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The Genocide of Uighur Muslims

By: Jamie Nassur and Benedicta Ameyaw

Pictured above are individuals protesting against the Chinese government’s abuse and mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims, a group of ethnically Turkic Muslims residing in the Xinjiang Province of North-Western China. A little under half of the 26 million residents of Xinjiang Province are Uighur Muslims. According to Human Rights Watch, this ethnoreligious group is ���subject to intense surveillance and [is] made to give DNA and biometric samples.” Millions of Uighur Muslims have been detained in “concentration camps” where they are forced to learn Mandarin Chinese and/or renounce their religion. A UK-based legal team has carried out a legal assessment, commissioned by the Global Legal Action Network, the World Uighur Congress, and the Uighur Human Rights Project, outlining evidence of genocide against Uighur Muslims in China. The article concludes that “there is evidence of state-mandated behavior showing an intent to destroy the largely Muslim minority in north-western China.” Additionally, the article claims that there is significant evidence to hold Chinese President Xi Jinping directly responsible for the genocide of the Uighurs. 

According to Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), genocide refers to “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,” including “killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.” In the case of the Uighurs, measures intended to prevent births have been reported, where pregnant Uighur women or women planning to become pregnant have been forced to undergo sterilizations and abortions. Further, there is evidence of intentional harm being carried out in Uighur detention camps, including, the “administration of electric shocks,” the forcing of detainees “to remain in stress positions for an extended period,” beatings, food deprivation, shackling and blindfolding. Additionally, the report noted that Uighur children have been forcibly transferred out of their community. Given the circumstances outlined, the definition of genocide developed by the United Nations applies to the treatment of Uighur Muslims by the Chinese government. Despite China’s ratification of the legally-binding convention, the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uighur Muslims has undoubtedly violated the articles of the CPPCG. Thus, the government should be held accountable for its actions. 

Although not directly related to our lives, the genocide of Uighur Muslims is a case of modern genocide that continues as we write this blog post. In the context of health and human rights, aside from violating the CPPCG, the genocide of Uighur Muslims’ violates numerous human rights articles enumerating the rights to life, health, protection from racial discrimination and torture as well as women and children’s rights. These rights are established in various UN conventions including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). Aside from the CCPR, China has ratified all of the aforementioned treaties; therefore, the Chinese government is legally bound to uphold these conventions. 

The genocide of Uighur Muslims can be explained in part by the rooted prejudices that groups in power hold against those who are different. Given that the Chinese government and ruling Communist Party are officially atheist, the religious beliefs of Uighur Muslims are not respected nor protected by the Chinese government. The prejudices rooted in the Chinese government against Uighur Muslims have led to acts of discrimination so extreme that various groups, including the UK legal team mentioned earlier, are labeling them as acts of genocide. 

This image can inform individuals of the current acts of genocide being committed against Uighur Muslims. Genocide is often taught as a historical phenomenon that does not occur anymore; yet, this image reveals otherwise. It is clear that nations still have the capacity and means, despite various human rights treaties, to commit such atrocious acts. As for our responsibility in this situation, we should pressure our federal government, alongside other nation-states in the UN, to condemn China for these atrocities and provide reparations to the Uighur community. Additionally, we should work to advocate for more stringent international laws that prevent such inhumane acts from occurring in the future.  

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55973215

CPPCG: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.1_Convention%20on%20the%20Prevention%20and%20Punishment%20of%20the%20Crime%20of%20Genocide.pdf

CPPCG Ratification Status: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/Convention%20on%20Genocide%20Prevention%204586%20R1%20Jan19_ENG.pdf

Human Rights Treaties Ratification Status: https://indicators.ohchr.org/

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Protect unaccompanied migrant children!

By: Jamie Nassur and Benedicta Ameyaw

The image displayed above reveals two migrants holding up a sign in French that translates to “SOS isolated minors unprotected and, on the street, = abuse.” These migrants are demonstrating against the living conditions of unaccompanied migrant children living in France. Although the protest occurred in 2019, France’s refusal to provide adequate protection for unaccompanied migrant children has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In fact, as a result of France’s lack of compliance in protecting these children, the European Court of Human Right (ECtHR) ordered France, in March of 2020, to ensure a Guinean boy’s “access to housing and food until the end of the [COVID-19] lockdown imposed on the population.” Additionally, in Marseille and Paris, two of France’s largest regions, the child protection authorities refused to provide unaccompanied migrant children with housing and care despite authorities’ orders to do so. One such announcement came from France’s Secretary of State for Child Protections who tweeted “every youth who requests shelter will be provided with it, whether deemed a minor or an adult.” Yet, 23 unaccompanied migrant children were rejected by the Hautes-Alpes child protection department and left without shelter while 200 unaccompanied children in Paris were not provided with shelter despite promises to be accommodated in a gymnasium.  As a result, these children have been forced to live in unstable conditions, like squats, during the peak of COVID-19. Squatting is a term used frequently by Europeans to denote people living in an empty building or land area without the owner’s permission.

Shelter has become an increasingly important feature in our lives as shelter-in-place orders have been imposed throughout the United States (US) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate shelter is necessary to not only protect ourselves and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but also to provide us with a conducive environment for online learning. However, we cannot directly compare our lives with those of unaccompanied migrant children, many of whom have been denied access to the most basic means of shelter. Within our situation, we have the privilege of living in safe and warm homes that provide us with all of our essential needs.

The denial of sufficient shelter for France’s unaccompanied migrant children has put the children in great danger of various health risks such as increased exposure to the COVID-19 virus and hypothermia during the harsh winter months. By choosing not to protect the unaccompanied migrant children, France is directly violating their rights prescribed in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In particular, Article 22 of the CRC is violated by France’s refusal to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a child unaccompanied by a parent or guardian may receive proper protection and humanitarian assistance. Further, Article 24, which recognizes a child’s right to enjoy the highest attainable health, is not protected for France’s unaccompanied minor children, who lack access to nutritious foods and clean drinking water, and as mentioned earlier, are at a greater risk of exposure to COVID-19 and hazardous weather. Additionally, Article 27 of the CRC, which states “States Parties recognize the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development,” is directly violated by France through its refusal to provide shelter for its unaccompanied migrant children. Article 27 also vows that “States Parties, under national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programs, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing, and housing.” Given that France has ratified the CRC, the country is in clear violation of the law and, therefore, should be held accountable for its inhumane actions toward these children.

France’s lack of initiative to assist these migrant children may be explained by the large wave of refugees that have flooded European countries, including France, due to civil unrest in various Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African countries. As a result of these mass waves of migration, countries like France have become weary of immigrants who are often framed as “dangerous individuals who leech the government and country’s resources.” The nationalist mentality that inspires these absurd sentiments can prompt discriminatory actions like France’s refusal to provide housing resources for its unaccompanied migrant children. Thus, this image serves as a reminder that even countries that claim to be democratic societies striving for equality and freedom for all fail to protect and support some of the most vulnerable populations, particularly unaccompanied migrant children. Further, this image can educate others on the importance of caring for all children regardless of their background.  A question we should ask ourselves is, “can you imagine your younger self living in the conditions that these unaccompanied migrant children in France are facing?” We hope no one would wish to subjugate themselves to such appalling conditions, where children struggle to have their most basic needs met. It is hard to imagine the immense challenges unaccompanied migrant children face daily.

Nevertheless, we must ask ourselves, “what can we do about it?” A straightforward solution would be to advocate for the US government to pressure France into taking action against the horrendous conditions that its unaccompanied migrant children are facing. However, given that the US has not even ratified the CRC, it would be hypocritical for the US to intervene in this situation. Thus, the primary feasible option is to advocate, via social media and other platforms, for international human rights organizations like the United Nations or the European Court of Human Rights to intervene and push European nations to address this appalling issue.

CRC source:https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx

Image/Article Source:https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/02/european-court-orders-france-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-child

Squatting Source-https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/squat

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Deforestation in the Amazon

By: Benedicta Ameyaw and Jamie Nassur

In this photo, we see the remains of a destroyed portion of the Amazon rainforest. The destruction of the forest, which amounts to an area the size of Israel, resulted from fires sprouted by dry weather conditions that took place over the summer of 2020. Also pictured are three fire brigade members of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources trying to control the hot points of the burned down forest. 

The inevitable phenomenon of climate change resulting from global warming has been a prominent issue throughout our lives. Chaotic and unpredictable weather conditions have exploded across the globe. In this year alone, the U.S. has experienced a multitude of extreme weather events, including severe snowstorms and freezing temperatures that have directly affected us in Philadelphia. Currently, Texans are facing an unprecedented crisis due to freezing temperatures that have pushed the limits of the state’s water and electrical infrastructures, which are not designed for such cold temperatures. Additionally, the United States, like many other countries, has faced extreme heat waves as well as more frequent hurricanes and tornadoes during the past few summer seasons. 

In the context of health and human rights, the issue of deforestation is particularly impactful on the health and well-being of individuals around the world. The dry conditions that resulted in the typically tropical forest of the Amazon are a direct result of the man-driven activities to cut or burn down trees, also known as deforestation. Deforestation results in the loss of habitat and biodiversity increase in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, soil erosion and flooding, and the destruction of homelands. These conditions work synergistically to produce climate change. The disruption of the natural ecosystem and extreme weather events that result from climate change can lead to areas becoming uninhabitable, forcing individuals to migrate to new places as refugees. Even more, Article 5 of the Paris Agreement, a legally binding treaty on climate change, states: “Parties should take action to conserve and enhance, as appropriate, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases as referred to in Article 4, paragraph 1 (d), of the Convention, including forests.” The harmful effects of climate change, particularly the creation of inhabitable lands and climate refugees, violates both Articles 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). In fact, Articles 11 and 12 of the ICESCR guarantees the rights to “adequate food, clothing, and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions” and “the enjoyment of the highest standard of physical and mental health,” respectively. Brazil, where the photo depicted was taken and where the majority of the Amazon rainforest resides, has ratified, and is therefore legally bound to, the Paris Climate Agreement and the ICESCR.

How does deforestation occur, one may inquire? First, one must understand that a majority of deforestation occurs as a result of human-driven activities (briefly mentioned above). In fact, approximately 80% of deforestation results from these activities, including extensive cattle ranching, logging for charcoal and paper materials, and the expansion of infrastructures through urbanization.  On the other hand, 20% of deforestation occurs due to natural disasters such as unpredictable dry conditions resulting from climate change. In particular, the incident of deforestation displayed above resulted from fires incited by the dry conditions in the Amazon rainforest.

This image can educate others in a variety of ways. For one, this image reflects the damage that human beings have perpetually inflicted on the environment. As a result of this damage, particularly the destruction of trees, we have disrupted the natural ecosystem at local, regional, and global levels. This disruption harms the natural world's balance, including the equilibrium established between the food web concept of prey and predators in wildlife. Moreover, deforestation results in the endangerment and potential extinction of various species of plants and animals. Also, it seems that humankind has forgotten the importance of trees within our environment. Trees are essential in reducing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere and supplying us with the oxygen we breathe. Additionally, this image demonstrates the reality that damages of deforestation contribute to climate change as is irreversible. Therefore, the image serves as a reminder of the loss that we cannot recover.

Nevertheless, although climate change is not entirely reversible, we can use our voices to advocate for policies and practices that work to mitigate future catastrophes. Regarding deforestation practices in the Amazon, we can work with international environmentalists to raise awareness about South American countries' issues and pressure governments where the Amazon spans to enact stringent restrictions that protect the rainforest and its wildlife from human activities. Humans are the one species on our planet that have continuously taken essential resources from the Earth without any intention of protecting the environment. Given that there is only one habitable planet, we should aim our efforts at ensuring that we don’t make it uninhabitable. 

 Photo source: https://www.reuters.com/article/environment-amazon-idINKBN29W24L

Paris Climate Agreement: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

ICESCR: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx

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By: Jamie Nassur and Benedicta Ameyaw

Displayed in the picture above is a Native American child holding up a sign that says “my land my future” alongside other Native American protestors. After the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts released news, on March 27th, 2020, that the federal government planned to disestablish their reservation, members of the tribe gathered together the following day to express their disapproval of this move despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly and indefinitely impacted us all--some more than others. For instance, many students have been forced to adapt to online learning platforms such as Zoom, isolating them from their peers. These circumstances have led to an unprecedented mental health crisis among students, directly affecting their overall health and well-being. On top of this, many people have lost loved ones due to this devastating pandemic. Moreover, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been particularly catastrophic for the indigenous population in the U.S. who were already a severely disadvantaged group before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Native Americans experienced several disparities including high poverty levels, high unemployment rates, a lack of clean drinking water and electricity, and stark health disparities. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe not only faces the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disparities mentioned but also a threat to their right to their own native land. 

Various human rights violations on part of the U.S. government against the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe directly impact their health. For one, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on Native American populations in the U.S. violates Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) which states: “the states parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” The article mentions specific steps that should be taken to achieve this including “the prevention, treatment, and control of epidemic, occupational and other diseases” and “the improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene.” Both of these steps are not being taken to protect the physical and mental health of Native Americans. By signing the CESCR, the U.S has expressed its recognition of the rights outlined in the document. However, since the U.S. has not ratified the CESCR, the government cannot be held legally accountable for ensuring these rights. Moreover, the federal government has taken advantage of the vulnerability of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe during the COVID-19 pandemic to disenfranchise them of their land. This is a clear violation of Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), which acknowledges that all people have the right to self-determination. Unlike the CESCR, the CCPR has been signed and ratified by the U.S. As a result, the U.S. is legally required to protect the rights enshrined in this document for all people living under its jurisdiction, including Native Americans. 

The disenfranchisement of and wide disparities faced by Native Americans are not new phenomena. The colonialist agenda of the original European immigrants to the U.S. set the stage for the historical oppression of the indigenous population. During the era of colonialism, many Native Americans lost their lands and resources due to war, diseases, and famine resulting from the Anglo-Saxons’ greed. The European-Americans’ systemic oppression continues to this date as Native Americans are still subjugated from their lands. The federal government’s push to disestablish the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reveals the continuation of this agenda to diminish the power of Native Americans in the U.S. 

The image above can educate others by bringing awareness to the oppression faced by Native Americans in the U.S. Despite the United States’ appearance of caring for these indigenous people, this image is revealing of the true agenda of the U.S. and the extent to which it will take advantage of a population in a particularly vulnerable moment. 

With this knowledge, we must ask ourselves, “what can we do about it?” Given the historically entrenched nature of this issue, the decades, and even centuries, of harm inflicted upon the indigenous population in the U.S. leaves us with a long way to go to rectify the damage. However, one crucial step in solving this issue is advocating for change! We need to advocate for an education system in the U.S. that truly teaches the extent of our nation’s oppression of Native Americans. By pushing the education system to provide a more honest portrayal of history, we can raise generations that are more aware of the wrongdoings that led to the disenfranchisement of Native Americans’ rights and land and thus have a greater opportunity to repair the damage that has been done. Additionally, we should pressure our government officials to take the harm committed against our indigenous populations seriously. With their land and resources continuously stripped from them, we must ask government officials: “Why do we continue to take away and not give back the resources that they and their ancestors have continuously deprived the Native Americans of?”

CESCR: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cescr.aspx

CCPR: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx

Photo & Information Source: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/native-americans-fight-multiple-covid-19-crises

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The Kurds’ Fight for Self-Determination

By: Benedicta Ameyaw and Jamie Nassur

In this photo, we see Kurds expressing support at a rally for the Kurdish referendum vote which took place on September 25th, 2017. The Kurds are an ethnic group composed of approximately 25 to 35 million people that span across the Middle East, including Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The pictured rally, which took place on September 17th, 2017, was held in the city of Zakho in Northern Iraq, where the Kurds hold a semi-autonomous region under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). After tensions between the KRG and Iraqi government grew in 2014, the Kurds strived for complete autonomy from Iraq. On the day of the referendum, 93% of the voter turnout voted in support of independence. Despite this, the Iraqi government rejected the referendum. Interestingly, the United Nations (UN) actually opposed the referendum, believing the vote would have a destabilizing effect in the region. 

In regards to our lives, although we are able to identify as Americans and are  presumably granted the right to self-determination, the history of the United States is not necessarily one of a group of people gaining a right to self-determination as it is a group of people occupying and cleansing a land of its indigenous population. In some effect, the same scenario can be seen in the case of the Kurds, where the imposition of Western-drawn borders in the Middle East (described in detail later) has effectively forced Kurdish and Arab identities to merge under an illegitimate establishment, erasing the autonomy of these identities. 

The issue surrounding the Kurds efforts towards self-determination also contributes to the conversation of health and humans right. Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) protects the right of peoples to self-determination. In particular, the Article mentions “the States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the administration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.” Given that the Iraqi government ratified the CCPR in 1971 but denied the results of the 2017 referendum, the question of the legality of the Iraqi government’s denial of the Kurds’ right to self-determination can be made. As mentioned above, the UN was also opposed to holding the referendum vote despite the fact that the CCPR was written and adopted by the UN. This matter, too, raises the question of the limitations of the rights espoused both in the CCPR and in other legally-binding documents adopted by the UN. Are there circumstances in which these rights can’t be applied? In regards to self-determination, what are the characteristics of a group of people that qualify them to the right of self-determination and do the Kurds qualify? 

The Kurds desire for self-determination arises from a unified need to practice their own culture and live their true identities without fear of discrimination or violence. The historical persecution of the Kurds has led to the creation of a strong collective identity which has in turn sparked a movement of Kurdish nationalism. Further, the rise of nationalism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries led to the imposition of national borders in the Middle East by foreign European occupiers that ultimately divided the region into illegitimate countries with imposed identities. The resulting instability among these enforced collective identities has led to this dispersion of the Kurds across Middle Eastern countries, greatly increasing the difficulty of attaining a Kurdish nation-state. 

This image could educate others simply by raising awareness for modern issues of self-determination that still exist around the world. Given the amount of countries that presently exist, some people may not realize that there are several groups of people who are discriminated against and denied their right to self-determination. As student advocates, we should continue to support the Kurds in their efforts towards self-determination. However, given the complexity of the history surrounding the region, this issue is not something that can be easily solved. As a result, we should educate ourselves as well as push others to become educated on the historical roots of the issue and the development of the modern Middle Eastern nations. In this way, we can recognize that although self-determination is crucial to one’s identity and is posed as the overarching issue in this blog, it is necessary to look beyond the right to self-determination of the Kurds and understand the forces that have shaped the Middle East. 

Information Source: https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2017/12/23/iraqs-kurds-questions-on-self-determination/

CCPR: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx

Photo Source: https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/140920175

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Does equality exist amongst us?

By Benedicta Ameyaw and Jamie Nassur

The picture displayed above reveals a woman holding a cardboard sign with the handwritten word “equal?”. Despite the photo’s simplicity, it reflects on an important question that is still highly relevant to women around the world: do women have the same rights as men?

According to Sri Mulyani Indrawati, author of the article “Discriminating against women keeps countries poorer,” 100 countries across the globe prohibit women from engaging in certain work solely based on being a woman. Even more, over 150 countries have at least one law that discriminates against women while only 18 countries are free of any laws that disadvantage women. Almost 60 countries do not have any laws against sexual harassment at work and almost 50 countries lack any laws protecting against domestic violence. Not only do these discriminatory practices call into question the rights of women, but they also, alongside a lack of gender equality, harm countries economically. Sri Mulyani cites previous research that revealed gender gaps in labor forces produced estimated income losses of 27% in the Middle East and North Africa, 19% in South Asia, 14% in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 10% in Europe. It is clear from these facts alone that no one benefits from the discrimination of women. 

Given that we are both women and have or may face discrimination simply based on our biological sex, this picture is very relevant to our lives. It is interesting to reflect on the fact that women make up more than half of the world’s population but still face oppression by what we could technically refer to as the “minority” --men. Oppression of any kind based on gender and sex violates not only the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) but also the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is an international treaty drafted and adopted by the United Nations in 1979 that details the rights of women. The image above coupled with the commentary discussing countries with laws discriminating against and a lack of laws to protect women is in violation of Article 1 of CEDAW which defines discrimination against women as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made based on sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.” Additionally, CEDAW Articles 10 and 11, which prohibit discrimination against women in education and employment institutions are violated. These violations not only inhibit women's potential but, as mentioned above, also contribute to poor economic conditions in countries that lawfully discriminate against women. Given the detailed research outlining connections between an individual’s education level and socioeconomic status to his/her/their health outcomes, it is clear that the violations of these rights directly infringe on a woman’s right to health as protected in Articles 1 and 13 of CEDAW and the UDHR.

According to Indrawati, “when women are allowed to work in a profession of their choice, when they have access to financial services and when they are protected, by law, from domestic violence, they are not only economically empowered, but they also live longer.” This statement provides sensible expectations and solutions to empowering women. Given this, why is there still so much difficulty in eliminating discrimination against women? From a historical perspective, discrimination against women has been widespread among various cultures, including Western, Eastern, Latin, and African cultures, for centuries. The rather ingrained nature of discrimination against women coupled with the continued persistence of patriarchal cultural norms, including in many religious doctrines, has made it exceedingly difficult to eliminate discrimination against women. Although major shifts in these values have taken place in countries, particularly in Western societies, discrimination against women still occurs worldwide as many countries still adhere to patriarchal norms. Moreover, there is a lack of representation of women holding high-level government positions including in Western countries. With the recent election of Kamala Harris to the vice presidency in the United States, we hope that a shift in this discrepancy will begin to take place.

This photo can educate others by serving as a reminder that although women have come a long way in fighting and advocating for women’s rights, there are still areas in the world where women lack many of the basic rights that those in the United States and other Western countries may take for granted. Further, this photo reveals the importance of global solidarity in working to end discrimination against women; despite the achievements made in the United States, we cannot claim the fight for women’s rights to be over until all women across the globe are given the same rights. Therefore, we should keep fighting, raising our voices, and uplifting the stories of women in other countries who face pervasive forms of discrimination. We should also pay a particular focus on women, both in the United States and in other countries, who are not only discriminated against based on gender but also face multiple layers of oppression due to their race, sexual orientation, etc. U.S. branches of the International Women’s Strike, an organization that takes a global and intersectional approach to women’s solidarity, are great ways for us to get involved in activism that embodies the united nature of women’s solidarity. Moreover, as U.S. citizens, we must continue to push for women in elected office and vote for candidates at the local, state, and federal levels who champion women’s rights. Together, we can push for a future that provides all women with the dignity, respect, and equality they rightly deserve. 

Photo & Information Source: https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/discriminating-against-women-keeps-countries-poorer

CEDAW text: https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/

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Looks can be deceiving!

In this photo, we see two well-dressed students engaged in their studies. Although this photo elicits a sentiment of equal education opportunities for students, it disguises the reality of disparities in education quality and access in the United States which primarily harm Black communities. 

The U.S. news report by Lindsey Cook addresses a number of key disparities in education faced by Black students in the U.S. For one, the educational expectations of Black children are lower than that of White students as a result of a discrepancy in the education levels of Black and White parents. In line with this, studies have shown that Black students entering kindergarten for the first time score lower on tests assessing math, reading, and science skills than their White counterparts. Additionally, more Black students are held back despite studies that reveal repeating grades does not benefit students in social or academic realms and actually increases the likelihood that students will drop out of school in the future. Moreover, regarding school punishments, Black students are suspended and expelled from schools at 3 times the rate of White students. Educational disparities are more prevalent among Black children due to discrepancies in family and neighborhood environments. This signifies that Black children are more likely to live in households and neighborhoods that are low-income, food insecure, and dependent on long-term welfare than their White counterparts. 

On a personal level, given that access to quality education has been key to our current roles as a Pharmacy student and a Public Health student, the issue of unequal education is readily relevant to our lives. Both of our educational journeys have also revealed discrepancies in educational opportunities; for example, one of us attended private schools for the majority of our elementary and secondary educations where the student body was composed of almost entirely White students. 

Additionally, the issue of unequal education is deeply intertwined with health and human rights. Article 10 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) delineates, among other things, the right of families to protection and assistance in order to provide sufficient care and education for their children. This right is clearly violated for Black families in the U.S. as they live in predominantly unsafe and low-income neighborhoods, limiting their ability to provide both proper care and education for their children. Further, Article 13 of the ICESCR expresses the right of all people to an education, including that “fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education.” Considering the large disparities in educational expectations, suspension and expulsion rates, dropout rates, and family/neighborhood conditions for Black students in comparison to their White counterparts, it is clear that there is a lack of support for ensuring the completion of Black students’ fundamental education in the U.S. The cyclical nature of disparities in education, health, and income is also telling of the compounded influence disparities in one sector have on another. Therefore, the right to education directly limits one’s right to achieve a good state of health and a stable income, both of which are protected in the ICESCR and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

Disparities in education for Black and minority communities in the U.S. result from a variety of factors. At its core, the issue is a product of systemic racism imbedded in the institutions of the U.S. Systemic racism has resulted in the continuous segregation of Black and minority communities and maintained large disparities in socioeconomic status and health outcomes. The lack of investment and support for Black communities directly results in these disparities, including those seen in education quality and access.

This image is a stark reminder that photos are not always accurate representations of reality. Although this image seems to portray the enjoyment of education among students of different backgrounds, it subtly hides the reality of minority communities, particularly Black communities, who face a wide range of educational disparities. Moreover, aside from educating ourselves about unequal educational access and opportunities in the U.S., we should engage in advocacy efforts pressuring local governments to allocate more funding for under-resourced schools. Rather than funding projects that ultimately gentrify neighborhoods and consequently exclude low-income and minority communities, we should urge our local governments to invest in developing better educational systems and safer neighborhoods that would benefit those residents who need it most. 

Photo Source: https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/01/28/us-education-still-separate-and-unequal

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By: Jamie Nassur and Benedicta Ameyaw

Separation of families is cruel!

In this picture, we see children holding signs in opposition to the separation of immigrant families outside of City Hall in Los Angeles, California. This photo depicts a protest against the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance” policy, which requires all adults entering the U.S. illegally at the southern border to be prosecuted and subsequently leads to the separation of children from their families. Although the "zero tolerance policy” is meant to limit illegal immigration into the United States, it is undoubtedly inhumane. Is there not an alternative under the policy that would not promote the detachment of family members?

Moreover, the situation addressed in the photograph above directly interferes with Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which, among other acts, prohibits a government’s arbitrary interference with family. Additionally, this issue goes against Article 3 of the UDHR, which states that "everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the security of person," as many immigrant families are imprisoned unlawfully. The unlawful detainment of immigrant families also breaches Article 5 of the UDHR as these families are subject to "torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment." Aside from denying rights prescribed in the UDHR, this cruel treatment of immigrant families hinders these families’ ability to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health, which is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being." From a psychological perspective, we can only imagine the extreme trauma children experience as a result of being separated from their families. This trauma undoubtedly has a significant impact on children’s mental health and wellbeing and will ultimately affect them for the rest of their lives. 

In general, issues stemming around immigration occur, in-part, as a result of systemic prejudices and racism rooted in the institutions of the United States. The systemic nature of these issues are then reflected in the beliefs of political parties and policies of the U.S government, resulting in direct acts of discrimination against and the cruel treatment of vulnerable immigrant groups. The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the surveillance of Muslim communities after 9/11 are just a few examples of the many discriminatory acts that have been perpetuated against immigrant groups in the U.S. 

This photo can educate us on the very real need for immigration reform in the United States. Given the trauma and inhumane treatment families immigrating to the U.S. at the southern border face, especially considering the less than optimal circumstances from which they are trying to escape, it is imperative that we listen to the calls to end the separation of children from their families. We should use this photo as a spark to educate ourselves on the history of and current immigration policy in the U.S. as well as on stories and experiences of the families who have left their native countries in hopes of reaching a better life. 

A rather unique aspect of this photo is the depiction of children protesting. Given the innocence and understandable ignorance of young children, it is rare to see children protesting particularly abhorrent issues. However, this photo reveals that children are not immune to the wrongs of the world and have the capability to process these issues. The children in this photo also remind us that we have the power to act against such cruel policies. We must actively get involved in advocating for just immigration reform using our knowledge and our voices. As young adults and American citizens, we all have the ability and right to voice our concerns not only through protests and community organizing, but by directly contacting our representatives at the local, state, and federal levels. We have every right and means to pressure our government to listen to us, to give this issue the attention it deserves, and to commit to crafting comprehensive immigration policies that treat every immigrant with dignity and respect. 

Photo Source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/15/top-us-officials-knew-harm-caused-separating-families

Additional Sources: UDHR.pdf

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Here, we see a young child and an elderly person placing their hands on a glass barrier in an attempt to touch hands. The young child is barred from touching the hand of the elderly person, likely a family member, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This photo represents a very stark reality for Americans and people across the world as we are forced to isolate from our loved ones in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. In a more abstract sense, this photo depicts a clash between public health safety measures and our own rights as humans. Our rights to freedom of movement, protection from unemployment, adequate food, housing, and medical care among others--as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)--have been continuously challenged throughout the pandemic. In particular, this photo elicits the clash between our right to freedom of movement and public health protocols asking Americans to social distance and isolate at home. Consequently, numerous Americans continue to experience a loss of freedom of movement as we are expected to shift to living virtually through online learning, working from home, and hosting social and familial gatherings on our computers. Aside from the limitations brought about by the pandemic, this photo also reminds us to appreciate the limited time we have with our loved ones, to recognize the value in even the most mundane activities that we too often take for granted, and to push ourselves to find new means of social connection. Most importantly, however, this image can serve as a call-to-action for Americans to take COVID-19 guidelines seriously. As we are currently experiencing the holiday surge and largest wave of COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, it is now more important than ever that we find inside ourselves the strength to commit to limiting the spread of this deadly virus. The strength that will ultimately allow us to exist in a world where the glass door no longer bares us from embracing one another.

Photo Source: Instagram Page of United Nations Human Rights. https://www.instagram.com/p/CF30qjNA4xC/?igshid=26les9mgun4