Let's Talk Human Rights

Dr. Caroline Waldron, an historian by trade, shares an unofficial history to document the current moment at the University of Dayton during the COVID-19 shutdown. This series of blogs chronicles her three personal “Aha” moments from engaging in advocacy during Spring 2020. With it, she is practicing the process of COVID-19 reflections that professors have asked students to take during these challenging times.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Dr. Natalie Hudson and Dr. Alexandra Budabin share insights from their research focused on advocacy against sexual violence in conflict.

Rebecca Westphal, Malawi Graduate Fellow 2019-20, shares what she learned about sustainable community-based development through her time at Determined to Develop.

Police brutality against black Americans and peaceful protestors has led to widespread protest across the U.S., but there is a way we can turn our justified anger into action.

What does community mean for undergraduate students at the University of Dayton? What does the college experience look like for students who identify as LGBTQ+? How does sexual identity shape how students interact both inside the classroom and out? Sociology 329 students conducted research on these questions and created a podcast in their “Sex, Crime, and Law” course.

Reflecting on the events of this past spring, it’s easy to see parallels with the social concerns that occupied Americans fifty years ago. Dr. Paul Morrow outlines these parallels, bringing to light the racial divisions of the Vietnam era that are still felt today.

The Human Rights Center joins the multitude of voices condemning the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many other Black men and women, demanding accountability for these injustices and proposing actions to reform our current system.

In January 2019, national elections took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after being postponed three times due to violence. Many citizens were suspicious of the electoral process and believed that there were miscalculations in the results. Such delays are not unprecedented. Since the DRC gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, the country has been politically unstable. This instability has negatively affected citizens’ ability to participate in free and fair elections. Those at a particular disadvantage include youth, specifically those under the age of 18, women, and people who live in militarized areas which do not have adequate government control or intervention. This article is part of the "Next Generation in Thought Leadership" series.

Lebanon is currently facing one of the country’s worst economic crises in decades. Civilians around the country are taking a stand to hold the government accountable for years of mismanagement, corruption, and poor leadership. Civil society organizations struggle with capacity gaps which hinder them in properly addressing local issues, catering to the society’s needs, and providing the needed services. This article is part of the "Next Generation in Thought Leadership" series.

Youth in Afghanistan have experienced  a range of  challenges in the post-conflict period, including limited access to education, high unemployment, and lack of political voice. As a result, youth have become a target of recruitment efforts by extremist groups. This vulnerability, combined with Afghanistan’s struggles for good governance and sustainable civil society, makes youth an important demographic to reach. This article is part of the "Next Generation in Thought Leadership" series.