by Karen Castellon, AWC Berlin, Human Rights Team Chair
On November 4, 5 & 6, 2021, the FAWCO Human Rights Team hosted Human Rights in Focus, a 3-day virtual event on the Hopin platform. The Team marked the fifth anniversary of FAWCO and The FAWCO Foundation’s Symposium, Stand Up for Human Trafficking, in The Hague (2016) and were inspired by the Environment Team’s April virtual event.
The Human Rights in Focus event had 20 sessions designed to:
- raise awareness on global human rights issues,
- highlight the impact of FAWCO & FAWCO Foundation programs,
- provide opportunities for networking,
- bring our audience face to face with speakers from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the CNN Freedom Project and others, and
- inspire participants to take action – no matter how big or small.
Here are the actual AGENDA and SPEAKERS BIOS
The three-day event was organized around a distinct theme for each day. Day 1 was Intersectionality. We examined how multiple factors influence the human rights of people and challenge democracies with a keynote from Kimberly Marteau Emerson of Human Rights Watch, followed by Dr. Tricia Callendar on Intersectionality and Migration. We learned about a powerful tool for your advocacy game with Erica Higbie of the FAWCO United Nations Team. FAWCO’s Refugee Network Co-Chair, Ann Birot-Salsbury, introduced a conversation with Human Rights Defenders on Women and Migration, moderated by Asma Darwish. Then we did a deep dive on Afghanistan and its women with journalist Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson and Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch, both of whom have years of experience living and working there. Pathways to Safety founder Paula Lucas talked about how Americans abroad who have suffered violence can get help. Melissa Morbeck of NO MORE shared an extensive new Global Directory for assisting victims of violent crime in 196 countries around the world.
Trafficking in Human Beings was the focus of Day 2. Val Richey of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) identified the demand – buyers of sex/ labor/ services – as the problem in combatting human trafficking. We addressed safeguarding children with a panel of interconnected organizers in Houston, Texas, USA; an update on Standing Up Against Human Trafficking five years later; launch of the e-book, Hope is a Thing with Feathers, and a talk by Lisa Cohen, senior producer for the CNN Freedom Project.
Day 3 focused on Lesser-Known Violence against Women. Hibo Wardere, author of Cut, spoke of how she will not be silenced as she seeks to protect other girls and women from the unnecessary suffering of female genital mutilation (FGM). As its 2020–2022 Health Target Project, FAWCO currently supports Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania, a project for girls and women who are trying to escape this illegal and ugly practice, change laws, provide education to families and communities and job training for young women to support themselves economically. We also heard updates from past Target Projects in Jordan and Ghana that have been supported by FAWCO’s generous philanthropy. Other difficult topics included the realities of child marriage in the USA and a panel on “The Emerging Role of Strangulation in Gender-Based Violence and How Victim-Centered Investigations Change the Game.”
We concluded with a call to action and advocacy. We featured two different speakers in Jessica Buchleitner and Beth Ellen Holimon. It starts with me. It starts with you.
Today starts with me on…. (your answer goes here) – Gender equality, improved education, climate change, justice, safe democracy, peace, strong institutions, poverty alleviation, freedom, child welfare.
A popular musical interlude sums up our intent with the work of human rights: Keep on Moving Forward/Sigamos Adelante – Emma's Revolution
London & Capital served as a proud Gold Sponsor, as they did in 2016 for the Stand Up Symposium.
We thank all of our FAWCO supporters, who assembled a rock star line-up and provided content on the hot topics in human rights today. Nods to the Core Team: Mary Adams, Therese Hartwell, Hari Kitching, Mary Manning and the Co-Chairs, My-Linh Kunst and Karen Castellon.
- FAWCO Organizers included: Emily van Eerten, Ann Marie Morrow, Mary Dobrian, Ann-Birot Salsbury, Ulrike Naeumann and Asma Darwish, Laurie Richardson, Erica Higbie, Tharien van Eck, Johanna Dishongh, Tricia Saur, Robin Meloy Goldsby, and Elsie Bose
- Contributors to Expo Booths: The FAWCO Foundation, Sustainable Development Goal Team, Sue England, Global Issues FAWCO Youth.
- Expo Booth content is available HERE.