Tag: Human Rights

How Can Sustainability Come out of Controversy?

The issue of modern day slavery, particularly as it pertains to the trafficking of individuals for commercial sexual exploitation, has been getting increased attention.  With more and more awareness of the severity of the problem, it has become a hot topic that encompasses much controversy.  Agencies, advocates and policymakers have been exploring the issue of …

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Violence against Women with Disabilities

Although statistics vary widely from disability to disability, women with disabilities (WWDs) in general are more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse for longer periods of time than women without disabilities. One of the biggest obstacles to understanding the prevalence and effects of violence against women with disabilities is the dearth of research …

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‘Daughters of the Sex Workers’ Seek Dignity and Respect

Yesterday I facilitated a webinar on Culture, Conflict and Violence against Women: A Focus Sex Trafficking.  I raised several issues regarding the vast differences experienced by victims of the sex trafficking industry, particularly as it pertains to culture, gender dynamics and power differentials.  I recommended that governmental bodies and non-profit agencies reevaluate motives, revise legislation …

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Sudan’s Chinese Influence

President Hu Jintao’s pledge to continue investing heavily into Sudan raises a few cautionary flags In my post on Sudan’s wildlife, I briefly mentioned how countries that rely on Sudan’s oil reserves will continue to be among the country’s strongest supporters. I cited China as a key example of this, seeing as how 2/3rds of …

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Assessing the Trafficking in Persons 2011 Report

Yesterday was an anxiously awaited day for all of those who are in the fight to end modern day slavery.  Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, formally announced the release of the highly anticipated Trafficking in Persons (TIP) 2011 report.  The annual report consists of victim narratives, governmental responsibilities, progress made, and recommendations for improvement.  Additionally, …

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Debate Over Libya Rages on Capitol Hill

News on our involvement in Libya has taken a backseat recently after all the drama with Congressman Weiner and President Obama’s announcement about the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, but the conflict has been raging on despite the lack of US news media interest.  It’s been raging on here in the states, too; specifically, the …

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Brilliant Partnership or Potential Disaster?

The University of Oregon and the Global Oregon Initiative recently announced an interesting—and controversial—partnership: a partnership with the government of Gabon. This one-of-a-kind cooperative agreement has a noble purpose: to establish joint research centers in Eugene and Libreville in order to study sustainability, economic development, and natural resource management. However, the union is problematic because of …

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LGBT Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has experienced discrimination, threat, and violence around the globe.  Violations of human rights are heavily affecting LGBT individuals in many regions of the world, forcing them to flee persecution and seek refuge in other nations—one being the United States.  The resettlement network in the U.S. has limited …

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A Healthy Dose of Skepticisim

In my last post, I remarked that I believe most people intend to be kind. Yet sometimes, because they often lack the awareness of what it takes to be kind, they fall short of fulfilling this lofty goal. Our lack of awareness of what it takes to be kind is not the only thing that …

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The white man’s burden

Leer la versión en Español Scarcity or inequality? We live in a world with economic inequalities, divided between the “developed” and the “developing” countries, the North and the South. As citizens of the world, we deal with those economic inequalities in different ways. Developed nations and individuals feel the need to carry on with the …

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