Human Rights DayDecember 10, 2010

Bruce Thao

What are human rights?

What do human rights mean to me?

Is it something I need to be concerned about here in Chicago?

What can I do?

Questions to Consider

Hmong

Hmong

• High school – • Amnesty• UNITY

• College – • Elementary tutor• HAWKS• Los Ninos• Workers’ Rights• NH

Building Awareness

RADION TRAILER

HMONG-LAO REFUGEES

Huay Nam Khao camp – Deb Dawb about 5,000 cramped conditions MSF pulled out

Nong Khai Detention Center 152 men, women and children all have UNHCR refugee status 2 cells, couple hours walking time per day international human rights groups media attention/outcry

Site X about 350 people, 70 families

MAIN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Persecution in Laos

Thailand’s denial of access to refugee assessment by UNHCR

Forced deportations- violation of non-refoulement

Laos denial to transparency and monitoring of repatriation process

NOW

Last Christmas all deported back to Laos

Severe violation of international human rights law

No transparency in repatriation or resettlement process

HMONG-THAI VILLAGERS

Emergencies & Disasters• Social stigma

• Relief is always channeled to mainstream Thais first

• Road Access• Some rural areas are not reached

• Hmong seen as second-class citizens• Lack job skills• Domestic violence• Alcoholism, drugs, glue, pills• Poverty• Abandoned elderly• Children at risk

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT & CRISIS RELIEF PROGRAM

Challenges Structures & Solutions Challenges Structures & Solutions

Street children Outreach and Drug Prevention/Intervention

Video

What are the issues we are facing here in Chicago?

Are they human rights issues?

So here we are…

What do human rights mean to me?

Is it something I need to be concerned about here in Chicago?

What can I do?

Questions to Consider

Organizations: • www.amnesty.org• www.hrw.org

International Bodies:• www.ohchr.org• www.un.org

Volunteering:• www.volunteermatch.org• www.heartlandalliance.org

Other:• www.humanrights.uchicago.edu

Additional Resources

Questions / Comments