Tag: Human Rights

Is Sex a Human Right?

Sexual Entitlement among Men with Disabilities Over the past several years a hot topic within the disability community has been the unawareness of the sexual needs and rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).  PWDs are often infantilized, or seen as dependent and socially maladjusted individuals, a perception which essentially strips them of their adult sexuality. …

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Unlock the Forgotten

A few months ago, CNN journalists David McKenzie and David Formanek covered the horrific conditions that mental patients in an asylum in Mathari, Kenya face in their documentary “Locked Up and Forgotten.” At Mathari Hospital, patients are injected by tranquilizers, raped by other patients, and locked inside the hospital. They consider themselves to be inmates …

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Surfing for Equality & Peace

“Surfing soothes me. It’s always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I’m on a wave.”  -Paul Walker Surf’s up, dude!  Surfing is a sport chased after by people around the world who seek adventure or a …

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Driving for Freedom

When I was in my early teen years, I excitedly got behind the wheel of my mother’s car and slowly cruised down my driveway, up the street, and around my neighborhood for the very first time.  I practiced and practiced day in and day out, regularly being praised and encouraged by friends and family alike.  …

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Gift of Life

People indisputably have contrasting views on life and how to use it. Some use life to build a loving family, whereas others use it to travel the world and savor its beauties. Some use it to amass great personal wealth, fame, and material possessions, and others dedicate their lives to serving others. I am not …

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Invisible Warriors

In my last post I discussed the general global issue of child soldier exploitation.  When child militarism is discussed, the spotlight is usually directed at the experiences of boys.  However, out of the estimated 300,000 children exploited in armedgovernmental and rebel forces, about 30% are female.  Due to social, cultural, political, and religious factors in …

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Sanctioning Syria – And Now We Wait

It took Syria a few weeks longer than other Arab nations to catch the fever of the Arab spring. Now that over 800 Syrians have died in protests for freedom and basic rights at the hand of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the international community has decided that it’s time to step in. Yesterday, President Obama …

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Too Young For War

Stopping the Use of Child Soldiers When we think of the lives of children we often do not think of them as training in military camps and fighting in wars.  Yet, there are thousands of child soldiers involved in armed conflicts around the globe—some as young as 8 or 9.  Universally, the use of child …

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Breaking the Culture of Individualism

In my previous post, “Labeled Disabled”, I highlighted the divisions among isolatedinterest groups in American society. Continuing along this vein, I will explore an alternative approach that could potentially break the stigmas attached to disability in our society. American society has always nurtured its “rugged individualism” and its proudly independent character.  We take pride in …

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Serve, Honor, Protect, and Abuse?

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) prohibits all forms of human rights violations, including human trafficking, slavery, torture, and other means of inhumane treatment.  Yet, there is a correlation between the deployment of United States military, peacekeepers, and humanitarian aid workers to post-conflict regions and an increase in the trafficking of women and children.  By trafficking, I …

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