UMN Human Rights Program

Artistic background with a photo of Professor Luis Ramos Garcia. Text reads "Women in Peril: Where Suffering and Healing Meet. Professor Luis Ramos-Garcia's project gives voice to the victims of human rights violations through art."

Professor Luis Ramos-Garcia has led a project to give voice to the victims of human rights violations through art. Women in Peril serves to archive the experiences of victims of human rights violations. Read more about Professor Ramos-Garcia's work: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

Mary Lawlow and Carrie Walling sit in front of the Human Rights Program banner with microphones in hand. Carrie is watching and listening to Mary as she answer a question.

Mary Lawlor sits in front of the Human Rights Program banner listening to questions from the audience.

Mary Lawlor stands behind the Human Rights Program podium with her hands facing outward. She is giving a speech.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Scallen Lecture with Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. Ms. Lawlor's inspiring address highlighted the importance of protecting human rights defenders. Watch the keynote: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ba...

United Nations Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor Join us for a keynote lecture with Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

I look forward to this @uofmhumanrights.bsky.social event where I will discuss human rights defenders and their place in the USA and the world.

🗓️ Mon 20 October
🕓 4-6pm
📍 Humphrey School of Public Affairs, Minneapolis

ℹ️ Registration & details:
cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

We are thrilled to announce the 1st annual Hitti lecture on Nov. 5 at the Weisman Art Museum feat. Charlotte Karem Albrecht speaking about Possible Histories: Arab Americans and the Queer Ecology of Peddling. More info and rsvp at z.umn.edu/HittiLecture
@uofmhumanrights.bsky.social

Human Rights Program 2025 Annual Report

The Human Rights Program’s 2024-2025 Annual Report is now available! The Annual Report provides an in-depth review of our work and highlights the major events, initiatives, and people that have contributed to the success of HRP in the 2024-2025 academic year.

pub.umn.edu/hrp/HRP-Annu...

Mary Lawlor headshot over a navy blue background with a watermark of the United Nations symbol: A globe surrounded by a laurel wreath. Text reads, "UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor. The Stephen and Chacke Scallen Lecture in Human Rights. Monday, October 20, 4-6pm, Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs."

Join us for the Scallen Lecture in Human Rights with Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. A reception with refreshments will follow.

📆Oct 20
🕝4:00 PM
📍Cowles Auditorium, Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Learn more: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

Solitary Confinement Symposium

The Solitary Confinement Symposium will bring together legislators, scholars, and community organizers to examine solitary confinement practices and push for reform.

Thursday, September 18
12:15 - 5:30 PM
Walter F. Mondale Hall, Room 40

Learn more and register: law.umn.edu/events/solit...

A portrait of a youth with a banner over their eyes. Text reads, "Reflections of Dignity: The Role of Art in Incarcerated Youth Expression. 8 October, 4-7 PM, Place: Humphrey Forum (Room 105), Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota."

Juvenile Justice Advocates International and HRP invite you to the Minneapolis opening of Reflections of Dignity, an exhibit featuring art from youth in justice systems around the world. The event includes a panel discussion followed by a reception and exhibit opening. cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

Human Rights Initiative Call for Proposals

The Human Rights Initiative (HRI) is seeking bold, impactful research proposals that address today's most pressing human rights challenges.

Grant Range: $10,000 - $50,000
Duration: 12 months
Deadline: October 3, 2025

Read the Request for Proposals: z.umn.edu/HRIFund

HRP Open House, Tuesday, September 16, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM, 710 Social Sciences

Join us for our Human Rights Program Open House! Enjoy some lunch, network with others, and learn more about HRP.

Tuesday, September 16
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Social Sciences Building, Room 710

RSVP: forms.gle/QayCAvQSeYoS...

The words, "Healthcare Under Crisis" in disjointed letters. Underneath, the caption, "Archiving Stories for Healthcare Justice."

In the wake of the overturning of Roe V. Wade, with Human Rights Initiative grant support, a UMN team launched Healthcare Under Crisis, a community-oriented oral history project investigating the dynamics of Minnesota’s healthcare landscape.

Read more about the project: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

Vishal Jamkar, a PhD candidate at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, has undertaken a research project to tackle the issue of landlessness in the Indian Dalit community. His project is supported by grant funding from the Human Rights Initiative. Read more: z.umn.edu/DalitHRI

Poster style design with dark blue background. Text says, "Reflections of Dignity: Exhibition Displays Art from detained youth around the world." Has the Juvenile Justice Advocates logo and the University of Minnesota's Human Rights Program logo. There is an image in the center showing the different art pieces.

Poster style design with dark blue background. Contains two art pieces,. One piece is a color pencil drawing of a man with his back turned and a person imprisoned in his head. The caption says, "I feel depressed and frustrated that I am in this situation. I have hope that I will be a successful productive citizen and to be able to speak to other youth before they will be institutionalized." by K.B. in USA. The other piece is by Eduardo Santos from Brazil and is an ink drawing of two hands breaking free their handcuffs. The text says, "Freedom is all I want most, to have a chance to change."

Poster style design with dark blue background. Text says, "Visit the virtual exhibition to view more art pieces and testimonies," and, "Read HRP's article on the Reflections of Dignity project."

HRP and the IGS cosponsored Juvenile Justice Advocates International's ""Reflections of Dignity"" exhibition at the 5th World Congress on Justice with Children. Read more:
z.umn.edu/Reflectionso...
Visit the online exhibition for the artist's personal accounts: www.jjadvocates.org/reflections-...

The text "How Minnesota Shaped International Death Investigations" lies above a magnifying glass, with a sepia-colored image of four people on a beach investigating the field that replaces the lens of the magnifying glass. In the bottom left corner, there is the text "Interview with Barbara Frey."

In May, Barbara Frey was interviewed on the creation of the Minnesota Protocol by KFAI. She was a pivotal voice in the initial design for the protocol to reveal the truth behind massacres throughout the world. https://kfai.org/minneculture-how-minnesota-shaped-international-death-investigations/

Introducing Riley Stern, an undergraduate research assistant with HRP Director Carrie Walling. Riley is a senior majoring in economics and mathematics and will help develop the pilot for a new human rights data research and advocacy lab. Welcome, Riley!

The background is a gradient going from dark blue to light blue. There is an icon of the Earth in the form of a heart in the center of the image. There is another icon of three individuals being held up by hands in the center of the earth. The text reads, "Today is World Refugee Day." The Human Rights Logo for the University of Minnesota is at the top of the page.

Today is World Refugee Day. Many people around the globe are displaced from their homes due to dangerous circumstances. Part of the human rights mission is to ensure that all people are safe and given the same rights and respect that are due to any human being, and so we honor today. #humanrights

The words "to remember and advocate" are above a speech bubble stating "Juneteenth," which is accompanied by a fist reaching for a heart in the African flag colors of red, yellow, and green with two ribbons with the same colors beside the fist. Above the heart is the hashtag "#blacklivesmatter" with the date "June 19th" sprawled near the wrist of the fist.

Happy Juneteenth! June 19th is the holiday to celebrate the liberation of African Americans from the racist system of slavery after it was abolished in 1865. As we celebrate Black pride on this day, it is critical to recognize that African American history will always be American history!

Building Human Rights Leaders: Natika Kantaria’s Fellowship Experience Natika Kantaria (MHR, ‘24) discusses the importance of meaningful global advocacy as a Barbara Frey Fellow.

Natika Kantaria (MHR '24) has been working with the International Service for Human Rights in New York, where she has been protecting human rights defenders and monitoring human rights developments globally.

Read about Natika's human rights journey and how she enacts change on the global stage:

Zukaina Al-Mohamed headshot with text: "Welcome Zukaina Al-Mohamed."

HRP is delighted to announce our new Program and Communications Assistant, Zukaina Al-Mohamed! Zukaina is a rising senior in CLA majoring in Global Studies with a minor in Political Science. Welcome, Zukaina!

The Human Rights Program wants to welcome our new Communications Assistant, Thanh Nguyen! Majoring in Sociology and minoring in Cult. Stud. & Comp. Lit. in CLA, Thahn hopes to bring his perspective on queer and immigrant justice, as well as his previous Minnesota advocacy work for housing access.

Inmates shouldn't have to barter for menstrual products. Prisons must do better. | Opinion Incarcerated women in Wisconsin forced to bleed through their clothing must confront a reality that reflects a profound disregard for their dignity

Master of Human Rights student Sarah Kuhns (MHR '26) is spurring important conversations around the rights of inmates and access to menstrual products. Read Kuhns's opinion piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. #humanrights

Continuing the Fight for Farmworkers’ Rights This spring, Skye Cronje (MHR ‘26) received the Sullivan Ballou Award for her extensive community involvement and deep passion for migrant and farmworkers’ rights.

Congratulations to Master of Human Rights student Skye Cronje (MHR '26), who has received the Sullivan Ballou Award for her extensive community involvement and deep passion for migrant and farmworkers’ rights. The Sullivan Ballou Award recognizes students who devote heartfelt energy to human rights.

Using Passion to Power Change Lindsey Clayton (MHR ’25) spent last summer interning at the ACLU of Minnesota pursuing her passion for helping others and promoting human rights.

Lindsey Clayton (MHR '25) has a passion for social justice and fighting for human rights. Last summer, she landed her dream internship at the ACLU of Minnesota, where she worked on a project to educate people who had been convicted of felonies about their voting rights. #humanrights

2025 Grimes Fellow Examines the Intersection of Climate Change and Migration Master of Human Rights (‘26) student Hank Hellstrom was selected as this year’s Sharon Grimes Human Rights Fellow to continue his studies on environmental justice.

Congratulations to Master of Human Rights student Hank Hellstrom, who has received the Sharon Grimes Human Rights Fellowship in recognition of his commitment to human rights and the environment. Hellstrom is dedicated to studying how to protect climate refugees and assist vulnerable communities.

The words, "Congrats Class of 2025!" appear over a background of a blue sky with graduation caps flying in the air.

Congratulations to our graduates in the Master of Human Rights, the Human Rights graduate minor, and our undergraduate students who have contributed their passion to human rights on campus! Our students inspire us with their enthusiasm and determination. We can’t wait to see what they will do next!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Parental Incarceration and Children's Human Rights Symposium last week! The event was a part of HRP and Children of Incarcerated Caregivers' residency with the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub in the College of Liberal Arts. Learn more: cicmn.org/hub-residency/

Teaching Genocide and Human Rights Education in Greater Minnesota Through Podcast With Human Rights Initiative support, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS) created a podcast to educate Minnesota students about human rights and genocide.

Read more about the project: cla.umn.edu/human-rights...

And listen to the podcast on Spotify at: open.spotify.com/show/7DkbiLRD0BqRAG323P1QCU?si=c2a74e1f1d634dbe

Funded by the Human Rights Initiative, CHGS Interim Director, Joe Eggers, and history PhD candidate Tibisay Navarro-Mana launched, Big Concepts in Small Spaces. The podcast engages high school students in conversations about human rights, genocide, and the law.

Interested in submitting a piece? ‘Human Writes’ submissions are rolling! We accept a range of written work (blogs, personal essays, short fiction, etc). Students from any college or major can submit. Visit humanwrites.umn.edu/submission-guidelines for more information or reach out to hrp@umn.edu.

Read the latest ‘Human Writes’ blog: “Protecting Ukrainian Identity Through Dance.”

Skylar Strudwick sheds light on how Ukrainian artists work tirelessly to preserve their traditional practices and sense of national identity in a time of war. Check out the blog! humanwrites.umn.edu/protecting-u...