Webster Celebrates Year of International Human Rights
University mission in spotlight on 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration
|
Eleanor Roosevelt holds a Spanish copy of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
|
In 1946, in the aftermath of yet another “great war” that wrought horrors upon civilizations around the globe, leaders of the newly formed United Nations sought to establish a new norm for international conflict resolution and a new respect for basic human rights.
In response to the atrocities of the previous decade, the UN established a Commission on Human Rights led by Eleanor Roosevelt, whose first task was to write an international bill of human rights with committee members from many religions and states traditionally at odds. Members included a leading French Jewish jurist, a Lebanese Arabic philosopher, a Chinese Confucian diplomat, and Russian Communists.
Part distillation of lessons from our past, part projection of hopes for our future, the project reflected a global human community coming to terms with its darkest capacities. Society was processing how technology equipped humanity to commit – and media enabled others to become aware of – a previously unimaginable level of mass violence and disregard for human dignity.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was endorsed in December 1948 – though tellingly, the covenants that defined the obligations of each state were not ratified until 18 years later.
Nonetheless, in the historical context of pivotal texts like the Magna Carta and the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the document is regarded by some as the most significant of the 20th century. Though human rights abuses continue around the world today, the declaration has become an internationally recognized standard to which even the worst offenders now feel compelled to answer.
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the document, Webster University’s College of Arts & Sciences will celebrate 2008-09 as The Year of International Human Rights. From arts to colloquia, from curriculum to community-building, the year’s events will include conferences and special programs that highlight human rights issues while leveraging the University’s many strengths in this area.
“This project advances the University mission by encouraging international perspectives and by fostering students’ active interests in their communities,” says Sarita Cargas, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “But as a College, we believe that developing themes like this helps foster community throughout the University.
“Many Webster faculty across all disciplines and throughout our 106 campuses are involved or interested in human rights issues,” Cargas says. “We’re finding that new students and applicants frequently express interest in human rights. Getting a University-wide conversation going is always beneficial, and it gives those interests a boost.”
Webster’s commitment to social justice was established by its founders, the Sisters of Loretto. As Webster has grown, its programs have continued to incorporate that mission and its logical descendants:
- Webster is one of the few universities in the world that offers a bachelor’s degrees in Human Rights.
- One benefit of the University’s growing International Relations program is the multicultural dialog that comes with engaging students, faculty, and curriculum from a campus network that spans the world.
- Those international campuses – including the Geneva campus, in the UN’s home city – include programs such as Refugee Studies and International Non-Governmental Organizations.
- A number of faculty and students, particularly those in Webster’s graduate program in Counseling – offered at 30 campuses in the U.S. and Geneva – are engaged in human rights work helping victims in Europe and the United States. “Out of some 2,000 Counseling students worldwide, most are already working in their communities,” Cargas notes. “They’re doing things like refugee aid, hurricane relief, helping battered women, or helping those in poverty.”
To help organize and energize the year’s events (see sidebar), an advisory board of Webster alumni and others in the human rights field is being formed. Advisory board members include:
- Alumna Mary Ann Wyrsch, the acting U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service commissioner, and former U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees.
- Alumna Mary Daly, president of Mary Daly and Associates, and former communications director of the Amnesty International Live Aid concerts.
- Alumna Patrisha Gibney, director of Thought Leadership, which advises CEOs on corporate social responsibility.
- Alumna Mary Jean Russell, vice president of Wings of Hope, an NGO that focuses on poverty reduction.
- Adjunct faculty Phyllis Hamilton, a lawyer and former Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
- Adjunct faculty Bruna Faidutti, former Deputy Secretary of the UN Commission on Human Rights and Chief of Special Procedures.
- Alumnus Tim Noelker, St. Louis lawyer and board member of the National Committee for the Association of Social Workers.
- Alumnus Khatib Waheed, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy in Washington, D.C.
- Sr. Annie Stevens of the Sisters of Loretto.
A special conference on human rights is also in the works, with some prominent speakers and invitees. The theme: “What Will it Take for the U.S. to Join the International Community?” focused on three key areas where the U.S. does not participate: the International Criminal Court, global environmental treaties, and the UN Human Rights Council.
By engaging students, faculty, and alumni from throughout the Webster network both in the U.S. and overseas, the series of events promises to make for an exciting, meaningful year. More information will be posted to the College of Arts & Sciences Web site as plans develop. All are invited to participate – and lead – as we celebrate this significant issue.
Year of Human Rights Events |
-
In June 2008, the inaugural Webster University Institute for Human Rights will introduce high school students to university-level study of human rights.
- Curtis Roosevelt, grandson of Eleanor Roosevelt and an expert on international human rights and organizations, will be on campus for the anniversary of the Declaration Dec. 10, 2008.
- In Freshman Seminar classes in the fall, all incoming freshmen will read the book, “A Long Way Gone,” by Ishmael Beah, a former Sierra Leone teenage soldier and refugee.
- Residential Life is organizing a resident hall floor in the Loretto Hall specifically for students interested in human rights and world issues.
- A human rights speaker’s series, including Webster alumna Ann Walsh Bradley, a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.
- Webster faculty for all the Arts & Sciences disciplines and campus locations will write 1,000-word essays on the relevance of their disciplines and locations to international human rights. The essays will be used for class assignment and discussion.
- An extended campus speaker series that engages local faculty and community activists in Webster campus communities.
- A human rights-themed film series in September.
A human rights-themed music festival organized by Webster’s office of Student Affairs.
- Special incentives for Webster student clubs to become involved in social outreach and social justice issues.
- Printing 20,000 copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be distributed to Webster students worldwide.
- Curricular focus: Encouraging professors throughout the College to further include human rights in their course work. An MA in Counseling course will have a special focus on human rights to help the extended sites participate in the year’s celebration. Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts faculty are being encouraged to include human rights in upcoming exhibits.
|
Back to the top
|
