowerment essay

1. Define your goal: Before you start writing, ask yourself: what change would you like to see in the world? For example: you believe in better protection of the human rights of sex workers. Over the course of your essay, you need to convey to your readers how you think this change could be achieved. Perhaps you believe that sex work should be de-criminalised. What would need to change in society to make this possible? What are the potential barriers to achieving this goal and how can they be overcome?

2. Identify the key debates: On social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn, ethical debates rage between academics, authors, celebrities and politicians. Sometimes these discussions miss the point, and lack the nuances and depth of a good essay. However, looking at the dialogues which are taking place on these platforms may help you to identify the pressure points that are inspiring people to join the conversation. In your essay, you should give your perspective on these controversial aspects of your topic.

3. Check your facts, tell the story: Statistics are a great way to back your argument. However, bad science is rife on the internet, and even in reputable publications. Statistics are often quoted out of context, and can be misleading. Make sure that you understand the figures that you are using. If a number seems suspicious or ambiguous, check it out before using it. Remember that one incorrect fact could discredit your entire argument. Some researchers believe facts and statistics aren’t an effective way to convince people. Instead they suggest to use stories to help people empathize and relate.

5. Acknowledge your influences: Have you ever got up in the pouring rain to go and stand at a protest? What, or who inspired you to do that? Perhaps it was reading Michelle Obama’s autobiography, or discovering that Greta Thunberg donated her award money to climate activists. Maybe it was hearing of the personal experiences of a friend. Tell your readers about who drew you to speak about your topic. Where you use the ideas of other people, make sure that you credit them by referencing their works correctly. By doing so, you can contribute to the debate, whilst acknowledging those who came before you.
6. Ask questions of your readers: We have all caught ourselves scrolling aimlessly on our smart phones. You realise you have lost several minutes of your life doing so, with no recollection of the information that you have absorbed during that time. Don’t let your readers have this experience when reading your essay! Keep their attention by asking them to ask difficult questions of themselves. The best writers encourage us to examine our own biases and fallibilities, whilst also motivating us to be better, and convincing us not to lose hope. Read the first and last line of your favourite empowerment essay, and think about why they are fantastic and thought-provoking. Then use similar rhetorical devices to go out and inspire others.

The post Womxn’s Empowerment Essays: Examples and Writing Tips appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Monika Robert’s TransGriot Blog

Monika Roberts is ‘’a proud unapologetic Black trans woman speaking truth to power and discussing the world around her since 2006.’’ She is a GLAAD award winning blogger and trans human rights advocate working on the promotion of acceptance of all trans people while especially focusing on transgender people of color.

She writes a blog called TransGriot (pronounced Gree-oh) where she lists all her favorite blogs, trans blogs, LGBTIQ and POC resources. On her blog she states the “Blog’s mission is to become the griot of our community. I will introduce you to and talk about your African descended trans brothers and trans sisters across the Diaspora, reclaim and document our chocolate flavored trans history, speak truth to power, comment on the things that impact our trans community from an Afrocentric perspective and enlighten you about the general things that go on around me and in the communities that I am a member of.”

Chloe Schwenke’s Blog

In 2017, Chloe Schwenke’s blog was selected as one of the top 40 human rights blogs on the web by Feedspot. She is a Quaker feminist, human rights activist, educator and researcher with many years of experience working internationally in developing countries.

Up to date, Chloe has worked with some of the leading American human rights, development and research organizations. She compiled a lengthy list of accomplishments as an independent consultant on projects of the USAID, the US State Department, the World Bank, the UN, the Human Rights Campaign, the Inter-American Development Bank and many other international donors. On her blog she writes about feminism, foreign policy, gender equality, human dignity, international development, leadership, public policy, women and girls.

Befeqadu Hailu’s Voice from Ethiopia Blog

Befeqadu Hailu is an award winning Ethiopian blogger, human rights activist and writer, who runs a blog called Voice from Ethiopia, where he writes about human rights issues affecting the country.

In 2014, Hailu was arrested and charged with terrorism together with other members of a blogging group called Zone 9, because of their online and offline activism and campaigning for human rights in Ethiopia. Even though he was released from detention, Hailu is still facing a trial for ‘’inciting violence through writing’’. Hailu, nevertheless, received several awards for his writing and activism, including the Burt Award for African Literature and the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Marcell Shehwaro’s On the Edge of Syria Blog

Marcell Shehwaro is a human rights activist from Aleppo in Syria. She is very well known for her blog about life in this city where she writes about some of the most extreme situations that human rights activists are facing in Syria and Iraq.

Marcell recently fled Aleppo due to deteriorating security situation in Syria. She is a member of the group of human rights activists and defenders called Kesh Malek, who, despite the war, keep on protesting against the Syrian current regime. The group’s goal is to warrant freedoms of press, education and justice. Together with Kesh Malek, Marcell wants to set up schools in devastated Aleppo, to provide children who still live there with education.

Craig Murray’s Blog

Craig Murray is a human rights activist, blogger and author. Formerly he served as a diplomat for the UK government in Uzbekistan. He also stood as an independent parliamentary candidate in Blackburn in 2005. He is also an honorary research fellow at the University Lancaster School of Law.

On his blog, Craig Murray shares his personal insights about the world politics and the state of human rights in conflict affected countries such as Syria and Palestine. He was brought before the court several times for blogging; however, he is still very active in posting regularly.

Renee Gerlich’s Writing by Renee Blog

Renee Gerlich is a feminist human rights activist and independent writer based in New Zealand. She writes about women’s liberation, militarism, education and the literacy gap. Her activism often involves exhibitions and actions, including an exhibition called Too Much Truth: Women’s Global Resistance to Sexploitation in 2017 and an intervention at the 2018 Auckland Pride.

She has published on the Canadian website Feminist Current on prostitution and gender identity in New Zealand and the feminist magazine Rain and Thunder. She gave interviews with Women’s Liberation News, Feminist Current, Defend Feminists, and the environmentalist writer Derrick Jensen. Essays she posts on her blog have been translated into French, Spanish, German, Turkish, Norwegian, Serbian and Croatian languages.

Howard Wasserman’s Civil Rights Blog

Howard Wasserman is a law professor who teaches civil procedure, evidence, federal courts and civil rights. He writes for several blogs such as PrawfsBlog and SCOTUSBlog. However, professor Wasserman also maintains his own Civil Rights Blog where he covers a wide range of topics.

An opening line on professor Wasserman’s blog is “the very essence of civil liberty consists in the rights of every individual to claim the protection of the laws, whenever he receives an injury”. On this blog, readers can read about the freedom of speech, the role of procedure and jurisdiction in public law and civil rights litigation.

Johnathan Todres’s Children’s Rights Blog

Johnathan Todres is a law professor and children’s rights activist. He often works as a regular advisor to NGOs working on legislative and policy initiatives to address child trafficking and related issues. He is also a board member of the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

On professor Todres’ blog you can read about a wide range of issues affecting children’s rights and child-wellbeing, including child trafficking and other forms of child exploitation, the implementation of children’s rights law, human rights and the social determinants of health, legal and cultural constructs of childhood, human rights education and human rights in children’s literature.

Mercedes Allen’s Dented Blue Mercedes Blog

Mercedes Allen is a graphic designer, but also an advocate and activist for transgender rights of communities in Alberta, Canada. She conducted advocacy related to trans, LGBTIQ and aboriginal rights, as well as HIV and sex work.

On her blog she writes about human rights, equality, LGBTIQ and sexual minority issues in Canada, and the cross-border pollination of far-right spin. She also started the website called AlbertaTrans.org which became a network that helps foster and support trans communities in Alberta. She is also a founding member of the Trans Equality Society of Alberta.

Start your own human rights blog!

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Ever wondered what skills potential employers are looking for in their candidates? Depending on the position you are applying for, there are several skills you will need to demonstrate in your application to be considered for the role. Although many companies will ask for several years’ experience in the field, some of the requirements will be so-called transferable skills, which you can gain from any academic or voluntary engagements you might have. Building on these will ensure that your job options are open and varied!

Public speaking and presentation skills

Every organization has a spokesperson, even if that’s not their official job title! Although you might not get to speak in the media in the first entry-level job you get, public speaking skills will make you stand out among a pool of candidates and can highly improve your chances of getting selected. If you have never really stood on a stage as part of your school’s theatre play or fear speaking in front of large audiences, there are now plenty of workshops and courses you can attend that will give you the confidence you need to learn the art. Although you might not suddenly become a talented speaker, you will still have the chance to learn the tricks of the trade! However, communication skills required on the job go well beyond speaking in public. You might be meeting potential sponsors, recruiting volunteers, or presenting a new briefing to your colleagues – whatever the task, as long as it involves other people, it requires great communication skills! The trick is, be prepared, plan what a few things you are going to say, and adapt your presentation to your target audience!

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Research and writing

You might be looking for a position as a researcher for NGOs, government agencies, or academia, in which case, research experience is the first skill you’ll have to demonstrate you possess. However, chances are that you’ll have to conduct short or longer research projects even if you work in other positions. As research often informs the operations of the organization, it is key to many roles in the sector and having experience with it will certainly aid your application. There are many different outcomes for your research; you could be writing educational materials for the public, internal staff briefings and full reports, or even social media posts and emails! Whatever you are drafting, excellent writing skills and a command of the languages of the organization are a must. It will help to learn more about different forms of publications and how to produce them; there are many online guides that will teach you exactly how to write them step by step.

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Interpersonal skills

Applying for work in the human rights sector? Or even as a translator or a volunteer? Working with people who have been victims of abuses requires a deep sensitivity and understanding of how to be around people in the most varied circumstances, including deeply traumatic ones. In such cases, being a friendly face might not be enough. Although you should never try to act as a counsellor (unless you are qualified as one!) or provide legal advice, being able to connect with people is key. It is not easy to identify the particular features a person must have in order to demonstrate adequate interpersonal skills, but bearing in mind the context in which you’ll be working with should tell you that flexibility and adaptability are essential (and will certainly make your job easier!). In many countries, if you’re working with vulnerable individuals you’ll have to provide evidence of your criminal record and, most importantly, a willingness to keep confidentiality and safeguarding as priorities in your daily work. Reflecting on the ethical and moral dilemmas you might encounter in the field might also help you answer some tricky questions during your interview.

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Project management

Ever heard of the project management cycle? Perhaps you’ve taken a course in project management as part of your human rights degree or accessed a humanitarian training that involved managing “projects”. The truth is that most work in the field is now categorised into projects for both funding and evaluation purposes, so having some project management experience is a great advantage. There are now plenty of online courses that are free of charge, so if you want to start straight from the basic concepts, Coursera and edX are the first places you might want to look at. However, there are many other ways to gain skills without having to study more. Have you ever thought of starting your own student society or leading a campaign on campus? It doesn’t matter how small it is, any experience that shows your initiative and organisational skills is a great place to start. Remember that being a project manager does not simply mean proving your leadership skills; in fact, it is as much about thorough planning, attention to detail, and positive collaboration with your teammates than it is about ensuring the project’s smooth implementation.

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Admin

Yes, every job has its downside: a lot of bureaucracy, paperwork and files! Having some admin experience is therefore essential not just for receptionists and PAs, but for whatever roles you may be applying for. Being able to manage time, priorities tasks, and multitask are skills that you will be thankful to have once in the job and they are often desired skills for entry positions. In some cases, you may be asked to prove your abilities at the interview stage by completing some tasks that will demonstrate how you deal with incoming workload under pressure and time constraints. Do not worry: these skills can be trained and any experience of office work, or even essay writing will help you develop these. Some jobs require knowledge of specific computer programmes; however, general IT skills are common requirements for most jobs in public and private organisations. Some companies might use their own softwares and programmes, which you will be trained to use on the job, but having a general practicality with different systems will help you get used to them faster.

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The term “human rights” is broad, so how do nations and organizations break them down and classify them? At the most basic, there are two types of human rights: civil or political rights, and social rights. Various international agreements and theories attempt to classify these further. Here are three examples:

The thirty rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In 1948, following the end of WWII, the UN General Assembly came to the conclusion they needed to define human rights more clearly. The declaration consists of thirty rights, including freedom of thought, worker rights, the right to food and shelter, the right to marry, the right to life, the right to freedom from slavery, the right to a trial, and so on. When classified in a simpler way, experts say civil and political rights are found in articles 3-21, while economic, social, and cultural rights are in articles 22-28. The idea is that civil and political rights must be honored in order for people to also have economic, social, and cultural rights. There isn’t one type of human rights that’s more important than another. They are symbiotic. In the academic world, this is known as the “full belly” thesis.

The three-baskets from the Helsinki Final Act

In 1975, 35 member states from the West and Eastern Bloc signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. This represented the first time the two competing groups signed anything that showed they were willing to cooperate on various issues. The Final Act included 10 principles, including one (Principle VII) whose purpose was to “recognize the universal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms…” The Act was not a treaty, but rather a broad definition of international security that the signed parties agreed on. The signing did provoke the formation of committees in many countries.

Within the Act, the CSCE broke up its work into three “baskets,” which included “confidence-building” measures, cooperation in economics and science, and cooperation in humanitarian fields. The third basket is the one that focuses most on what we recognize as human rights. The wording is a bit vague, but it basically stated that all the signed parties agreed to human rights like freedom of speech. This basket was the trickiest part of the Final Act, since it was where the West and East disagreed the most. Looking back with 20/20 vision, the East didn’t uphold their end of the agreement especially well.

Vasek’s three generations

In 1977, Karel Vasak published an essay that outlined his theory on human rights in international law. He identified three generations. The first: civil and political rights, specifically the ones found in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The second, found in the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, includes rights like right to housing. The third, which Vasek said was just beginning, includes “solidarity rights” or “collective-developmental rights.” These could include minority rights.  Each of the three generations also has two subtypes. At the same time, Vasek distinguished the first and second generations as “negative rights,” which means a person has the right for something to not happen to him, like slavery. “Positive rights” refer to rights where a person is entitled to something, like healthcare or housing.

Vasak created these generations based on the three tenets of the French Revolution: liberty, equality, and fraternity. The usefulness of Vasek’s three generations is hotly contested, and the World Conference on Human Rights didn’t like the idea that civil and political rights were distinguished from economic, social, and cultural rights. The difference between negative and positive rights is also problematic, because it can allow the powers that be to start weighing rights instead of treating them all as inalienable.

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Poverty is one of the driving forces of inequality in the world. Between 1990-2015, much progress was made. The number of people living on less than $1.90 went from 36% to 10%. However, according to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious problem that disproportionately impacts the poor. Research released in February of 2020 shows that by 2030, up to ⅔ of the “global extreme poor” will be living in conflict-affected and fragile economies. Poverty will remain a major human rights issue for decades to come. Here are five essays about the issue that everyone should know:

“We need an economic bill of rights” –  Martin Luther King Jr.

The Guardian published an abridged version of this essay in 2018, which was originally released in Look magazine just after Dr. King was killed. In this piece, Dr. King explains why an economic bill of rights is necessary. He points out that while mass unemployment within the black community is a “social problem,” it’s a “depression” in the white community. An economic bill of rights would give a job to everyone who wants one and who can work. It would also give an income to those who can’t work. Dr. King affirms his commitment to non-violence. He’s fully aware that tensions are high. He quotes a spiritual, writing “timing is winding up.” Even while the nation progresses, poverty is getting worse.

This essay was reprinted and abridged in The Guardian in an arrangement with The Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King. Jr. The most visible representative of the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1955, Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. His essays and speeches remain timely.

“How Poverty Can Follow Children Into Adulthood” – Priyanka Boghani

This article is from 2017, but it’s more relevant than ever because it was written when 2012 was the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. That’s no longer the case. In 2012, around ¼ American children were in poverty. Five years later, children were still more likely than adults to be poor. This is especially true for children of colour. Consequences of poverty include anxiety, hunger, and homelessness. This essay also looks at the long-term consequences that come from growing up in poverty. A child can develop health problems that affect them in adulthood. Poverty can also harm a child’s brain development. Being aware of how poverty affects children and follows them into adulthood is essential as the world deals with the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Priyanka Boghani is a journalist at PBS Frontline. She focuses on U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian crises, and conflicts in the Middle East. She also assists in managing Frontline’s social accounts.

“5 Reasons COVID-19 Will Impact the Fight to End Extreme Poverty” – Leah Rodriguez

For decades, the UN has attempted to end extreme poverty. In the face of the novel coronavirus outbreak, new challenges threaten the fight against poverty. In this essay, Dr. Natalie Linos, a Harvard social epidemiologist, urges the world to have a “social conversation” about how the disease impacts poverty and inequality. If nothing is done, it’s unlikely that the UN will meet its Global Goals by 2030. Poverty and COVID-19 intersect in five key ways. For one, low-income people are more vulnerable to disease. They also don’t have equal access to healthcare or job stability. This piece provides a clear, concise summary of why this outbreak is especially concerning for the global poor.

Leah Rodriguez’s writing at Global Citizen focuses on women, girls, water, and sanitation. She’s also worked as a web producer and homepage editor for New York Magazine’s The Cut.

“Climate apartheid”: World’s poor to suffer most from disasters” – Al Jazeera and news Agencies

The consequences of climate change are well-known to experts like Philip Alston, the special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. In 2019, he submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council sounding the alarm on how climate change will devastate the poor. While the wealthy will be able to pay their way out of devastation, the poor will not. This will end up creating a “climate apartheid.” Alston states that if climate change isn’t addressed, it will undo the last five decades of progress in poverty education, as well as global health and development.

“Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting by in America” – Barbara Ehrenreich

In this excerpt from her book Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich describes her experience choosing to live undercover as an “unskilled worker” in the US. She wanted to investigate the impact the 1996 welfare reform act had on the working poor. Released in 2001, the events take place between the spring of 1998 and the summer of 2000. Ehrenreich decided to live in a town close to her “real life” and finds a place to live and a job. She has her eyes opened to the challenges and “special costs” of being poor. In 2019, The Guardian ranked the book 13th on their list of 100 best books of the 21st century.

Barbara Ehrenreich is the author of 21 books and an activist. She’s worked as an award-winning columnist and essayist.

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On the surface, the definition of feminism is simple. It’s the belief that women should be politically, socially, and economically equal to men. Over the years, the movement expanded from a focus on voting rights to worker rights, reproductive rights, gender roles, and beyond. Modern feminism is moving to a more inclusive and intersectional place. Here are five essays about feminism that tackle topics like trans activism, progress, and privilege:

“Trickle-Down Feminism” – Sarah Jaffe

Feminists celebrate successful women who have seemingly smashed through the glass ceiling, but the reality is that most women are still under it. Even in fast-growing fields where women dominate (retail sales, food service, etc), women make less money than men. In this essay from Dissent Magazine, author Sarah Jaffe argues that when the fastest-growing fields are low-wage, it isn’t a victory for women. At the same time, it does present an opportunity to change the way we value service work. It isn’t enough to focus only on “equal pay for equal work” as that argument mostly focuses on jobs where someone can negotiate their salary. This essay explores how feminism can’t succeed if only the concerns of the wealthiest, most privileged women are prioritized.

Sarah Jaffe writes about organizing, social movements, and the economy with publications like Dissent, the Nation, Jacobin, and others. She is the former labor editor at Alternet.

“What No One Else Will Tell You About Feminism” – Lindy West

Written in Lindy West’s distinct voice, this essay provides a clear, condensed history of feminism’s different “waves.” The first wave focused on the right to vote, which established women as equal citizens. In the second wave, after WWII, women began taking on issues that couldn’t be legally-challenged, like gender roles. As the third wave began, the scope of feminism began to encompass others besides middle-class white women. Women should be allowed to define their womanhood for themselves. West also points out that “waves” may not even exist since history is a continuum. She concludes the essay by declaring if you believe all people are equal, you are a feminist.

Jezebel reprinted this essay with permission from How To Be A Person, The Stranger’s Guide to College by Lindy West, Dan Savage, Christopher Frizelle, and Bethany Jean Clement. Lindy West is an activist, comedian, and writer who focuses on topics like feminism, pop culture, and fat acceptance.

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“Toward a Trans* Feminism” – Jack Halberstam

The history of transactivsm and feminism is messy. This essay begins with the author’s personal experience with gender and terms like trans*, which Halberstam prefers. The asterisk serves to “open the meaning,” allowing people to choose their categorization as they see fit. The main body of the essay focuses on the less-known history of feminists and trans* folks. He references essays from the 1970s and other literature that help paint a more complete picture. In current times, the tension between radical feminism and trans* feminism remains, but changes that are good for trans* women are good for everyone.

This essay was adapted from Trans*: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability by Jack Halberstam. Halberstam is the Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, Gender Studies and Comparative Literature at the University of Southern California. He is also the author of several books.

“Rebecca Solnit: How Change Happens” – Rebecca Solnit

The world is changing. Rebecca Solnit describes this transformation as an assembly of ideas, visions, values, essays, books, protests, and more. It has many layers involving race, class, gender, power, climate, justice, etc, as well as many voices. This has led to more clarity about injustice. Solnit describes watching the transformation and how progress and “wokeness” are part of a historical process. Progress is hard work. Not exclusively about feminism, this essay takes a more intersectional look at how progress as a whole occurs.

“How Change Happens” was adapted from the introduction to Whose Story Is it? Rebecca Solnit is a writer, activist, and historian. She’s the author of over 20 books on art, politics, feminism, and more.

“Bad Feminist” extract – Roxane Gay

People are complicated and imperfect. In this excerpt from her book Bad Feminist: Essays, Roxane Gay explores her contradictions. The opening sentence is, “I am failing as a woman.” She goes on to describe how she wants to be independent, but also to be taken care of. She wants to be strong and in charge, but she also wants to surrender sometimes. For a long time, she denied that she was human and flawed. However, the work it took to deny her humanness is harder than accepting who she is. While Gay might be a “bad feminist,” she is also deeply committed to issues that are important to feminism. This is a must-read essay for any feminists who worry that they aren’t perfect.

Roxane Gay is a professor, speaker, editor, writer, and social commentator. She is the author of Bad Feminist, a New York Times bestseller, Hunger (a memoir), and works of fiction.

Take a free course on Feminism and Social Justice

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The world is going into a new decade. Unfortunately, it’s not been the best few years for human rights. Research like the 2018 Rule of Law index shows threats to human rights exist in ⅔ of the surveyed 113 countries. Since 2016, the index has reported diminishing scores. Many of the human rights issues fuel each other. As one becomes more significant, so do a host of others. Looking into 2021, what are the top 10 human rights issues of the future?

Human trafficking

Human trafficking is growing around the world. According to numbers from the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), there’s been an increasing global trend since 2010. The executive director pointed out that armed groups and terrorists use human trafficking to spread fear. Victims often end up working in the sex trade or other forced labor. Human trafficking isn’t limited to certain countries. Of those trafficked, women and girls make up the majority. As the issue becomes more severe and widespread, the international community needs to ramp up its efforts. Read our other articles about human trafficking essays, facts, causes, documentaries, books and movies.

Refugee crises

According to the U.N. chief, the world is dealing with the “highest levels of displacement on record.” Reasons include climate change and armed conflict. Refugees fleeing their homes also experience persecution and discrimination. Other reports suggest the situation will only get worse in the future. What can be done? Providing assistance is expensive. The 2019 Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that the 132 million people displaced by conflicts in South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, and Somalia require over $20 billion. Because climate change and armed conflict aren’t easily resolved, the refugee crises will be of the biggest human rights issues in the future. Learn more about the refugee crises in a free online course.

Worker rights

In Article 23.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all people have “the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” These rights are threatened around the world in a myriad of ways. Injustices like wage theft, discrimination, and physical endangerment occur all the time. Work systems can make work-life balance difficult, taking a toll on employees’ mental health. In many places, inadequate pay is also an issue. The federal minimum wage in the United States has remained the same since 2009. As we go into a new decade, worker rights will become more significant.

Gender equality

Gender inequality has been a human rights issue for hundreds of years. Even with decades of progress, the World Economic Forum believes it could take the world another century to realize gender equality. It’s a complicated issue because there isn’t just one problem to address. Access to education, political representation, reproductive rights, economic opportunities, and more contribute to gender inequality. Making significant changes and monitoring progress will remain a top human rights in the future. Learn more about Gender equality in a free course.

LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ rights are not an especially recent human rights issue, but they will evolve in the future. Depending on the country, the state of these rights varies widely. All over the world, definitions are changing and expanding. This makes navigating the issues more challenging and complex for society and the human rights community. In the future, how we approach LGBTQ+ rights and gender identity may change, but standing against discrimination will remain necessary.

Human rights and technology

Looking at the past, innovations spread at a lightning pace. Inventions like the internet impact how we communicate and how ideas develop. Technology also changes our relationship with powerful institutions. Unfortunately, legal protections and structures have not developed at the same speed. The future will include questions about human rights as they apply to data privacy, the definition of hate speech, surveillance and digital security. These issues will trigger the development of organizations dedicated to this area.

Nationalism

Despite seventy years of multilateralism and global leadership from institutions like the UN, nationalism is on the rise. It can be found in countries like the United States, Europe, China, and Turkey. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that nationalism threatens rights such as the right to life, food, and health. Vulnerable groups like refugees and the LGBTQ+ community face significant danger under nationalism. In the coming years, the world will have to reckon with this shift.

Attacks on journalists and the spread of misinformation

The concept, definition, and spread of “fake news” will continue to be a major issue for societies around the world. Fake news, defined as misinformation and propaganda, causes divisions and endangers a free press. Journalists face significant obstacles and dangers to their work and lives. 2018 was the worst year on record for journalists according to Reporters Without Borders. With nationalism gaining strength, this trend will continue. Human rights as a whole suffer when truth and access to information are endangered.

Responding to climate change

The climate crisis will only get worse as time goes on. Our current state reflects climate scientists’ worst-case scenarios. How to respond will be one of the world’s most serious questions in the future. In a 2019 report, the UN Conference on Trade and Development stated that the energy industry needs a careful transition. Otherwise, the loss of money from the energy industry could cause destabilization “internally, regionally, and even internationally.” However, a transition is essential for the survival of humanity. How to respond to humanitarian crises caused by climate change will also be a significant human rights issue.

A more effective UN and commitment to human rights

2018 reflected the 12th year of a global decline in political and civil rights. When reports on 2019 come out, they’re likely to echo this disheartening reality. As we enter a new decade, the international community has an opportunity to show a renewed commitment to human rights. Countries need to hold themselves and others accountable while raising awareness of human rights and social justice issues.

The post 10 Human Rights Issues Of The Future appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Capital punishment is an ancient practice. It’s one that human rights defenders strongly oppose and consider as inhumane and cruel. In 2019, Amnesty International reported the lowest number of executions in about a decade. Most executions occurred in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt. The United States is the only developed western country still using capital punishment. What does this say about the US? Here are five essays about the death penalty everyone should read:

“When We Kill”

By: Nicholas Kristof | From: The New York Times 2019

In this excellent essay, Pulitizer-winner Nicholas Kristof explains how he first became interested in the death penalty. He failed to write about a man on death row in Texas. The man, Cameron Todd Willingham, was executed in 2004. Later evidence showed that the crime he supposedly committed – lighting his house on fire and killing his three kids – was more likely an accident. In “When We Kill,” Kristof puts preconceived notions about the death penalty under the microscope. These include opinions such as only guilty people are executed, that those guilty people “deserve” to die, and the death penalty deters crime and saves money. Based on his investigations, Kristof concludes that they are all wrong.

Nicholas Kristof has been a Times columnist since 2001. He’s the winner of two Pulitizer Prices for his coverage of China and the Darfur genocide.

“An Inhumane Way of Death”

By: Willie Jasper Darden, Jr.

Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was on death row for 14 years. In his essay, he opens with the line, “Ironically, there is probably more hope on death row than would be found in most other places.” He states that everyone is capable of murder, questioning if people who support capital punishment are just as guilty as the people they execute. Darden goes on to say that if every murderer was executed, there would be 20,000 killed per day. Instead, a person is put on death row for something like flawed wording in an appeal. Darden feels like he was picked at random, like someone who gets a terminal illness. This essay is important to read as it gives readers a deeper, more personal insight into death row.

Willie Jasper Darden, Jr. was sentenced to death in 1974 for murder. During his time on death row, he advocated for his innocence and pointed out problems with his trial, such as the jury pool that excluded black people. Despite worldwide support for Darden from public figures like the Pope, Darden was executed in 1988.

“We Need To Talk About An Injustice”

By: Bryan Stevenson | From: TED 2012

This piece is a transcript of Bryan Stevenson’s 2012 TED talk, but we feel it’s important to include because of Stevenson’s contributions to criminal justice. In the talk, Stevenson discusses the death penalty at several points. He points out that for years, we’ve been taught to ask the question, “Do people deserve to die for their crimes?” Stevenson brings up another question we should ask: “Do we deserve to kill?” He also describes the American death penalty system as defined by “error.” Somehow, society has been able to disconnect itself from this problem even as minorities are disproportionately executed in a country with a history of slavery.

Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, and author. He’s argued in courts, including the Supreme Court, on behalf of the poor, minorities, and children. A film based on his book Just Mercy was released in 2019 starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

“I Know What It’s Like To Carry Out Executions”

By: S. Frank Thompson | From: The Atlantic 2019

In the death penalty debate, we often hear from the family of the victims and sometimes from those on death row. What about those responsible for facilitating an execution? In this opinion piece, a former superintendent from the Oregon State Penitentiary outlines his background. He carried out the only two executions in Oregon in the past 55 years, describing it as having a “profound and traumatic effect” on him. In his decades working as a correctional officer, he concluded that the death penalty is not working. The United States should not enact federal capital punishment.

Frank Thompson served as the superintendent of OSP from 1994-1998. Before that, he served in the military and law enforcement. When he first started at OSP, he supported the death penalty. He changed his mind when he observed the protocols firsthand and then had to conduct an execution.

“There Is No Such Thing As Closure on Death Row”

By: Paul Brown | From: The Marshall Project 2019

This essay is from Paul Brown, a death row inmate in Raleigh, North Carolina. He recalls the moment of his sentencing in a cold courtroom in August. The prosecutor used the term “closure” when justifying a death sentence. Who is this closure for? Brown theorizes that the prosecutors are getting closure as they end another case, but even then, the cases are just a way to further their careers. Is it for victims’ families? Brown is doubtful, as the death sentence is pursued even when the families don’t support it. There is no closure for Brown or his family as they wait for his execution. Vivid and deeply-personal, this essay is a must-read for anyone who wonders what it’s like inside the mind of a death row inmate.

Paul Brown has been on death row since 2000 for a double murder. He is a contributing writer to Prison Writers and shares essays on topics such as his childhood, his life as a prisoner, and more.

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The word “xenophobia” has ties to the Greek words “xenos,” which means “stranger or “guest,” and “phobos,” which means “fear” or “flight.” It makes sense that today we define “xenophobia” as a fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners. Xenophobia has always existed, but the world has experienced a surge in recent years. The essays described in this article provide examples of xenophobia, its ties to anti-immigration and nationalism, and how diseases like COVID-19 trigger prejudice.

“These charts show migrants aren’t South Africa’s biggest problem”

Abdi Latif Dahir  | Quartz Africa

Between March 29-April 2 in 2019, violence broke out in a South African municipality. Foreign nationals were targeted. Even though people were killed and businesses looted and destroyed, the police didn’t make any arrests. This represents a pattern of violence against foreigners who are mostly migrants from other places in Africa. Reporter Abdi Latif Dahir explains that these recent attacks are based on a belief that migrants cause South Africa’s economic and social problems. In this article from Quartz Africa, he outlines what people are blaming migrants for. As an example, while politicians claim that migrants are burdening the country, the data shows that migrants make up a very small percentage of the country.

Abdi Latif Dahir reports for Quartz Africa and speaks multiple languages. He also holds a master’s of arts degree in political journalism from Columbia University.

“Opinion: A rise in nationalism could hurt minorities”

Raveena Chaudhari | The Red and Black

Nationalism is on the rise in many countries around the world, including the US. The election of Donald Trump signaled a resurgence in nationalism, including white nationalism. In her essay, Raveena Chaudhari explains that far-right politics have been gaining steam in Western Europe since the 1980s. The US is just following the trend. She also uses the terms “patriotism,” which is an important part of the American identity, and “nativism,” which is closely linked to a fear of immigrants and diversity. Xenophobia easily emerges from these ideas. Minorities feel the consequences of a rise in nationalism most keenly. Raveena Chaudhari is a junior accounting major and staff writer for The Red and Black, a nonprofit corporation that circulates the largest college newspaper in Georgia. For 87 years, it operated under the University of Georgia but is now independent of the college.

“The Deep Roots of Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Policies”

Daniel Denvir | Jacobin

In this essay, author Daniel Denvir digs into the background of President Trump’s anti-immigration policies. At the time of this piece’s writing, the Supreme Court had allowed the administration to exclude certain groups from entering the United States. The travel ban has been labeled the “Muslim ban.” Where did these anti-immigrant views come from? They aren’t original to Donald Trump. Denvir outlines the history of racist and xenophobic policies that paint immigrants as a threat to America. Knowing that these views are ingrained in American society is important if we want change.

Daniel Denvir is the host of “The Dig” on Jacobin Radio and the author of All-American Nativism, a critique of nativists and moderate Democrats.

“Nationalism isn’t xenophobia, but it’s just as bad” 

Jeffrey Friedman | Niskanen Center

If you’re unsure what the difference is between nationalism and xenophobia, this essay can help clarify things. Written in 2017, this piece starts by examining surveys and studies measuring how xenophobic Trump supporters are. They also explore the reasons why people oppose illegal/legal immigration. The core of the essay, though, takes a look at nationalism vs. xenophobia. While different, Friedman argues that they are both irrational. The distinction is important as it reveals common ground between Trump supporters and Trump opponents. What does this mean?

Jeffrey Friedman is a visiting scholar in the Charles and Louise Tarver Department of Political Science at the University of California. He’s also an editor and author.

Xenophobia ‘Is A Pre-Existing Condition.’ How Harmful Stereotypes and Racism are Spreading Around the Coronavirus 

Jasmine Aguilera | Time

As COVID-19 spreads throughout the world, there’s been a surge in racism against people of Asian descent. In her essay, Jasmine Aguilera relates examples of this discrimination, as well as responses as people take to social media to combat xenophobia. Reacting with racism to a disease is not a new phenomenon. It’s happened in the past with SARS, Ebola, and H1N1. Society always looks for a scapegoat and minorities usually suffer. This has an impact on a population’s health, livelihood, and safety.

Jasmine Aguilera is a contributor to Time Magazine. She has written several articles about COVID-19 for the publication.

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Every country faces specific human rights issues, but human trafficking is a problem for every place on the planet. Wherever there’s poverty, conflict, a lack of education, or political instability, vulnerable people are at risk. Human trafficking is the world’s fastest-growing criminal industry. Sexual exploitation brings in most of the billions of dollars of profit, but forced labor also generates wealth. The universality of human trafficking doesn’t negate the fact that the issue is multi-faceted and as a multitude of root causes. Certain countries are more dangerous than others and certain people groups are more vulnerable. To learn more about specific human trafficking issues and solutions, here are five essays you can read or download for free:

“Human Trafficking and Exploitation: A Global Health Concern”

By: Cathy Zimmerman and Ligia Kiss

While labor migration can be beneficial to workers and employers, it’s also a hotbed for exploitation. In this essay from PLOS, the authors argue that human trafficking and the exploitation of low-wage workers have significant negative health impacts. Because of the magnitude of human trafficking, health concerns constitute a public health problem. Thanks to certain business models that depend on disposable labor, exploitation is allowed to flourish while protections are weakened. The essay states that trafficking initiatives must focus on stopping exploitation within each stage of labor migration. This essay introduces a special collection from PLOS on human trafficking and health. It’s the first medical journal collection on this topic. It includes pieces on child sex trafficking in the United States and the slavery of sea workers in South East Asia. Cathy Zimmerman and Ligia Kiss, the guest editors and authors of the first essay, are from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

“Introducing The Slave Next Door”

By: Jen Birks and Alison Gardner

Published in a special issue of the Anti-Trafficking Review on public perceptions and responses to human trafficking, this essay focuses on Great Britain. According to the essay, there’s been a shift in what the public thinks about trafficking based on local reporting and anti-slavery campaigns. British communities are starting to realize how prevalent human trafficking is in their own backyards. The essay takes a closer look at the media and campaigns, how they’re representing cases, and what people are doing with the information. While specific to Britain, it’s a good example of how people can perceive trafficking within their borders.

Jen Birks is an Assistant Professor in media at the Department of Cultural, Media, and visual Studies at the University of Nottingham. Alison Gardner is at the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham with a Nottingham Research Fellowship. She is part of the university’s Rights Lab.

“My Family’s Slave”

By: Alex Tizon

One of The Atlantic’s biggest stories of 2017, this essay tells a personal story of modern slavery. At 18-years old, Lola was given to the writer’s mother and when they moved to the United States, Lola came with them. On the outside, Tizon’s family was, in his words, “a poster family.” The truth was much darker. The essay sparked countless reader responses, including those of people who were once slaves themselves. Reading both the criticism and praise of the essay is just as valuable as the essay itself.

Alex Tizon died at age 57 years old before his essay was published. He had a successful career as a writer and reporter, sharing a Pulitzer Prize while a staff member at The Seattle Times. He also published a 2014 memoir Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self.

“Vietnam’s Human Trafficking Problem Is Too Big To Ignore”

By: Thoi Nguyen

In November 2019, 39 Vietnamese people were found dead in a truck container. They were identified as victims of a human trafficking ring. In Nguyen’s article, he explores the facts about the severity of human trafficking in Vietnam. For years, anti-slavery groups have warned the UK about a rise in trafficking, but it took a tragedy for people to start paying attention. Nguyen discusses who is vulnerable to trafficking, how trafficking functions, and Vietnam’s response.

Freelance journalist Thoi Nguyen is a member of Chatham House and a member of Amnesty International UK. In addition to human trafficking, he writes about the economy, finance, and foreign affairs. He’s a specialist in South East Asian geopolitics.

“History Repeats Itself: Some New Faces Behind Sex Trafficking Are More Familiar Than You Think”

By: Mary Graw Leary

This essay highlights how human trafficking isn’t only a criminal enterprise, it’s also an economic one. Leary looks specifically at how businesses that benefit (directly or indirectly) from slavery have always fought against efforts to end it. The essay focuses on government efforts to disrupt online sex trafficking and how companies are working to prevent that from happening. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry, so it makes sense that even legitimate businesses benefit. Knowing what these businesses are is essential to ending trafficking.

Mary Graw Leary is a former federal prosecutor and currently a professor of law at The Catholic University of America. The Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission’s Victim Advocacy Group, she’s an expert in exploitation, missing persons, human trafficking, and technology.

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There have always been bullies, but in more recent years, society has become more aware of the impacts of bullying. With the rise of the internet and social media, cyberbullying has also become a serious issue. In 2018, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics reported that ⅓ of young teens worldwide recently experienced bullying. Overall, boys are at a higher risk than girls – 32% compared to 28%. However, in countries with the most incidents of bullying, girls experienced more. Bullying can drive young people to suicide, self-harm, and other tragic consequences. Here are five essays that shed light on the issue:

“The Origins of Bullying”

Author: Hogan Sherrow  | From: Scientific American
Sherrow opens his guest post on the Scientific American blog with the story of Jamey Rodemeyer. At age 14, the teen posted messages online describing the pain he endured from bullying and then took his own life. Sadly, this is not uncommon. In this 2011 essay, Sherrow explores why people bully others. Where does this type of behavior come from? To address bullying effectively, we need to understand the roots of bullying. He first defines bullying and presents evidence that bullying is something found in every culture. Sherrow describes it as a “part of the human condition.” Things take a turn into other species as Sherrow asks the question, “Is bullying unique to humans?” Based on research, bullying-like behaviors are found in other animals, including other primates.

This essay presents interesting scientific research on the root of bullying and how it’s evolved in humans. Hogan Sherrow is an assistant professor of anthropology at Ohio University and the director of the Hominid Behavior Research project.

“Instagram Has a Massive Harassment Problem”

Author: Taylor Lorenz | From: The Atlantic
This essay opens up with the story of someone who experienced Instagram harassment. At age 14, Brandon joined Instagram to share about his life and rare condition. Soon, he was bombarded with hateful messages, including death threats. It ruined his high school experience. Brandon’s story is just one of countless others where people – often very young teens – are bullied through Instagram. The platform does not have a good track record on monitoring or addressing the bullying. This contrasts sharply with the polished image it projects and markets itself with. While sites like Youtube and Twitter have had bigger dealings with harassment, Instagram seems like an oasis for the internet. What is it doing exactly? According to users who have faced horrific threats, not much. Author Taylor Lorenz is a former staff writer for The Atlantic.

“Shame and Survival”

Author: Monica Lewinsky | From: Vanity Fair
Bullying often occurs in a bubble, like a middle school or a social media site, but for Monica Lewinsky, the harassment played out on a much larger scale. In 1998, the 24-year old became the center of a presidential scandal. There were countless jokes made at her expense. Even while Bill Clinton emerged relatively unscathed, the shame followed Lewinsky for years. In this feature from 2014, she recounts her experience with public humiliation, how difficult it was to move on, and the concern she feels for young people today as cyberbullying becomes so prevalent. The essay is a great example of the long-term impact of humiliation on a national scale. Monica Lewinsky is a TV personality, former fashion designer, speaker, and social activist.

“Bullying In the Age of Trump”

By: Emily Bazelon | From: The New York Times
Published in November 2016, this op-ed takes a brief look at how bullying evolved with the election of Donald Trump. The Southern Poverty Law Center tracks harassment and hate speech. Since President Trump’s election, they’ve reported a surge in bullying incidents. What this teaches us is that while bullying is always around, it can increase based on what’s going on in the culture. When someone who exhibits classic bullying behavior is put in a position of power, it sends the message that their behavior is acceptable. Emily Bazelon is the author of “Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy” and a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine.

“Bullying has an impact that lasts years” 

By: Anita Sethi | From: The Guardian
Written in recognition of Anti-Bullying Week, this piece describes the author’s personal experience with bullying and its lasting effects. As a child, Sethi experienced physical and emotional bullying. How bullies use language can be the most hurtful. The first thing they often do is take a victim’s name, so dehumanizing them is easier. Years after the bullying, a person’s mental health can suffer lasting consequences. What can be done? Teaching empathy is key. Anita Sethi is a writer, journalist, and contributor to Three Things I’d Tell My Younger Self.

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Poetry, like all art, is a powerful medium when it comes to tackling big issues. It’s one thing to read a textbook about racism, but poetry personalizes the experiences of individuals and groups. Poetry can also teach and contextualize events in an emotional way. Readers receive a fuller picture of history. Many poets build their careers by sharing their pain, anger, and grief about racism. Here are ten poems on racism that everyone should read:

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“Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is known for her powerful prose and poetry. In her famous piece “Caged Bird” (also known as “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”), she describes two birds. One is free and happy, while the other is caged. From its captivity, it sings, longing for freedom. Using this metaphor, Angelou highlights the difference between white and black Americans.

“Rosa” by Rita Dove

Poet and essayist Rita Dove was the second African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The poem, “Rosa,” from Dove’s 1999 book On the Bus With Rosa Parks, paints a picture of Rosa Parks at the moment she decides to stay in her seat. This moment in 1955 triggered the Montgomery Bus boycott and captivated the country’s attention.

“Tradition” by Jericho Brown

A young poet from Louisiana, Jericho Brown’s debut poetry collection won the 2009 American Book Award. The Tradition, the book in which the titular poem appears, is his third collection. Using a sonnet structure, “The Tradition” parallels the tradition of gardening and caring for the earth with violence against African-Americans. Brown lists types of flowers throughout the piece. In the last line, the names of John Crawford, Eric Garner, and Mike Brown take their place.

“White Privilege” by Gabriel Rameriz

Poet and teaching artist Gabriel Rameriz performed this poem for a “We are mitú” video on Facebook in 2017. Rameriz, who is Afro-Latinx, describes the poem as a response to things white people have said to him. At the time, he didn’t confront them directly. He says the purpose of the poem is to make white people consider their place in the world. Discomfort is a signal that there are things that need to change. His book

“I Am Not The Indian You Had In Mind” by Thomas King

An artist with an impressive resume, Thomas King is a photographer, professor emeritus, radio broadcaster, and 2-time Governor General’s Literary Award nominee. In this poem, King contrasts the stereotypes of indigenous people seen in culture and how they actually live in modern Canada. Vivid, conversational, and threaded with anger, it’s a powerful indictment of racist stereotypes.

“Immigrant Blues” by Li-Young Lee

In this poem, Asian-American poet Li-Young Lee explores the different stories within the immigrant experience. These stories have titles like “Survival Strategies and the Melancholy of Racial Assimilation” and “Patterns of Love in Peoples of Diaspora.” These different titles represent the complexity of immigration and how immigrants wrestle with many identities. For this reason, the poem is multi-layered and difficult. That’s the point, however. Issues of immigration and identity should be challenging.

“Riot” by Gwendolyn Brooks

The first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize, Gwendolyn Brooks’ poems explore the African-American experience, identity, politics, and other issues. “Riot” paints a picture of the riots in Chicago after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The character observing the riots in the poem is John Cabot. A white man with privilege, he is horrified by what he calls “It,” or “the blackness.” He embodies the racist system that can drive people to riot.

“Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall

In 1963, an African-American church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama. Four little black girls were killed. In this heartbreaking poem, Randall presents a conversation between a mother and daughter. The girl wants to join the Freedom March but is told she can’t because it’s too dangerous. Instead, she goes to church and her mother is confident in her child’s safety. In the last two lines, the poem reveals the horrible truth.

“Afterimages” by Audre Lorde

A graphic and emotionally-challenging poem, “Afterimages” describes the effect that Emmet Till’s death had on Lorde. She describes it as “the afterimage of my 21st year.” Till haunts her dreams. Nightmares, rape, and violence saturate the poem. With unforgiving power, this piece demonstrates how traumatizing racism is.

“I, Too” by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes is one of America’s most famous poets. His work frequently explores issues of racism. In “I, Too,” he describes how as the “darker brother,” he’s sent to the kitchen when guests come over. He looks forward to the future when he’s sitting with everyone else. The poem ends with the powerful line, “I, too, am America.” This hope for a tomorrow without racism is still relevant today.

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Poetry and human rights have always been closely linked. In fact, Archibald MacLeish, one of the preamble drafters of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was a poet as well as a politician. Unlike prose, the rules of poetry are meant to be bent and broken, allowing writers to use words like paint on a canvas. The result has a unique and powerful ability to provoke empathy. Many poets harness their talents to draw attention to the state of human rights and express deep, complex feelings. Here are five poems that speak to this art form’s relationship to human rights:

“I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” – Maya Angelou

One of the most significant writers and activists of all time, Maya Angelou (1928-2014) is known for her poetry, memoirs, essays, and more. Her 1969 memoir, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, explores her early life, which includes sexual abuse. Writing poetry and stories helped her cope with this experience. The poem “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” contrasts the lives of two birds – one free and one caged. The free bird represents white society in America while the caged bird is the black American. With his wings clipped and feet tied, all the bird can do is sing:

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

This imagery can be applied to all marginalized groups held hostage by unfair systems. “Caged Bird” challenges the reader to hear the song and take action.

“Let America Be America Again” – Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was a crucial part of the Harlem Renaissance, a time in the 1920’s when black intellectualism, literature, and art flourished. Hughes was one of the innovators of “jazz poetry,” and he also wrote plays and short stories. In 1936, he published the poem “Let America Be America Again” in Esquire. He wrote it while on a train ride from New York to Ohio. It was a difficult time for the writer, as his mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer and his first Broadway play didn’t receive great reviews. Racism and criticism from within his own community hounded him.

“Let America Be America Again” centers on the American dream and brings up the point that for many Americans, the ideals of equality and freedom have never been realized. Powerful lines include:

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart
I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars
I am the red man driven from the land
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek —
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

Despite this juxtaposition of American ideals and the harsh reality, Hughes ends the poem on a hopeful note that one day, America will live up to its own standards.

“The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till” – Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) is one of the most famous poets of the 20th century and the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. She was also the first black woman appointed as the poetry consultant to the Library of Congress. Her work is deeply informed by politics, especially from the 1960’s on. “The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till” is so brief, it can be included here in its entirety:

(after the murder,
after the burial)
Emmett’s mother is a pretty-faced thing;
the tint of pulled taffy.
She sits in a red room,
drinking black coffee.
She kisses her killed boy.
And she is sorry.
Chaos in windy grays
through a red prairie.

What’s so interesting about this poem is that there are no other quatrains. The part of this story that most people are familiar with – Emmett Till’s murder by racists and a burial where his mother chose to have an open casket to show what they did to her son – is absent. Brooks gives readers a tiny glimpse into a moment most people don’t really think about when it comes to violations of human rights – a quiet aftermath, where those left behind are left to just sit with what’s happened. While this poem could be filled with lengthy lamentations, it’s sparse. The weight and grief can’t be expressed except in the empty spaces Brooks creates.

“Poem About My Rights” – June Millicent Jordan

June Jordan (1936-2002) was a bisexual Jamaican-American poet, teacher, essayist, and activist. Issues like gender, immigration, and race frequently came up in her writing. She also emphasised the importance of intersectionality when it came to struggles for equality and human rights. In “Poem About My Rights,” Jordan centers on race, rape, and gender inequality. Jordan details all the things that are “wrong” about her – wrong color, wrong sex, wrong continent. The poem is vivid and visceral, coming to its peak in the section:

I am the history of rape
I am the history of the rejection of who I am
I am the history of the terrorized incarceration of
Myself
I am not wrong: Wrong is not my name
My name is my own my own my own

It’s a declaration of truth and self-preservation. For anyone who has been told by the powers that be and even their own parents that they are somehow “wrong,” this poem is a rallying cry.

“I Do” – Andrea Gibson

Andrea Gibson (1975) is an American activist and poet who writes on LGBTQ issues, gender norms, social reform, and more. They frequently perform as a slam poet, as well, often performing in competitions and with Button Poetry. In the poem “I Do,” Gibson takes on the challenges faced by queer people head on, opening with the lines:

I do
But the motherfuckers say we can’t.
‘cause you’re at girl and I’m a girl
or at least something close

Gibson then details how they’ll have to settle for an “uncivil union” in Vermont instead of a traditional church wedding. They imagine 50 years down the line, when their partner is dying, and there are rules about who can visit. Many queer couples are not allowed to see their loved ones at the end because they don’t count as “family members.” The rest of the poem explores the life Gibson and their partner shared, making this issue very real and personal to the reader. That’s the power of poetry. It makes human rights issues truly human.

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Women and girls are the most disenfranchised group in the world. Even in places where huge strides have been made, gaps in equality remain. Women’s rights are important within the realm of human rights. Here are five essays exploring the scope of women’s rights, which you can download or read for free online:

“A Vindication on the Rights of Woman” – Mary Wollstonecraft

Mother of Mary Shelley, who wrote the novel Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft is a juggernaut of history in her own right, though for a different reason. Self-educated, Wollstonecraft dedicated her life to women’s education and feminism. Her 1792 essay A Vindication on the Rights of Woman represents one of the earliest writings on women’s equality. In the Western world, many consider its arguments the foundation of the modern women’s rights movement. In the essay, Wollstonecraft writes that men are not  more reasonable or rational than women, and that women must be educated with the same care, so they can contribute to society. If women were left out of the intellectual arena, the progress of society would stop. While most of us believe the idea that women are inherently inferior to men is very outdated, it’s still an accepted viewpoint in many places and in many minds. Wollstonecraft’s Vindication is still relevant.

“The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” – Audre Lorde

Poet and activist Audre Lorde defied the boundaries of traditional feminism and cried out against its racist tendencies. While today debates about intersectional feminism (feminism that takes into account race, sexuality, etc) are common, Audre Lorde wrote her essay on women’s rights and racism back in 1984. In “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” Lorde explains how ignoring differences between women – whether its race, class, or sexuality – halts any real change. By pretending the suffering of women is “all the same,” and not defined by differences, white women actually contribute to oppression. Lorde’s essay drew anger from the white feminist community. It’s a debate that feels very current and familiar.

“How to convince sceptics of the value of feminism” – Laura Bates

Laura Bates founded the Everyday Sexism Project website back in 2012. It documents examples of everyday sexism of every degree and has become very influential. In her essay from 2018, Bates takes reader comments into consideration over the essay’s three parts. This unique format allows the essay to encompass multiple views, just not Bates’, and takes into consideration a variety of experiences people have with skeptics of feminism. Why even debate skeptics? Doesn’t that fuel the trolls? In some cases, yes, but skeptics of feminism aren’t trolls, they are numerous, and make up every part of society, including leadership. Learning how to talk to people who don’t agree with you is incredibly important.

“Why Can’t A Smart Woman Love Fashion?” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the most influential voices in women’s rights writing. Her book, We Should All Be Feminists, is a great exploration of 21st-century feminism. In this essay from Elle, Adichie takes a seemingly “small” topic about fashion and makes a big statement about independence and a woman’s right to wear whatever she wants. There is still a lot of debate about what a feminist should look like, if wearing makeup contributes to oppression, and so on. “Why Can’t A Smart Woman Love Fashion?” is a moving, personal look at these sorts of questions.

“The male cultural elite is staggeringly blind to #MeToo. Now it’s paying for it.” – Moira Donegan

There are countless essays on the Me Too Movement, and most of them are great reads. In this one from The Guardian, Moira Donegan highlights two specific men and the publications that chose to give them a platform after accusations of sexual misconduct. It reveals just how pervasive the problem is in every arena, including among the cultural, intellectual elite, and what detractors of Me Too are saying.

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Gender equality – which becomes reality when all genders are treated fairly and allowed equal opportunities –  is a complicated human rights issue for every country in the world. Recent statistics are sobering. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 108 years to achieve gender parity. The biggest gaps are found in political empowerment and economics. Also, there are currently just six countries that give women and men equal legal work rights. Generally, women are only given ¾ of the rights given to men. To learn more about how gender equality is measured, how it affects both women and men, and what can be done, here are five essays making a fair point.

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“Countries With Less Gender Equity Have More Women In STEM — Huh?” – Adam Mastroianni and Dakota McCoy

This essay from two Harvard PhD candidates (Mastroianni in psychology and McCoy in biology) takes a closer look at a recent study that showed that in countries with lower gender equity, more women are in STEM. The study’s researchers suggested that this is because women are actually especially interested in STEM fields, and because they are given more choice in Western countries, they go with different careers. Mastroianni and McCoy disagree.

They argue the research actually shows that cultural attitudes and discrimination are impacting women’s interests, and that bias and discrimination is present even in countries with better gender equality. The problem may lie in the Gender Gap Index (GGI), which tracks factors like wage disparity and government representation. To learn why there’s more women in STEM from countries with less gender equality, a more nuanced and complex approach is needed.

“Men’s health is better, too, in countries with more gender equality” – Liz Plank

When it comes to discussions about gender equality, it isn’t uncommon for someone in the room to say, “What about the men?” Achieving gender equality has been difficult because of the underlying belief that giving women more rights and freedom somehow takes rights away from men. The reality, however, is that gender equality is good for everyone. In Liz Plank’s essay, which is an adaption from her book For the Love of Men: A Vision for Mindful Masculinity, she explores how in Iceland, the #1 ranked country for gender equality, men live longer. Plank lays out the research for why this is, revealing that men who hold “traditional” ideas about masculinity are more likely to die by suicide and suffer worse health. Anxiety about being the only financial provider plays a big role in this, so in countries where women are allowed education and equal earning power, men don’t shoulder the burden alone.

Liz Plank is an author and award-winning journalist with Vox, where she works as a senior producer and political correspondent. In 2015, Forbes named her one of their “30 Under 30” in the Media category. She’s focused on feminist issues throughout her career.

“China’s #MeToo Moment” –  Jiayang Fan

Some of the most visible examples of gender inequality and discrimination comes from “Me Too” stories. Women are coming forward in huge numbers relating how they’ve been harassed and abused by men who have power over them. Most of the time, established systems protect these men from accountability. In this article from Jiayang Fan, a New Yorker staff writer, we get a look at what’s happening in China.

The essay opens with a story from a PhD student inspired by the United States’ Me Too movement to open up about her experience with an academic adviser. Her story led to more accusations against the adviser, and he was eventually dismissed. This is a rare victory, because as Fan says, China employs a more rigid system of patriarchy and hierarchy. There aren’t clear definitions or laws surrounding sexual harassment. Activists are charting unfamiliar territory, which this essay explores.

“Men built this system. No wonder gender equality remains as far off as ever.” – Ellie Mae O’Hagan

Freelance journalist Ellie Mae O’Hagan (whose book The New Normal is scheduled for a May 2020 release) is discouraged that gender equality is so many years away. She argues that it’s because the global system of power at its core is broken.  Even when women are in power, which is proportionally rare on a global scale, they deal with a system built by the patriarchy. O’Hagan’s essay lays out ideas for how to fix what’s fundamentally flawed, so gender equality can become a reality.

Ideas include investing in welfare; reducing gender-based violence (which is mostly men committing violence against women); and strengthening trade unions and improving work conditions. With a system that’s not designed to put women down, the world can finally achieve gender equality.

“Invisibility of Race in Gender Pay Gap Discussions” – Bonnie Chu

The gender pay gap has been a pressing issue for many years in the United States, but most discussions miss the factor of race. In this concise essay, Senior Contributor Bonnie Chu examines the reality, writing that within the gender pay gap, there’s other gaps when it comes to black, Native American, and Latina women. Asian-American women, on the other hand, are paid 85 cents for every dollar. This data is extremely important and should be present in discussions about the gender pay gap. It reminds us that when it comes to gender equality, there’s other factors at play, like racism.

Bonnie Chu is a gender equality advocate and a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur. She’s the founder and CEO of Lensational, which empowers women through photography, and the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy.

The post 5 Powerful Essays Advocating for Gender Equality appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

When the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Article 26 asserted that all people have the right to education. That right appears in other documents such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and in treaties about women and girls, refugees, migrants, and others. Many constitutions around the world also list education as a right. However, the right to education isn’t always upheld. To understand more about education as a human right, and where and why it’s often not a reality, here are five must-read essays:

“Girls Can Change The World – But We Have To Invest In Them First” – Malala Yousafzai

Writing for Time Magazine in 2018, Malala Yousafzai’s essay details the importance of educating girls. It’s short, but like all of Malala’s writing, it’s impactful. She opens with the sobering statistic that 130 million girls are not in school. Despite promises at the United Nations to guarantee that every girl will get 12 years of education by 2030, donor countries either halted or decreased their giving for education. Malala expresses her discouragement, but remains hopeful, drawing attention to the Malala Fund and impact of local activists and educators.

The youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala is a Pakistani human rights activist, with a special focus on female education. In 2012, the Taliban attempted to assassinate her since she was already a well-known activist, but she survived. The attack and recovery made her a household name, and she won the Nobel Prize two years later. She is a writer and current student at Oxford University.

“Is Education a Fundamental Right?” – Jill Lepore

A relatively-unknown Supreme Court Case from 1982, Plyler v. Doe addressed questions about education, immigration, and if schooling is a human right. In her essay, Jill Lepore writes that this case could become much better known as various lawsuits filed on behalf of immigrant children enter the court system. These are the children who are separated from their parents at the border and deprived of education.  Using Plyler v. Doe as a guide along with the other cases both past and present, Lepore explores the issue of education as a fundamental right in the United States.

This essay appeared in the print edition of The New Yorker in September 2018 under the headline “Back to the Blackboard.” Jill Lepore is a professor of history at Harvard University and a staff writer for the New Yorker. Publications include the book These Truths: A History of the United States and This America: The Case for the Nation.

“How to Improve Access to Education Around the World” – Jan Lee

In this piece on the Triple Pundit platform, Lee takes a look at how Pearson, an education publishing and assessment service company based in the UK, is making an impact on education access around the world. In the United States, Pearson works on finding solutions for the social and economic problems that lead to low high-school graduation rates. Pearson also invests in low-cost private education around the world. The essay highlights how access to education can be improved through new educational technology for students with disabilities and outreach to underserved communities. Since this article was sponsored by Pearson, it doesn’t look at what other companies or organizations are doing, but it provides a good model for the kinds of actions that can help.

Jan Lee is an award-winning editorial writer and former news editor, whose work can be found Triple Pundit, JustMeans, and her blog The Multicultural Jew. On Triple Pundit, she’s written stories on a variety of topics, such as Leadership & Transparency, Data & Technology, and Energy & Environment.

“Higher Education Is A Human Right” – Heidi Gilchrist

It’s established that primary education is a human right, but what about higher education? In her essay, Heidi Gilchrist argues that it is. Looking specifically at the United States, her reason is that in order to access the American dream- which she calls the “ideal it [the country] was founded on” – people need higher education. As global society starts to depend more on technology and other complex systems, more and more jobs will require advanced degrees. In order to truly succeed and achieve their dreams, people will need higher education. Gilchrist offers another perspective on the issue, as well, writing that countries need people with advanced degrees to protect national security. Having higher education remain a luxury means only the wealthy can access it, and that harms a society in every regard.

Heidi Gilchrist is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School and an Assistant Professor of Legal Writing at Brooklyn Law. In her previous career, she served as a national security analyst in the federal government, and as a laison to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York City. She writes on national security and how it converges with human rights law and civil rights.

“Public schools for private gain: The declining American commitment to serving the public good” – David F. Larabee

In an essay that is both a history lesson and critical look at the pursuit of education as a “private benefit,” Larabee argues that this new view of schooling is dangerous. While in the past, school had been seen as a community where students of all backgrounds and finances mingle and receive opportunities, it’s morphing into just another capitalist arena. Wealthy parents are choosing private schools and focusing their resources there, while public schools and students struggle. School is becoming “a means of private advancement,” Larabee says, instead of a source of public good. This has serious long-term consequences.

David Larabee is a Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education, emeritus, at the Standard University Graduate School of Education. He describes himself as a “sociologically oriented historian of education.” He is also an author, most recently of 2017’s A Perfect Mess: The Unlikely Ascendancy of American Higher Education.

The post 5 Must-Read Essays on the Right to Education appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

1. “Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?” – James Baldwin

In his iconic novel Giovanni’s Room, gay author James Baldwin makes a powerful statement about love. He proclaims that sex and gender don’t matter; all that matters is that two people love each other. Nothing should stand in their way if they have love in their hearts. These words resonated with millions of people who felt like their emotions were invalid because of the gender of the object of their love. With this quote, Baldwin assured them that it didn’t matter because love is love.

2. “If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself.” – Zanele Muholi

Zanele Muholi is a South African activist and artist. She works primarily in photography and video. Despite her fame as an artist, Muholi identifies herself as an activist first. It is her intention to use her art to highlight the beauty and individuality of black LGBTQ women: a group that she believes has been terribly underrepresented in all forms of art. So, instead of waiting for someone else to validate LGBT women of color, she took it upon herself to bring the struggles, needs, and beauty of these women to light.

You may also like: Top 10 LGBTQ+ online courses on Health, Diversity and Inclusion

3. “I am proud, that I found the courage to deal the initial blow to the hydra of public contempt.” – Karl Heinrich Ulrichs

Karl Heinrich Ulrichs is known as one of the first gay men to publicly announce his sexual identity. Born in Germany in 1825, his coming out was a historic and brave moment. During his lifetime, Ulrichs wrote numerous essays discussing homosexuality and asserting that non-heterosexual orientations are natural and biological. Despite being arrested numerous times, Ulrichs stated in the above quotation that he was proud of the work that he did for the LGBTQ community.

4. “It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.”– Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, a former Icelandic Prime Minister and the first openly gay head of state, uttered these words during a speech at a 2014 Pride festival. In this speech, she was thankful that her native country was making strides towards acceptance and equal rights for LGBTQ people. However, she emphasized that until these rights are status quo all over the world, we cannot consider ourselves truly free. This marked one of the first calls from a head of state to make LGBTQ rights the standard worldwide.

5. “Every LGBTQ+ refugee has a unique situation—but the fear and pain they endured before coming to Canada is universal.” – Arsham Parsi

Arsham Parsi, an Iranian refugee living in Canada in exile, has made it his mission to help LGBTQ people living in Iran: a nation where acts of homosexuality are punishable by flogging or even death. In the above quotation, Parsi seeks the assistance of LGBTQ people living in Western nations, providing a powerful reminder that while things are slowly improving in the west, there are still queer people all over the world who live every day afraid for their very lives.

6. “Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.” – Barbara Gittings

Barbara Gittings is known for being an American activist fighting on behalf of the LGBTQ population. In her most well-known fight she took on a Goliath: the United States government. She picketed to stop them from barring LGBTQ applicants from employment. However, as she states in the above quote, her greatest wish was not for laws to pass, but for true acceptance and equality.

7. “Nature made a mistake, which I have corrected.” – Christine Jorgensen

Christine Jorgensen was one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery, and the first to publicly speak about the process. While many decried her decision as unnatural, she made the bold assertion that nature was wrong in putting her into a man’s body, and that the reassignment surgery made things right. Her advocacy aimed to normalize transgenderism and allow those who identified as trans to understand and accept themselves for who they truly are.

8. “If you help elect more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised a green light to move forward.” – Harvey Milk

When Harvey Milk became the first openly gay person elected to public office in California, he became the face of the push to put more LGBTQ people in positions of power. In this quotation, he stresses that doing so will not only monumental for those in the queer community who don’t feel represented; it will also empower anyone who feels disenfranchised by those who are supposed to represent them.

9. “My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” – Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde described herself as a “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” In her writing, she frequently expressed her anger at the treatment of people of color, women, and LGBTQ folk. In the above quotation, she calls for others to express their anger. To many in the queer community, staying silent and in the closet felt like a safety blanket. However, Lorde encouraged them to step out into the light, telling them that the only true safety is in making yourself known and demanding the acceptance and respect that is your right.

10. “”We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.” – Bayard Rustin

If you aren’t familiar with the name “Bayard Rustin,” you may recognize one of his closest associates: Martin Luther King Jr. Rustin was an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement, fighting not only for the rights of African Americans, but for the LGBTQ community as well. Rustin urged the disenfranchised to engage in civil disobedience to get their points across to the majority, encouraging those who wanted to fight for their rights to be unafraid to speak up and act out to demand them.

11. “I’m not missing a minute of this. It’s the revolution!” – Sylvia Rivera

This is one of the most famous quotes to come out of the Stonewall Riots. Uttered by Latina LGBTQ activist Sylvia Rivera, this statement served as a rallying cry for many who were afraid of the violence that occurred at Stonewall. Rivera knew the dangers, but also knew that the risk was worth the potential reward. She knew that the queer community had been put down for long enough and was ready to fight for their rights and for their voice. Participating in the riots at only 17 years old, Rivera was an inspiration to many.

12. “The next time someone asks you why LGBT Pride marches exist or why Gay Pride Month is June tell them ‘A bisexual woman named Brenda Howard thought it should be.’” – Brenda Howard

Brenda Howard is known as the “Mother of Pride.” She was instrumental in organizing the first ever Pride marches: events that have become a vital part of the fight for acceptance. Howard was also one of the few activists to focus on rights for those who identified as bisexual or polyamorous: two groups that are often underrepresented in LGBTQ activism.

13. “If a transvestite doesn’t say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite, then nobody else is going to hop up there and say I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite for them.” – Marsha P. Johnson

Another important figure in the Stonewall Riots, Marsha P. Johnson was also one of the first activists to fight for the rights and dignity of drag queens. She was vocal throughout her life about the unique struggles faced by those who dressed in drag and encouraged others not to become complacent and to continue fighting for rights and respect.

14. “When you are doing something that is right, you just do it and take care … Someone has to do this.” – Alice Nkom

Alice Nkom made history when she became the first female Cameroonian lawyer. In her time practicing law, she has dedicated her career to helping those who have been the victims of her country’s harsh laws against homosexuality. The fight has been an uphill battle, as these types of laws are not uncommon in African countries. However, Nkom continues to fight, as she knows that her fight is just and right. With her work, she hopes to usher in a new era for the rights of the LGBTQ population in Cameroon.

15. “It is against this God who kills that we are fighting and resisting.” – Alexya Salvador

Organized religion has been one of the harshest critics of homosexuality, citing holy writings as evidence that it goes against God. Alexya Salvador, set to become the first transgender pastor in Brazil, doesn’t necessarily see religion as the enemy of LGBTQ rights. As she states in this quotation, it is a particular version of God, one that is vengeful and judgmental, that must be eradicated. She strives for a different view of God: one that is accepting and loving of everyone, regardless of their identities. She hopes to usher in a new era of love and understanding between religion and the LGBTQ community.

16. “The Lord is my Shepherd and he knows I’m gay.” – Troy Perry

Troy Perry founded the Metropolitan Community Church: a Protestant denomination that specializes in welcoming the LGBTQ community. Perry was religious for much of his life, but was frustrated by feeling unwelcome as a gay man. With his ministry, he strives to give others a place of love, welcoming, and acceptance. He is also a vocal advocate encouraging other faith communities to open their doors to the queer community.

17. “AIDS is a plague – numerically, statistically and by any definition known to modern public health – though no one in authority has the guts to call it one.” – Larry Kramer

The AIDS epidemic, which reached its peak in the 80s and 90s, was a vital moment for the queer community. Gay men were the group most ravaged by the disease, and the most feared and hated group because of it. Larry Kramer was a vocal advocate for those suffering from AIDS, and continues to speak out to this day about the failure of our society to help and protect those who are suffering.

18. “There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” – Tammy Baldwin

In 2013, Tammy Baldwin made history by becoming the first openly gay Senator in the United States. In her speech at the Millennium March for Equality, she spoke to LGBTQ folks, encouraging them to be out and proud. In this quotation, she states that the only way to normalize non-heterosexual orientations is for the queer community to act like they are normal, because they are.

19. “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” – Jason Collins

In 2014, Jason Collins made history by becoming the first male professional athlete to publicly identify himself as gay. After his announcement, a flood of other queer athletes began declaring their sexuality, revealing to the world that some of our greatest sports figures are in fact LGBTQ. This was a milestone for the fight for equality because, as Collins says, being open about sexual orientation is an important step towards ending prejudice.

20. “The richness, beauty and depths of love can only be fully experienced in a climate of complete openness, honesty and vulnerability.” – Anthony Venn Brown

“Conversion therapy” has been a major issue for LGBTQ youth for decades, or perhaps even longer. It is often used in Christian communities to encourage queer youth to use religion to combat their homosexual desires. Anthony Venn Brown underwent such therapy in Australia and later publicly denounced such programs. He advocated for the abolition of such programs by describing the damage that they do to LGBTQ youth who are forced to undergo them, as well as the damage that lack of acceptance can have on the entire community.

You may also like: Top 10 LGBTQ+ online courses on Health, Diversity and Inclusion

The post 20 Powerful LGBT Quotes that made history appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Music is one of the most powerful means of expression and the best artists are able to channel more than personal pain and struggle into their songs. Whether it’s a protest of a specific war, a universal plea for peace, a searing response to racism, or a celebratory victory cry, these seven songs tell human rights stories:

“Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution”

Though not as successful as “Fast Car,” the first single from Tracy Chapman’s first album, “Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution” has endured. The song focuses on poverty with lyrics like, “While they’re standing in the welfare lines/Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation/Wasting time in the unemployment lines/Sitting around waiting for a revolution.”

In 2011, the song played frequently in Tunisia during the Tunisian Revolution, which was motivated by injustices like high unemployment, corruption, and food inflation. The longtime president was eventually unseated and the country democratized. “Talkin’ ‘bout a Revolution” also played before speeches at Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign rallies.

“Redemption Song”

Bob Marley wrote and performed some of the most important songs in history. “Redemption Song” stands as one of the few without accompaniment beyond his guitar. It’s also significant because it was his last recording before his death at age 36. “Redemption Song” follows a story of persecution and ultimately victory “by the hand of the Almighty/We forward in this generation/Triumphantly.”

One of the most famous lines, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery,” comes from a 1937 speech by Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader. Marley embraces a tragic history with a hopeful future, asking the listener, “Won’t you help to sing/These songs of freedom?”

“Gimme Shelter”

The Rolling Stones’ 1969 album “Let It Bleed” opens with this powerful song. The world reeled from the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr and Bobby Kennedy, as well as the Vietnam War, which the band says inspired the song. “Gimme Shelter” contains lyrics like “War, children, it’s just a shot away.” Merry Clayton joins Mick Jagger in the chorus, and takes on the bridge solo: “Rape, murder! It’s just a shot away, it’s just a shot away!” Despite the bleakness of the lyrics, it ends on a note of hope with “I tell you love, sister, it’s just a kiss away.”

“They Don’t Care About Us”

Michael Jackson may be known as the “King of Pop,” but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t write politically and socially-significant songs. In 1996, he released “They Don’t Care About Us.” It was immediately controversial for some questionable lyrics, and Jackson ultimately re-recorded the song with changed words. The message remained intact: persecutors don’t care about those they persecute; those in power don’t care about the oppressed.

In the song’s second video, Jackson is filmed handcuffed in a prison with cuts of real footage of police brutality, the Ku Klux Klan, Tiananmen Square, and other abuses of human rights.

“She Keeps Me Warm”

It’s a bit sad that a beautifully-simple love song is revolutionary because it’s a woman singing about her girlfriend, but these are the times we live in. Mary Lambert, who wrote and sang the hook in Macklemore’s “Same Love” song, expands on the story.

The lyric “I’m not crying on Sundays” is especially poignant because Lambert was raised Christian, and experienced intolerance because of her sexuality. At the same time, she embraces the true message of “Love is patient, love is kind,” which is a reference to the famous love passage in 1 Corinthians 13. For anyone who has felt the sting of rejection from their religious community for being gay, but found acceptance in a partner, this song is magical.

“This Is America”

At first listen, it isn’t obvious just how deep Childish Gambino’s song is, and that’s why you need to watch the video. It consists of happy go-lucky dancing amidst violence, including a gun execution, riots, and cars on fire. Countless essays pick apart the video’s details, suggesting that the contrasting tones are meant to symbolize how America is outraged by an injustice only to be blissfully oblivious the moment the press cycle moves on. The verses get progressively darker and more serious, too, from the first bridge’s “We just wanna party/Party just for you” to “You just a black man in this world/You just a barcode.”

“Blk Girl Soldier”

Perhaps the least known song on this list, “Blk Girl Soldier” comes from Jamilla Woods’ debut album “HEAVN.” As the title suggests, the lyrics tell the stories of black women through history and their struggles and victories, complete with commentary on the “angry black woman” trope: “They want us in the kitchen/Kill our sons with lynchings/We get loud at it/Oh, now we’re the bitches.” In 2018, NPR listed “Blk Girl Soldier” in their ranking of the greatest songs by a female/non-binary artist in the 21st century.

The post 7 Inspiring Songs Dealing With Human Rights Issues appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Conflict Studies and Human Rights (Utrecht University)

Utrecht University in Netherlands offers a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Studies and Human Rights. The program requires one-year of full-time study on campus to complete. All students take the following classes: Conflict, Policies And Politics; In-depth Case-study Analysis; Theories Of Violent Conflict; Literature Review & Research Proposal; Preparing Social Research; and The Conflict-human Rights Nexus. Students then have the opportunity to complete one of two master’s thesis options. To fulfill this requirement, students can either conduct research in the field and then compose a paper summarizing their findings or participate in a work internship and write about the experience.

Human Rights and International Conflict (London Metropolitan University)

London Metropolitan University in England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Arts degree in Human Rights and International Conflict. Students have the option to complete the program with full-time or part-time study. Most students can complete all of the course requirements in one year full time or within two years part time. Every student in the program takes the following classes: History and Theory of Human Rights; Human Rights and International Conflict Dissertation; Human Rights and the International Order; International Conflict Resolution; American Foreign Policy in the 21st Century; and Citizenship and Social Justice. In addition, students receive instruction in research methods and write a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on an area of interest.

Gender, Conflict and Human Rights (Ulster University)

Ulster University in Coleraine, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Laws degree in Gender, Conflict and Human Rights. This program is intended for students who already hold an undergraduate law degree and wish to specialize in human rights law. With full-time study, the degree requirements can typically be completed in one full calendar year. Students are required to take three modules: Gender and Human Rights; Gender and Transition; and Using Film for Human Rights Research and Advocacy. Additionally, every student takes a research methods class and then completes independent research, culminating in a master’s thesis.

Human Rights, Conflict and Justice (SOAS University)

SOAS University of London in London, England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Laws degree in Human Rights, Conflict and Justice. The program prepares those who have undergraduate law degrees to specialize in human rights law. To meet the needs of working adults, the program is offered in four formats: one-year full-time, two-year part-time, three-year part-time and four-year part-time daylight only. Five courses are required for the degree: Human Rights and Islamic Law; Human Rights in the Developing World; Human Rights of Women; International Protection of Human Rights; and Justice, Reconciliation and Reconstruction in Post Conflict Societies. Students are also required to participate in an international human rights law clinic.

Globalisation-Politics, Conflict and Human Rights (University of Brighton)

The University of Brighton in England, United Kingdom, offers a Master of Arts degree in Globalisation-Politics, Conflict and Human Rights. Students can choose to study full time for one year or part time for two years. Every student in the program completes either a field placement and an extended essay or a master’s dissertation. In addition, students choose courses from a number of options, including: Globalisation and Global Politics; Conflict, Security and Human Rights; Peacemaking and the Conflicted Past; Legacies of Warfare and Violent Conduct; Forms of Warfare and Violent Conduct; Holocaust Memory; and Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

Explore more Master’s Degrees in Human Rights

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Social justice covers a variety of issues involving race, gender, age, sexual orientation, income equality and much more. How do you write an essay on a social justice issue that’s engaging, informative and memorable? Here are eight tips you should take to heart when writing:

When writing a social justice essay, you should brainstorm for ideas, sharpen your focus, identify your purpose, find a story, use a variety of sources, define your terms, provide specific evidence and acknowledge opposing views.

#1. Brainstorm creatively

Before you start writing your social justice essay, you need a topic. Don’t hesitate to look far and wide for inspiration. Read other social justice essays, look at recent news stories, watch movies and talk to people who are also interested in social justice. At this stage, don’t worry about the “trendiness” of your idea or whether a lot of people are already writing about it. Your topic will evolve in response to your research and the arguments you develop. At the brainstorming stage, you’re focused on generating as many ideas as possible, thinking outside the box and identifying what interests you the most. Take a free online course to get a better understanding of social justice.

You can take a creative brainstorming approach! A blog on Hubspot offers 15 creative ideas such as storyboarding, which involves laying out ideas in a narrative form with terms, images and other elements. You can also try freewriting, which is when you choose something you’re interested in. Next, write down everything you already know, what you need to know but don’t already, why the topic matters and anything else that comes to mind. Freewriting is a good exercise because it helps you decide if there’s any substance to a topic or if it’s clear there’s not enough material for a full essay.

#2. Sharpen your topic’s focus

The best essays narrow on a specific social justice topic and sharpen its focus, so it says something meaningful and interesting. This is often challenging, but wrestling with what exactly you want your essay to say is worth the effort. Why? An essay with a narrow, sharp focus has a clearer message. You’re also able to dig deeper into your topic and provide better analysis. If your topic is too broad, you’re forced to skim the surface, which produces a less interesting essay.

How do you sharpen your essay’s focus? Grace Fleming provides several tips on ThoughtCatalog. First, you can tell your topic is too broad if it can be summarized in just 1-2 words. As an example, “health inequity” is way too broad. Fleming suggests applying the questions, “Who, what, where, when, why and how,” to your topic to narrow it down. So, instead of just “health inequity,” you might end up with something like “The impact of health inequity in maternal healthcare systems on Indigenous women.” Your topic’s focus may shift or narrow even further depending on the research you find.

Writing a human rights topic research paper? Here are five of the most useful tips.

#3. Identify your purpose

As you unearth your topic and narrow its focus, it’s important to think about what you want your essay to accomplish. If you’re only thinking about your essay as an assignment, you’ll most likely end up with a product that’s unfocused or unclear. Vague sentiments like “Everyone is writing about social justice” and “Social justice is important” are also not going to produce an essay with a clear purpose. Why are you writing this essay? Are you wanting to raise awareness of a topic that’s been historically ignored? Or do you want to inspire people to take action and change something by giving them concrete how-to strategies? Identifying your purpose as soon as possible directs your research, your essay structure and how you style your writing.

If you’re not sure how to find your purpose, think about who you’re writing for. An essay written for a university class has a different audience than an essay written for a social justice organization’s social media page. If there are specific instructions for your essay (professors often have requirements they’re looking for), always follow them closely. Once you’ve identified your purpose, keep it at the front of your mind. You’ll produce an essay that’s clear, focused and effective.

#4. Find a human story

The best social justice essays don’t only provide compelling arguments and accurate statistics; they show your topic’s real-world impact. Harvard’s Kennedy School’s communications program describes this process as “finding a character.” It’s especially useful when you’re writing something persuasive. Whatever your topic, try to find the human stories behind the ideas and the data. How you do that depends on the nature of your essay. As an example, if you’re writing something more academic, focusing too much on the emotional side of a story may not be appropriate. However, if you’re writing an essay for an NGO’s fundraising campaign, focusing on a few people’s stories helps your reader connect to the topic more deeply.

How do you choose what stories to feature? Harvard suggests choosing someone you have access to either through your research or as an interview subject. If you get the opportunity to interview people, make sure you ask interesting questions that dig beneath the surface. Your subject has a unique perspective; you want to find the information and stories only they can provide.

#5. Rely on a variety of sources

Depending on your essay’s purpose and audience, there might be certain sources you’re required to use. In a piece for Inside Higher Ed, Stephanie Y. Evans describes how her students must use at least 10 source types in their final paper assignment. Most of the time, you’ll have a lot of freedom when it comes to research and choosing your sources. For best results, you want to use a wide variety. There are a few reasons why. The first is that a variety of sources gives you more material for your essay. You’ll access different perspectives you wouldn’t have found if you stuck to just a few books or papers. Reading more sources also helps you ensure your information is accurate; you’re fact-checking sources against one another. Expanding your research helps you address bias, as well. If you rely only on sources that reflect your existing views, your essay will be much less interesting.

While we’re talking about sources, let’s touch on citations. If you’re writing an essay for school, your teacher will most likely tell you what citation method they want you to use. There are several depending on the discipline. As an example, in the United States, social science disciplines like sociology and education tend to use the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Some places are very rigid about citation styles, while others are more relaxed. If you’re writing an essay where your citation won’t be checked, you still need to give credit to any ideas, thoughts, or research that’s not yours. Proper citation builds trust with your reader and boosts your credibility.

Here are more tips on writing a human rights essay!

#6. Define your key terms

To make your essay as clear and effective as possible, you want every reader on the same page right at the beginning. Defining your key terms is an important step. As Ian Johnston writes, creating an effective argument requires “the establishment of clear, precise, and effective definitions for key terms in the arguments.” You may have to adapt an existing definition or write your own. Johnston offers principles such as adjusting a definition based on the knowledge of who you’re writing for, focusing on what a term is and not just on its effects, and expanding a definition so it covers everything a reader needs to know.

How do you decide which terms are important in your essay? First, never assume a reader understands a term because it’s “obvious.” The most obvious terms are often the ones that need the clearest definitions. If your reader doesn’t know exactly what you’re talking about when you use a term like “health equity,” your essay won’t be as effective. In general, you want to define any terms relevant to your topic, terms that are used frequently and terms with distinct meanings in the context of your essay.

#7. Provide specific evidence and examples

Social justice issues are grounded in reality, so an essay should reflect that. Don’t spend your whole paper being philosophical or hypothetical. As an example, let’s say you’re writing an essay about desertification in Mali. Don’t discuss desertification as an abstract concept. Include real statistics and case studies on desertification in Mali, who it’s affecting the most and what is being done about it. For every argument you make, present supporting evidence and examples.

The strength of your evidence determines the strength of your arguments. How do you find strong evidence? Cite This For Me lists a handful of examples, such as studies, statistics, quotes from subject matter experts and/or reports, and case studies. Good evidence also needs to be accurate and in support of your argument. Depending on your essay topic, how current a piece of evidence is also matters. If you’re not relying on the most current evidence available, it can weaken your overall argument. Evidence should also be as specific as possible to your topic. Referring back to our desertification in Mali essay, that means locating examples of how desertification affects people in Mali, not in Chad or Russia.

Academic essay writing requires specific skills. Here’s an online introductory course on academic writing.

#8. Acknowledge your critics

Not every social justice essay requires an acknowledgment of opposing viewpoints, but addressing critics can strengthen your essay. How? It lets you confront your critics head-on and refute their arguments. It also shows you’ve researched your topic from every angle and you’re willing to be open-minded. Some people worry that introducing counterarguments will weaken the essay, but when you do the work to truly dissect your critic’s views and reaffirm your own, it makes your essay stronger.

The University of Pittsburgh offers a four-step strategy for refuting an argument. First, you need to identify the claim you’re responding to. This is often the trickiest part. Some writers misrepresent the claims of their critics to make them easier to refute, but that’s an intellectually dishonest method. Do your best to understand what exactly the opposing argument is claiming. Next, make your claim. You might need to provide specific evidence, which you may or may not have already included in your essay. Depending on the claim, your own thoughts may be a strong enough argument. Lastly, summarize what your claim implies about your critics, so your reader is left with a clear understanding of why your argument is the stronger one.

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ESRC Migration Studies Studentship

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) offers studentships for those interested in pursuing a master’s and/or DPhil in Migration Studies at Oxford University in collobration with Brunel University and the Open University as part of the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership. Students must apply for both the studentship and the degree program. Studentships cover the cost of tuition for either four years (master’s and doctoral degree) or three years (doctoral program only).

The Migration Pathway program allows students to study with Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) and Refugee Studies Centre, world-renowned research centers for their work on international migration. COMPAS is recognized throughout Britain as an authoritative source for data and analysis on migration. The RSC is involved with UNHCR’s innovation council of key stakeholders from both private and public sector agencies.

Students who are part of the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership program have access to various other funding and training opportunities. Students at COMPAS and RSC have connections to intergovernmental and international organizations like the World Bank, UNDP, OECD, IOM, and UNHCR. They also have links to research institutions around the world that doctoral students can access. Students in the MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies program take an annual trip to Geneva to meet with relevant international organizations. They also have access to meaningful internship opportunities and have obtained careers with relevant global migration agencies following their degree completion.

Ronald & Jane Olsen Scholarship in Refugee Studies

The University of Oxford’s Linacre College offers the Ronald & Jane Olsen Scholarship in Refugee Studies for students pursuing the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Eligible students are automatically considered for this scholarship and do not need to apply through a separate program. This scholarship offers £5,705 for one year, which is £3,205 towards tuition plus £2,500 towards living expenses.

This scholarship and the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies are connected to Oxford’s Refugee Studies Centre, a leading research and academic center that is engaged in various research and learning programs. The RSC is highly connected to international organizations dealing with issues of forced migration, including UNHCR.

The MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies is a 9-month program designed to prepare students for careers working with refugees and migrants, as well as further academic study. In addition to coursework, students also submit a thesis on relevant research. All students accepted into the program are automatically considered for the Ronald & Jane Olsen Scholarship; there is no restriction on nationality for the scholarship. Only one scholarship is available per year.

USAttorneys.com Immigration Scholarship Essay Contest

USAttorneys.com offers a $500 scholarship for current students, especially those studying immigration law. Students must be admitted to or attending an accredited American university or college. One student is chosen for the scholarship each semester, and the winner will have a check written to their school for tuition or book costs. Students can only receive the scholarship one time. In order to enter, students must submit a 1000 word essay outlining the process of immigration proceedings in the US. Students must be able to describe and demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of legal proceedings. Essays must be signed and emailed by the deadline in a Word document that includes the student’s full name, school they are attending, and contact information.

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme

The Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme is available to students in a variety of Master’s programs, including the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies and the MSc in Migration Studies. See the website for a list of eligible countries of origin from which students are able to apply. Students must be planning to return to their country of residence after their studies are complete. In addition to nationality and degree eligibility, students must also demonstrate academic excellence in their prior studies, as well as a commitment to the leadership program curriculum. This scholarship covers the entire cost of tuition plus living expenses (of at least  £14,777) for the entire duration of the degree program.

In addition to receiving the scholarship, students also participate in a leadership development program, which involves around 160 hours of training. Students will participate in workshops and discussions, practical skills training, networking, events and more. These training programs are designed to help students learn presentation and interview skills, examination and revision techniques, essay and editorial writing, and other helpful and relevant skills. At the end of the year, students attend a Leadership Forum along with expert professionals in the field. Students also work together in an Enterprise Challenge, developing an entrepreneurial idea to address a social need.

Oxford QEH Department Scholarships

Oxford University’s Department of International Development (QEH) offers departmental scholarships for admitted students from developing countries as defined by the UN, especially those from Sub-Saharan African countries. These are full tuition awards available to students in any of the QEH degree programs, including the MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, MSc in Migration Studies, and the DPhil in Migration Studies. For students in multi-year programs, these scholarships may be continued if the student demonstrates outstanding academic achievement.

The QEH Department, including students in the Migration Studies programs, can apply for a variety of other scholarships available to any degree program. The Clarendon Scholarship is awarded to academically excellent students who have proven their potential. This scholarship covers tuition and fees in full and provides a generous living stipend for the full duration of the study program. Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to students who are Commonwealth citizens for a variety of fields and levels of study. Scholarship amounts vary. Felix Scholarships are available to outstanding students from India and covers the cost of tuition plus living and travel expenses. The George Walford International Essay Prize is awarded to the winner of an annual essay competition. Students must write on systematic ideology and the winner is awarded £3,500 to the college and course of their choice. Oxford-Indira Gandhi Scholarships are available to residents of India and graduates of Indian universities with outstanding academic achievement. They are provided with funding to study a degree related to sustainable development at the University of Oxford. Rotary Scholarships are announced in December or January of each year and are listed on the local Rotary’s website.

Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance & Protection Bursary

Applicants to the MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration studies program who are members of the Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance & Protection (PHAP) association. PHAP is an individual-based professional association that aims to bring together all parts of the humanitarian sector through individual membership and organizational relationships. The association offers trainings and networking opportunities for its members.

PHAP members who are in good standing and have their dues paid are eligible to receive a 10% discount on their fees for the MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration studies program. Students can apply for this tuition discount as part of their application to the master’s program. They must also provide a scanned copy of their PHAP membership.

Tel Aviv University Migration Studies Scholarships

Tel Aviv University offers several scholarship and funding opportunities for applicants of its MA in Migration Studies program. The university is committed to offering financial assistance to all students through both merit- and need-based scholarship and tuition assistance programs.

The Masa Israel Journey program can provide tuition assistance for adults aged 18-30 to complete this 2-year master’s program. The funding does not cover accommodation. This program specifically targets young adults who identify religiously, ethnically, and/or culturally as Jewish to help them experience Israel through scholarship and studies.

The Israeli Student Authority offers tuition benefits for new immigrants, children of immigrants, returning minors, and immigrant citizens. For students who meet the eligibility requirements and are accepted for the assistance, the program covers full tuition costs for the typical duration of the program. For the MA in Migration Studies, students would receive funding for 2 years of study.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarship opportunities to students from Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada (Quebec Province), China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Latvia, Mexico, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. And the countries of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, India, Great Britain, Finland, France, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Russia have a scholarship arrangement with the MFA. Students must already have a bachelor’s degree and be under the age of 35. They must also be proficient in English or Hebrew language. The scholarship is available for one academic year and covers partial tuition fees, monthly allowance for one academic year, and basic health insurance.

US students are eligible to apply for US Federal Student Loans and Grants that can cover tuition for the MA in Migration Studies program.

Tel Aviv University’s School of Social and Policy Studies offers scholarship opportunities to students accepted to its master’s programs, including the MA in Migration Studies. Eligible students must have completed their first degree with honors and/or received an advanced degree with honors from a recognized institution.

Other various scholarships are available to students from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Center and South America, and India, and new immigrants to Israel are eligible for tuition assistance as part of their benefits package upon admission. More merit- and need-based scholarships are listed on the university website, many of which are for students from specific countries.

Maastricht University PhD Positions

Maastricht University’s Centre for Citizenship, Migration, and Development offers several PhD positions for those interested in researching migration. Through PhD researcher positions and doctoral fellowships, those interested in advanced study of migration have several opportunities to apply to conduct research and study through Maastricht University. Each position offers the chance to study a different aspect of migration. Students must hold a master’s degree in a related degree. Different research opportunities have various responsibilities, including teaching and administrative roles, participation in research groups, knowledge of various languages, and more. Students will have the chance to publish their research and to network with experts and professionals in the field throughout the course of their doctoral study period. All migration PhD and doctoral fellowship positions are listed on the university’s website.

University of Bath funding for doctoral research in Humanities and Social Sciences

The University of Bath offers various opportunities for students to conduct doctoral research in Humanities and Social Sciences, including migration studies. Each of the funding opportunities offers different award amounts and has different funding requirements.

The University Research Studentship Award (URSA) offers full tuition funding for up to 3 years. Students also receive funding for an annual training support fee, and UK/EU students receive a living stipend of £14,777 per year.

Research Council Funding is available through various regional research councils in the form of Doctoral Training Partnerships and Centres for Doctoral Training. This also includes the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) West Doctoral Training Partnership. Only UK/EU students are eligible to apply for a variety of social science degree programs (overseas students are limited to Economics and Advanced Quantitative Methods). Funding covers up to 3 years of study and includes both annual training funding and a living stipend. Around 45 total studentships are available through this program.

The UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Accountable, Responsible and Transparent AI offers a scholarship for advanced studies for those with a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields including social science and policy research. Students must have taken a mathematics course at university. The funding is available for 4 years and includes a living stipend of £15,009. Only UK/EU citizens are eligible for this funding.

Students looking to focus on research related to health and migration may also be eligible for the MRC GW4 Biomed DTP Studentship, designed for those interested in studying a variety of health related topics, including mental health and population health. Funding is available to cover full tuition for 3 ½ years plus training support fees and living expenses. This program offers 18 studentships.

The Sadako Ogata Scholarship (Not offered any longer)

The University of London offers the Sadako Ogata Scholarship to financially disadvantaged students interested in pursuing an MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration studies, starting in March of the academic year. The award covers the full tuition amount (£8,220). Eligible students must have acceptance to the MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration studies program beginning in March and be unable to accept the offer without financial assistance. Students must be a national and resident of a low/lower-middle income country (listed on the site). They must also be able to demonstrate academic achievement. Students must apply for this scholarship separately from the master’s program, providing a personal statement, as well as information about professional experience, past achievements, and their financial situation.

Students who receive the scholarship are required to write a short essay reviewing the impact of their study and research at the end of each academic year during which they receive the scholarship.

Are you looking for Scholarships for Refugees?

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BA in International Studies, concentration in Global Migration – University of Dayton

The University of Dayton offers a BA in International Studies with a concentration in Global Migration and Economic Development. The program is designed to give students an interdisciplinary, international perspective on issues related to international affairs, particularly in topics related to migration and development. Students have the chance to take a variety of courses related to migration and economics in communications, management, anthropology, human rights, and more. Along with other required basic courses, students must take a capstone course to complete their degree.

This 4-year degree costs $44,100 per year, not including living expenses. University of Dayton states that they increase students’ scholarships and grants each year in order to keep their tuition costs the same. They also offer textbook scholarships up to $4000 for four years, as well as a $3000 study abroad or summer study program. Additionally, all undergraduate students are automatically considered for merit scholarships up to $98,000 upon admission to the University of Dayton. The university also has additional scholarships offered through donations that students may apply for.

Students who complete this degree will be prepared to pursue further study, as well as careers in government, humanitarian relief, social entrepreneurship, national and homeland security, law, international business, education, and more.

BA of Global and International Studies – University of Carleton

University of Carleton offers an honors Bachelor of Global and International Studies with a concentration in Migration and Diaspora studies. After admittance, students can transfer from the honors program into a general program. Students gain a multidisciplinary approach to international studies through core courses, as well as skills and knowledge specific to issues related to migration and diaspora studies in specialized courses. In addition to major-specific courses, students must also take a second language, and students in the honors program are required to complete an international experience. The University of Carleton offers several types of international experiences for students to choose from.

This 4-year degree costs around $12,887 per year for domestic tuition, not including fees and living expenses, and $30,159 per year for international students, not including fees and living expenses. Upon admission, all students with an average of 80 percent or above are automatically considered for a renewable Entrance Scholarship. Students with an admission average of 90 percent or above are eligible to apply for the 24 Prestige Scholarships. Other various scholarships are also available to students upon admission, depending on their chosen major and other eligibility criteria.

Students who graduate with this degree and specialization will be prepared for careers in public service, creative industries, cultural institutions, migration and humanitarian NGOs, migration and resettlement agencies, and more, as well as further studies in law or other

BSc in Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies – Colorado College

Colorado College has a BSc in Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies, which provides a multidisciplinary approach to issues relating to race, ethnicity, and migration, particularly in the context of the US. Students take classes to understand the history and current trends of migration in America, as well as how it shapes the economy, culture, politics, and more. In addition to core courses and elective courses, students also must complete a senior seminar class and research project.

This 4-year degree costs $57,612, not including any additional fees or living expenses. Colorado College offers options for both need-based and merit-based financial aid. Students are considered for merit-based scholarships upon admission to the college ranging in award amounts from $2500 to $5000 per semester. Need-based scholarships require a separate application that must be filed by the listed deadline. Students in the BSc in Race, Ethnicity, and Migration Studies program can also receive a grant to cover academic costs, once they are enrolled in a senior project with a faculty advisor.

Students who graduate from this program will be prepared for graduate or doctoral-level studies, as well as careers with migration and resettlement agencies, government, non-governmental organizations including social work agencies, and even international organizations.

BA in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration – Yale University

Yale University offers a BA in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, an interdisciplinary and comparative study of how migration has created and continues to create a diverse, multicultural, multiethnic world. Students are required to complete a total of 12 term courses, including an introductory course and 6 term elective courses to create a concentration. Students are also encouraged to study a foreign language. This program is largely theory and research based, with the completion of the program ending with a year-long senior essay or project including a colloquium course or a senior seminar and a 30-35 page essay completed in one semester of the senior year. Students in this course are also heavily advised to spend a semester abroad to engage more deeply with the theories, histories, and issues, they are studying.

The 4-year program tuition costs about $55,500 per year. All of Yale’s financial aid programs are need-based, and they state that 86% of their most recent graduates completed their degree without student debt. The school’s average need-based scholarship for the most recent school year was $52,800. More than half of the admitted students receive need-based aid, and Yale is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for all students. Outside scholarships and funding are also available to apply to separately.

This program will prepare students for further academic study, as well as careers working with issues related to race and migration on the local, national, and international levels in a variety of workplaces.

Bachelor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations – Malmo University

Malmo University offers a Bachelor in International Migration and Ethnic Relations. The interdisciplinary program aims to equip students with knowledge and skills in topics such as refugee and asylum law, global migration and policies, racism and nationalism, research methodology, academic writing, project management, and more. Students have the opportunity to also conduct field studies, internships, and/or study abroad programs.

This 3-year program is free to EU students and costs about $21,835 for non-EU students. Some international students may be eligible for scholarships through the Swedish Institute Scholarships depending on their country of origin and other qualifications.

In addition to preparation for master’s level studies, this program also prepares students for careers dealing with migration, refugees, asylum, segregation, social cohesion, social work, globalization, and more at the local, national, and international levels in government, NGOs, law firms, businesses, media companies, educational institutes, think tanks, and more.

BA in International Relations: Migration & Refugee Studies – Webster University

Webster University offers a BA in International Relations with an emphasis in Migration & Refugee Studies at their campus in Geneva, Switzerland. Students will take classes in a variety of topics, including politics, development, research methods, international law, international organizations, economics, and more. To complete the emphasis in Migration & Refugee Studies, students must take elective courses focused on relevant topics and issues. To complete the degree, students must conduct a research project.

The 4-year degree program costs $32,918 per year, not including living expenses and any additional fees. Around 20% of students at Webster University Geneva receive financial assistance and scholarships. Webster provides a number of financial assistance programs, including a needs-based scholarship, work-study program, family legacy scholarships, and second generation legacy scholarships. The school also has a Scholars Program for students who excel academically, providing them with merit-based tuition assistance.

This program is designed to train students to be prepared for graduate level study, as well as careers working in the areas of international development, migration and refugee services, human rights law, and other related issues for NGOs, governments, law firms, businesses, international organizations, and more.

Minor in Immigration Studies – Concordia University

Concordia University offers a minor in Immigration Studies for undergraduate students. This program supplements relevant bachelor’s degrees in the social science and humanities fields. Students will learn about immigration through a multidisciplinary perspective. The program uses politics, sociology, geography, and anthropology to explore various trends and policies in migration around the world.

Concordia’s bachelor’s programs take 3 to 4 years to complete, costing $3775 (CAD) for Quebec residents, $8675 (CAD) for Canadian residents, and $14,792 (USD) for US and international students. Canadian and US students can get financial assistance through various government grants and loans. Concordia also has a database of bursaries available to applicants, as well as a work-study program. They also have a variety of scholarships for undergraduates upon admittance.

Minor in Interdisciplinary Refugee Studies – Boise State University

Boise State University has a minor in Interdisciplinary Refugee Studies available to students in all disciplines. This minor is designed to prepare students to work in refugee resettlement and related careers. Students take 2 required courses and choose 4 electives from a variety of courses in anthropology, cultural studies, history, politics, language studies, social work, and more. Students also participate in an internship related to refugee resettlement.

A 4-year undergraduate program at Boise state costs $8118 per year for in-state students and $24,200 per year for all other students, not including additional fees and living expenses. In-state students are also automatically considered for residency scholarships up to $5000 per year. Non-resident students are also considered for scholarships up to $15,000.

Minor in Refugee and Migrant Studies – Western University of Ontario

Western University of Ontario offers a minor in Refugee and Migrant Studies for students in the undergraduate programs of anthropology, geography, global studies, political science, or sociology. Students choose from a variety of anthropology courses, as well as courses in other related fields, all relevant to issues surrounding migration and refugee rights.

Undergraduate tuition costs $8262 (CAD) for Canadian residents and $22,999 (USD) for international students. The university offers several financial awards and scholarships available to students with a variety of eligibility criteria.

Minor in Immigration Studies – George Mason University

George Mason University has a minor in Immigration Studies for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. The minor consists of five courses including 2 core courses and a variety of electives to choose from in disciplines such as anthropology, English, international studies, sociology, and cultural studies. Through this minor program, students will be prepared to engage with issues relating to immigration in their primary field of study, as well as their future careers.

A 4-year degree at GMU costs $12,462 for in-state students and $35,922 for out-of-state students, not including additional expenses. George Mason provides several financial assistance options for its students. Incoming students are considered for merit scholarships, and students are eligible to apply and qualify for a variety of other scholarships after their first year. GMU also provides a list of external scholarships students can apply for.

Minor in International Migration Studies – University of California San Diego

UC San Diego offers a minor in International Migration Studies for all undergraduate students. Courses cover a wide range of topics such as politics, economics, law, culture, and more. Students take a total of 28 credits to complete the minor program, including required core courses. For 20 of the credits, students choose from one of three of the following course tracks: Track A – Course Work, Track B – Independent Research or Internship, Track C – Field Research. Students can use any of these tracks as an opportunity to study abroad and gain a deeper perspective of the international aspect of migration.

Undergraduate tuition is $14,429 for in-state students and $28,992 for out-of-state students, plus any fees and living expenses. UC San Diego offers scholarships for entering students, continuing students, summer research, and study abroad semesters. They also provide a list of grants and loans available to students and have a work-study program available.

Minor in International Migration Studies – University of California Los Angeles

UCLA offers a competitive minor in International Migration Studies for undergraduate students. This minor is designed primarily for students in the College of Letters & Science. Students in other academic programs must get approval to participate in this program. Interested students must apply to accepted into the program. This minor gives students a more in-depth perspective on migration issues from an array of disciplines such as sociology, political science, cultural studies, economics, and more. Students are also required to complete a research methods course and a thesis in order to finish the minor.

Undergraduate tuition at UCLA costs $13,225 for in-state residents and $42,217 for out-of-state residents, not including additional expenses. UCLA offers merit-based scholarships for admitted students, and has a resource center and database for students to find other external scholarships. Grants are also available for California residents, and for other US residents through the federal aid program.

Minor in Migration Studies – Cornell University

Cornell University offers a minor in Migration Studies for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. This program brings together humanities and social sciences courses that focus on issues related to migration. Students learn necessary theories and skills to understand the history and current trends in migration around the world. In addition to one required course, students also choose four electives from over 50 different course options. To complete the minor, students must also attend 5 migration-related events on campus. The program also encourages students to engage with migration issues outside of the classroom in an internship or field research experience.

Cornell’s undergraduate programs cost $37,880 for in-state residents and $56,550 for out-of-state residents. All financial aid offered by Cornell is need-based awards. Students must apply for financial aid separately from their admissions application and must meet the application deadlines set by the university.

Minor in Global Migration – University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam has a minor in Global Migration for undergraduate students, except those in the applied sciences. Students take a variety of courses designed to help them engage in discussions and debates about current migration issues. They participate in interactive lectures, seminars, field visits, and informational interviews with current migration professionals.

For a bachelor’s degree, tuition for EU/EEA students is € 2,083.00 and € 9,300.00 for non-EU/EEA students. The university offers scholarships for both EU/EEA and international students, with several scholarships geared to offset the cost for international students. Some scholarships are general, for any admitted students, while others are for students studying in a particular department. They also offer information about other financial aid options available outside of the university.

Minor in Global Migration and Refugee Studies – The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America offers a minor in Global Migration and Refugee Studies for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Students take courses in sociology, anthropology, history, various cultural studies, political science, and more. Students must take three research skills focused courses, as well as four electives. To complete the minor program, students must also participate in a related internship or independent research project.

Undergraduate tuition costs $46,950. Catholic University offers various types of financial aid that include both need-based and merit-based assistance. They state that 96% of first-year students receive some form of scholarship or grant. They offer scholarships, grants, and a work-study program to assist students with tuition.

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If you are pursuing a career in human rights, it’s well-worth your time to consider a fellowship. These paid programs, which usually last for a duration of a few months or a few years, give you opportunities to build skills, network with experts in the field and gain valuable experience. Here are several human rights fellowships that are offered every year.

Human Rights LL. M. Fellowship (Columbia Law School)

This fellowship is coordinated with Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute and the Office of Graduate Legal Studies. Together, they offer a program that will allow students to build skills and receive career mentoring. Fellows are also given special consideration when applying to Columbia’s Human Rights Clinic. Fellowships provide partial or full tuition waivers, and, depending on the applicant’s need, a living stipend. If accepted, fellows should spend a big chunk of their time studying human rights and being part of the human rights community at the law school.

To be eligible, you must have a first degree in law. According to the description of the LL.M, a first degree in anything other than law, even if you have a master’s in law, may not be enough. You also are not eligible if your law degree was obtained through correspondence course work or distance learning. If you have at least a year of full-time work after your first law degree, your chances of getting accepted are much better. You can apply if you’re still in your final year of your first law degree, but you have to be really impressive.

To apply, candidates will need to submit an application through LSAC; an essay describing their qualifications and previous human rights experiences; letters of recommendation; and application for financial assistance.

The Pozen Human Rights Doctoral Fellows Program

The Pozen Family Center For Human Rights, found at the University of Chicago, is a place of interdisciplinary teaching, research, practice-oriented training, summer internships, and collaboration with human rights scholars and activists around the world. The fellows program is a year long, and consists of writing and gaining experience with doctoral students focusing on human rights. Fellows meet every other week to discuss what they’re working on.

If accepted, a fellow receives up to $1,000 in reimbursements for the costs that come with presenting a paper through the Human Rights Doctoral Fellows Program at a conference. If a fellow is international, they may request more financial support for travel.

There is also a Pozen Human Rights Dissertation Completion Fellowship, which is awarded to a doctoral student who has made a significant contribution to human rights scholarship. The fellowship includes tuition, student health insurance, a $27,000 stipend, and student life fee. Applicants must be ABD (“all but dissertation”) by the time the application is due.

Henigson Human Rights Fellowship (Harvard Law School)

Named in honor of Robert and Phyliss Henigson, this fellowship is for Harvard Law Students and recent graduates dedicated to international human rights. The fellowship covers 12 months working with an NGO in the developing world. To be eligible, you must be expected to receive your degree in 2020 (most likely June of that year; at the time of this writing, exact dates have not been released yet). If you are a graduate, you must have been in full-time public interest work since your graduation, or active in public interest work and human rights while a student.The fellowship gives out $27,000 for the year, and up to $1,500 for international health insurance. If accepted, you may supplement with outside grants and awards, up to $18,000.

Fellowships are only given out if your project is located in a low or middle-income country in the developing world. Your project will be considered if the work connects developed world orgs with developing countries, as long as you plan on spending most of the lime in that developing country. You must have an organization sponsoring you for your project.

Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship (Human Rights Watch)

Established in memory of early Human Rights Watch supporters, the fellowship involves working full-time for one year in HRW’s Washington, D.C. office or the New York office. Responsibilities include monitoring human rights in countries around the world; doing on-site investigations; reporting on human rights conditions; and participating in advocacy and media outreach. Salary is $60,000 for the per, plus employer-paid benefits. All nationalities are encouraged to apply. Deadline for 20/21 is October 11, 2019.

To be considered, you must have either an advanced graduate degree or will have one by June 2020. Relevant fields are law, journalism, area studies, and international relations. You may also be considered if you have an LL.B degree. Research experience, including interview experience, is required, as well as a background in international human rights. Speaking another language is encouraged, while interpersonal skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to multitask are required.

George N. Lindsay Fellowship

This fellowship is one-year and gives recent law school graduates an opportunity to practice civil rights with experts at the Lawyers’ Committee in Washington, D.C. Fellows participate in legal activities, including co-counseled litigation and non-litigation, such as public policy advocacy and public education. Fields include employment discrimination, voting rights, fair housing, and more. Stipend is $57,000 for the year, as well as a $2,000 loan forgiveness.

To be eligible, you must have past experience working with low-income communities of color. Other qualifications include exceptional research and writing skills; ability to work with others; and at most, two years of practice, not counting clerkships. Preference is given to applicants who have been admitted to the bar, or are scheduled to take the exam by summer 2020. If you can show an involvement in scholarship or employment involving racial, gender, economic, and national origin justice, you’re also given preference.

Open Society Foundations Fellowships

The Open Society Fellowship is designed to fund work of individuals who are pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. Open Society Foundations invites proposals corresponding to a specific proposition or issue relevant to ongoing work at the organization. As opportunities open up to specific topics and fellowship opportunities, Open Society Foundations updates the information specific to the fellowship on their site. Open positions are posted under the Grants section.

Global Health Corps Fellowships

Global Health Corps offers a range of paid fellowships with various health organizations in Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, the United States, and Zambia, giving participants the chance to become leaders in the health equity movement. To be eligible, applicants must be 30 years or younger, have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, and be proficient in English. Check the website for application guidelines and deadlines.

Humanity in Action, Humanity in Action Fellowship

This fellowship program is available to students and recent graduates from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, and the United States, as well as students of other nationalities are enrolled or graduated from universities in those countries. This fellowship is designed to bring together a group of international students to explore issues surrounding discrimination, resistance, and minority groups. Application instructions and deadlines for each fellowship cohort year can be found on the website.

amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research), The Alan Rosenfield, M.D., HIV/AIDS Public Policy Internship and Fellowship Program

This program was developed for undergraduate and graduate students working to become leaders in public health and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Through this opportunity, interns and fellows dedicate their time to public policy research and writing on emerging issues in AIDS policy, including biomedical research, domestic and international AIDS funding, harm reduction, equity, and human rights. For the fellowship program, applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree, and a graduate degree in public health or a related field is preferred but not required. All fellowship positions last up to six months and are full-time, paid.

Yale Law School, Kirby Simon Summer Fellowship

Yale’s Schell Center for International Human Rights offers this summer fellowship to fund at least six weeks of human rights work throughout the summer. The program gives students the opportunity to work on a variety of human rights issues with non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and international courts. The fellowship helps pay for living and travel expenses throughout the summer. Any Yale student can apply for this fellowship, but only law students are eligible for living costs to be covered. Instructions on how to apply and deadlines are available through the website.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Human Rights Legal Fellowship

This fellowship is for students and recent graduates who are interested in post-graduate public interest fellowship opportunities and fellowship hosts. Fellows conduct research and report on their findings, prepare legal documents for international tribunals and advocacy, communicate with various clients and partners, attend and report on briefings, monitor countries and issues of concern, and more. Applicants should have experience with and knowledge of regional and international human rights laws and norms as well as working knowledge of the UN system. A JD or LL.M. degree is required, and fluency in Spanish, French, and/or Arabic is preferred. See the website for instructions on how to apply and deadlines.

APWLD Feminist Development Justice Media Fellowship

Offered by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, this fellowship provides six months of funding for journalists who wish to work on media projects in Asia Pacific countries. Four years of work experience are required as well as proven commitment to furthering human rights and women’s equality. Applicants must also be fluent in English and a second language of an Asia Pacific nation.

BRAC Social Innovation Fellowship

The largest NGO in the world, BRAC offers a fellowship program for individuals aged 18 to 35 who are interested in working with the organization. During the one-year fellowship, the selected individual will have the opportunity to address a human right’s problem and have access to mentors and resources from the organization to put their plan into action. The fellow is given a monthly stipend, office space and money for travel to their assigned area.

Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship

This program provides funding for women journalists who specialize in social justice and human rights. Those selected for the program have an opportunity to study at the Center for International Studies at MIT in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. In addition, fellows complete internships at The Boston Globe and The New York Times. Applicants are accepted from around the world. Three years of work experience is required. Fellows will receive a stipend to cover the cost of their transportation, housing and meals.

Fellowships at CHRM2

The Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration (CHRM2) at the University of Jember in East Java, Indonesia, offers a number of fellowships for individuals who are interested in working in human rights. Participants spend at least three months working as a research assistant, field researcher, English teacher, outreach coordinator or in other positions. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or work history related to migration, multiculturalism or human rights.

Franklin Fellows Program

Through this program, individuals who are interested in human rights will have an opportunity to perform public service and gain valuable work experience. To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must have five years of relevant work experience and be U.S. citizens. Fellows will have a chance to work with the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development on a broad range of issues, including environment; counterterrorism; human rights; consular matters; HIV/AIDS and other trans-national diseases; and trade, energy and financial policy.

Global Citizenship Fellows Program

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF offers this highly competitive fellowship program. Fellows spend two years working as grassroots organizers and spokesmen in different locations in the United States. Qualified applicants will have previous work experience or education related to children’s rights and previous volunteer management experience. In addition, applicants must be U.S. citizens or have U.S. work authorization.

Helton Fellowship Program

Through this program, law students who wish to work in human rights or international law can receive a mini grant of $2,000. Applicants can come from any country but must currently be enrolled in law school and have a verifiable interest or project related to human rights for which they wish to use the funds.

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship

Two times each year, a select group of college graduates are given the opportunity to participate in this fellowship program. Fellows live in Washington, D.C., for six to nine months and have the opportunity to work at a participating organization of their own choosing. In addition, fellows have the chance to engage in regular meetings with policy experts to further their professional development.

Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP)

Sponsored by the Open Technology Fund, this fellowship provides funding for individuals who are interested in promoting the free flow of information around the world. Applicants must have a project that relates to this are of interest. The program awards fellowships ranging from three months to one year in duration. Most often, postdoctoral students are selected, but doctoral candidates and other researchers from around the world may also apply.

Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Fellowship Program

Fellows in this program receive full funding to complete a 14-month Master of Law Degree program at the Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. The program is open to women from Africa who hold law degrees and currently work in human rights. All fellows must agree to return to their home countries and continue their work upon graduation.

Logan Nonfiction Fellowship

The Carey Institute in Rensselaerville, New York, United States, offers this fellowship program to nonfiction writers and reporters who are interested in politics, health, environmental science, social issues, human rights or justice. Fellows spend four to 12 weeks at the institute and are given lodging, technological support and meals. Individuals from around the world are invited to apply, but fluency in English is mandatory.

PhD Bridging Program

Through this program, the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration provides two- to four-week fellowships for PhD students who wish to conduct field research in Indonesia for a project related to human rights, law, politics, education, gender, sociology and anthropology. Fellows receive a stipend, housing and an office.

Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for Economic Empowerment, Middle East and North Africa

Employees of NGO, CSOs and associations in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya or Lebanon between the ages of 25 and 40 are invited to apply for this fellowship program. Individuals must be committed to promoting civil society through their work at their respective organizations. The fellowship lasts for one month and gives fellows the opportunity to work with a service organization, advocacy group, grassroots organization, federal agency or congressional office to gain experience that they can use when they return home.

Roddenberry Fellowship

Each year, 20 fellows receive funding in the amount of $50,000 to launch projects that relate to human rights. Specifically, projects must relate to civil rights, climate change and environmental justice, immigration and refugee rights or LGBTQIA and women’s rights. In addition to the funding, fellows receive one-on-one mentoring.

Victory Congressional Fellowship

Every year, one LGBTQ professional is given a chance to work in the office of the co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus in Washington, D.C., United States, to gain work experience in the legislative projects policy making. The fellowship lasts for one year and pays $30,000 plus healthcare reimbursements and airfare. Qualified applicants will be 21 years of age and hold either a master’s or a bachelor’s degree.

Young Professionals Program for Legal Empowerment

This fellowship aims to help recent law school graduates and young lawyers gain work experience to help them drive social change. Lasting for two years, the fellowship includes a paid placement at a human rights organization and opportunities to conduct field research.

The Resilience Fellowship

The fellowship seeks to support journalists, artists, community organizers, activists, scholars, policy makers, and others who are responding to organized criminality in their communities. The theme for 2020 is: “Disappearances related to organized crime” — extrajudicial killings, kidnappings for ransom, arbitrary detentions, human trafficking, organ harvesting, missing migrants and refugees, among other similar issues. Fellows will receive our support via: 1) a stipend for the year (US$15,000) to help their individual work; 2) opportunities to disseminate their ideas and work through various avenues (conferences, forums, summits, literary festivals, publishers, etc) with whom we’ll partner on their behalf; and 3) collaborative opportunities with each other along with mentors from our network of more than 400 experts from the Resilience Fund’s parent NGO, The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.  

The post Human Rights Fellowships appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The United States may be called the “land of the free and home of the brave,” but there are injustices in every facet of society. In recent years, social justice issues related to class, race, gender, sexuality, and more have become more well-known as people seek to educate themselves and others. Books are one of the best resources. Where should you start? Here are 15 books about social justice in the United States:

#1. A People’s History of the United States
#2. An Indigenious Peoples’ History of the United States
#3. A Queer History of the United States for Young People
#4. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
#5. Bad Feminist: Essays
#6. You’re the Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion
#7. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
#8. Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty
#9. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
#10. A Terrible Thing To Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind
#11. Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America
#12. One Fair Wage: Ending Subminimum Pay in America
#13. Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups
#14. Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest
#15. How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community

#1. A People’s History of the United States (1980)

Howard Zinn

Originally published in 1980, this book is now considered a classic. A People’s History looks at American history from Columbus to President Clinton’s first term through the perspective of groups overlooked in classrooms: women, African-Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and others. Zinn rightly shows how many of America’s greatest victories such as the women’s right to vote, fair wages, and the 8-hour workday only came about because of the persistence of these communities. In light of new information and perspectives, A People’s History has been revised frequently throughout the years.

#2. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (2015)

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

A recipient of the American Book Award, this is the first book to explore the history of the United States from the perspective of the continent’s indigenous peoples. Dr. Dunbar-Ortiz, a New York Times best-selling author and lifelong activist, examines how Native Americans have resisted the bloody expansion of the United States for centuries. While most American classrooms gloss over the genocidal policies of the US toward indigenous people, this book educates readers on the history many would like to forget. An Indigenous Peoples’ History is part of Beacon Press’ “ReVisioning American History” series.

#3. A Queer History of the United States For Young People (2019)

Michael Bronski & Richie Chevat

Adapted from the original A Queer History of the United States, this version written for young readers was named one of the Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 by the School Library Journal. It explores how LGBTQ+ people have shaped the United States for 400 years, covering iconic figures such as poet Emily Dickinson, Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin, and others. Readers will experience queer history through stories, letters, drawings, poems, and more. As far-right activists fight to eliminate queer history and books from American schools, this book is more important than ever.

#4. Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (2007)

Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde died in 1992, but her legacy has endured. This landmark collection of the Black lesbian poet and feminist’s essays and speeches covers topics like racism, homophobia, class, sexism, ageism, and more. It was originally published in 1984, but this 2007 edition contains a foreword by Cheryl Clarke, a poet and scholar of Audre Lorde. The words in this book will resonate with anyone interested in social justice. As the introduction by Nancy K. Bereano says of Lorde, “She is at the cutting edge of consciousness.”

#5. Bad Feminist: Essays (2014)

Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay’s collection of essays proves that both seriousness and humor have a place in the social justice movement. Through razor-sharp writing, Gay takes readers on a journey through womanhood, culture, and modern feminism. In a 2014 interview with Time, Gay explained “In each of these essays, I’m very much trying to show how feminism influences my life for better or worse.” Bad Feminist was on multiple best book of the year lists.

#6. You’re the Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion (2020)

Meera Shah

Dr. Meera Shah worked as the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, but for a while, she would simply tell people she was a doctor. In recent years, she became more direct and said, “I’m an abortion provider.” People started sharing their stories, often ending them with the phrase, “You’re the only one I’ve told.” In this book, Shah collects their stories to humanize abortion and push back against the many myths about it. In light of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, these types of stories are vital in the fight for reproductive rights.

#7. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2015)

Bryan Stevenson

As a young lawyer heading up the Equal Justice Initiative in 1988, Bryan Stevenson took on the case of Water McMillian, a man on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. This book chronicles Stevenson’s work to free McMillian, his perspective as a lawyer defending death row inmates, and insights into the deep racism of the criminal justice system. The book won a slew of awards including the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. It was made into a 2019 film starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

#8. Let the Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty (2021)

Maurice Chammah

In 1972, the US Supreme Court ruled that the federal death penalty was unconstitutional. In 1988, Congress reinstated it. For decades, Texas led the nation in its number of executions. However, criminal justice reform and cultural shifts have seen the death penalty decline, even in Texas. In this book, which won the J. Anthony Lukas Award, author Maurice Chammah follows the rise and fall of the death penalty through the stories of those it affected, such as death row prisoners, the families of victims, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and others.

#9. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2010)

Michelle Alexander

How much has the United States changed since the days of slavery and Jim Crow Laws? This book challenges the idea that America became a colorblind society when it elected Barack Obama as president. Civil Rights lawyer and legal scholar Michelle Alexanders posits that the “racial caste” in America has not ended, but merely changed shape. The War on Drugs targeted Black men, harmed communities of color, and weaponized the American criminal justice system into a racial control system. The tenth anniversary edition from 2020 features a new preface by author Michelle Alexander. In the decade since its publication, The New Jim Crow has received many accolades and is considered one of the most important nonfiction books of the 21st century.

#10. A Terrible Thing To Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind (2019)

Harriet Washington

Re-released in 2020 with a new preface in light of COVID-19, this book examines the devastating effects of environmental racism. What is environmental racism? It’s the fact that middle-class Black Americans earning between $50,000-$60,000 live in more polluted areas than white households earning less than $10,000. Lead poisoning, atmospheric pollution, industrial waste, and disease are part of the environmental racism harming communities. Author Harriet Washington also discusses intelligence, arguing that it’s not an inherited trait, but something deeply impacted by toxic waste, pollution, and more. Washington is an acclaimed researcher whose books have won awards like the Pen/Oakland Award and the American Library Association Black Caucus Nonfiction Award.

#11. Dirty Work: Essential Jobs and the Hidden Toll of Inequality in America (2021)

Eyal Press

What is “dirty work?” It’s work performed by drone pilots, undocumented immigrants on “kill floors” at slaughterhouses, and guards at the most brutal prisons in the country. Most Americans are protected from these types of morally troubling, but “essential” jobs. The less privileged people doing the work have to deal with occupational hazards and psychological burdens like stigma, PTSD, and moral injury. This book turns a close eye on these jobs and who society decides must fill them. Dirty Work won the 2022 Hillman Prize for Book Journalism.

#12. One Fair Wage: Ending Subminimum Pay in America (2021)

Saru Jayaraman

Before COVID-19, more than six million worked as tipped workers in the service industry. In some places, they were earning just $2.13 an hour, which is the federal tipped minimum wage that hasn’t changed since 1991. During the pandemic, these workers were among the most vulnerable as cafes, restaurants, and other service industries shut down or laid off workers. Saru Jayaraman, a restaurant activist and a 2014 White House Champion of Change, explores how tipped workers have been left out of the fair minimum wage fight. The book covers the history of subminimum wage and the stories of workers like restaurant servers, nail salon technicians, airport attendants, delivery workers, and others.

#13. Big Hunger: The Unholy Alliance Between Corporate America and Anti-Hunger Groups (2018)

Andrew Fisher

Since the recession in the 1980s and President Reagan’s federal program cuts, food charity has grown significantly. Originally intended as an emergency response to a failing economy, the “emergency” has become permanent and industrialized. Food charities rely heavily on corporate donations, which has led to a lack of accountability for those same corporations as they cut jobs, exploit workers and rural communities, and keep wages low. Big Hunger examines the business of hunger and how anti-hunger efforts need to focus on the root causes of food insecurity, like income inequality. Author Andrew Fisher presents a new vision for fighting hunger, which includes more grassroots organizations, a focus on public health, and economic justice.

#14. Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest (2017)

Zeynep Tufecki

New technologies have played a big role in mobilizing people for protests. In this book, New York Times opinion columnist Zeynep Tufecki explores how modern protests form, how they’re different from their predecessors and why it’s so hard for them to persist and create real change. Through on-the-ground interviews and analysis, Tufecki covers topics like the internet’s power for organizing, platforms and algorithms as tools, how governments have responded, and more. By the book’s end, readers will have a deeper understanding of social media’s role in modern protest and what the future could look like.

#15. How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community (2020)

Mia Birdsong

Social justice movements have become increasingly visible and powerful over the last ten years. How do people sustain these movements and turn them into genuine, thriving communities? Mia Birdsong, an activist and community organizer, presents a visionary idea of what authentic family and community look like beyond the 2-parent, 2-children household. Birdsong covers topics like safe, inclusive spaces, creativity in community, how to raise kids in community, and more.

The post 15 Outstanding Books about Social Justice in the US appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

So you want to be a human rights activist. What does that term even mean? It can mean a lot of things, including working full-time at an organization, volunteering with a local group, or supporting the work of other activists and organizations through regular donations. With the right motivation, knowledge, and practical skills, anyone can be an activist. In this guide, we’ll explore the definition of activism, ten tips on how to become a human rights activist, and a reading list.

What is activism?

Activism is any action that addresses injustice and calls for or facilitates change and progress. In the article “What is Human Rights Activism?”, we described the main types of activism efforts: letter-writing and petitions, protests and marches, and strikes and boycotts. Countless groups like the ones involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s have relied on these strategies to win important victories.

Ten tips on becoming an activist

When you think of activism, you might think of movement figureheads like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, and Greta Thunberg. However, most activists don’t get recognized when they walk down the street. Their work isn’t any less valuable. If you want to join the ranks of countless human rights activists working toward a better world, here are ten of the most important tips:

#1: Commit to small actions

Progress isn’t often achieved through any single, large-scale event that turns the tables on oppression and injustice. Even big changes that seem to happen overnight are usually the result of years of careful and persistent groundwork. When you’re becoming an activist, understand that no effort is too small. You don’t need to wait until you have money, influence, or decades of experience to start donating to causes, signing petitions, joining protests, or volunteering. Your efforts may seem insignificant when you compare yourself to seasoned activists, but everyone has to start somewhere.

#2: Get educated on human rights issues

Research and reading on their own don’t qualify as activism, but knowledge informs activism efforts and prevents unintended harm. If you don’t understand the causes you want to focus on, your efforts are more likely to fall flat or even cause more harm than good. As an example, the last few years have seen large numbers of people rushing to join the fight against human trafficking. However, their understanding of the issue is often warped by conspiracy theories and misinformation, such as the hoax that e-commerce company Wayfair was trafficking kids. A 2021 Washington Post article described the result of this ill-founded activism: trafficking organizations were forced to divert precious resources to combating misinformation instead of working on real trafficking cases. If you want to avoid harmful activism, commit to learning from credible sources and experienced activists.

#3: Join a local group

Activism efforts are most effective when they’re done as part of a group. Groups can share resources, attract more media coverage, and draw more supporters. Look for groups in your area focused on the causes you care about. Think about what specific skills, resources, or connections you can offer to enhance their existing efforts. Big organizations like Amnesty International often have local chapters you can join. If you cannot find an existing organization focused on a human rights issue you care about, consider starting your own group.

#4: Get involved in the political process

The political parties and government in power largely determine the state of human rights. More often than not, voting is the most significant way a person can have any impact on the society they live in. That includes voting for officials and policies, both local and national. If you’re able to, you should vote and encourage others to do the same. Any time there’s an election you can vote in, commit to learning as much as you can and participating. Talk to people you know about voting and why they should care. Volunteer with organizations that provide voting information or volunteer as a poll worker.

#5: If you’re a student, look for classes and degrees in relevant fields

When you’re in school, you’ll have access to classes and resources which may be harder to get following graduation. Take advantage of your time as a student and search for classes that build your knowledge in human rights and activism. Professional human rights activists work in a wide variety of fields, so consider what area you want to work in and choose a degree based on that. As an example, if you want to work in law, you’ll need a relevant bachelor’s degree (criminal justice, prelaw, economics, etc) and a law degree. If you want to work in medicine, nursing degrees, science-based degrees, and post-graduate education are needed. Even if you don’t plan on a career in human rights, seek out classes related to human rights so you’re well-prepared for volunteer activism or a career switch.

Explore now: Online Courses for Human Rights Activists

#6: Get experience

In addition to classes and/or a degree related to human rights, hands-on experience is critical for budding human rights activists. You can enter the field through volunteering and internships; they’re just as important as taking the right classes or reading the right books. Hands-on experience also creates invaluable connections to organizations and other activists, which expands your ability to make a difference and learn from others. If you want to work as a professional activist – or make a significant difference as a volunteer – experience isn’t optional.

#7: Be flexible and willing to go where you’re needed

A human rights activist goes where the issues take them. This might mean traveling to different places for events, conferences, classes, or meetings with organizations and other activists. If you’re a professional activist, flexibility is especially important as your work may lead you to move for work, school, or other opportunities. As you’re becoming an activist, keep an open mind about travel.

#8: Develop a personal mission statement

A personal mission statement (sometimes called a statement of purpose) is a statement encompassing your values, goals, purpose, and skills you bring to the human rights arena. It’s the kind of thing that would go on top of a resume. Human rights organizations or post-grad programs often ask candidates to compose a statement of purpose as part of the application. Even if you are never asked for this statement, it’s a good idea to develop one on your own. It’s a valuable exercise in self-reflection. When activism efforts get tough or you face an identity crisis related to your activism, a mission statement can help ground you.

#9: Stand up to oppression and discrimination when you see it

Wanting to respond to injustice is usually natural to the type of person who becomes an activist. When they see injustices in real time, in their own life, they speak up. However, taking a stand can sometimes be scary. Speaking up might cost you relationships with friends and family. In certain situations, it can even be dangerous. Each situation will likely warrant a different response. Before you’re faced with a decision, spend some time thinking about the different types of situations you may find yourself in, i.e. someone tells a racist joke, someone is being harassed at work, a police officer is acting aggressively toward someone. Brainstorm ways to respond in the moment and what actions you can take after the fact.

#10: Maintain a support network

Human rights activism can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Burnout is very common and can force activists to step back for their own survival. For the sake of activists and the causes they care about, support networks are vital. The networks serve the dual purpose of providing support to individuals and keeping a movement going. When one activist is on the verge of burnout, another activist is there to take their place. Networks are also important during tense situations, like protests. Activists are safest when they’re together and have plans on how to leave dangerous situations. Fighting for human rights can feel daunting, so prepare for opposition, stay organized, and stay connected.

Human rights activism: a reading list

No single reading list could encompass all the valuable books available to human rights activists, but here’s a list of five to get you started:

The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century
by Grace Lee Boggs (with Scott Kurashige)

The late Grace Lee Boggs was an iconic activist who participated in the Civil Rights Movement, women’s rights movement, and worker’s rights movements for seven decades. In this book, Boggs examines the modern political, economical, and environmental landscape and provides insight into how the world can achieve radical change.

Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds
by Adrienne Maree brown

Inspired by science fiction author Octavia Butler’s work on the human relationship to change, Emergent Strategy presents a radical self-help, society-help, and planet-help perspective on shaping the future. The book’s description calls it a “resolutely materialist “spirituality” based equally on science and science fiction, a visionary incantation to transform that which ultimately transforms us.”

Road Map For Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy For Al
Caryolyn Gerin, Elisa Camahort Page, Jamia Wilson

This guide to effective activism and social justice is written for activists of all ages. No matter who you are or what your background is, you’ll learn more about supporting marginalized communities, maintaining your activism for the long term, and understanding action steps for every level of the government. Readers will also learn practical strategies for protecting themselves in risky, closely-surveilled environments, such as in-person protests and online spaces.

See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love
Valarie Kaur

In this book, Sikh activist, filmmaker, and civil rights lawyer Valarie Kaur examines revolutionary love as a vital practice extending to others, our opponents, and ourselves. The book describes Kaur’s life growing up in California, seeing the attacks on Sikhs after 9/11, working as a law student in American prisons and Guantánamo Bay, and becoming an activist. From her own experiences and wisdom from others, Kaur names love as an active, revolutionary force that builds a new world.

All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson

In this book of essays, women on the frontlines of the climate movement in the United States (including scientists, poets, journalists, lawyers, farmers, activists, and others) present a wide variety of ideas and insights into changing the world. It’s edited by two leaders in the climate movement.

The post How To Become a Human Rights Activist appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

When you’re writing a paper on human rights, you want to pick a topic that’s relevant and compelling. It seems like our world is heading in a downwards spiral, but writing about the issues provokes action, which in turn results in change. Here are five topics that have been getting attention (or aren’t getting enough attention) in recent years. These are all important; choosing one just comes down to what speaks to you most powerfully:

Police brutality in the United States

Violence by American police is a major issue in the human rights arena these days and data indicates it’s getting worse. According to Killed By Police, a website that tracks police killings, 2018 has witnessed more deaths than in the last five years over the same period of time. It most likely won’t get better, as the DOJ recently ended a program that helped keep corrupt police departments in check. Black Americans are most vulnerable; in 2012, they made up 31% of police-killing victims, while only comprising 13% of the total US population.

Questions an essay could answer: Why are African-Americans and other minorities at a higher risk of police violence than white people? What has been done to undermine efforts to change the policing system? What could reduce killings by law enforcement?

Global mental health treatment

We hear a lot about how the mental health system in America is broken, but on a global scale, it’s just as much of a problem. Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Not much has been done to treat this issue, though according to a World Bank study, poor mental health has a drastic effect on one’s quality of life. Most governments have very small budgets for mental health treatment. In a WHO study, around 47 countries (out of 191) do not have any kind of national legislation or policies on mental health.

Questions an essay could answer: What is the current state of mental health treatment around the world? What specific treatments exist? What effect does poor mental health have on a nation’s economy, culture, etc? Why hasn’t the United Nations taken more aggressive action?

US policy on refugees

Since President Trump took office and instituted increasingly harsh limits and action on refugees and immigration, the US has entered a dark time. Just nine months after entering office, he capped the refugee admissions number to 45,000. Other programmes have been completely eliminated, such as the Central Americans Minors programme, which let children from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras join their parents who are legally in the US. Those seeking asylum have also been met with significant opposition. The biggest story, of course, is how children are being separated and interned apart from their parents. These are just a few topics that a paper about the US refugee policy could cover.

Questions an essay could answer: How has the current US refugee policy affected other countries’ opinion on America? How is this policy different than America’s stance in the past? What are the potential consequences of letting so few refugees into the country, for them and for the United States?

Transgender rights in Europe

In recent years, transgender rights have been challenged in the political arena with legislation such as the Bathroom Laws and weakened legal protection against work discrimination. What’s happening in Europe? In many countries like Belgium and Switzerland, transgender individuals were until very recently legally required to undergo sterilization and surgery before obtaining new identification papers. What provoked this change?

Questions an essay could answer: What is the history of trans rights in Europe? What countries have made the most positive moves in accepting transgender individuals? What can the United States do to follow progressive European countries into a new era?

Disability rights in America

Though somewhat ignored by the media, disability rights are under attack in America. Various pieces of legislature include deep cuts to Medicaid and removals of protections for disabled workers and students. One of the biggest blows is the Medicaid work requirement, which is currently allowed in three states. In order to receive assistance, people must meet a certain number of hours, but those with disabilities or illnesses won’t be able to. In response, Americans with disabilities are rising up in protest.

Questions an essay could answer: How are disability advocates fighting for their cause? What is the Trump administration’s response to activists? What can be done to protect those with disabilities?

The post 5 Human Rights Topics For Your Human Rights Essay appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Whether you are studying human rights or are building a career in the field, you will inevitably have to be skilled at writing about and for human rights. Human rights-related writing can take a variety of forms – university students embrace more academic articles while advocacy officers might spend more time with writing online campaigns or writing human rights reports. In other situations you might want to write a human rights essay. Essays need to be concise, convincing, well-researched and built on strong arguments. If you can successfully produce a human rights essay, you will be able to make a research article, a call for action, or a campaign out of it.

Learn how to write an essay in a free university course! Click here!
To excel at writing human rights essays, follow these 10 tips:

1. Choose a topic you are passionate about

First and foremost, you need to find a topic you are truly passionate about. Human rights are such a broad field of study and can be linked to nearly any other subject – from history and anthropology to technology and medicine. The best way to ensure that your human rights essay will be readable and convincing is to discuss something you have knowledge of or find it easy to learn about. For example, if you are into criminology, you might want to look into the intersections and relationships between human rights and criminal justice. At the very start of the writing process, you should note down what the broad, general topic you are interested in is.

2. Do research and narrow down your topic

Once you have established the general human rights-related topic you are looking into, you will have to narrow it down in order to write an essay. Choosing to write only about human rights and criminal justice, for instance, will not result in a successful essay because both concepts are so broad. For this reason, you will have to narrow down the scope of your essay. If you are clueless about what you want to discuss more specifically, doing a general Internet search can lead you to some hints. After you have done a preliminary research on the Internet, you should be able to identify a topic that will be the central theme of your essay. By way of example, if you are looking into criminal justice, you might want to discuss the rights of defendants, the rights of victims, or prison conditions.

3. Ask concrete questions you can answer

Now that you have chosen your topic, you will need to start reading a bit more extensively about it unless you already have sufficient knowledge of the literature to start writing immediately. Reading journal articles, reports and book chapters is an essential step to get you thinking because a successful human rights essay should answer concrete questions. In other words, discussing the current literature on the topic is not sufficient to make an excellent essay. What you will need to do is find gaps in these sources, questions that are not fully answered, or under-researched issues and make your own contribution to the field by writing about them in more length. In preparation for writing, note down several questions that you find particularly relevant and important and start building your essay around them.

4. Provide your audience with a brief introduction to the topic

It is entirely up to the author to decide which parts of the essay will be written first. Some writers find it easier to build a central argument and then add an introduction to it, while others like to begin with the paragraphs that lead the reader to the main issue. Whichever order you decide to follow, it is important to skillfully craft an introduction to your topic. Allowing the reader to have a sense of the context in which the issue is placed is essential for them to fully follow your train of thought at a later stage of the essay. Ideally, in the introduction, you should give some historical background to the topic, reference what has been written before in a few sentences, explain some of the major debates on the topic, and guide your reader through the outline of the essay. In any case, your introduction should not be long as you want to leave more space for your arguments.

5. Create sub-headings for the body of your essay

Regardless of the length of your essay, you should divide the body of your essay into paragraphs and/or brief chapters. Each paragraph or chapter should have an overarching theme, something that unites your sentences. It could be a whole argument, a certain issue, or a group of examples aimed at buttressing your argument. If the format of the essay allows you to do so, add sub-headings to each of the chapters based on the issue they are discussing or the point you are trying to make. All of these together will make your essay much more readable and easier to follow for the readers. Furthermore, it will allow you to keep track of your ideas and ensure that you are not spilling the same argument repeatedly in different parts of the essay but that your thoughts are organized and clear.

6. Make the strongest argument your central point

In a human rights essay, you can present several different arguments; nevertheless, it is important to ensure that at least one of them is a truly strong, unique argument that readers have not heard before. If you provide your audience with multiple weak arguments that sound repetitive, there is a risk that the readers will abandon the essay before finishing or will simply not be convinced by the message you want to convene. Consequently, while writing, you need to identify your strongest argument and make it your central point in the essay. Comments, weaker arguments, and examples that will support the argument should all be placed around it. Your main argument should be in a form of a statement that you can paraphrase and repeat a few times towards the end of the essay. Yet, you should also be able to answer questions such as “Why is that?”, “How can you prove it?”, “Is there anyone who disagrees and why are they wrong?” to add to the strength of your argument. At the end of such a writing process, you can also incorporate references to your central argument into the title of your essay so the readers know what to expect from the very beginning.

7. Support your arguments with references

Although human rights essays allow writers to have their own voices heard more than academic articles, they should still aspire to adopt academic style referencing at least to some degree. Needless to say, your essay should be one-of-a-kind; however, that does not mean that your arguments should be entirely invented or have nothing to do what is actually being discussed by other authors. On the contrary, you make your argument more credible if you can provide a link to where you found certain information, particularly when it comes to answering questions such as where, when, or who. Moreover, it is wise to cite other authors who support some of your claims as that proves that your essay is well-researched. You may also decide to refer to articles and books where opposing arguments are presented and then try to refute them in your essay. Essentially, a human rights essay should not be filled with in-text citations and footnotes like an academic paper, but it certainly necessary to provide references to the other people’s work that helped you write it.

8. Write a general, but convincing conclusion

Having written an introduction and several short-chapters with a clear central argument as well as supporting arguments, all you need to do is come up with a brief conclusion. Writers have different styles of writing conclusions – you can phrase it in a form of a short overview of what was written or add the final comment on the topic. What is important is that your conclusion does not introduce any new ideas and arguments you cannot finish due to its length but that it more generally wraps up your entire essay. It would be wise to find a skillful way to reiterate one or more of your main points without sounding too repetitive. Conclusions also provide a perfect space to make a strong finish, show your writing skills and sound confident and convincing.

And a few extra tips:

9. Place your argument within a legal framework

Fulfilling the eight steps listed above is essential to write a human rights essay that is publishable, readable, and can help you get a good mark at school. To ensure that your human rights essay is truly excellent, it is also useful to look into the law. Human rights do not necessarily have to be discussed through a legal sciences lens, but they are inevitably protected and promoted through domestic, regional, and international laws. Therefore, by placing your topic within a legal framework, you truly show that you master several disciplines and that your arguments are based on practice as well as on theory. To do that, find an appropriate framework that fits your context – it could be a combination of domestic and international legal documents, their applications and differences, or only one particular law, depending on what you are writing about. In accordance with your legal knowledge, you might want to discuss the applicable legal frameworks in more detail, or simply use them as a reference to buttress your arguments.

10. Use specific examples

What can truly help your case in a human rights essay is finding a concrete example to demonstrate how theory does or does not work in practice. By doing so, you build a strong support for your argument and you also allow your readers to relate to what you are saying on a more emotional level, helping them visualize a certain human rights issue. For example, if you are making a recommendation on how to improve prison conditions in a particular country to better respect the rights of prisoners, it could be good to find a country or a community where some of the aspects you are suggesting have been implemented in prisons and this has fostered a more human rights-respecting environment. To find such an example, turn into the grassroots, do a research on local initiatives or contact non-governmental organizations working in places you are writing about.

We hope these tips will guide you to create an excellent human rights essay. To see how it all works in practice for some of the most prominent human rights authors, take a look at these inspiring human rights essays.

Learn how to write an essay in a free university course! Click here!

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Can Human Rights Bring Social Justice? 12 Essays

Technically this is a collection of 12 separate essays, but all of them address the same topic: the intersection of human rights and social justice.

Scholars from countries around the world discuss what human rights and social justice actually mean, the potential for human rights to lead to social justice (or not), and what the role of human rights organizations like Amnesty International is in the conversation and practice of human rights law and social justice. Each author offers a unique perspective, some positive and some critical, on the topic and covers a specific aspect of the topic to help create a whole picture.

Women’s Rights are Human Rights

In this publication from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the contributors explore one of the most fundamental and essential human rights: the rights of women. From the perspective of the United Nations, this publication is a comprehensive overview of the issue of human rights, including the international human rights laws and UN practices related to the topic. Additionally, it talks about specific issues relating to women’s rights, such as reproductive health, standard of living, conflict, violence against women, access to justice, and more. Through each of these specific areas, this report gives examples of the human rights framework in action through real-life cases.

Part 1: So Software Has Eaten the World: What Does It Mean for Human Rights, Security and Governance; Part 2: Digital Disruption of Human Rights

This two-part article from Eileen Donahoe, Director of Global Affairs for Human Rights Watch, discusses the intersection of technology and human rights in an increasingly digital age. Donahoe’s experiences serving with UNHCR, Human Rights Watch, International Service for Human Rights, and Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation provide a unique and informed perspective on the challenges that technology brings the progression and implementation of human rights. The first article addresses issues related to governance and globalization, and the second article talks about the disparity in human rights that technology can cause and has caused already. For human rights professionals, her articles provide important insight to consider in the implementation and practice of human rights law.

The Perils of Indifference

Although this essay was originally a speech from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, it is important reminder of where the world has been in terms of human rights violations, as well as where we should strive to be. While the tenants of the speech are ones that most human rights professionals know, they are also tenants that can be easy to forget in the day-to-day work and the seemingly endless fight for justice. Wiesel reminds human rights professionals, along with the rest of the world, why they shouldn’t give in to indifference when the struggle for human rights is long and difficult. Beyond being an inspiring piece, this speech, and Wiesel’s writings in general, have been key pieces to human rights theory and practice, shaping the ideas and ideals we have today.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Another important historical piece in the human and civil rights movements is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In addition to defending the practice of nonviolent protest, the letter also serves as a call to action for people to take direct action against unjust laws rather than to rely or wait on the courts to serve justice. King’s letter is a reminder for all human rights professionals that the road to human rights practice is not easy and is not always black and white. As an essay addressing one of the most fundamental and long-standing human rights issues, racial inequality, this letter is an inspiring and historical reminder for all human rights professionals.

The post Inspiring human rights essays everybody should know appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

M.A. in Human Trafficking, Migration and Organized Crime

St. Mary’s University in Twickenham, London, UK, offers a Master’s program in Human Trafficking, Migration, and Organized Crime. This 12-month program is an interdisciplinary study of human trafficking, migratory flows, forced labor, and organized crime, looking at the issues from social, political, legal, and economic perspectives. Students also complete a dissertation or work-based research report. St. Mary’s also offers opportunities to work through their research center, the Centre for the Study of Modern Slavery.

Prospective students must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent in a related field. Tuition for UK/EU students is £6,000/year. Tuition for international students is £13,650/year. Funding and scholarships are available for students with need- and merit-based eligibility. This program is ideal for students wishing to pursue careers in nonprofit or government organizations working to combat human trafficking, as well as students wishing to pursue further research through a doctoral degree and those working in private, health, and social work sectors on the frontlines with potential victims.

M.A. in International Human Rights

The University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies in Denver, Colorado, USA, offers a Master’s program in International Human Rights with a concentration option in Forced Labor, Human Trafficking and Human Rights. This 2-year, full time program focuses on human rights issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, covering topics of economic development, gender, security, administration, and more. As part of this program, students can apply to work with the University of Denver’s Human Trafficking Center, a research and advocacy organization that partners with organizations and lawmakers to influence policy and gather data.

Applicants of the program must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent. Tuition for all students is $28,752/year. Scholarships and fellowships are available to Master’s students, and the graduate school site provides a list of external scholarships available. Students in this degree program typically pursue careers with non-profits, advocacy organizations, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, law firms, and academic institutions.

M.A. in International Policy and Development

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in Monterey, California, USA, offers a Master’s degree in International Policy and Development with a specialization option in Migration, Trafficking, and Human Security. This 2-year program offers courses and seminars on various issues related to international development and policy, including theoretical coursework and applied research and practicum.

Prospective students must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent and must submit a resume, various essays, a letter of recommendation, and a personal scholarship statement along with other required materials and a video interview. Tuition is $39,590/year for all students. A wide variety of need- and merit-based scholarships and fellowships are available to students. Most graduates of this program work in international organizations, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and nonprofits. The specialization in Migration, Trafficking, and Human Security provides knowledge, research, and skills to prepare students to work with these specific issues in their future careers.

M.A. in International Development Studies / Graduate Certificate in Global Gender Policy

George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs in Washington, DC, USA, offers a Master’s degree in International Development Studies and a graduate certificate in Global Gender Policy, which both offer opportunities for in-depth study in human trafficking and related issues. The Master’s degree is a 2-years program with an interdisciplinary approach to issues relating to international development and policy. The graduate certificate requires 15 credits to complete.

Applicants are required to a have an undergraduate degree or equivalent, as well as GRE scores. Tuition per credit is $1825 for all students, and the Elliot school requires a $900/semester fee. GWU and the Elliot School offer several merit-based fellowships and scholarships for students. The majority of graduates of this program work in nonprofits, with others working in government organizations and private sector companies.

M.A. in International Social Work and Social Development

The University of Bedfordshire in Grantham, UK, offers a Master’s program in International Social Work and Social Development that has a variety of opportunities to learn about human trafficking and related topics. This 12-month program covers a range of international policy and development issues, along with courses on practical skills and research methods. Students must complete a dissertation to complete the degree program.

Applicants must have an undergraduate program or equivalent and a professional social work qualification or comparative academic and/or volunteer work. Tuition for all students is £8,250/year. Several merit-based scholarships are available to UK/EU and international students. Program graduates often pursue careers in social work, nonprofit and humanitarian organizations, and research and advocacy institutions.

More Masters in Human Rights for your consideration.

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Leading for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education

Leading for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education is an online course offered by the University of Michigan. An intermediate-level course, the class focuses on why inclusion is vital in post-secondary institutions and how leadership has and can further help to make these settings more inclusive. The class lasts for 5 weeks and is presented through a series of videos and accompanying reading. Each week, students must complete a graded assignment to show mastery of the concepts taught in the module.

Those who receive passing grades on all assignments will successfully pass the course and can receive a verified certificate of completion for a small fee.

Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace is an online course offered by the University of Pittsburgh. The class can be beneficial for anyone who wants to understand issues related to sex, gender, sexuality, and LGBTQIA rights in the work place, so that they can foster and champion diversity and inclusion in their places of business. Lasting for four weeks, the class is presented as a series of videos and related reading. The professor assigns graded case studies and exercises each week as well. To pass the course, students must receive a passing grade on each of these assignments.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is an online course offered by the ESSEC Business School. The class is geared toward human resource professionals and managers who want to get a better understanding of what diversity is, how it benefits businesses and what can be done to foster it in various types of business settings. A beginner course, the class requires no previous educational experience. Students should plan to spend 2 hours per week over four weeks watching the course videos and completing reading assignments and short graded exercises, quizzes and essays. Individuals who pass every graded assignment will pass the class.

Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work

Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work is an online course offered by the University of Michigan. Intended for individuals who are currently working in the field of social work or who are enrolled in graduate-level justice work programs, the class focuses on how social workers can engage diversity in their practices and champion human rights, social justice, and economic justice throughout their work. The class lasts for 8 weeks and requires 8 to 10 hours of study per week, as it is an advanced-level course. Videos, reading assignments and graded essays and activities are included in the challenging curriculum.

Inclusive Leadership

Inclusive Leadership is an online program offered by Catalyst Workforce specifically for women in leadership roles within companies. The program is a series of three courses: Get Beyond Work-Life Balance, Leading with Effective Communication and Becoming a Successful Leader. By the end of the program, students will be in a better position to motivate subordinates of a wide range of backgrounds. Each class lasts for four weeks and will require 1 to 2 hours of study time per week to watch videos, read assigned essays and articles and complete graded assignments, quizzes and essays. Students who pass all three classes will receive a verified certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Explore more courses related to human rights.

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Humanitarian action is about saving lives and alleviating suffering caused by conflict and natural disasters. We have compiled 15 Master degrees in Humanitarian Action around the world for your consideration, the last four of which are available online.

Master Programme in Humanitarian Action and Conflict (Uppsala University – Uppsala, Sweden)

Uppsala University in Sweden offers a Master of Theology degree in Humanitarian Action and Conflicts. Students spend one year on campus completing the necessary course requirements and conducting independent research that culminates in a master’s dissertation. Required courses for the program include Introduction to Humanitarian Action, Anthropology in Humanitarian Action, International Law in Humanitarian Assistance, Geopolitics, Public Health in Humanitarian Action, Management and Conflict and Peace-Building. To qualify for admission, students must show demonstrated fluency in English and have a bachelor’s degree. A statement of purpose is also required for admission to the program.

Humanitarian Action (Ruhr University Bochum – Bochum, Germany)

Ruhr University of Bochum in Germany offers a Master of Arts degree in Humanitarian Action through a partnership with the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA). This intensive multi-disciplinary program requires 24 months to complete. Students are free to specialize in one of the following fields: Humanitarian action management; Humanitarian international law; International relations in humanitarian action; Public health/medicine in humanitarian action; Anthropology in humanitarian action; or International organizations in humanitarian emergencies. A master’s degree dissertation based on independent research is required for each concentration. To be considered for admission, students must hold a bachelor’s degree in law, medicine, international relations, political science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, management, economics, geography, communications, or a closely related field.

Master of International Humanitarian Action (Fordham University – New York City, NY, USA)

Fordham University in New York City, United States, offers a Master of Arts degree in International Humanitarian Action. The program is designed as a full-time course of study over two years. Students take courses on a wide range of topics, including Current Humanitarian Issues; Vulnerable Populations and Migration; Humanitarian Logistics; and Accountability in Humanitarian Action. Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree, a strong academic history, and three letters of recommendation for admissions consideration.

MSc in Humanitarian Studies with a concentration in Human Rights (Fordham University – New York, NY, USA)

Fordham University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) offers an MSc in Humanitarian Studies. This program is designed for recent undergraduates and young professionals with less than five years of experience in the field of humanitarian work. Students gain an interdisciplinary perspective on relevant issues and take evening classes to complete their degree, allowing time to work in the professional field or take on an internship while completing their degree. Students can choose to concentrate in one of three focus areas, including Human Rights, in which they will take a variety of specialized courses. They also must complete an internship and a thesis to complete their degree.

Tuition rates for this 30-credit program are $1486 per credit. GSAS offers several scholarships and fellowships to students. Students may also apply for external financial aid to pay for the cost of their studies.

Master of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action (University of Geneva – Geneva, Switzerland)

This unique Master’s program is a collaboration between the university and partner organizations The International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. Students receive interdisciplinary, evidence-based education in humanitarian action, gaining both theoretical, practical, and managerial skills. Students will learn to deconstruct the humanitarian system, learn about its frameworks, and reflect on its power dynamics.

The program, which is a modular executive training, consists of 60 ECTS spread across four parts. The first part is a residential term in Geneva while the other three are online. In total, the program takes about 1500 hours to complete. There are two fee options. The first (completing the program in 14 months) costs CHF 15,000. Option II (completing the program in 2-3 academic years) is CHF 17,000. The university offers partial and full scholarships. The university admits 30 students per year for this program. Applicants must have a university qualification (bachelor’s or equivalent), at least three years of relevant professional experience, excellent English skills, and a passion for the humanitarian field.

MA in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action (SciencesPo Paris School of International Affairs – Paris, France)

SciencesPo’s Paris School of International Affairs offers an MA in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action. This program blends philosophy, history, sociology, and anthropology to help students connect the fields of humanitarianism and human rights. The program also aims to take a unique “French” approach to these issues. In addition to classes, students also complete an internship and a thesis and may also have the option to study abroad.

Fees for this 2-year program vary based on place of residence. Students in the EEA area pay on a sliding scale based on annual income. For graduate students outside of the EEA area, annual tuition is €14,500. The school states that one in three students receives a full-fee scholarship to attend. They offer various scholarship and aid programs for French students, EEA students, and non-European students, as well as income-based grants and scholarships.

MPA or MIA with a concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy (Columbia University – New York, NY, USA)

Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs offers a concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy for its Master of Public Administration and Master of International Affairs programs. This concentration creates a more focused course load and experience for students interested in these particular areas of study. Students can choose to focus on either Human Rights or Humanitarian Policy through the curriculum, in addition to taking a few elective courses. Students can take courses from a variety of schools and institutes at Columbia within the subject areas of human rights and humanitarian policy, including the Law School, Mailman School of Public Health, and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights.

The 2-year MPA and MIA programs cost $57,576 in tuition per year. The School of International and Public Affairs offers scholarships and assistantships for students that can help finance their studies. Columbia also has several fellowships and scholarships available for students to apply for.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Programme in International Humanitarian Action (Multiple universities – Multiple locations)

The Network on Humanitarian Action International Association of Universities offers the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Programme in International Humanitarian Action through multiple universities throughout Europe. This program provides a theoretical, analytical, and practical approach to issues of humanitarian action, taught by experts in-house and in the field. The program is offered in English, French, and Spanish. In addition to taking courses at the Uniwersytet Warszawski and the student’s home university of choice, they also have the opportunity to get regional training at one of the partner universities around the world and participate in a research project to complete their degree.

This 2-year program costs a total of €12,000 for the entire duration. This does not include expenses and fees, especially for the regional training semester. Students may be able to seek out financial aid and scholarships through their host university. This program is offered by the following universities: Aix-Marseille Universite (France), University of Malta (Malta), Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (the Netherlands), Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (Germany), Universidad de Deusto (Spain), University College Dublin (Ireland), Uniwersytet Warszawski (Poland), Uppsala Universitet (Sweden).

MA in Humanitarian Assistance (Tufts University – Boston, MA, USA)

Tufts University Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy offers an MA in Humanitarian Assistance. This program prepares professionals in the humanitarian field for future challenges and a changing landscape. In addition to core classes and electives, students must also complete a capstone project and pass a foreign language proficiency test to graduate. Students must also pass an online test in research ethics.

This 1-year program costs $43,144 in tuition. Some scholarships and assistantships may be available. This program is also designed for current professionals to be able to continue to work during the day, so employment is another option for financing the degree. Students may also be able to apply for graduate loans.

MA of Humanitarian and Development Studies (Western Sydney University – Sydney, Australia)

This degree program is the only one of its kind in Australia. It’s designed for students interested in the aid and health sectors with a focus on rehabilitation and development. Students explore topics through a practical and theoretical learning lens. With the skills and knowledge gained through this program, students are equipped to work in complex emergencies.

A few study modes are available. The program can be completed in two years full-time or four years part-time. 1.5 years full-time (three years part-time) or one year full-time (two years part-time) modes are also available. Entry pathways also vary based on a student’s prior learning and/or experience. For example, applicants for entry pathway 1 (80 credit points) must have completed a bachelor honours in a related discipline; a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and two years of relevant work experience; or a graduate certificate/diploma in a related discipline. For a domestic student, the fees for the full-time study load of the program (80 credit points) per annum are AUD 23,240 while international students pay AUD 28,080.

MSc in International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action (University of Bath – Bath, United Kingdom)

Using innovative learning approaches, this 1-year course equips students to address the challenges of conflict and humanitarian crises. Students will gain an interdisciplinary understanding of modern humanitarian action and conflict response, as well as peace-building and development policy and practice. They’ll also gain practical skills in research, analysis, and communication. The taught-stage consists of 60 credits; most units are 12 credits. The dissertation or work-based project (an 8-week project with an organization working in international development) is 30 credits.

Students with degrees in relevant subjects (politics, economics, anthropology, African studies, environmental studies, etc) are encouraged to apply. Students with professional experience in international development are also welcome. Tuition depends on whether you’re a Home, Island or Overseas student. Recently, Home students taking the full-time taught program paid £10,700 while Overseas students paid £23,000.

Online program: MS in Humanitarian Action (University of San Diego – San Diego, CA, USA)

Note: U.S. Department of Education regulations don’t allow students living in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia to enroll in University of San Diego online programs.

Offered completely online, this Master of Science in Humanitarian Action (MS-HA) is designed for working professionals already working in (or hoping to work) in the humanitarian field. Students are trained to assess humanitarian needs; work in complex local, national, and international landscapes; and develop innovative solutions to humanitarian crises. Graduates work in areas like international development, human rights, environmental policy, and peace and security.

All courses are asynchronous and instructor-led, so you have the flexibility to work on assignments on your own schedule. You’ll take two courses during each 14-week semester, focusing on one seven-week course at a time. Six units focus on humanitarian foundations; nine focus on skills and methods; 12 units cover core themes; and three units cover the final capstone humanitarian crisis simulation. To graduate, students must complete 30 credits (10 three-unit courses). The MS program can be completed in 5 semesters over 20 months and costs $710 per credit. Scholarships and grants may be available to students.

Online program: MSc Humanitarian Action (SOAS University of London – London, United Kingdom)

This 2-year MSc in Humanitarian Action explores the history, politics, and practice of humanitarian action. To graduate, students must take 180 credits, including one core module and three elective modules. Students must also take four supporting mini-modules and a 60-credit dissertation. The program is completely online with anytime access to learning materials and course resources. Each module has a dedicated Associate Tutor and a study timetable. The program is divided into two study sessions per year; each subject module takes 16 weeks with research mini-modules (8 weeks) afterward. Following each module, students are assessed with five written online assessments and an essay.

Students can pay in full at the time of enrollment (£12,000) or pay as they learn (£3,000 per module). If a student has lived in England for three years, they may be eligible for postgraduate loans. Most program applicants have worked in development and/or conflict before, but any students (with a first degree) who show a passion for humanitarianism are encouraged to apply.

Online program: MSc International Humanitarian Affairs (University of York – York, United Kingdom)

This program teaches students to understand and respond to humanitarian needs in complex situations like natural hazards, political crises, and violent conflict. Students will explore modern challenges through social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental lenses. With experts from Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan and West Africa, the program harnesses a variety of online learning techniques like interactive discussions, webinars, case study materials, collaborative exercises, and more. The program is divided into three main stages over two years, the third of which is a 15,000-word dissertation based on an original research project.

The program uses a part-time, distance-learning study mode that takes two years. The year one fee is £5,570; fees are subject to change no more than 2% each year. Fees also depend on whether you’re a UK or international student. To apply, you’ll need a 2:1 or equivalent in a relevant subject. The program also considers applicants with work experience in the development and/or the humanitarian field.

Online program: Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding MA (Oxford Brookes University – Oxford, United Kingdom)

Designed with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, this program gives students access to support and resources from the institute and Oxford Brookes University. Students will explore issues in the field and current practices. They’ll also propose their own ideas for tools and develop hard and soft skills with the guidance of academic experts, field experts, and practitioners. The program is a combination of compulsory and optional modules. The final project is a 50-credit practice-based study/dissertation.

Because this program is designed for students working in the field, it’s part-time and takes 30 months. Students can also extend their studies up to 5 years if needed. Each module takes around 200 hours. Fees vary, though for the 2023/24 session, distance learning for the UK costs £5,000. The program is open to all candidates who have an approved honours degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant field and some experience in humanitarian or peace-building. It’s also open for students with at least 10 years of experience in humanitarian action, peace-building, or a related field, as well as those with a relevant recognized diploma/certified professional qualification and 3-5 years of experience.

Interested in other issues? Check out our page on human rights masters!

The post 15 Master Degrees in Humanitarian Action appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Human Rights knowledge does not have to cost much. Many universities and international organizations offer some of their publications for free. You can download the pdf versions of these selected books onto your phone or any other device to support your human rights studies or work. Here are descriptions and links to eight human rights study books you can download for free.

1.      Lifting the Spirit: Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief (Published by Human Rights Resource Center, University of Minnesota)

University of Minnesota has done all human rights students and professionals a great favor by establishing the Human Rights Library, an incredibly large pool of human rights resources. In addition to human rights treaties, United Nations documents, human rights documents from the United States, and many others, this library also contains a small section on Human Rights Education and Training. Here you will find a series of human rights books published by University of Minnesota with the goal of helping the educators in the US and abroad who wish to build a culture of human rights in their communities. There is a foundation volume to be read as the first step, and another eight books organized by topic. One of the latest topic-based book in the series is called Lifting the Spirit: Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief. This book is a valuable resource for teachers, but also anyone who wishes to understand the concept of freedom of religion or belief. It is designed for secondary classrooms, religious institutions, and youth advocacy organizations, and can be adapted to distinct cultural settings. The book guides the reader through 21 different lessons on freedom of religion and belief, which are followed by a series of human rights documents and a human rights glossary that helps understand the very basic concepts.

2.      Communication & Human Rights (Published by International Association for Media and Communication Research, Mexico, 2012)

This book was published after the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) organized a conference on Communication and Human Rights in Mexico City in 2009. The book is a collection of the best papers which were presented at the conference. It is very international in character, and it informs the reader about such a great variety of communication-related topics, including media education and human rights, languages, and censorship. Freedom of expression and right to communicate are of particular interest in this collection of articles. The ways in which information and privacy rights have been eroded become a concern of all after reading this book. In it, you will also find interesting debates about women’s human and communication rights, or the right to identity and communication. It is a useful resource for media and communication students, policy-makers and practitioners, as well as for human rights professionals who wish to explore the relationship between human rights and freedoms and the media. The book is available for a free download in both English and Spanish.

3.      Mainstreaming Politics: Gendering Practices and Feminist Theory (Published by University of Adelaide Press, 2010)

University of Adelaide Press is another publisher that often allows free access to some of its ebooks, several of which concerns human rights. In the spotlight stands this collection of articles edited by Bacchi and Eveline in 2010. This is an advanced book which offers a novel approach to gender equality, the process of social change, and any corresponding policy-making. The book focuses on gender mainstreaming, which is a recent development in gender equality policies all over the world as well as in international organizations such as the World Bank. More precisely, there are a couple of chapters which explain the concept and then further explore different approaches to gender mainstreaming. Furthermore, the idea of diversity mainstreaming is introduced, explained and juxtaposed vis-à-vis gender mainstreaming. The authors treat the process of reducing and eliminating sexism, racism and other inequalities and oppressions as still on-going and long-term, and propose concrete steps forward. For these reasons, this book is a must-read for everyone interested in equality, particularly public policy students and policy-makers.

4.      A Basic Human Right: Meaningful Access to Legal Representation The Human Rights Policy Seminar, University of North Carolina School of Law. (Published by University of North Carolina, 2015)

This book offers a great overview of the legal framework of the right to have access to legal representation. Although it concerns a legal topic, this book is written in a way so that readers of different professional backgrounds can explore what happens or should happen when human rights are defended. At the very beginning, the authors elaborate on the importance of having a meaningful and effective counsel when one’s human rights are endangered. In the US and elsewhere, the access to legal services remains inadequate, and this threatens the basic human rights of us all. Having established that, the authors move on to discuss the international, regional, and domestic US norms which put the right to legal representation to force. Finally, the book is not merely theoretical, but it aspires to teach through examples. For this reason, there is a number of cases from the US such as civil legal claims, immigration cases, and examples from the criminal justice system. With such a diversity of topics and practical explanations, this book can be an excellent resource for law students, young legal professionals, as well as people working or willing to work in the non-governmental organizations.

5.      Transitional Justice Theories (Published by Routledge, 2014)

Transitional justice is a young discipline, which has become increasingly valuable in recent decades in societies emerging from conflict or authoritarian regimes. Transitional Justice Theories is an essential resource for all students and practitioners interested in peace studies, conflict resolution, and post-conflict stability. The editors compiled a number of articles from distinguished scholars and practitioners to create this fundamental piece. The book defines and redefines our understanding of transitional justice, presents novel critiques of the field, and gives guidance about in which direction transitional justice discourse and practice should continue. The chapters tackle the broad topics of reconciliation in divided societies, the power of transitional justice to be transformative, the construction of the past in truth commissions, and a critical theory perspective of the political economy of transitional justice, among others. It is an excellent book to use in human rights and critical theory classes or to explore on your own in order to learn more about the essential work that needs to be done in the field of transitional justice for the betterment of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

6.      Can Human Rights Survive? (Published by Cambridge University Press, 2006)

This human rights book consists of three essays which were originally presented as a part of the 2005 Hamlyn Lectures. The author Conor Gearty, who is a Professor of Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, discusses a particular human rights crisis in each of the essays: the crisis of authority, the crisis of legalism, and the crisis of national security. He then explores whether human rights can truly survive all the present challenges such as terrorism and the degradation of our environment and resources. On a more philosophical note, this book also considers some of the fundamental questions such as the concept of human rights and how we define it. Such a book is a valuable study resource to use in order to understand the other, not so positivist side of the human rights debate. That said, the author’s arguments can help all those interested in human rights, politics and law be more critical of the present-day human rights system.

7.      Understanding Human Rights. Manual on Human Rights Education (Published by European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC), Graz, 2012)

Funded by the Austrian Development Agency, this manual was published with the aim to support and encourage the public to learn about human rights and duties. It is a long and comprehensive piece which aspires to make human rights relevant to each and every person. In this way, human rights can be used as a tool for economic and social progress and people-centered sustainable development. The book includes a brief introduction to the system of human rights where a detailed overview of major developments in human rights law is presented, starting with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This section also includes a great number of human rights quotes which you can use in your writings or speeches. The book also deals with the historical and philosophical elements of human rights in a very simple, easy-to-read language. Furthermore, it contains hundreds of pages where each individual right is discussed in a separate module. Additional resources that come with this book concern human rights education methodology, the chronology of the global struggle for human rights, and a couple of United Nations human rights documents. This book is a fantastic resource for anyone who is getting acquainted with the international human rights framework and contemporary debates such as multinational corporations and human rights or impunity.

We hope you are going to take advantage of these free human rights study books and use them as resources in your work. Stay updated on these publisher’s news for any free human rights resources they may publish in the upcoming months.

The post 7 Human Rights Study Books You Can Download For Free appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Always check the information below on the official websites as the information might change.  

American University Washington College of Law – The Human Rights Essay Award

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, at the American University Washington College of Law, set up the Human Rights Essay Award to encourage the production of scholarly work in international human rights law. For the chance to receive this award, you must submit a legal essay which is no longer than 35 pages. You can view all the specifications for the essay on the application page of the website. Two awards will be granted each year, one for an essay in English and one for an essay in Spanish. With this award, you receive a full scholarship for the programme, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, as well as grants towards travel, housing and other expenses. Furthermore, you have the chance to be published in the American University International Law Review. The deadline for the essay submission is February every year.

Columbia Law School- Human Rights LL.M. Fellowship

For those who are looking to pursue a LL.M. degree at Columbia University, you have the opportunity to apply for a fellowship. This fellowship is for high achieving students who show the potential to use their education in human rights to become leaders in human rights practice or academia. It consists of a full tuition weaver and, in some cases, a living stipend depending on financial circumstances. Candidates need to demonstrate that they have experience in the field of human rights either in academia or practice. The application consists of a short essay of one or two pages demonstrating your experience and interest in human rights. You will also need letters of recommendation which show your experience and to complete an Application for Financial Assistance. The deadline is in December and you can find all the information about applying on the webpage.

York University – Centre for Applied Human Rights scholarships

York University offers a scholarship for the MA in Applied Human Rights programme for EU/UK students who have already received an offer of full-time study. The value of this scholarship is £2,770. There are also a number of scholarships for International students such as the Academic Excellence Scholarship which grants up to £10,000 for the first year of study. You can see all the scholarships available to both international and EU/UK students on the web page.

Lancaster University – Faculty Postgraduate Scholarships

At Lancaster University you can study a International Human Rights Law LLM and apply for an postgraduate scholarship. The scholarship is for outstanding students, national or international, who hold an offer to study at this university in 2021-2022. There are a number of scholarships available as well as a maintenance grant of £15,000.

London School of Economics – Sir Siegmund Warburg Scholarship

This scholarship, supplied by an anonymous donor, offers Palestinian and Israeli students the opportunity to study MSc Human Rights at LSE. Candidates must be residents of Israel, Palestine/occupied territories or Palestinian camps in Syria, Jordan, or Lebanon with a formal offer to study Msc Human Rights at LSE. The value of the scholarship is expected to be £28,000 which covers the tuition fee. In order to apply you must make a formal application for the programme and, on receiving the offer, eligible students will be invited to apply for the scholarship.

London School of Economics

LSE offers generous scholarships each year to its graduate students from the UK, the EU and outside the EU. Approximately 19 per cent of taught master’s offer holders are successful in obtaining some form of financial support from the School. The value of support ranges in value from 10 per cent of the tuition fee to a full fees and maintenance award.

University of Oxford – Oxford -Brunsfield ASEAN Human Rights Graduate Scholarships

Two scholarships will be awarded to students who are applying for the part-time MSt in International Human Rights Law. Candidates must be residents of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam. There is no separate application process as possible candidates just need to apply for the programme by the deadline in January and they will automatically be considered for the scholarship. The scholarship covers course fees and a study support grant which will help towards travel expenses.

University of Oxford – Alastair McBain International Human Rights Law Scholarship

This scholarship will be awarded to one student who is applying to study a MSt in International Human Rights Law and is a resident of one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia. This scholarship also covers course fees and a support grant, which will help towards travel expenses, and there is no separate application process. Candidates simply need to apply for the programme in accordance with the January deadline.

University of Groningen – EU Talent Grant Law

At the University of Groningen, you can study the International Human Rights Law LLM, as well as a number of other law programmes, and be eligible for the EU Talent Grant Law. Candidates must be from the EU and admitted to one of the LLM programmes. The grant amount is 500 euros and approximately 18 grants will be awarded. You will need to complete an application and provide a motivation letter as part of the application process.

Ulster University – LLM Scholarships

Ulster University offers three different scholarships to students who want to study one of their LLM programmes thanks to the Transitional Justice Institute. Particularly qualified candidates have the chance to receive the Anna Eggert bursary for Gender, Conflict and Human Rights if they are applying for the programme entitled Gender, Conflict and Human Rights LLM. The Garfield Weston trust bursary is available to students applying to any of the Human Rights LLM programmes offered at this university. And finally, the Transitional Justice Institute bursary for Human Rights and Transitional Justice is available to students who are applying to study this programme. See the website for more information on how to apply for one of these human rights courses and scholarships.

Abo Akademi University – Scholarship Programme

At this university, you can apply to study the International Law and Human Rights programme. Students from the EU will not have to pay tuition fees to study at Abo Akademi University, but for international students there is a fee. Because of this, international students will have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to cover their tuition fees. You can apply for three different scholarships depending on how much financial support you require. The first covers all tuition fees and living expenses, the second covers just tuition fees and the third covers half of the tuition fees. All scholarships are awarded for 2 years and are granted based on the academic performance of applicants as well as their answers in the application process.

Birkbeck University – Scholarships

At Birkbeck University you can apply to study either an MA or LLM in Human Rights. They also offer a number of scholarships specifically for international students. For example, the international merit scholarship is available to students from Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, Latin America, South-East Asia and Taiwan and awards £2500-£5000. On receiving an offer from Birkbeck, students must email a 500-word essay with details why they should be chosen for the scholarship. Similar scholarships are offered to residents of India, Latin America and commonwealth countries. There is also a Career Experience Scholarship and World Citizen Talent Scholarship for students who can demonstrate practical experience and knowledge in the field of human rights and how they can use this experience to contribute to the classroom. You can view information about all of these scholarships on the webpage.

Lund University – Scholarships

At Lund University you can study a Master’s in International Human Rights and apply for a number of scholarships. The Lund University Global Scholarship Programme recognises top academic students form outside the EU. The Swedish Institute Scholarship also offers scholarships to international students applying to study at any level in Sweden. Furthermore, there are country-specific scholarship and funding options which have been arranged through the university’s agreements with funding bodies in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia, Russia and Chile, as well as the US, Canada and the UK. You can see all the information about these scholarships on the webpage.

Leeds University – School of Law Liberty Scholarship

If you are looking to study the International Human Rights Law LLM at Leeds University, you can apply for this scholarship. The scholarship is offered to both EU/UK nationals and international students who hold an offer to study this programme. To apply, you must have strong academic results from your undergraduate degree and supporting documentation. The deadline will be in July 2019.

University of Gothenburg – Scholarships

The University of Gothenburg offers a Master’s programme in Social Work and Human Rights. Here you can apply for a number of university scholarships including The University of Gothenburg Study Scholarship which covers the full tuition fee for international students. There is also a scholarship for Syrian nationals, the Volvo Group Scholarship for citizens of the Republic of China and Republic of India, and The Richard C. Malmsten Memorial Foundation Scholarship. You can view all the scholarships and application requirements on the website.

University of Edinburgh – Binks Trust Scholarships

At the University of Edinburgh, you can study an LLM in Human Rights. This programme focuses on addressing crucial global challenges spanning the ambit of civil and political, social, economic and cultural rights with a focus on Edinburgh’s varied peace and human rights initiatives.  Funding opportunities are provided by the Global Justice Academy through the generous support of the Binks Trust. A number of awards are offered to new applicants for full-time study starting in September. Each scholarship is worth £8000 and they are offered each year. Visit the website for information on how to apply.

University of Oxford – Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are designed for individuals from low income Commonwealth countries who want to study a UK Master’s degree while living and working in their home country. The scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development which contributes to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled professionals. The award is for postgraduate students who wish to access training not available in their home country, who remain in their home country while they study and who have the potential to enhance development in their home countries with the knowledge that they acquire from studying abroad. The scholarship covers course fees and reading materials for two years of the course and also provides a study grant intended to assist with travel. View the website for information on how to apply.

University of Melbourne – Australia Awards Scholarship

This award is offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to international students. It is intended for people from developing countries, particularly located in the Indo-Pacific region, who want to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities. You can apply for this scholarship if you are planning to study the Master of Human Rights Law programme at the University of Melbourne. The scholarship covers the full tuition fee and return air travel as well as providing a living allowance and other benefits. See the website for more details on what is included in the award and how to apply.

University of Melbourne – Endeavor Scholarship

The Australian Government Department of Education and Training provides the Endeavour Leadership programme which works to increase international research and education engagement between Australia and priority countries in key fields of education, research and innovation. It is offered to individuals from Australia and overseas who want to develop their knowledge and expertise. If you are looking to study the Master of Human Rights Law programme at the University of Melbourne, you can apply or this scholarship. Find all the information on how to apply for the course and scholarship on the website.

University of Birmingham – College of Arts and Law Scholarships

This scholarship is offered every year to students hoping to study an LLM at Birmingham Law School. Scholarships are awarded on academic merit and they cover one year’s tuition fees. Candidates must complete an online application form, supported by two references, and must have already enrolled in their intended programme. Both national and international students are eligible and you can find out more about how to apply on the website.

University of Birmingham – Kalisher Trust LLM Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students wishing to study the LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice programme or the LLM General programme, which gives you the opportunity to decide which areas of law you are most interested in, giving you the option to specialise in human rights law. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition as well as offering £6000 towards maintenance costs. Candidates must meet the requirements specified on the website and submit an application form which includes an 800-word statement on why you should be considered for the scholarship. You must also be a resident of the UK or EU. See the website for more information of requirements and how to apply.

Central European University – CEU Master’s Scholarship

For students interested in either the M.A. in Human Rights or the LL.M. in Human Rights offered by the department of Legal Studies at CEU, there are several scholarships that you can apply for which are available each year. The CEU Master’s scholarship covers the tuition fee, health insurance and includes a monthly stipend of HUF 50,000-HUF 96,000 to assist with living costs. You can also apply for the CEU Master’s Tuition Award which offers the same benefits. Permanent residents of Budapest are not eligible.

Central European University – Butler Scholarship

This award is specifically for Hungarian students pursuing an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies, who are committed to using their degrees to make a lasting impact in Hungary through cultural heritage management and policy. If you are interested in heritage law and the impact of destruction of heritage on human rights, then this programme might be of interest to you. You can find more information about the programme, scholarship and how to apply on the website.

Leiden University – Excellence Scholarship (LExS)

At Leiden University, you can enrol in the European and International Human Rights Law Master’s programme and apply for this scholarship which is given to excellent students from non-EU/EEA/EFTA countries who are joining an LLM Advanced Studies programme or the Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy programme. You can find all the conditions and how to apply on the website.

Leiden University – CEU- Praesidium Libertatis Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by Leiden University to recent graduates of the Central European University (CEU) who wish to follow a Master programme in a field related to governance, sustainable development and social transformation. This includes areas of study from the Faculty of Humanities, Governance and Global Affairs, Law and Social and Behavioural Sciences and includes programmes such as European and International Human Rights Law and Public International Law. The scholarship consists of a tuition fee waver for one academic year and a monthly stipend of 1,164 euros for a 10-month period. See all the benefits and requirements as well as how to apply on the website.

Leiden University – Holland Scholarship

This scholarship is specifically for Bachelor’s students who want to follow an English-taught programme. You will not be eligible if you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland. The programmes which you can enrol in as a Bachelor’s student include International Relations and Organisations and International Studies. The scholarship is in the amount of 5000 euros which you will receive in your first year of study. For more information on how to apply, and the programmes that you can apply for, visit the website.

Geneva Academy – Scholarships

If you are applying to study the LLM in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights or the Master of Advanced Studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law at the Geneva Academy, then you can apply for partial or full scholarships. Full scholarships are only available for citizens of non-Western countries but every year partial scholarships are awarded to EU citizens. The scholarships are based on academic merit. See the website for more information on the application process and other sources of funding.

Human Rights Scholarships provided by Organizations

American Civil Liberties Union of Utah

This scholarship is available to Utah High School Seniors who have taken action to protect civil liberties. This scholarship is offered every year and 2019 will be the 12^th year in a row that this scholarship has been awarded. The scholarship grants 1500 USD to at least two scholars. To apply, you need to complete a short application from and submit a 1000-word essay on your commitment to work on behalf of civil liberties, as well as a school transcript and two recommendations from non-family members. You can view information on how to apply, and what you need to qualify, on the website.

Japanese American Citizens League – Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship

The Japanese American Civil League offers scholarships each year to students who are members of the JACL and memberships are open to everyone. Applicants must be planning to attend a university or higher education institution in the United States. There are a number of scholarships that you can apply for including the Minoru Yasui Memorial Scholarship for students with a strong interest in human rights and civil rights who are planning to study in the fields of sociology, law or education.

Japanese American Citizens League – Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Scholarship

Another scholarship offered by the JACL is the Thomas T. Hayashi Memorial Scholarship which is offered in memory of a civil rights advocate and attorney in international law. If you are planning on studying international law and human rights, this scholarship would be a good option. There are also other law scholarships which you can see on the website.

American- Scandinavian Foundation – Fellowships/Grants to Study in Scandinavia

Most Norwegian institutes have various bilateral agreements with foreign institutions of higher education designed for the mutual exchange of students, research and teachers. There are also national programmes that offer scholarships for international students wishing to study in Norway, so if you are thinking of studying human rights in Norway, there are a number of funding options available which are offered every year. The American- Scandinavian Foundation offers fellowships to individuals who want to pursue research, study or creative arts in Scandinavian countries. This award programme is offered to Americans and Scandinavians who are engaged in study, research or creative arts projects. If you are American, you can find funding for research in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden. You can also enter their translation competition if you are able to translate from Nordic languages into English. Find more information about these scholarships and awards, as well as information on how to apply, on the website.

The EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA and Norway Grants are designed to contribute to reducing economic and social disparities and strengthening bilateral relations with EU countries. Grants are available for NGOs and institutions as well as students. To see what funding is available, search for the relevant county you would like to study in on the website under How to Apply.

Government of Canada International Scholarships Programs

Whether you are a Canadian citizen looking to study internationally or a non-Canadian citizen looking to study in Canada, the Canadian government provides a number of funding opportunities. Canada is committed to participation in international study and research partnerships that build understanding among peoples, develop global citizens and leaders and contribute to the development of nations. For this reason, Global affairs Canada is responsible for the Government of Canada’s participation in major International Scholarship programmes. For non-Canadian citizens, there are opportunities, such as the Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarship programme, which you can apply for if you are from one of the CARICOM countries. View the website to see all the available scholarships and how to apply.

The post Human Rights Scholarships appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

While the media and popular culture may portray refugee camps mainly as places of desperation, human rights workers know that they are complex communities teeming with economic, social, and artistic life. Social-justice oriented theater professionals have found refugee camps to be a vital and vibrant place to practice their craft. Theater workshops are welcome breaks from the monotony of camp life and can be a much-needed opportunity for storytelling, cultural expression, and personal reflection. This work has increased in recent decades, with established refugee theater projects in France, Germany, Greece, Kenya, and Palestine just to name a few.

But like any human rights or social justice work, refugee theater projects must be culturally sensitive and ethically-responsible. Much of the current work owes a debt to the scholarship of Dwight Conquergood, a professor of Performance Studies and theater professional. His influential essay “Health Theatre in a Hmong Refugee Camp” detailed theatrical strategies and cross-cultural best practices that have been used to teach generations of theater and human rights professionals.

The essay is based on his work in 1985 at Refugee Camp Ban Vinai, Thailand. The camp was home to over 45,000 Hmong and other highland refugees who had fled Communist rule in neighboring Laos. Interestingly, Conquergood did not enter the camp as part of a theater program. At the time, the political situation in Thailand was considered unstable and the camps were closed to outside researchers. Conquergood was instead hired by the International Rescue Committee as part of their environmental health education program. He served as an ethnographic consultant and was tasked with developing programs to improve health and hygiene at the camp.

Rather than seeing the refugee camp as a place of lack or absence, Conquergood recognized that performance was already happening all around, including storytelling, folk singing, drumming, incense burning, lamentations for the dead, and shamanic practices. Refugee camps are rich with performance because displaced peoples must work hard to preserve their culture and way of life. Performance is a way to reconstitute their communities and add stability to the uncertainty of their daily lives. Performance is also a flexible medium and stories, songs, and dances can easily be altered to incorporate new material and reflect new surroundings. In short, performance is the perfect way to integrate an old way of life with a new reality.

Conquergood’s goal was to design health programming that was based around native beliefs and values that communicated to the residents in culturally appropriate ways. To do this, he drew on Hmong folklore, proverbs, stories, and songs to produce street performances using large puppets and animal sculptures. This imagery was already familiar to the camp residents and helped communicate his message. For example, a performance designed to increase awareness of rabies vaccines for camp dogs used a performer dressed as a chicken to deliver the informative message. While this might have seemed strange to Western camp workers, it made perfect sense to the residents. In Hmong culture, chickens are associated with powers of divination because they are the first to know when the sun comes up in the morning. Having a chicken character spread the message about rabies vaccines was both entertaining and persuasive.

However, any performance approach in which local knowledge is used by outsiders runs the risk of appropriate that local culture or using it as a tool for domination. Conquergood did not want to use community traditions to simply make residents submit unthinkingly to the demands of the camp administration. Instead he wanted his performances to be methods for developing “critical awareness.” In other words, he wanted to show the refugees new ways of thinking about their surroundings that would, in turn, help them choose to transform their behaviors. When trash became a problem in the camp, Conquergood and his performers built a giant puppet that they called Mother Clean who sang songs about health and sanitation. In their mountain homeland, the Hmong were accustomed to throwing their food waste out into nature where it would quickly become fertilizer or animal feed. But now that they were living in an incredibly dense refugee camp, these traditional practices were no longer sanitary. Rather than denigrating the refugees as dirty, the playful Mother Clean helped them think about their surroundings in a new way so they could independently choose a healthier lifestyle.

For these theater approaches to be effective, Conquergood was committed to what he called a “dialogical exchange,” an orientation of give-and-take in which every participant has something to teach as well as something to learn. Conquergood modeled this practice in his daily life as well as in his theater work. He respected the traditional Hmong healers and used their folk remedies for things like stomach ailments and small lacerations. But when he got more severely ill with Dengue fever, however, he sought treatment in a hospital in Singapore. After he returned to the camp, Conquergood found that the refugees, who were normally skeptical of Western medicine, exhibited great interest in his hospital treatment. Because Conquergood respected their traditions and techniques they were more willing to learn about his.

Toward the end of his essay Conquergood identifies some of the limits of his work in the Camp Ban Vinai. While he had great success with his performances for the refugees, he began to realize that the health professionals and human rights workers needed a similar kind of “consciousness-raising.” The camp workers wanted the Hmong to conform to their Western standards of cleanliness and order but were not interested in understanding the Hmong way of life. As a result, the Hmong were hesitant to seek out help or support from any of the camp aid workers. While human rights training has certainly evolved since Conquergood did his work in the 1980’s, it’s important to remember that it is not only refugees that can benefit from camp theater programs. These performances can build a bridge of understanding not only amongst the refugees themselves but also across cultures. More than entertainment or escape, theater can build community, foster understanding, and bring about real change.

Conquergood, Dwight. “Health Theatre in a Hmong Refugee Camp: Performance, Communication, and Culture.” TDR (1988-) 32, no. 3 (1988): 174-208.

The post Building Culture and Community through Theater in Refugee Camps appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

If you’re applying to a fellowship, internship, or even graduate school you may be asked to write a personal statement as part of your application. These statements are the best way to convey your personal story as well as your passion for the work you do. However, they can be the most challenging element of the application to complete. There are an infinite number of ways to approach these essays and deciding on the best strategy is key to your success. These five steps will help narrow your focus and hone your language to make your personal statement truly stand out.

1. Tell a story

Application committee members may be reading dozens or even hundreds of essays, each written by a thoughtful, intelligent professional with a commitment to changing the world. Eventually, generic language about “making a difference” and “fighting for equality” blends together. An easy way to make your statement memorable is to tell a story. If you’ve already done work in the field, try selecting a memorable event or moment that made you feel like your work was having an impact. If you’re more policy-focused or haven’t had much direct-service experience yet, then think about an incident from your own life that reinforced your commitment to human rights. Don’t be afraid to delve into specifics! Use the names (or pseudonyms) of people and places. Describe the scenery or weather to give a sense of time and place. Use action verbs so that the reader can follow along with what is happening. Construct you story around a central conflict or crisis and take the reader through the beginning, middle, and end. And don’t forget to describe your own thoughts and feelings. This way, your readers will stay engaged with your essay while simultaneously learning about your personal and professional development.

2. Keep the job in mind

Prompts for personal statements can often be frustratingly vague, often asking candidates to do little more than state their interest, expertise or goals. In some ways, this is great! You have free reign to share what’s most important to you. But this freedom may also lead to an essay that doesn’t connect to the opportunity you’re applying for. Writing about your life-changing summer volunteering in a refugee camp might not be the most obvious match for an organization focused on building wells. Describing how much you love on-the-ground work with small organizations may not impress the decision-makers for a United Nations internship. In these cases, you may need to do a little more work to connect your passion and experience to the specific opportunity. In addition to telling a compelling story, be sure to explain how the skills and experience you acquired will translate to the fellowship or job opportunity in question. Use the conclusion of your personal statement to make this connection explicit.

3. Be certain (even if you’re not)

For these kinds of short-term positions, you want to make sure to demonstrate how this opportunity will carry you forward towards a long-term career. Some personal statement prompts will even ask you to talk directly about how the fellowship will be useful in achieving your long-term goals. But what should you do if you’re not sure of your ultimate path? The short answer: make a choice. Selection committees will respond better if you demonstrate a clear, achievable goal and show how this fellowship will prepare you for your future work. There’s no need to explain how you’re deciding between several career paths, or are unsure if you want to go to grad school or keep working. Your personal statement should sketch out a clear vision for your future and demonstrate the ways in which this particular opportunity will be integral to your success. Think about it as an exercise in setting goals rather than an irrevocable decision about your future. There’s nothing stopping you from changing your course once the fellowship has concluded.

4. Show some personality

Your personal statement should reflect who you are as a worker, student, or activist. Not only do selection committees want to know you can handle the workload, they also want to trust that you have the temperament to follow through on your commitments. Make sure to use your personal statement to give a sense of who you are as a distinct and interesting person. If you’re stumped as to how to do this, try an easy exercise: Write down three adjectives that you would use to describe yourself in school or the workplace. Alternatively you can also ask a friend or colleague to do it for you. Then, make sure every paragraph of your essay helps to illustrate at least one of those points. If you have decided you are empathetic, persistent, and a creative problem-solver, focus all your details and anecdotes on those three traits. That way you can efficiently and effectively communicate a focused image of who you are.

5. Be specific and show outcomes

As much as possible, avoid generic language and trite descriptions. Every applicant will be passionate and committed to the cause. Your challenge is to find a way to demonstrate how you are uniquely qualified for the opportunity. The easiest way to do this is to provide a detailed picture of your work and volunteer experiences. Describe the situation in which you worked, how you assessed problems, what actions you took to make improvements, and how you measured your results. It’s not enough to say that you helped implement a restorative justice program. Go in-depth about the steps that you took. How did you get stakeholders on board? What logistics did you tackle? How did you set up a training program? It’s also important to show the specific, tangible effects. How many people participated? What was the drop in violent offenses/arrests? How did participants characterize their participation on surveys? Don’t be afraid to claim the positive outcomes of the work you have done.

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Eric Posner in his book, The Twilight of Human Rights Law, seeks to explain why human rights law has failed. Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago, is skeptical of international law and applies a rationalist- realist approach to the questions of compliance (Antonov, 2016). He sets two objectives to be achieved by the discussion in his book. First, he sought to provide the reader with a general introduction to human rights law. Second, he sought to demonstrate that human rights law has failed to accomplish its intentions and that the treaties on human rights do not increase the respect for the rights they contain.