In a world increasingly affected by conflicts, persecution, and displacement, the terms asylum seeker and refugee are often used interchangeably. However, these words carry distinct legal meanings and come with different sets of rights and protections. Understanding the differences between asylum seekers and refugees is important, especially in discussions about global migration, human rights, and international law. This article aims to clarify these differences, debunk common misconceptions, and shed light on the experiences of both groups.

An asylum seeker is a term referring to a person who has fled their home country due to conflict, war, or persecution, and is seeking protection in a foreign country, but has not yet been legally recognized as a refugee. A refugee, on the other hand, is someone who has been recognized under international law as needing protection, either by a host country or through international agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Legal Status and Protection Rights

The legal status of an asylum seeker differs from that of a refugee. Asylum seekers are in a state of a legal limbo: they are waiting for their claim to be evaluated by the host country’s immigration authorities. During this time, they may be granted temporary protection, but they are not yet legally recognized as refugees. Therefore, their situation is precarious and they experience additional uncertainty, because a rejected asylum application can result in deportation back to the country they fled.

In contrast, refugees have already been recognised as such, and are granted additional legal protection under international law. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is a person who, “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion,” cannot return to their home country. This means that once someone is granted refugee status, they have the right to remain in the host country, access social services, and be protected from deportation to their home country (a principle known as non-refoulement). Refugees should also access education, healthcare, and the right to work, however these rights can vary based on the host country and their execution is often curtailed by the country’s resources and policies.

Process of Recognition

Seeking asylum in a foreign country is a complex and often lengthy process. When a person arrives in a country and requests asylum, they must submit an application, which will then be examined by authorities. This process can involve multiple stages of interviews, background checks and legal hearings. The process varies from country to country, with some nations offering more expedited procedures and others having significant backlogs, leaving asylum seekers waiting for months or even years for a decision.

For refugees, recognition can come either through a direct application to a country or through international organisations such as the UNHCR, which processes claims and facilitates resettlement. In some cases, refugees are registered in camps and later resettled in a third country that agrees to offer them protection.

Conditions and Experiences

While both asylum seekers and refugees share the experience of escaping a dangerous situation in their home country, the conditions they face can differ considerably. Asylum seekers experience is often defined by a perpetual state of uncertainty, insecurity and loneliness. They are often placed in detention centres or temporary accommodations while their case is being processed, often grouped with many other people, lacking privacy and comfort. Access to essential services such as healthcare, education and employment is also restricted during this period, which contributes to difficulty in staying healthy and adjusting to the new environment.

Refugees, on the other hand, having already been granted legal protection, are generally better positioned (though they too face significant challenges). While they enter a new step of their immigration journey, they experience new struggles, such as integrating into their host countries, learning new languages, and finding employment. Additionally, the psychological toll of fleeing persecution, living in exile, and starting over in a new country is immense for both asylum seekers and refugees. Therefore, both groups often grapple with trauma, sense of loss, and uncertainty about their future – all of which the misunderstanding and prejudices often worsen.

Common Misconceptions and Myths About Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Unfortunately, the topic of refugees and asylum seekers is a highly polarising one, and there are many misconceptions, often fuelled by the media and politicians. These myths can create barriers for displaced people and limit their ability to find safety, stability, and acceptance. One way to combat the spread of hate and misinformation is through education and facts. Here are some of the most common myths and the realities behind them:

#1. Myth: “Asylum Seekers are “Illegal Migrants”

Reality: One of the most widespread myths is that asylum seekers are “illegal” migrants. However, seeking asylum is a legal right under international law, and the term “illegal” is often wrongly applied to those waiting for their asylum claims to be processed.

#2. Myth: “Most asylum seekers don’t have genuine claims and are exploiting the system.”

Reality: Asylum seekers must meet very strict criteria to be granted refugee status. Each application undergoes a thorough review process, and only those with valid claims are granted asylum. The rigorous screening minimises the chances of fraudulent claims being approved, but often takes a long time.

#3. Myth: “Refugees and asylum seekers drain the economy and take jobs from locals.”

Reality: Studies show that, over time, refugees often contribute to the economy by working, paying taxes, and opening businesses. Their contributions to the workforce can fill labour gaps and help counteract ageing populations in some countries. On top of that, refugees are diverse people that bring skills, perspectives, and entrepreneurial activity to communities.

#4. Myth: “Refugees can just ‘go back home’ once it’s safe.”

Reality: Many refugees cannot safely return home, even after conflicts have settled. Homes, communities, and entire infrastructures may have been destroyed, or the conditions that forced them to flee, like political persecution, may still exist. Return is often not a viable option, so integration into host countries is essential.

#5. Myth: “Refugees are a security risk.”

Reality: Refugees and asylum seekers are subjected to extensive background checks before they are allowed into a host country, especially through formal resettlement programs. The process can take months or even years to ensure safety for everyone. Research consistently shows that the overwhelming majority of refugees are peaceful and are themselves fleeing violence.

How can you help refugees and asylum seekers?

There are many ways individual people can contribute to support refugees and asylum seekers. From providing direct assistance to raising awareness, here are some practical ways you can get involved with this human rights issue:

#1. Donate 

Refugees often arrive in new countries with very little. Donating essential items such as clothing, household goods, or hygiene products can help them start their lives with dignity. Local refugee organisations often run collection drives where you can donate these items, or you can organise your own donation initiative in your community. On top of that, you can donate to support organisations working directly with refugees, such as Refugee Action, International Rescue Committee, UNHCR or Free Movement.

#2. Volunteer

If instead of material items you would like to donate your time, volunteering with local or international NGOs can be a powerful way to help. Volunteers are often needed in refugee resettlement programs, community support groups, or legal aid organisations. Tasks may include teaching language skills, offering job training, or providing support to newly arrived refugees.

#3. Advocate for Policy Changes

Use your voice to advocate for humane and fair asylum policies. You can write to your local representatives, participate in awareness campaigns, or sign petitions that call for better treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Political pressure can help improve asylum procedures, increase resettlement quotas, and ensure legal protections.

#4. Raise Awareness

Social media can be a powerful tool to raise awareness about refugee issues. You can share stories, facts, and news articles that highlight the struggles and contributions of refugees and asylum seekers. By spreading accurate information and combating misconceptions, you can influence public perception and promote empathy, starting from your personal circle.

#5. Educate Yourself and Others

One of the most important ways to support refugees and asylum seekers is by educating yourself about their situations. You can take courses, read books, watch documentaries, or attend talks that focus on refugee issues.

The post Asylum Seeker vs Refugee: What are the differences?  appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

According to organizations like UNICEF, 333 million children lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2022. 1.43 billion live on less than $6.85 a day. While kids are only 31% of the global population, they make up more than half of those living in extreme poverty. The impacts of poverty on kids can’t be dismissed. It stunts their development, makes them more vulnerable to disease, increases their risk for violence, and shortens their expected lifespans. Here are 15 trusted charities focused on eliminating child poverty and empowering kids and their families.

#1. Global Fund for Children

Founded in 1993, the Global Fund for Children is a grassroots NGO that supports community-based organizations helping children. The Fund identifies what partners need before providing flexible funding and capacity-building services. Since its founding, the organization has helped 11 million kids and worked with over 1,000 grassroots partners in 20+ countries. Initiatives include emergency response, post-pandemic education, youth-led change, education for girls, and much more.

The Global Fund for Children accepts one-time and monthly donations, as well as cryptocurrency gifts.

#2. Save the Children

In 1919, Eglantyne Jebb saw the catastrophic effects WWI had on European children. She founded the Save the Children Fund, and in the years since the organization expanded to other countries. The nonprofit aims to alleviate suffering and empower the most vulnerable children through health programs, education, emergency response, and policy and advocacy. You can find Save the Children working in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. 86% of every donated dollar goes to Save the Children’s mission.

People can support Save the Children in a few ways. Examples include one-time or monthly donations through credit card or PayPal, crypto or NFT proceeds, a gift box, or stock donations.

#3. ChildFund International

ChildFund International is a development organization working in 23 countries, including Kenya, Brazil, India, the United States, and Senegal. Priorities include healthy food, clean water, healthcare, protection from violence, education, and other essential rights. As a community development group, ChildFund International supports local grassroots organizations with funding, training, and resources. ChildFund also uses a child sponsorship model, so kids are matched with supporters who make monthly donations, send gifts, and write letters. In 2023, ChildFund reached 14.8 million kids and families.

ChildFund International accepts online donations, as well as corporate giving, matching gifts, planned giving, and more. You can also choose a child to sponsor. Your gift is pooled with other donations, so the nonprofit can support the entire community.

#4. UNICEF

UNICEF is the UN agency responsible for protecting children’s rights. It conducts research and provides services in areas like child survival, education, gender equality, emergencies, and more in 190 countries. Founded in 1946 after WWII, UNICEF was established to help children all over the world, regardless of the actions of their home countries. The INGO’s mandate is based on universal human rights for children.

UNICEF receives funding from governments, NGOs, foundations, corporations and individuals. You can donate once on the online portal or set up a monthly recurring donation.

#5. Children’s Defense Fund

The children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is an American nonprofit founded by Marian Wright Edelman, a Civil Rights leader and lawyer. Today, the organization advocates for the rights of all children, including marginalized children. Its policy and advocacy branch focuses on children’s health, early learning and development, family stability, and youth leadership. CDF also runs the Freedom Schools program, which helps improve reading, language skills, and relationships; increase access to social services; and strengthen families.

CDF welcomes a variety of donation options, such as online donations, stock or mutual fund donations, vehicle donations, employee matching gifts, and more.

#6. Children International

For almost 90 years, Children International has worked to end poverty. It has reached over 1 million kids and built 67 community centers in 10 countries, including India, the Philippines, Zambia, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States. Programs focus on health, education, empowerment, and employment. Like many organizations of its kind, Children International offers a child sponsorship program. $39 a month provides medical care, educational support, life skills courses, job training, and more. Community centers also provide libraries, computer labs, playgrounds, and other services.

In addition to the standard one-time or monthly online donations, Children International lets donors choose specific campaigns like the Into Employment program, the community center fund, or the Christmas fund. You can also support with matching gifts, cryptocurrency, estate planning, and more.

#7. Oxfam

Oxfam began in 1942 when supporters sent food to women and children in Greece after WWII. In the decades since, Oxfam expanded its work into different countries while responding to poverty, conflict, and inequality. Today, Oxfam works in 80 countries on economic justice, women’s rights, climate action, and more. While the organization isn’t exclusively focused on child poverty, Oxfam prioritizes issues that affect kids. As a confederation, Oxfam has 21 “sister” organizations; the secretariat office is in Kenya.

Oxfam accepts one-time and monthly donations online, by mail, or by phone. Other options include gifts through a Donor Advised Fund, from your IRA, or through your workplace.

Poverty affects children disproportionately for a few reasons, but “childism” is an important factor. Developed by psychiatrists in the 1970s, the term “childism” refers to the discriminatory belief that kids are inferior to adults and therefore not owed the same rights or respect. It can take the form of spanking kids, sharing photos online of a child without their consent, and underfunding services that focus on kids. Like racism and sexism, childism has layers of oppression based on characteristics like gender, class, disability, and age. To end child poverty, systemic childism must be addressed.

#8. CARE

With a presence in 109 countries, CARE has worked in service of women, girls, and economic security since after WWII. In 2023, the organization reached 167 million with 1,600 projects. Focus areas include food and water, health, education, work, climate, equality, and crisis. 90% of expenses go to program services. In addition to humanitarian aid, CARE runs CARE Action, which lobbies the U.S. Congress on issues like global hunger, foreign assistance, and the rights of women and girls.

CARE accepts a variety of donation methods by phone, mail, or online. You can give cash, stocks, or mutual funds, through a Donor Advised Fund, through an IRA, or in other ways. CARE also accepts vehicle donations and airline miles through Delta’s SkyWish program.

#9. Ayuda en Acción (Action Aid Mexico)

Established in 1981, Ayuda en Acción (which translates to Help in Action in English) has been a nonprofit since 2014 and a sister organization of ActionAid International. It empowers vulnerable communities in countries like Mexico, Spain, Columbia, Peru, and Ecuador. Programs focus on education, employment, entrepreneurship, child protection, humanitarian aid, and more. The nonprofit also runs a child sponsorship program. Individuals and companies can sponsor kids. 250 pesos buys an oral hygiene kit and instructions on proper tooth brushing.

You can donate online. According to the organization’s website, 86% of each donation goes to projects.

#10. Child Foundation

Child Foundation is a charity focused on children experiencing poverty. Since 1994, the organization has worked to empower kids with education, basic necessities, and other services. When kids get a good education, they’re better protected from rights violations like child labor and child marriage. Child Foundation is based in the United States with affiliation offices in Australia, Germany, and Switzerland, and a presence in countries like Iran, Indonesia, and Nepal. In 2023, 10,800 children were sponsored each month, 965 students started university and over 40,000 families received support.

Child Foundation accepts several donation methods. You can sponsor a child or donate to a specific campaign. The charity also accepts company matching, legacy gifts, and gala and event sponsorship.

#11. Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian charity working in 25 states across the country. Programs focus on education, healthcare, disaster response, women’s empowerment, and more. Since the charity’s founding in 2002, it’s reached more than 300,000 kids with education, provided over 2 million people with healthcare, and trained 65,000 youth with vocational education. The Smile Foundation also produces documentaries and short films that raise awareness about poverty’s societal effects and the need for education.

The Smile Foundation accepts donations online. It can accept donations in USD and pounds through checks, drafts, or online payment.

#12. So They Can

So They Can is a children’s organization registered in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. It works with governments and local communities, so every child in Africa can access good education. Its projects focus on student well-being, teacher training, school infrastructure, community and stakeholder participation, government partnerships, and school board management and development. It also has a child and youth development project, a women’s empowerment project, and a community health project.

So They Can offers individuals and businesses several ways to support the charity’s work. As an individual, you can volunteer, fundraise, donate, or sponsor a student, school, or family. Businesses can get involved through workplace giving, sponsorship, and business or philanthropic partnerships.

#13. Children of the Mekong

In 1958, a dentist asked French blanket manufacturers to donate to a boarding school in Laos. The company sent blankets and 100 francs, which led to the founding of The Association of Friends of St. Joseph’s School, now called Children of the Mekong. Today, the charity also works in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Focus areas include education for girls, early childhood education, and programs for ethnic minorities, refugees, and people with disabilities. The charity works on development projects, education centers, career development, and child sponsorship.

Children of the Mekong welcomes sponsors from around the world, including the UK, USA, Hong Kong, and Singapore. You can sponsor one child or a group of children.

#14. Plan International

Plan International is a UK-based humanitarian and development organization. With a presence in over 80 countries, the charity focuses on children, especially girls. In 2023, Plan reached over 22 million girls with services and programs in education, protection from violence, youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive health rights, and early childhood development. The charity also responds to emergencies like conflict and climate change.

You can support Plan International by donating to a specific appeal, such as its hunger appeal, the Gaza/Middle East appeal, the Sudan appeal, and so on. You can also give a general donation or sponsor a child.

#15. Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, which means “our little brothers and sisters,” is a Catholic charity organization working across Latin America and the Caribbean. Since its founding in 1954, the organization has helped over 20,000 children thanks to its residential care facility program. It also provides daycare centers, food kitchens, family reintegration programs, healthcare, education, vocational training, and much more. In 2023, the charity supported over 2,300 kids.

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos runs a child sponsorship program and accepts donations online. Supporters can choose specific programs to donate to, such as meal programs, dental care, or a special needs program.

The post 15 Trusted Charities Addressing Child Poverty appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Malala is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning education activist who survived an assassination attempt. She’s the founder of the Malala Fund, which invests in educators working to close the gender gap in education. 

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist, writer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate focused on education equality. By the time she was 18, she’d already accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime, and she continues to fight for equality. Here are 15 of the most important and interesting facts about this education rights advocate:

#1. She’s an advocate for education and gender equality

Malala Yousafzai has advocated for every girl’s right to education since she was a child. According to data from the Malala Fund, 64% of girls drop out of school in the lower secondary grades, while 81% drop out in the upper secondary. That means around 122 million girls are out of school, while women account for ⅔ of all adults who can’t read. Girls are still not valued as much as boys, which limits their access to education. Malala focuses on investing in girls’ education and protecting their futures.

#2. Her father made sure she got equal educational opportunities

Education advocacy runs in the Yousafzai family. Malala’s father, Ziauddin, was a teacher and education activist in Pakistan. In a 2019 talk with The Guardian, Malala said, “My father was a feminist before he knew the word feminist.” He ran a girls’ school in their village, so Malala got the same educational opportunities as a boy. With her father’s encouragement, Malala developed an early passion for learning. Zia is humble about his contributions to Malala’s success, saying “I didn’t clip her wings, that is all.”

#3. Malala began her activist career through an anonymous blog

People from all over the world know Malala’s name, but she used to be an anonymous blogger for BBC Urdu. In 2009, the BBC hosted writings from “a seventh-grade schoolgirl from Swat,” who described how the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education affected her and her friends. She writes about hearing artillery fire at night and worrying she won’t get to return to school. On January 3rd, she attends school despite the ban; she’s one of 11 students out of 27 who went back. Malala was just 11 years old. The blog quickly became famous. In her memoir I Am Malala, she describes how hard it was not to tell anyone, and how she didn’t even want to use a fake name. The BBC correspondent organizing the blog chose the pseudonym “Gul Makai,” which means cornflower.

#4. Malala stopped being anonymous, despite the dangers

Malala did not stay anonymous for long. In 2008, journalist Adam B. Ellick worked for the New York Times bureau in Afghanistan. After learning about the Taliban’s plans to ban education for girls, Ellick met Zia Yousafzai, who arrived for an interview with Malala. When filming for Malala’s documentary began, winter vacation was about to begin, but no return date had been set for the girls’ return to school. The filmmakers followed Malala and her classmates through their last day. In I Am Malala, she felt like they were going to a funeral. The Times documentary “Class Dismissed” compiles two of Ellick’s original documentaries.

#5. The Taliban tried to assassinate Malala in 2012

By 2012, Malala was speaking more openly about the right to education. The Taliban considered her a threat to their power. On October 9th, Malala was returning home from school when two Taliban members boarded her bus and shot the 15-year-old in the head. She survived. She was first treated at a hospital in Pakistan and then at an intensive care unit in England. She spent ten days in a medically induced coma. She had no major brain damage, although she needed months of surgeries and rehabilitation.

#6. Malala was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

Malala won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, which she shared with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian activist who campaigns against child exploitation. At just 17 years old, Malala is the youngest recipient. Her memoir describes the moment she found out. She was in chemistry class when a teacher asked to speak with her. Malala was shocked at the news, but instead of going home to celebrate, she completed the rest of her school day. She was given the award for her work “against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.” Nobel Peace Prize winners receive a monetary award, a diploma and a medal.

#7. Malala continued her education in the UK

About six months after the attempt on her life, Malala began attending school in Birmingham, England. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she expressed excitement about going back to school, although she missed her classmates from Pakistan. In the 2015 epilogue of her memoir, I Am Malala, she describes keeping in touch with the two other girls who were shot on the bus, as well as her best friend. The school system in the UK was an adjustment, as she didn’t have access to things like science labs, libraries and computer labs in Pakistan. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Oxford with a three-year degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

#8. Malala has a day named after her

Malala Day is celebrated every July 12. It recognizes Malala’s birthday and the day she gave a famous speech to the UN in 2013. She was 16 years old. In her speech, Malala thanked her nurses, doctors and everyone who supported her as she recovered from the attempt on her life. She also drew attention to the activists who stand up for human rights, including the thousands and millions killed and injured. “One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world,” she said.

To learn more about Malala Day, check out our article here.

#9. Malala established an education fund with her father

Malala and her father founded the Malala Fund in 2013. According to its website, it “champions every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.” Instead of building new schools, the fund invests in members of the Education Champion Network. These activists are already working to improve education access, so the Malala Fund helps them scale up their work and harness their collective power. The Fund wants to expand into 10 new countries in the next five years.

#10. Malala is an author

Malala has written or co-written several books. In 2015, she released I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban with Christina Lamb. In this book, Malala describes her upbringing, relationship with her parents, decision to speak up for education and rise as a global icon for human rights. She’s also written books for children including Malala’s Magic Pencil. Her most recent book, We Are Displaced, explores her experiences visiting refugee camps and reckoning with her own story of displacement.

#11. Malala is named after an Afghan poet and warrior

Malala is named after Malalai of Maiwand, a folk hero from Afghanistan. Malalai was a shepherd’s daughter who rallied armies against British invaders. In 1880, Afghans fought a second war against the British, but during the battle of Maiwand, the soldiers grew discouraged. Malalai performed a “landay,” a short poem in the Pashto language: “Young love, if you do not fall in a Battle of Maiwand, by God, someone is saving you as a symbol of shame.”

#12. Malala’s Muslim faith is important to her

Malala was raised in the Muslim faith, and according to a 2024 interview in Teen Vogue, her spiritual beliefs continue to motivate her. She describes faith as the “foundation” of her advocacy. At 10 years old, she began studying the Quran, which taught her the importance of doing good and seeking knowledge. Malala also condemns the Taliban’s use of religion to justify oppression. In the interview, she says, “My faith guides me to know that it is wrong to deliberately and systematically oppress girls and women.”

#13. Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, inspired Malala

In I Am Malala, Malala writes about her admiration for Benazir Bhutto, the first woman democratically elected in a Muslim-majority country. While Bhutto had lived in exile in the UK since Malala was two years old, she describes Bhutto as “a role model for girls like me.” Malala and her family wept when Bhutto returned home to Pakistan in 2007. Two months later, Bhutto was assassinated. At that moment, Malala felt inspired to keep fighting for women’s rights in Pakistan despite the risks. When Malala gave her speech to the UN in 2013, she wore a pink shawl that belonged to Bhutto.

#14. Malala had a movie made about her

The documentary He Named Me Malala came out in 2015. Directed by Davis Guggenheim, the movie explores Malala’s life and her recovery from the Taliban’s assassination attempt. The film was shortlisted for the 88th Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature and won Best Animated Special Production at the Annie Awards. The film is available to rent or buy on platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and Amazon Video.

#15. Malala got married in 2021

In 2021, Malala announced she’d married Asser Malik in a nikkah ceremony, which is a religious ceremony where couples consent to be married. At the time of the marriage, Malik was a cricket manager. Malala shared more information in a personal essay for British Vogue. “I found a best friend and companion,” she wrote. She also discussed her initial caution about marriage, and how she worried she might lose her independence and humanity. Through conversations with trusted mentors and loved ones – including her husband – she determined she could stay true to her values in a relationship.

The post 15 Facts About Malala Yousafzai appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Every March 8th, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. It’s a day to recognize how far women’s rights and gender equality have come, but it’s also a time to admit the world still has a long way to go. According to 2022 data, it could take 286 years to end gender discrimination and achieve full legal protection for women and girls. Originally, International Women’s Day was a call to action for universal suffrage and equal economic rights. That message still resonates today. In this article, we’ll explore the history of International Women’s Day, where you can learn more and how everyone can participate.

With roots in 20th-century socialist politics and revolutionary action, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s rights and work for gender equality. 

What’s the history of International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day has deep roots in socialist, working class politics. In 1907, the International Conference of Socialist Women held their first gathering. According to Jacobin, their goals included universal female suffrage, which they advocated for without barriers regarding property ownership, tax, education and so on. In 1909, thanks to a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the United States held the first National Women’s Day on February 28th. The next year, at their gathering in Copenhagen, the International Conference of Socialist Women agreed to recognize an International Women’s Day.

The first International Women’s Day celebration took place on March 19th, 1911. Over one million women and men participated in rallies across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. They advocated for women’s right to vote, the right to hold public office, and women’s right to work. In 1913-1914, women in Russia celebrated their first International Women’s Day on February 23. In 1917, Russian women went on a strike for “Bread and Peace.” It was the end of February on the Julian calendar, which Russia used at the time, but the protest fell on March 8th on the Gregorian calendar. The crowds quickly grew to around 150,000 people, all holding banners reading “Bread” and “Down with the Czar.” Just days later, Czar Nicholas abdicated, ending the Romanov family’s three-century rule. The provisional government quickly gave women the right to vote. International Women’s Day was recognized by the United Nations for the first time in 1975. It’s now celebrated around the world every year on March 8th.

Why is International Women’s Day important? This article explains why.

What International Women’s Day resources are available?

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a great opportunity to learn more about women’s history, women’s rights, and the people – both past and present – who have fought for gender equality and freedom around the world. Here’s a list of 10 resources:

The United Nations

The United Nations is a good source for information about IWD’s background, gender equality, human rights and much more. On the main page, the UN explains what this year’s current IWD focuses on. The theme for IWD 2023 was “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” The UN held an event on March 8th with technologists, innovators, gender equality activists and entrepreneurs invested in improving access to digital tools. Because technology can either close or widen economic and social inequalities, it’s essential to protect the rights of women and girls in digital spaces. The UN’s IWD page also features websites, publications, stories and messages from various UN bodies on that year’s topic.

UN Women

UN Women is the UN entity responsible for working toward gender equality and empowering women. It’s a great resource for information about gender equality year round, not just on March 8th. You can find messages from the executive director, press releases, media advisories and other resources. On its digital library, you can find reports like the Gender Snapshot for the year, case studies, policy briefs, brochures and handbooks.

UNESCO

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized UN agency focused on promoting world peace through education, arts, sciences and culture. It offers Sustainable Development Goal resources for educators on gender equality, as well as all the other SDGs like zero poverty, zero hunger, quality education and climate action. With the gender equality resource, you select which learning level you want resources for (early childhood care and education, primary education or secondary education ) and check out pedagogical resources, classroom activity ideas and multimedia educational resources.

The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is an international organization promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe. It offers a variety of resources covering gender equality and women’s rights on its website. You can search by theme, type of resource, language and year going back to 1953. Publications like infographics, fact sheets, guides, handbooks and studies are available.

Harvard’s Gender Action Portal

The Harvard Kennedy School Women and Public Policy Program created the Gender Action Portal (GAP). It’s a useful tool for researchers, policymakers, students, journalists and other practitioners interested in gender equity. It includes information on experimental methodologies in gender equity research, intersectional research and summaries on various topics like health, education and development. The portal also lists impact evaluations, gender data, gender indexes and publications on women’s rights and gender equity.

Classes are another great way to learn about women’s rights. Here’s a list of 8 courses about women’s empowerment.

Focus2030

Focus2030 is an organization focused on boosting “the impact, visibility and influence of the international development community.” It tracks the progress of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It also hosts an overview of the data on gender equality across the world. It includes data from places like the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other respected entities. A variety of topics are covered, including economic justice, gender-based violence, reproductive health and education. At the time of writing, the overview was last updated in March of 2023.

Ethical Trading Initiative

Founded in 1998, the Ethical Trading Initiative is a UK-based body consisting of companies, trade unions and NGOs. The goal is to ensure member companies meet global supply chain and labor standards. The ETI Base Code includes standards such as no discrimination and no harsh or inhumane treatment. You can find resources on gender equality on the ETI’s website, such as a resource kit on gender-based violence, materials on trade union activities around women’s rights, case studies and more.

The International Center for Research on Women

Since 1976, the International Center for Research on Women has operated as a non-profit with offices in several countries. Their mission is to promote gender equality, inclusion and prosperity in international development. You can find a variety of resources on their website, such as infographics, policy briefs, case studies, fact sheets, toolkits, articles and much more.

Oxfam International

Oxfam is a confederation of independent charitable organizations focused on eradicating global poverty. Its website offers a series of International Women’s Day resources for students aged 9-14. It includes a PowerPoint on gender equality issues, classroom activity suggestions and an assembly and activity pack. You can also sign up for Oxfam’s education newsletter

Equality Now

Equality Now is an NGO founded in 1992. It advocates for the promotion and protection of women’s rights with a network of lawyers, activists and supporters. Its website offers a library of resources on women’s rights issues like sexual violence, legal discrimination, family law, child marriage and more. Resource types include court documents, fact sheets, toolkits and manuals. You can search the library by resource, language, issue and region.

To learn more about gender equality, check out our Gender Equality 101 article.

What activities can you do for International Women’s Day?

If you want to participate in International Women’s Day, there are lots of activity options. Here are three:

Donate to a women’s rights organization

Countless organizations are working to promote and protect the rights of women and girls. In recognition of International Women’s Day, consider setting up a one-time or even monthly donation to a legitimate organization. If you’re not sure about the impact of an organization, check out their annual reports or research what others are saying about the organization.

Support women-owned businesses

Owning a business is hard enough, but women-owned businesses face unique obstacles due to gender discrimination and inequalities. According to the World Economic Forum, male business owners outnumber women by about 3-1, so support is very important. On March 8th, identify the women-owned businesses in your area or with products available online. While these businesses need support year-round, International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to show you care about women’s empowerment and economic rights.

Watch a film about women’s rights and gender equality

There are many films about women’s rights, gender equality, important feminists and other related subjects. For the most accurate information, choose documentaries like 9to5: The Story of a Movement, My Name is Pauli Murray, End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, and What Happened, Miss Simone? You can watch the movie by yourself or with a small group at home. See if any organizations in your area are holding movie screenings. If you want to host your own screening, you will likely need to get permission to show the movie.

The post International Women’s Day 101: History, Resources, Activities appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Around the world, children as young as 5 years old are working in mines, fields, and factories. They’re exposed to brutal working conditions like long hours, toxic materials, sexual exploitation, pollution, and dangerous equipment. While child labor has decreased over the decades, there are still millions of kids facing exploitation. In this article, we’ll define child labor, provide eight examples of the most common forms, and explain where you can find more learning opportunities about child labor.

Child labor disrupts a child’s education, damages their health, and exposes them to violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. The most common types include debt bondage, sex trafficking, armed conflict, forced criminal activities, agriculture, mining, factory work, and domestic work.

What’s the meaning of child labor?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines “child labor” as work that takes a young person’s childhood away from them. The work is “mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful” to kids and interferes with their education. As an example, putting a 15-year-old to work in a salt mine for 12 hours a day is child labor, while hiring a 15-year-old to wash dishes after school is most likely not. Laws vary from country to country. The United States has regulations regarding what hours 14 and 15-year-olds can work, while certain occupations (like power-driven bakery machines and power-driven forklifts) are completely prohibited for all minors.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was adopted in 1989, states that all ratifying parties must recognize a child’s right to be protected from economic exploitation and performing hazardous work. It also requires State Parties to take legislative, administrative, social, and educational measures to enforce this right. The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty, although the United States and Somalia have not ratified it. In 2020, the ILO announced that all ILO party countries had ratified Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, which provides for the elimination and prohibition of child labor like slavery, trafficking, armed conflict, pornography, and illegal activities. Convention No. 182, which was adopted in 1999, is the fastest ratified agreement in UN history.

How long has child labor existed?

Child labor has a long history, and for centuries, it wasn’t considered exploitative. From a very young age, children were expected to contribute to their families and communities. Why? The concept of childhood wasn’t as accepted as it is today. As the philosophy around children and childhood changed, so did society’s view of child labor. Child labor laws were passed and rates of child labor fell around the world. It’s still prevalent in areas affected by poverty. In 2016, global estimates found that ⅕ of kids in Africa are involved in child labor.

What are examples of child labor?

Child labor refers to any exploitative and harmful labor performed by a child. Here are eight examples:

#1. Debt bondage

When people go into debt and can’t pay with money or goods, the person owed the money may suggest that family members – including children – work for very little or for nothing to pay off the debt. This is often a trick as the debt-holder has no intention of lifting the debt or ending the forced labor. Because the debt can never be paid, debt bondage can keep multiple generations enslaved. This form of exploitation was one of the most prevalent types of forced labor in 2016.

#2. Child sex trafficking

Child sex trafficking is the buying, selling, and moving of children for sexual exploitation. Precise numbers are hard to calculate, but a 2016 UNODC Global Report found that women and girls are trafficked more often for sexual slavery and marriage. Armed groups are a common perpetrator, although experts say trafficked children are very likely to know or even be related to their exploiters.

#3. Armed conflict

According to UNICEF, more than 105,000 children were exploited in armed conflict between 2005 and 2022. Because of how difficult it is to track child labor statistics, the number is likely higher. Children in armed conflict are used as soldiers, scouts, cooks, guards, messengers, and more. Some are abducted or threatened into work, while others are trying to earn money for their families. Regardless of the specifics, using children for any reason in armed conflict is a major violation of human rights law.

#4. Forced criminal activities

Children are exploited for a variety of criminal activities, such as theft, producing and trafficking drugs, burglarizing homes, and more. According to a post on The Conversation, organized crime gangs can groom and exploit kids as young as 12 years old. Kids may be initially paid with drugs and alcohol, which can trigger addiction and make it even harder to break free. In Ecuador, police found stuffed animals at one cartel hideout, leading them to believe that the gang was using toys to lure children. In that same area, most of the 230 people arrested between January and April 2022 were just 17 or 18 years old.

#5. Agriculture

According to the International Labour Organization, child labor is concentrated in agriculture. 60% of the child laborers aged 5-17 years old are in work like farming, fishing, livestock, forestry, and aquaculture. Poverty is the main driver of child labor in agriculture. Child labor may also be more widely accepted in agriculture because of its long-standing history. Children can participate in agricultural activities on family farms without being child laborers, but any work that interferes with schooling, harms a child’s health and development, or exceeds what’s age appropriate for the child is exploitation.

#6. Mining

Mining is a dangerous activity even for adults, but around the world, thousands of kids labor in mines for materials like cobalt, salt, gold, and mica. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children as young as seven mine for cobalt, which is used for lithium-ion batteries. In 2014, around 40,000 kids were working in cobalt mines. Conditions can be brutal and deadly. Many miners work long hours without protective equipment for pay as low as 1-2 dollars a day.

#7. Factory work

Factories make a huge amount of products like clothing, toys, and meat. They’re also rife with poor ventilation, toxic materials, and hazardous machinery. When kids are exploited in factories, they face long-term health and development consequences. In 2023, the United States Department of Labor discovered more than 100 kids – some just 3 years old – employed in factories across eight states. Their jobs included cleaning dangerous equipment like bone cutters and skull splitters in meatpacking plants.

#8. Domestic work

Domestic work includes a variety of tasks and services, some of which don’t constitute exploitative child labor. Exploitation occurs when kids are employed in the domestic work sector at ages younger than is legal and are exposed to hazardous conditions. Any domestic work that interferes with a child’s education is also child labor. In many places, domestic work exploitation is “hidden” as kids – especially girls – are expected to contribute to the household and prepare for a life as an adult. According to the International Labour Organization, kids face heightened risks when they live in the household where they’re employed. Without consistent contact from the child’s parents or friends, it’s much easier for employers to exploit a child.

Where can you learn more about child labor?

Child labor is one of the most troubling human rights violations. Here’s a short list f of classes, books, and documentaries that shine a light on this urgent issue:

The ILO’s e-learning tools

The International Labour Organization offers a handful of courses to help students understand child labor and what role ILO stakeholders play. Using interactive tests and exercises, these free courses are self-paced. Examples include the reporting on child labor for media course, which is 8 hours long and available in English, and the eliminating child labor course, which is a 2-hour course for labor inspectors and child labor monitors. It’s available in French, Spanish, Vietnamese, English, and Mongolian.

FAO e-learning academy

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations offers a 2.5-hour course on child labor in agriculture. It gives an overview of child labor in agriculture, foundational knowledge on what is and isn’t child labor, its causes and consequences, and more. It’s available in English, Spanish, French, Turkish, and Russian. It’s also available in Portuguese as a downloadable offline package.

Harvard University’s Child Protection: Children’s Rights Theory in Theory and Practice

This 16-week course teaches students about the causes and consequences of child protection failures. Topics include the strategies, international laws, standards, and resources that protect all children, as well as how students can apply strategies to their careers. It’s a self-paced course, but it takes 16 weeks with 2-5 hours of work per week. Students can audit the course for free or pay a fee for a certificate.

Agents of Reform: Child Labor and the Origins of the Welfare State (2021)

Elisabeth Anderson

This book explores the late 19th-century labor movement, groundbreaking child labor laws, and the regulatory welfare state. Through seven in-depth case studies from Germany, France, Belgium, Massachusetts, and Illinois, Anderson explores individual reformers and challenges existing explanations of welfare state development.

Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World (2016)

Kevin Bales

Expert Kevin Bales, who has traveled around the world documenting human trafficking, describes the link between slavery and environmental destruction. In addition to being a human rights violation, human trafficking is destroying the earth. Backed by seven years of research and travel, Bales reports from places where this link is most concentrated. While it doesn’t focus exclusively on child labor, child labor is a huge part of human trafficking.

“The Chocolate War” (2022)

Director: Miki Mistrati

The cocoa and chocolate industry is rife with child slavery. In 2001, eight large companies, the World Cocoa Foundation, and the Chocolate Manufacturers Association signed a pledge to end child labor and slavery in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, but the deadline has been postponed to 2025. Why won’t the industry change? “The Chocolate War” follows Terry Collingsworth, a human rights lawyer, for five years as he takes on the multi-billion-dollar chocolate industry. The film was nominated for a Cinema for Peace Award and Best Documentary at the Warsaw International Film Festival.

The post Child Labor 101: Meaning, Examples, Learning Opportunities appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

If you want to learn about a human rights issue, a documentary is one of the best ways to achieve a deeper understanding. Documentaries often focus on issues no fiction film would touch, which draws attention to hidden injustices, unrecognized activists, and unique perspectives. That doesn’t mean a documentary must be dry and boring, however. Films are often the most compelling method of bringing  truths into the light. Affected by what they’ve just seen, many viewers take action. Here are 13 human rights documentaries available online:

Note: Territory restrictions apply. Distribution rights also affect availability.

#1. There’s Something in the Water (2019)

Plex, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft Store | Director: Elliot Page and Ian Daniel

In this documentary, directors Elliot Page and Ian Daniel examine the effects of environmental damage on Black Canadian and First Nations communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. In Shelbourne, where a Black community lives, there’s a link between contaminated well water and high cancer rates. Meanwhile, in Indigenous communities, polluted water is also causing serious health issues. The documentary gets its name from Ingrid Waldron’s 2019 book, Something in the Water, which discusses environmental racism, settler colonialism, and the connection between environmental racism and other forms of oppression.

Elliot Page made the film with his own money. It received favorable reviews and is available to rent on Apple, Amazon, and the Microsoft Store. At the time of writing, it’s also available to stream for free on Plex.

#2. Bananas!* (2009)

Tubi, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, Youtube | Director: Frederick Gertten

In 1961, scientist Charles Hine released a draft report cautioning US regulators about a pesticide that would be used for bananas. The pesticide, called DBCP, could be harmful to human reproduction. An official from Shell said it didn’t matter, and when the pesticide was licensed, the label contained no information about impacts on male fertility. The documentary “Bananas!*” explores what happened next. It focuses on the Dole Food Company and banana plantation workers from Nicaragua, who continued to be exposed to the chemical even after the US banned its use on the mainland.

When the film was released, Dole sued Gertten for defamation. The company also threatened legal action against the LA Film Festival, which removed the film from competition. In 2010, a judge ruled that the movie could be released in the United States. Gertten ended up making another movie about his experience with Dole called “Big Boys Gone Bananas*!” Plantation workers from Nicaragua and other countries are still seeking justice.

#3. Human Flow (2017)

Amazon Prime, Apple, Vudu, Google Play, Youtube | Director: Ai Weiwei

Artist and activist Ai Weiwei was on vacation in Lesbos, Greece, when he saw refugees arriving on the island. He began shooting footage on his phone. Struck by what he saw, he made “Human Flow,” a documentary that captures the global refugee crisis. Using footage from phones, cameras, and even drones, the film travels to over 20 countries to capture both the scale of the crisis and the individual stories of refugees.

Ai Weiwei has said this film is personal as he experienced human rights violations during China’s Cultural Revolution. His goal was to encourage more understanding, tolerance, and compassion. The title, “Human Flow,” relates to flooding, but rather than create dams in the form of borders and walls, the film wants people to address what drives people from their homes in the first place.

#4. Writing with Fire (2021)

Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu | Directors: Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas

In India, there’s only one news agency run by Dalit (oppressed-caste) women. It’s called Khabar Lyahira, and as the publication shifted from 14 years of print to digital journalism, its female journalists reported from some of the most challenging areas in the country. For five years, “Writing with Fire” follows Chief Reporter Meera, crime reporter Suneeta, and their team as they risk their lives and safety to tell the truth.

“Writing with Fire” has received universal acclaim and several awards. It was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 94th Academy Awards, which made it the first Indian feature documentary to be nominated. In 2023, it won a Peabody for Best Documentary Film, which made the filmmakers the first Indian filmmakers in the award’s history to win.

#5. Crip Camp (2020)

Netflix | Directors: Nicole Newnham and James LeBrecht

There are countless summer camps held around the United States, but Camp Jened, which was established in 1951, was different. It was designed to be a community place for kids with disabilities. The environment was loose and fun, which gave kids the freedom to experiment, play, and talk about a more inclusive future. In “Crip Camp,” the filmmakers explore how Camp Jened inspired several counselors and campers to become leaders in the disability rights movement. Judith Heumann, who attended the camp from age 9-18, went on to work with the US State Department and World Bank on disability rights and the independent living movement.

The idea for a film about Camp Jened started with lunch between James LeBrecht and Nicole Newnham. Lebrecht, a filmmaker and disability rights activist, mentioned how he’d like to see a film about his summer camp. When Newnham asked for more details, the story stunned her. Their film “Crip Camp” would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award. It’s available to stream on Netflix.

#6. I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

Apple, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu | Director: Raoul Peck

When iconic American author James Baldwin died, he left behind an unfinished manuscript called Remember This House. Director Raoul Peck bases his film on this manuscript, which explores the history of racism in the United States and Baldwin’s memories of assassinated civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. The film’s five chapters cover topics like school integration, how white and Black people are portrayed in film, and the history of the exploitation of Black people.

The film received numerous accolades and award nominations, including a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards. While Baldwin didn’t get to finish his last book, this film does a good job exploring his brilliant analyses.

#7. Coded Bias (2020)

Netflix | Director: Shalini Kantayya

In her role as an MIT media researcher, Joy Buolamwini realized that many facial recognition systems didn’t recognize her face. Curious, she dug deeper and soon learned that these systems only worked when she wore a white mask and covered her dark skin. The film “Coded Bias” explores this phenomenon and uncovers how artificial technology affects minorities. There are few legal structures for AI, which flings the door open for human rights violations. If AI can discriminate, it has huge implications for the technology’s use in housing, career opportunities, healthcare, education, credit, and the legal system.

“Coded Bias” has received many accolades and praise. The film is available to stream on Netflix. As AI and related technologies become more prevalent, it’s essential to understand their impact on human rights.

#8. Chasing Coral (2017)

Netflix | Director: Jeff Orlowski

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems. Over half a billion people depend on coral for protection, their income, and food. Coral reefs are also a source of new medicines like antivirals and cancer-fighting drugs. Unfortunately, coral reefs are in danger. In “Chasing Coral,” a team of scientists, divers, and photographers around the world set out to discover what’s happening to coral reefs, which are disappearing at an alarming rate. The culprit? Climate change.

“Chasing Coral” won the Audience Award for U.S. Documentary at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Having won awards for its photography and cinematography, the film wants to show viewers the impact of global warming, which turns beautiful, vibrant reefs into empty, bleached husks. Jeff Orlowski is also the director of 2012’s “Chasing Ice,” which has a similar plot featuring ice instead of coral.

#9. The White Helmets (2016)

Netflix | Director: Orlando Von Einsiedel

This Netflix original short follows three volunteer rescue workers in Aleppo, Syria, and Turkey. Their official name is the Syrian Civil Defence, but they’re recognized by their white helmets. Formed in 2014 during the Syrian Civil War, most of the volunteers work in Syria providing medical evacuation, search and rescue, and service delivery. The group was nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.

Director Orlando Von Einsiedel first became aware of the White Helmets after watching YouTube footage of them rescuing an infant from rubble. He eventually commissioned Khaleed Khateeb, a volunteer for the SCD and informal documentor of rescue missions, to be the film’s videographer. “The White Helmets” won Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 89th Academy Awards. Unfortunately, the United States government denied Khateeb’s entry, so he could not attend the ceremony.

#10. 13th (2016)

Netflix | Director: Ava DuVernay

Directed and written by Ava DuVernay, “13th” examines the link between race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. It’s named after the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery. The film argues that a new form of slavery emerged in the form of Jim Crow laws, the war on drugs, and the prison-industrial complex. These types of systems affect people of color at a disproportionate rate by keeping them oppressed and trapped in cycles of poverty and incarceration.

Even people familiar with US history will most likely see it from a different perspective after watching this film. In an interview with NPR, DuVernay said she made this film for two audiences: “Folks out there that know about this and folks out there that have never heard of it.” The documentary won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.

#11. Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness (2017)

Amazon | Director: Don Sawyer

In the United States, rates of homelessness have significantly increased in the last decade. “Under the Bridge” takes a closer look at one area in particular: Davidson Street in Indianapolis. Several campers share their stories of physical disabilities, criminal convictions, and other challenges. The film also criticizes common government responses, which often criminalize homelessness by banning sleeping in public, camping, and loitering.

Director Don Sawyer wanted to present a comprehensive picture of the situation and give viewers a better insight into a very complex human rights issue. The film has been shown at places like Harvard University and the Housing and Urban Development office in Washington, D.C.

#12. Reversing Roe (2018)

Netflix | Director: Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg

Reproductive rights in the United States are under threat. This 2018 documentary analyzes why while also exploring the history of the battle between pro-choice and pro-life/anti-choice thinking. With interviews from a wide variety of experts, politicians, and activists, the directors build a basic picture of the history of reproductive rights.

“Reversing Roe” is an excellent introduction to anyone interested in the state of abortion and choice in the United States. While it may not dig too deeply into many issues, it sets up a foundation for viewers and inspires them to more learning and action. “Reversing Roe” was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary.

#13. The Janes (2022)

Max | Directors: Emma Pildes and Tia Lessin

Between 1968 and 1973, a group of women performed around 11,000 low-cost and free abortions in Chicago. In 1972, police raided one of their apartments and arrested seven women. Known simply as “Jane,” this network used code names, fronts, and safe houses to protect themselves and the thousands of people seeking abortions. This documentary, which came out just months before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, features interviews with several members of the collective. Some had never spoken on the record before.

At the time of writing, many people in the United States no longer have to imagine a time before Roe v. Wade as the consequences are already becoming clear. “The Janes” inspires those unsure of what to do now that abortion rights are the most threatened they’ve been in decades.

The post 13 Human Rights Documentaries Available Online appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Sociologists define social change as a transformation of cultures, institutions, and functions. Most change isn’t instantaneous. In society, change is often very slow. There are a variety of parts and forces at work, many of which resist disruptions of the status quo.  All societies go through these types of changes at one point. You don’t need to be an avid student of history to know that. Consider a modern society and reflect on what it looked like hundreds of years ago. Often, society is unrecognizable.

What are the theories on how social change functions? What are the causes and effects?

Theories of social change

While it’s inevitable for all societies to go through some changes, why that happens isn’t obvious. Throughout history, sociologists have wrestled with different ideas and models. There are three main theories of social change: evolutionary, functionalist, and conflict.

Evolutionary

The evolutionary theory of social change gained prominence in the 19th century. Sociologists latched on to Darwin’s theory of evolution, applying it to society. Auguste Comte, known as the “father of sociology,” believed in the evolutionary model. According to this theory, society always evolves into “higher levels.” Like organisms evolve from simple to more complex, so do societies. Societies that don’t adapt fast enough will fall behind. This led many sociologists to conclude that Western societies must be “superior” because of their “advanced” state.

At first, social evolutionists asserted that all societies must go through the same sequence of progress. Modern theorists believe that change is multilinear. Societies can evolve in different ways and different directions.

Functionalist theory

The functionalist theory of social change teaches that society is like a human body. Each part is like an organ. Individual parts can’t survive on their own. Emile Durkheim, a major leader in the social sciences, believed that all parts of a society must be harmonious. If they aren’t unified, society is “no more than a pile of sand” that’s vulnerable to collapse. When one part suffers, all the other parts must adjust. Why? The functionalist theory believes that society always works toward stabilization. When problems occur, they’re temporary, but they do need attention from the other parts. This means social change.

Functionalism isn’t without its critics. Many point out that this theory tends to ignore that society’s elite often creates a mirage of harmony and stability. The theory also fails to factor in race, class, and gender. Functionalism reached its peak in the 1940s and ’50s, only to decline in the 1960s.

Conflict theory

The conflict theory states that society is by nature unequal and competitive. Karl Marx spearheaded this theory. While he did believe in the evolutionary model to a point, Marx didn’t think each phase resulted in something better than before. More often than not, the rich and powerful control the rest of society by exploiting vulnerable groups. This sows conflict, provoking people to action. Social change occurs as a result. The conflict model evolved over the years. It’s found in other theories such as feminist theory, queer theory, and critical race theory.

What triggers social change?

No society stays the same forever, but what specific causes drive it? Social change has three main triggers:

Conflict

It is clear from a glance at our global history that conflict provokes social change. Inequalities based on class, race, gender, religion, and more foster dissatisfaction and anger. To address their situation, groups come together to fight for change. Governments can be overthrown or restructured. Sometimes change happens quickly, but oftentimes it develops over time in stages.

Demographic change

When the demographic makeup of a society changes, social change is inevitable. Society’s demographics often change when births increase and/or people start living longer. A bigger population affects the dispersal and availability of resources. An increase in immigration or emigration also affects society.

Cultural change

New inventions, discoveries, and the spread of ideas contribute to cultural changes. Consider the effect of the internet. It’s not only changed the culture of individual countries but the entire world. It’s transformed how we communicate, as well as the structure of countless industries. Discoveries also impact a society’s culture. Consider how much changed when the Europeans “discovered” America. This example shows how social change is not always beneficial to everyone. New ideas about gender, race, religion, work, education, and so on also change a culture.

Take a free online course on Social Change (UNICEF)

Examples of social change

Social change often occurs as a result of social movements. There are countless examples throughout history in every country on earth. Some of the most famous (many of which are ongoing and/or evolving) include:

• The Reformation
• The abolition of the transatlantic slave trade
• The Civil Rights movement
• The feminist movement
• The LGBTQ+ rights movement
• The green movement

Why is Social Change important?

Social change occurs when societal institutions, structures, and cultures undergo a significant shift. Famous examples include the Reformation in 16th-century Europe and the American civil rights movement. More often than not, social change is slow. This is especially true of a global society. Why does social change matter? Here are 10 reasons:

#1. Social change gets the world closer to gender equality

Looking at the state of gender equality can be overwhelming, even discouraging. It’s important to remember that social change starts small. It becomes impactful as more individuals, groups, and institutions get on board. These actors propel the world forward culture by culture, country by country. Actions like closing the gender pay gap; increasing education access; and improving women’s healthcare contribute to lasting social change on a large scale.

#2. Social change improves worker rights

Throughout the course of history, greed exploits and endangers employees in every industry. The United States is an example of how social change affects labor and worker rights. Over two centuries, the US experienced the birth of unions, child labor laws, the minimum wage, and laws for family and medical leave. This area of social change is ongoing as workers continue to fight for their rights. They strike for higher wages and push for better legal protections. Consumers also play a part when they boycott businesses with unethical practices.

#3. Social change protects the LGBTQ+ community

The LGBTQ+ community is one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. People in this community face higher rates of suicide, violence, and discrimination. Many past and current social movements around the world center on LGBTQ+ rights. The legalization of same-sex marriage; legal protections against discrimination; and shifts in cultural perspectives represent social change. It protects individuals and gives them equality within society.

#4. Social change improves racial equality

Most societies deal with racial inequalities. Based on their race, groups and individuals face discrimination and disenfranchisement. Social movements (like the civil rights movement in the United States) focus on protesting current conditions and changing laws. Social change is also significant when it addresses society’s perception of race. Education and awareness can be as important as legislative measures.

#5. Social change is good for business

Studies show that when workplaces are more diverse, they’re more productive. If every workplace prioritized better inclusion and equality, it would improve business and society’s economy as a whole. Social changes include closing the gender pay gap, establishing legal protections for workers, and following non-discriminatory practices. These contribute to a workplace’s diversity and success.

#6. Social change helps the environment

No other living thing has affected the environment as much as humanity. Research shows that we’re damaging the air, water, and land at unprecedented rates. This affects the wellbeing and safety of everything on earth, including humans. Green social movements have pushed back with earth-friendly initiatives such as supporting endangered species. They also encourage individual responsibility and spread awareness about issues like climate change.

#7. Social change keeps governments accountable

History proves that power can corrupt. Governments often commit human rights violations against their own people. Social change can draw attention to these injustices, dismantle destructive structures, and help societies transition into better systems. These changes can occur quickly and violently through civil war or conflict. Through elections and legislature, the change can be more gradual.

#8. Social change addresses problems at the root

Lasting impact is one of the markers of social change. It isn’t enough to treat the symptoms and not the wound. The most effective social movements tackle issues at the root instead of only looking at the effects. As an example, to address homelessness, we must examine why people are homeless in the first place. Only providing short-term solutions won’t deal with underlying causes.  Long-term measures are also needed. Looking at the roots allows for permanent changes to develop, saving a society’s time, energy, and resources.

#9. Social change empowers citizens

Social change often occurs when individuals decide to work towards a common goal. They take note of what’s destructive or inefficient in society and take the steps necessary to change it. Most activists can point to a specific movement or person from the past that inspires them. Social change empowers citizens, proving that passion and hard work pays off even when there’s significant resistance.

#10. Social change makes life better for future generations

Many social movements lean on the understanding that social change is slow. Those fighting for change now know they might not reap the benefits, but coming generations will. Climate change activists are keenly aware of this fact. They understand that healing the planet takes time. Fighting battles now on behalf of those not even born yet is a selfless act. It sets up a society for future success.

Take a free online course on Social Change (UNICEF)

The post What is Social Change? appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

The world is going into a new decade. Unfortunately, it’s not been the best few years for human rights. Research like the 2018 Rule of Law index shows threats to human rights exist in ⅔ of the surveyed 113 countries. Since 2016, the index has reported diminishing scores. Many of the human rights issues fuel each other. As one becomes more significant, so do a host of others. Looking into 2021, what are the top 10 human rights issues of the future?

Human trafficking

Human trafficking is growing around the world. According to numbers from the UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), there’s been an increasing global trend since 2010. The executive director pointed out that armed groups and terrorists use human trafficking to spread fear. Victims often end up working in the sex trade or other forced labor. Human trafficking isn’t limited to certain countries. Of those trafficked, women and girls make up the majority. As the issue becomes more severe and widespread, the international community needs to ramp up its efforts. Read our other articles about human trafficking essays, facts, causes, documentaries, books and movies.

Refugee crises

According to the U.N. chief, the world is dealing with the “highest levels of displacement on record.” Reasons include climate change and armed conflict. Refugees fleeing their homes also experience persecution and discrimination. Other reports suggest the situation will only get worse in the future. What can be done? Providing assistance is expensive. The 2019 Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that the 132 million people displaced by conflicts in South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, and Somalia require over $20 billion. Because climate change and armed conflict aren’t easily resolved, the refugee crises will be of the biggest human rights issues in the future. Learn more about the refugee crises in a free online course.

Worker rights

In Article 23.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all people have “the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” These rights are threatened around the world in a myriad of ways. Injustices like wage theft, discrimination, and physical endangerment occur all the time. Work systems can make work-life balance difficult, taking a toll on employees’ mental health. In many places, inadequate pay is also an issue. The federal minimum wage in the United States has remained the same since 2009. As we go into a new decade, worker rights will become more significant.

Gender equality

Gender inequality has been a human rights issue for hundreds of years. Even with decades of progress, the World Economic Forum believes it could take the world another century to realize gender equality. It’s a complicated issue because there isn’t just one problem to address. Access to education, political representation, reproductive rights, economic opportunities, and more contribute to gender inequality. Making significant changes and monitoring progress will remain a top human rights in the future. Learn more about Gender equality in a free course.

LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ rights are not an especially recent human rights issue, but they will evolve in the future. Depending on the country, the state of these rights varies widely. All over the world, definitions are changing and expanding. This makes navigating the issues more challenging and complex for society and the human rights community. In the future, how we approach LGBTQ+ rights and gender identity may change, but standing against discrimination will remain necessary.

Human rights and technology

Looking at the past, innovations spread at a lightning pace. Inventions like the internet impact how we communicate and how ideas develop. Technology also changes our relationship with powerful institutions. Unfortunately, legal protections and structures have not developed at the same speed. The future will include questions about human rights as they apply to data privacy, the definition of hate speech, surveillance and digital security. These issues will trigger the development of organizations dedicated to this area.

Nationalism

Despite seventy years of multilateralism and global leadership from institutions like the UN, nationalism is on the rise. It can be found in countries like the United States, Europe, China, and Turkey. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warns that nationalism threatens rights such as the right to life, food, and health. Vulnerable groups like refugees and the LGBTQ+ community face significant danger under nationalism. In the coming years, the world will have to reckon with this shift.

Attacks on journalists and the spread of misinformation

The concept, definition, and spread of “fake news” will continue to be a major issue for societies around the world. Fake news, defined as misinformation and propaganda, causes divisions and endangers a free press. Journalists face significant obstacles and dangers to their work and lives. 2018 was the worst year on record for journalists according to Reporters Without Borders. With nationalism gaining strength, this trend will continue. Human rights as a whole suffer when truth and access to information are endangered.

Responding to climate change

The climate crisis will only get worse as time goes on. Our current state reflects climate scientists’ worst-case scenarios. How to respond will be one of the world’s most serious questions in the future. In a 2019 report, the UN Conference on Trade and Development stated that the energy industry needs a careful transition. Otherwise, the loss of money from the energy industry could cause destabilization “internally, regionally, and even internationally.” However, a transition is essential for the survival of humanity. How to respond to humanitarian crises caused by climate change will also be a significant human rights issue.

A more effective UN and commitment to human rights

2018 reflected the 12th year of a global decline in political and civil rights. When reports on 2019 come out, they’re likely to echo this disheartening reality. As we enter a new decade, the international community has an opportunity to show a renewed commitment to human rights. Countries need to hold themselves and others accountable while raising awareness of human rights and social justice issues.

The post 10 Human Rights Issues Of The Future appeared first on Human Rights Careers.

Even though human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry, most people are unaware of what it looks like, who it affects, and how it can be addressed. A good documentary can provide essential information, engaging stories, and further resources for those interested in learning more. Available online from a variety of platforms, these nine human trafficking documentaries cover topics such as sex trafficking, forced labor, and how survivors heal:

#1. Brides and Brothels: The Rohingya Trade
#2. Sex Trafficking in America
#3. By the Name of Tania
#4. Food Chains
#5. Ghost Fleet
#6. The Dark Side of Chocolate
#7. The Apology
#8. Children of War
#9. Machines

#1. Brides and Brothels: The Rohingya Trade (2018)

From: Al Jazeera English | Available on: Youtube

After escaping Myanmar’s brutal military, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya girls and women seek safety in Bangladesh. However, the refugee camps are anything but safe. This 25-minute documentary from Al Jazeera English centers on what happens in those camps that shelter almost a million refugees. Facing financial hardships, families sell their female relatives into child marriages. Many also end up in brothels after being promised good work. The documentary, which is available on Youtube, follows the stories of three girls. It reveals that the risk of trafficking doesn’t go away after people escape a conflict. While the world may believe that the Rohingya women are safe once they leave Myanmar, they’re actually entering a new hell.

The conditions shown in the 2018 documentary have likely only gotten worse. In February 2021, a military coup deposed the democratically-elected Myanmar government. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, which significantly increased the risk of human trafficking. Efforts to stop trafficking have also decreased as the military regime focuses on punishing political enemies and targeting religious and ethnic minorities.

#2. Sex Trafficking in America (2019)

Directed by: Jezza Neumann | Available on: PBS Frontline

Filmed over three years, this 54-minute documentary from PBS Frontline takes a look at sex trafficking in the United States. At 16, Kat was kidnapped and trafficked by men she met online. Through her story, the film explores how victims are chosen, groomed, and sold. In the documentary, Kat says that she didn’t even know something like that was possible in the US. The film also follows a unique police unit based in Phoenix. They fight sex trafficking through techniques like undercover social media operations. While “Sex Trafficking in America” reveals the trauma of trafficking, it also offers a glimmer of hope.

Jezza Neumann, whose first film was about trafficking in China, became interested in the issue in the US after talking to Kevin Bales, a professor specializing in modern-day slavery. PBS Frontline has been running since 1983 and focuses on hard-hitting topics. Each broadcast is a stand-alone feature-length documentary. “Sex Trafficking in America” is available to watch for free on the PBS Frontline website.

#3. By the Name of Tania (2019)

Directed by: Bénédicte Liénard and Mary Jiménez | Available on: Tubi

While technically not a documentary, this film is based on eyewitness accounts. While working on other projects in Peru, the filmmakers encountered stories of poverty, trafficking, and other traumas. “Tania” is a composite character created using real stories. In the film, Tania tries to leave her small Peruvian village for a better life, but she’s soon forced into sex work. The film features first-person narration, striking shots of Tania and her community, and the natural beauty of the Amazon.

The project began when the filmmakers met a former prospector held prisoner in Peru’s gold mining area. He told them the story of how at 15 years old, he tried to leave with a woman he’d met at a brothel. Struck by the story, the filmmakers went looking for more information. They ended up meeting women in the area’s brothels and a police officer who gave them a USB containing testimonies from girls he’d helped escape trafficking. With these stories, the filmmakers created “Tania.”

#4. Food Chains (2014)

Directed by: Sanjay Rawal | Available on: Amazon Prime (to rent)

In Florida, migrant farmworkers spend hours in the fields picking vegetables and fruit for huge food corporations. The manual labor is hard enough, but farmworkers are frequently exploited, sexually abused, and harmed in a myriad of other ways. While supermarkets make trillions of dollars every day, the people responsible for working the fields face awful conditions and low wages. “Food Chains” focuses on a group of tomato pickers who form the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. To raise awareness of their working conditions and demand more than a penny per pound of tomatoes, they go on strike.

When discussing human trafficking, many people forget about agriculture, where exploitation and abuse are long-persisting issues. In 2015, “Food Chains” won the James Beard Foundation Award for Special/Documentary. It received additional praise from the media and has a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is available in both English and Spanish.

#5. Ghost Fleet (2019)

Directed by: Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron | Available on: Apple TV, Prime Video, Tubi

With a premiere at TIFF in 2018, this documentary focuses on the slave trade that powers Indonesia’s seafood industry and a group of activists committed to changing it. Being responsible for a huge part of the world’s seafood supply is a tall order, but there aren’t enough fishermen. To meet demand, the industry is rife with human trafficking. People from Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and other places are sold to fishing fleets for a few hundred dollars apiece. Abused and kept in cages, these enslaved fishermen can go for months or even years without leaving the ships.

While many human trafficking documentaries focus on sex slavery, it’s important to remember that forced labor also affects millions of people. “Ghost Fleet” brings the situation to light. Viewers are also forced to reckon with their own ethics and consumption of seafood that likely comes from sources that use slave labor.

#6. The Dark Side of Chocolate (2010)

Directed by: Miki Mistrati and U. Roberto Romano | Available on: Youtube

Fresh produce and seafood aren’t the only food industries affected by trafficking. For decades, slavery has fueled the chocolate industry. Places like West Africa are especially dependent on child labor for their cocoa production. The film begins in Germany with questions to vendors about suppliers. The journey continues to Mali and then the Ivory Coast, where children are enslaved on cocoa plantations. Huge corporations like Nestle use that chocolate, and despite promises to stop, very few changes have been made. Deadlines for complying with new rules kept getting pushed back.

Directors Miki Mistrati and U. Roberto Romano used secret cameras to film much of this documentary. In 2012, it was nominated for the Adolf Grimme Award in the Information & Culture category. Have things changed much since this film came out? Big companies have made lots of promises, but slavery is still a huge problem for the industry. The 46-minute documentary is currently available to watch for free on Youtube.

#7. The Apology (2016)

Directed by: Tiffany Hsiung | Available on: Tubi and Amazon Prime (rental)

During WWII, the Imperial Japanese Army forced around 200,000 women and girls into sexual slavery. Known as “comfort women,” these women were kept at “comfort stations” that Japanese soldiers visited when they needed a sexual outlet. Japanese women were among the first victims, but women from across occupied territories were kidnapped or tricked with promises of legitimate work. “The Apology” follows three women from the Philippines, who after decades of silence and shame, share their experiences while seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government.

“The Apology” is a powerful film showing the lasting effects of sexual slavery on survivors, as well as their strength. It won a 2018 Peabody Award after airing on PBS. It’s available for free on Tubi.

#8. Children of War (2010)

Directed by: Brian Single | Available on: Kanopy (with a public library card or university login)

The Lord’s Resistance Army, a militant group led by Joseph Kony, has been accused of human rights violations like murder, child-sex slavery, mutilation, and using child soldiers since 1987. While not as active today, the group leaves behind a long legacy of pain and trauma. Filmed over three years, “Children of War” follows a group of former child soldiers as they try to heal in a rehabilitation center with the help of counselors.

Since its premiere at the United States Institute of Peace, the documentary has received a handful of awards, such as the Justice Award from the Cinema for Peace Foundation in Berlin. It’s also been screened by organizations like Amnesty International and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

#9. Machines (2016)

Directed by: Rahul Jain| Available on: Amazon Prime (rental), Apple TV

Sweatshops are dangerous, exploitative, and responsible for producing many of the clothes we wear today. In this documentary, Ruhal Jain gains access to one of the thousands of textile mills in Suchin, India. Viewers witness the dehumanizing practices, dangerous conditions, and suffering of workers hidden in these buildings. They describe what their lives are like, which include grueling 12-hour work days and long commutes.

“Machines” played at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 and premiered in New York at the Museum of Modern Art. It has a 92% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes. The film is in Hindi with English subtitles.

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As the effects of climate change become more widespread and severe, millions of people are at risk for displacement. They become climate refugees. These people flee their homes not because of war, but because the climate has made the land unlivable. It’s already happening all over the world. Droughts and flooding threaten food security while extreme weather events like hurricanes destroy homes and claim lives. Climate change also leads to disease and aggravates societal instability. To get an idea of how serious the problem is, here are five documentaries about climate refugees:

Meet America’s First Climate Change Refugees (2019)

From: SBS Dateline/Jeanette Francis and Lanneke Hargreaves | Available: Youtube

Many people believe climate refugees will come from places like Latin America. While many of them will, the US isn’t unaffected by climate change. As sea waters rise, coastal areas are at risk. Dateline reporters visit these communities to explore what exactly people are dealing with. The US is very reluctant to accept the reality of climate change, even pulling out of international meetings about the issue. In the meanwhile, people are being forced to leave their homes

Dateline is an Australian TV public affairs program on SBS. It first premiered in 1984 and focuses on international events. It’s the longest-running international current affairs program in the country. Since 2000, Dateline reporters have gone out to pursue stories without sound engineers or camera crew. “Meet America’s First Climate Change Refugees” is 25 minutes long.

Tangier Island: Among the First US Climate Refugees? (2018)

From: The Atlantic Selects Director: Jeff Leeds Cohn

Tangier is a tiny island 12 miles off the Virginian coast. It only has 600 permanent residents who make a living as crabbers, schoolteachers, and so on. For over 240 years, islanders have depended on the sea for fish, crab, and oysters They are the world’s main source of soft shell crab. However, because of rising ocean levels, the island will be gone in as few as 25 years. The rest of America might not fare much better as climate change threatens all coastal towns and islands.

The 12-minute long “Tangier Island” is part of The Atlantic Selects, which is described as “an online showcase of short documentaries.” The Atlantic curates the shorts, which come from independent creators like Jeff Leeds Cohn. The Atlantic magazine and multi-platform publisher was founded in 1857.

Climate Refugees in Bangladesh (2019)

From: DW Documentary | Available on: Youtube

Bangladesh is at risk for big changes in the next three decades. Up to 20% could be underwater as the sea and rivers rise. The Meghna River is already changing, now moving fast enough to destroy houses and tear away the ground. 30 million people would need to move. Momtaj Begum and her family are only one example. 2,000 climate refugees pour into Dhaka, the capital city, every day. The city overwhelmed, the government is becoming aggressive. As the years go by and the effects of climate change increase, things will only get worse.

DW Documentary is part of Deutsche Welle, a series of television channels. It began broadcasting in 1992 and focuses on news. Their documentaries come from international production companies and German broadcasters. “Climate Refugees in Bangladesh” is 42 minutes long.

Thank You For The Rain (2017)

Director: Kisilu Masya/Julia Dahr

This unique documentary gives viewers a very personal look at who climate change affects. Kisilu Musya, a Kenyan farmer, spent several years documenting life in his village. He captured droughts, storms, floods, and more. “Thank You For the Rain” represents the collaboration between Musya and Julia Dahr, a Norwegian filmmaker. Today, Kisilu is a major figure in his community as a climate justice activist. This film shows the work that people are doing to preserve their lives and land, so they don’t become climate refugees.

“Thank You For the Rain” has been screened at many festivals around the world. It’s won 16 awards like the Basil Wright Film Prize in 2019 at the Rai Film Festival and the 2019 Doc Impact Award. By looking at one man’s life and community, the film brings the emotional stakes of climate change to a viewer’s attention. “Thank You For The Rain” is 1 hour, 30 minutes long.

Honduras: Climate Change Refugees

From: ARTE Documentary | Available on: Youtube

Climate change has hit Central America hard in recent years. Drought is an especially serious problem for Honduras, making food insecurity one of the main reasons why people leave. In this documentary, viewers learn how hydroelectric and mining projects are making the situation worse. Environmental activists fight back but at the risk of their own lives. Honduras is the most dangerous country in the world for environmental activists. People are not only fighting against the effects of climate change. They’re also facing off against companies who are actively creating climate refugees.

ARTE is a Franco-German network originally launched in 1992. It streams magazine shows, documentaries, concerts, and other cultural programming. Selected programs with subtitles are available online. “Honduras: Climate Change Refugees” is just over 23 minutes long,

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In recent years, the undeniably devastating effects of climate change have become clearer and clearer. Higher global temperatures lead to drought, flooding, rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions on an unprecedented scale. This affects not only the environment and animal species, but humans and their rights as well. Marginalised communities and vulnerable groups suffer the most from the consequences of climate change.

What happens when people are unable to stay where they are, faced with droughts, flooding, disease, and other dangers? They become climate refugees. Data from the World Bank suggests that by 2050, climate change could displace many as 140 million people. Here are five films available online that explore this issue further:

Planet SOS from Palau to Alaska: Where Will Climate Refugees Go When The Tide Rises? (2019)

Available on: Youtube |  From: Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera reporters travel to Palau, an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, to investigate the effects of climate change. For thousands of years, the people have depended on the ocean, but as sea levels rise, they’re in danger. In this short film, Al Jazeera takes a closer look at what Palau is doing to protect itself and its biodiversity. The film also features a reporter going to an Alaskan village. There, natives deal with rising seas. In the Netherlands, people consider building homes on the water.

The Al Jazeera Media Network owns Al Jazeera English. It’s won numerous awards since its launch in 2006. The network is available via live streaming on its website. “Planet SOS” proves that the effects of climate change aren’t something on the horizon. They’re happening right now.

Fleeing Climate Change – The Real Environmental Disaster (2019)

Available on: Youtube | From: DW Documentary | Report by: Thomas Anders

In this 42-minute documentary, viewers are taken to “hotspots” or areas most affected by climate change. These include the Sahel Zone, Indonesia, and the Russian Tundra. In the Sahel Zone, Lake Chad has shrunk by 90% over the last half-century. Without rain, around 40 million will need to leave their homes. In Indonesia, rising waters from rivers will destroy poorer neighborhoods and ruin crops. In Russia, melting permafrost endangers both people and infrastructure.

DW Documentary is part of the DW-TV family of television channels from Deutsche Welle. Broadcasting began in 1992 with a focus on news and information. Documentaries like “Fleeing Climate Change” come from German broadcasters and international production companies. The film shows how climate change affects the world in different but equally devastating ways.

Climate Refugees (2010)

Available on: Tubi (US only, free), Youtube (rent) | Director: Michael P. Nash

Director and producer Michael P. Nash explores the human impact of climate change around the world. He and his producing partner Justin Hogan went to 48 countries to collect information.  The film features politicians like John Kerry and Al Gore, as well as scientists and environmental activists. What will happen when countries run out of food and water? Where will the people go?

“Climate Refugees” premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The film has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, but received some criticism for its portrayal of climate refugees as “victims” and wealthier Western nations as “saviors.” Because of the breadth of research involved in making the film, it’s still worth watching and discussing.

The Age of Consequences (2016)

Available on: Tubi (US only, free), Youtube (rent) | Director: Jared P. Scott

This film looks at climate change effects like human migration and conflict within a national/global security framework. Military members and politicians like Madeleine Albright discuss how climate change plays a role in issues like the rise of ISIS and the conflict in Syria. Climate change triggers water and food shortages, drought, flooding, and other societal disruptions. This leads to violence and political instability. If nothing is done to address climate change, the world will see more refugees, terrorism, and political upheaval.

“The Age of Consequences” has a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for an Emmy for Oustanding Politics and Government documentary. It goes beyond the science of climate change and digs into the societal impacts. Solving climate change is about more than saving the environment; it’s about saving ourselves.

The Island President (2012)

Available on: Tubi (US only, free), Youtube | Director: Jon Shenk

The Maldive Islands is one of the places most vulnerable to climate change. As sea waters rise, the island is in danger of vanishing completely. This film features Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the island. He tries to protect the island and prevent Maldivians from becoming climate refugees. Once a political prisoner, Nasheed brought democratic reform to the island after three decades of a dictatorship.

Before the film’s release, Nasheed resigned in response to protests from political opponents and a police mutiny. Director Shenk hoped that the film would draw attention to the Maldive Islands and demonstrate that Nasheed was essentially forced out. “The Island President” has a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Take a free course about refugee issues and migration.

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The trafficking of people for sex and labor is a global issue. It’s fueled by desperation, conflict, inequality, and greed. Learning more about human trafficking feels overwhelming for many people. While there are countless books and articles, movies may provide a more engaging way to find out more about this heart wrenching topic. Here are ten movies – a mix of documentaries and fictionalized stories – that center on human trafficking.

Tricked (2013)

This documentary film takes the viewer to big cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York City. People like police officers, pimps, and people forced into the sex trade paint a picture of the situation. What’s being done about it? Tricked follows a Denver vice squad as they rescue survivors and track down traffickers. In spite of their work, the problem persists. Budget cuts and a legal system that doesn’t keep traffickers off the streets complicates things. Tricked is rated TV-MA and has a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Storm Makers (2014)

Focusing on Cambodia’s industry, this film pulls back the curtain on the “storm makers,” or human traffickers. Of more than half a million Cambodians working abroad, about ⅓ have been sold. Young women make up the majority. They’re forced into labor or sex work in countries like Taiwan and Malaysia. The Storm Makers follows the lives of two traffickers, the head of an agency, and a recruiter.

The Whistleblower (2010)

A Canadian-German-American production, this biographical crime drama stars Rachel Weisz as Kathryn Bolkovac. While working as a UN peacekeeper for DynCorp International in Bosnia, she discovered a sex trafficking ring run by DynCorp employees. When she tried to take action, she was fired. What happened next educates the viewer on how corruption affects attempts to deal with human trafficking. The film contains intense violence that some felt was exploitative. Others believed it was necessary.

Sex Trafficking in America (2019)

This documentary aired as part of PBS Frontline’s 2019 season. It follows a Phoenix-based police unit dedicated to stopping sex trafficking and relates a survivor’s story. Sex trafficking is often something that Americans believe is an international problem. This film proves that it’s a serious issue right here, as well. Viewers can watch the documentary for free on the PBS Frontline website.

Priceless (2016)

A project from the band For King and Country, this romantic-drama can serve as a good introduction to human trafficking for younger people. It tells the fictional story of James Stevens, a widower who agrees to drive a truck against the country no questions asked. He soon learns he’s working for a human trafficking ring. The film received mixed reviews, but it does introduce viewers to the role that trucking plays in trafficking. The nonprofit Truckers Against Trafficking addresses the problem by training drivers to identify and report suspicious activity.

I am Jane Doe (2017)

This Netflix documentary focuses on the legal suits brought against Backpage.com, a classified ad website notorious for sex trafficking. It follows the mothers of victims who sued, their lawyers, and groups who pushed back on attempts to hold Backpage accountable. Congress held a private screening of the film. In 2018, the FBI seized Backpage.

Girl Model (2011)

This documentary explores the disturbing relationship between Siberia and Japan. In the Japanese market, young girls from Siberia are very popular. Scouts bring them to Tokyo, where they’re manipulated and exploited. Though not legally human trafficking, the practices of the industry and modeling agent are right on the doorstep. The film fails to dig into the possible forced sex work that might be happening but it does show how the agents groom potential victims.

Born into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids (2004)

When documentary photographer Zana Briski went to Calcutta, she made the sex workers there a deal. In exchange for portraits, she would teach their kids some photography skills. They could document their lives. Many of the photos, as well as the children’s stories and relationships with the filmmakers, appear in this film. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2005.

The Chosen Ones (2015)

This drama centers on the relationship between Sofia and Ulysis, two teenagers in love. There’s more to the story: Ulysis is in charge of grooming his girlfriend for his family’s prostitution ring. Things get complicated when he realizes he actually cares about her. The Chosen Ones, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award, digs into the causes and effects of forced sex labor in Mexico.

The Twelve Thousand (2020)

“The Twelve Thousand” is a movie shot in Kathmandu that portrays the harrowing journey of Sona, a young woman who falls victim to human trafficking. Initially enticed by the promise of a better life in the city, Sona is deceived and eventually sold into sex trafficking at an Indian brothel. After enduring three years of captivity, she is eventually rescued and repatriated to Nepal, where she finds refuge in a safe home and begins her healing process. The film features no professional actors, only Nepalese nationals—all of whom have been affected by sex trafficking.

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Director/Writer: Sudabeh Mortezai
Starring: Anwulika Alphonsus, Mariam Sansui, Angela Ekeleme
Studio: Films Boutique
Runtime: 99 minutes
Rating: NR

Human trafficking and forced sex labor are a major issue today. In recent years, thousands of poor women from countries like Nigeria come to Europe in search of a better life. Many arrive to work in the sex trade already indebted to traffickers for the cost of their travel and other expenses. It takes years to earn their freedom. Even then, escape isn’t a guarantee and a high number end up back in the trade, although this time, it’s in the position of the exploiter.

This cycle is key to Sudabeh Mortezai’s “Joy,” a film more interested in realistic depictions of Austria’s sex industry than dramatic plot twists. Shot almost like a documentary, “Joy” observes the life and choices of its complex title character without judgement, leaving the viewer to grapple with hard questions and not many answers. It’s not an easy film to watch, but its compassionate realism is essential to bringing awareness to human trafficking.

Human connections take priority over plot

While most movies (that aren’t documentaries) show the sex trafficking world as a network of kidnappers who target strangers and force them into slavery, “Joy” centers on the close-knit community and complex relationships that keep the system functioning. Soon after the film begins, we meet Joy, a woman who has been working the streets for years and is almost finished paying off her debt to her madame. She is told to help guide a new girl, Precious, who is terrified of the job. There’s a very difficult scene where Precious begs the madame for any other work, but as punishment, she’s taken to another room and raped.

The camera doesn’t follow the violence, but remains on Joy as she listens to Precious’ screams. Her reaction may be hard for some to interpret, but that’s the point.

While she clearly feels some compassion for the girl, Joy has a young daughter of her own and Precious threatens Joy’s ability to provide and earn her freedom. The relationship between the two women – one experienced with trauma and one just beginning her trauma – is complex and hard to reconcile with.

“Joy”  also explores the relationships people have with their community and culture. The significance of the black magic – a juju ceremony – that binds women to their debts before they leave Nigeria comes up frequently throughout the film. Women like Joy are tied to their communities and families through fear of black magic, not just a sense of duty or love. They truly believe that if they are unable to hold up their end of the deal, they face supernatural repercussions. Knowing this is very important for understanding many of Joy’s decisions in the film, especially when she’s presented with an opportunity to expose her madame.

Caught in a cycle

While relationships are central to the story, what is arguably most striking about “Joy” is the cyclical nature of the industry. The film takes an unrelenting look at how those who have been exploited and abused often eventually become the exploiters and abusers. When researching, director Mortezai was shocked to learn that many madames were once slaves themselves. After earning their freedom, they turned back around to victimize other women, though they may not see it in this light.

Joy’s madame says things like, “I brought you from Africa to this place to have a good life.” She justifies her position by saying that in her time, women believed they were going to be cleaners, but once they arrived, they were enslaved into prostitution. The newer generation, according to the madame, at least knew what they were getting into. These conversations are a sobering insight into why a person who experienced the trauma of forced prositution would inflict that trauma on others.

While the film may attempt to explain the mindset of a madame, it doesn’t excuse it. Late in the film, there’s an excruciating scene where very young women are paraded in front of a room of madames considering who to buy. The girls look shell-shocked, their body language withdrawn and timid. They look so young that even one of the madames expresses concern about one girl’s age. The one man in the room – who we assume brought the girls – insists she’s 18. This scene depicts a slave auction, pure and simple, but what is most disturbing is that the buyers are other women who were most likely once sold themselves.

What should viewers expect from this movie?

“Joy” is not a plot-driven movie, at least when compared to most movies made these days. It’s centered completely on its characters and the choices they have to make regarding their own lives and the lives of others. Many other cast members are not actually professional actors, but former sex workers themselves. That commitment to realism carries over into the editing and camera choices – it looks and feels like a documentary. Many reviews went so far as to say that Joy doesn’t show much emotion, but considering how hardened and guarded she is, it makes sense. “Joy” won the Best Film Award at the 2018 London Film Festival. It’s available on Netflix, and anyone interested in human rights and human trafficking should seek it out. It shines a light on the industry, and most importantly, the people involved in it at every level.

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Film is one of the most powerful ways to highlight human rights issues around the world. Thanks to visuals, sound, and other features of cinema, you don’t even have to speak the language of the filmmaker to be moved. Festivals are a great place to go if you are a filmmaker trying to get your message out; an employee who is part of an NGO in the human rights field; or just someone who wants to get involved in the human rights community. In addition to watching films, festivals provide opportunities to participate in discussions and Q&A’s with creators, and to meet new people passionate about human rights issues. Here are six human rights film festivals taking place in 2020:

ACT Human Rights Film Festival

Date: April 3rd-11th, 2020
Held at Fort Collins’ Colorado State University, the ACT Human Rights Festival’s goals are to “Awaken” audiences to global human rights issues, “Connect” them to filmmakers and each other, and “Transform” how audiences engage with ideas, cultures, other people, and communities. The first festival occurred in 2016. Each year, the festival is held in April and goes for a week. There are screenings, Q&A’s, and panel discussions. Past festivals have included Oscar-nominated filmmakers such as James Longely, whose film “Angels are Made of Light” screened last year. This film explores the daily lives of people adjusted to the frightening presence of both American soldiers and the resurgent Taliban. As the 2020 festival draws closer, film schedules will be released.

This Human World

Date: 28. November – 10. Dezember
Vienna’s first international human rights film festival is a platform of cinematic art and critical discourse, a space of encounter and dialogue, and a meeting point for young innovative filmmakers, both local and international. The organisers consider cinema not only an artistic form wherein narrative experiences are performed or created, but also an opportunity for the audience to step out of their comfort zone and into dialogue with new challenging realities.

One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival

Date: March 5th-14th, 2020
The One World film festival is held in Prague in the Czech Republic. It’s organized by Czech nonprofit “People In Need.” Since its founding, One World has become one of the largest human rights film festivals in the world. The org holds another festival in Brussels; a festival that goes into schools; and a festival that travels through Czech Republic towns. One World gives awards in three competition categories, as well as non-competition thematic categories, and an interactive or “Docs for Kids” category. In total, there are seven awards given out, such as Award for Best Film in the International Competition, Student Jury Award, and Audience Award.

International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights

Date: March 6th-15th, 2020
Held in Geneva, the capital city of human rights, this film festival gathers filmmakers, activists, policymakers, and citizens. It’s been going on since 2003, and has seen over 233,000 audience members, the majority of whom are young people under 35 years old. In addition to the festival, the FIFDH runs a forum alongside the UN Human Rights Council. The goal is to show the best of international cinema, fiction, and documentaries on human rights and encourage public support of human rights. Each night of the festival, people are invited to talk about topics such as climate change, corruption, and more. This year, any film submissions are due October 31, 2019.

HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival

Date: February 24th-March 1, 2020
Currently Oslo’s largest documentary film festival, HUMAN’s goal is to engage with and promote human rights issues and other social issues. Each year, the festival joins with 60-70 NGOS, think tanks, newspapers, and more. The film program has 40+ new Norwegian and international documentaries in three categories: a competition program for new Norwegian docs; a program for international docs with a specific human rights focus; and an international program with new docs focused on a variety of political and social topics. The festival also has a Live program, with debates, art exhibits, plays, and more. For documentary filmmakers and NGOS, there’s a seminar on the future of social/political doc films.

Movies That Matter

Date: March 20th-28th, 2020
Every year at the end of March, the Movies That Matter org holds a film festival in The Hague. It is the Netherlands’ main platform for cinema and hosts 70+ documentaries and films. There are three competitions: “Activist,” a competition with Amnesty International that focuses on films paying tribute to human rights activists; “Camera Justitia,” which focuses on international justice; and “Dutch Movies Matter,” a competition specifically for Dutch filmmakers. The festival also has an education program, debates and discussions, music, and exhibits. The submission dates for films is December 1, 2019.

Human Rights Film Festival Barcelona

Date: November 15-24, 2020
The oldest human rights independent film festival, this event has been going on for nearly 20 years. Its central headquarters is in Barcelona. Its goals are to “make us think, awaken our conscience, denounce justice, and reflect the social and cultural diversity of humanity.” Like most human rights film festivals, there are awards. Categories include “Best Feature Film,” “Best Documentary Short Film,” and “Best Fiction Short-Film.” There are also special awards, like the Voices Award for radio and Human Rights award.

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At a time of crisis for the classical music profession, with a changing commercial landscape, a shrinking audience base, and a contraction in the number of professional orchestras, how does a young musician construct a career today?

Are we looking at a dying art form or a moment of reinvigoration? In this course we will develop a response to these questions, and we will explore the notion that the classical musician, the artist, is an important public figure with a critical role to play in society.

The course will include inquiry into a set of ideas in philosophy of aesthetics; a discussion about freedom, civil society, and ways that art can play a role in readying people for democracy; discussion on philosophy of education as it relates to the question of positive social change; and an exploration of musical and artistic initiatives that have been particularly focused on a positive social impact.

Guiding questions for this course inquiry will include:
– How can classical music effect social change?
– How has music made positive change in communities around the globe?
– What can the field of classical music learn from other movements for social change?
– How have educators and philosophers thought about the arts and their connection to daily contemporary life?

Each class will explore one critical question through lectures, discussions, interviews, or documentaries.

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