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UMN Human Rights Program
@uofmhumanrights.bsky.social
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Mobilizing knowledge to advance human rights by research, teaching and outreach at UMN #UMNHumanRights
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Today is Give to the Max Day! As a Fraser Fellow, Isabella Minahan (CLA '25) was able to fully devote herself to a hands-on experience that helped her prepare for a future in human rights advocacy.

Support the Fraser Fellowships TODAY! crowdfund.umn.edu/participants...

#UMNGive #UMNproud #GTMD25
Isabella Minahan headshot. Text: “The experiences I had will be very applicable to my future career. The support of the fellowship allowed me to focus on the work I was doing, not be stressed about the financial aspect, and really devote myself. Isabella Minahan, Arvonne Fraser Fellow." Give to the Max Day 2025 logo.
November 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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We are thrilled to welcome Paul O'Brien, executive director of Amnesty International, as the keynote speaker for the Human Rights Day Symposium! Paul O'Brien will deliver his talk titled, "Human Rights Activism in a World of Growing Authoritarian Practices."

Learn more: z.umn.edu/HRDSymposium2025
Headshot of Paul O'Brien. Text: Human Rights Day Symposium, December 9. Keynote Speaker: Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International. Human Rights Activism in a World of Growing Authoritarian Practices. Graphic of people sitting and discussing. Human Rights Program logo, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies logo.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
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As a Don Fraser Fellow interning with The Advocates for Human Rights, Manushri Ivaturi (CLA '25) conducted research on country-specific conditions and their human rights standards.

Support the Fraser Fellowships on Give to the Max Day! crowdfund.umn.edu/participants...

#UMNGive #UMNproud #GTMD25
Manushri Ivaturi headshot. Text: "One of my major responsibilities in my internship was conducting research on country-specific conditions and their human rights standards. The support of the fellowship enabled me to completely focus on the human rights work." Give to the Max Day 2025 logo.
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
uofmhumanrights.bsky.social
As an Arvonne Fraser Fellow, Dante Rocío assisted with the Universal Periodic Review and investigated case studies of how people engage with the UN.

Support the Fraser Fellowships on or before #GTMD25 on Thursday, November 20! Visit crowdfund.umn.edu/participants... to donate.
Dante Rocío headshot. Text: "it was interesting to see how people can actually engage in the UN’s mechanisms. Dante Rocío, Arvonne Fraser Fellow". Give to the max day 2025 logo.
November 13, 2025 at 10:24 PM
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Support the Fraser Fellowships on Give to the Max Day! Interning at The Advocates for Human Rights, Libby Nemitz expanded her understanding of UN systems and human rights courts, and gained valuable legal writing and analytical skills.
crowdfund.umn.edu/participants/hrp

#UMNGive #UMNproud #gtmd25
Headshot of Libby Nemitz with the quote, "I have a better understanding of the human rights advocacy field, United Nations systems, and regional human rights courts. I was able to greatly improve my legal writing and analytical skills." Text following quote: Libby Nemitz, Don Fraser Fellow."
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
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Join Human Rights Educators USA’s Training as Action Series (TAAS) for their next session, "Human Rights Education as a Response to Polarization,” on Monday, November 10, at 6:00 PM CST.

Learn more and register: hreusa.org/projects/tra...
Human Rights Educators USA Training As Action Series logo with the text, "Module #5: Human Rights Education as a Response to Polarization. Monday, November 10, 6:00 PM CST, Virtual." QR code to HRE-USA Training As Action Series website.
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
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Join us for the second annual Human Rights Day Symposium! The symposium includes a student poster session and a keynote address. This year, we welcome Paul O’Brien, executive director of Amnesty International, to deliver the keynote address.

Learn more and RSVP: z.umn.edu/HRDSymposium2025
Text reads, "Human Rights Day Symposium, Tuesday, December 9, Humphrey School of Public Affairs". Graphic of people gathered, talking. University of Minnesota Human Rights Program Logo and Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies logo.
November 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
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Professor Luis Ramos-Garcia has led a project to give voice to the victims of human rights violations through art. Women in Peril serves to archive the experiences of victims of human rights violations. Read more about Professor Ramos-Garcia's work: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...
Artistic background with a photo of Professor Luis Ramos Garcia. Text reads "Women in Peril: Where Suffering and Healing Meet. Professor Luis Ramos-Garcia's project gives voice to the victims of human rights violations through art."
October 29, 2025 at 8:44 PM
uofmhumanrights.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who attended the Scallen Lecture with Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. Ms. Lawlor's inspiring address highlighted the importance of protecting human rights defenders. Watch the keynote: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ba...
Mary Lawlow and Carrie Walling sit in front of the Human Rights Program banner with microphones in hand. Carrie is watching and listening to Mary as she answer a question. Mary Lawlor sits in front of the Human Rights Program banner listening to questions from the audience. Mary Lawlor stands behind the Human Rights Program podium with her hands facing outward. She is giving a speech.
October 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
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Join us for the Scallen Lecture in Human Rights with Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. A reception with refreshments will follow.

📆Oct 20
🕝4:00 PM
📍Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Learn more: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...
Mary Lawlor headshot over a navy blue background with a watermark of the United Nations symbol: A globe surrounded by a laurel wreath. Text reads, "UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor. The Stephen and Chacke Scallen Lecture in Human Rights. Monday, October 20, 4-6pm, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs."
October 2, 2025 at 4:24 PM
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The Solitary Confinement Symposium will bring together legislators, scholars, and community organizers to examine solitary confinement practices and push for reform.

Thursday, September 18
12:15 - 5:30 PM
Walter F. Mondale Hall, Room 40

Learn more and register: law.umn.edu/events/solit...
Solitary Confinement Symposium
September 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
uofmhumanrights.bsky.social
Juvenile Justice Advocates International and HRP invite you to the Minneapolis opening of Reflections of Dignity, an exhibit featuring art from youth in justice systems around the world. The event includes a panel discussion followed by a reception and exhibit opening. cla.umn.edu/human-rights...
A portrait of a youth with a banner over their eyes. Text reads, "Reflections of Dignity: The Role of Art in Incarcerated Youth Expression. 8 October, 4-7 PM, Place: Humphrey Forum (Room 105), Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota."
September 12, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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The Human Rights Initiative (HRI) is seeking bold, impactful research proposals that address today's most pressing human rights challenges.

Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
Duration: 12 months
Deadline: October 3, 2025

Read the Request for Proposals: z.umn.edu/HRIFund
Human Rights Initiative Call for Proposals
September 10, 2025 at 9:06 PM
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Join us for our Human Rights Program Open House! Enjoy some lunch, network with others, and learn more about HRP.

Tuesday, September 16
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Social Sciences Building, Room 710

RSVP: forms.gle/QayCAvQSeYoS...
HRP Open House, Tuesday, September 16, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 710 Social Sciences
September 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
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In the wake of the overturning of Roe V. Wade, with Human Rights Initiative grant support, a UMN team launched Healthcare Under Crisis, a community-oriented oral history project investigating the dynamics of Minnesota’s healthcare landscape.

Read more about the project: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...
The words, "Healthcare Under Crisis" in disjointed letters. Underneath, the caption, "Archiving Stories for Healthcare Justice."
September 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
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Vishal Jamkar, a PhD candidate at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, has undertaken a research project to tackle the issue of landlessness in the Indian Dalit community. His project is supported by grant funding from the Human Rights Initiative. Read more: z.umn.edu/DalitHRI
August 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
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HRP and the IGS cosponsored Juvenile Justice Advocates International's ""Reflections of Dignity"" exhibition at the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children. Read more:
z.umn.edu/Reflectionso...
Visit the online exhibition for the artist's personal accounts: www.jjadvocates.org/reflections-...
Poster style design with dark blue background. Text says, "Reflections of Dignity: Exhibition Displays Art from detained youth around the world." Has the Juvenile Justice Advocates logo and the University of Minnesota's Human Rights Program logo. There is an image in the center showing the different art pieces. Poster style design with dark blue background. Contains two art pieces,. One piece is a color pencil drawing of a man with his back turned and a person imprisoned in his head. The caption says, "I feel depressed and frustrated that I am in this situation. I have hope that I will be a successful productive citizen and to be able to speak to other youth before they will be institutionalized." by K.B. in USA. The other piece is by Eduardo Santos from Brazil and is an ink drawing of two hands breaking free their handcuffs. The text says, "Freedom is all I want most, to have a chance to change." Poster style design with dark blue background. Text says, "Visit the virtual exhibition to view more art pieces and testimonies," and, "Read HRP's article on the Reflections of Dignity project."
August 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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In May, Barbara Frey was interviewed on the creation of the Minnesota Protocol by KFAI. She was a pivotal voice in the initial design for the protocol to reveal the truth behind massacres throughout the world. https://kfai.org/minneculture-how-minnesota-shaped-international-death-investigations/
The text "How Minnesota Shaped International Death Investigations" lies above a magnifying glass, with a sepia-colored image of four people on a beach investigating the field that replaces the lens of the magnifying glass. In the bottom left corner, there is the text "Interview with Barbara Frey."
July 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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Introducing Riley Stern, an undergraduate research assistant with HRP Director Carrie Walling. Riley is a senior majoring in economics and mathematics and will help develop the pilot for a new human rights data research and advocacy lab. Welcome, Riley!
June 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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Today is World Refugee Day. Many people around the globe are displaced from their homes due to dangerous circumstances. Part of the human rights mission is to ensure that all people are safe and given the same rights and respect that are due to any human being, and so we honor today. #humanrights
The background is a gradient going from dark blue to light blue. There is an icon of the Earth in the form of a heart in the center of the image. There is another icon of three individuals being held up by hands in the center of the earth. The text reads, "Today is World Refugee Day." The Human Rights Logo for the University of Minnesota is at the top of the page.
June 20, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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Happy Juneteenth! June 19th is the holiday to celebrate the liberation of African Americans from the racist system of slavery after it was abolished in 1865. As we celebrate Black pride on this day, it is critical to recognize that African American history will always be American history!
The words "to remember and advocate" are above a speech bubble stating "Juneteenth," which is accompanied by a fist reaching for a heart in the African flag colors of red, yellow, and green with two ribbons with the same colors beside the fist. Above the heart is the hashtag "#blacklivesmatter" with the date "June 19th" sprawled near the wrist of the fist.
June 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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HRP is delighted to announce our new Program and Communications Assistant, Zukaina Al-Mohamed! Zukaina is a rising senior in CLA majoring in Global Studies with a minor in Political Science. Welcome, Zukaina!
Zukaina Al-Mohamed headshot with text: "Welcome Zukaina Al-Mohamed."
June 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
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The Human Rights Program wants to welcome our new Communications Assistant, Thanh Nguyen! Majoring in Sociology and minoring in Cult. Stud. & Comp. Lit. in CLA, Thahn hopes to bring his perspective on queer and immigrant justice, as well as his previous Minnesota advocacy work for housing access.
June 3, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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Congratulations to our graduates in the Master of Human Rights, the Human Rights graduate minor, and our undergraduate students who have contributed their passion to human rights on campus! Our students inspire us with their enthusiasm and determination. We can’t wait to see what they will do next!
The words, "Congrats Class of 2025!" appear over a background of a blue sky with graduation caps flying in the air.
May 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
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Thank you to everyone who attended the Parental Incarceration and Children's Human Rights Symposium last week! The event was a part of HRP and Children of Incarcerated Caregivers' residency with the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub in the College of Liberal Arts. Learn more: cicmn.org/hub-residency/
April 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM