Transcript Hmong International Foundation

Human Rights Day
December 10, 2010
Bruce Thao
What are human
rights?
Questions to Consider
What do human rights mean to
me?
Is it something I need to be
concerned about here in
Chicago?
What can I do?
Hmong
Hmong
Building Awareness
• High school –
• Amnesty
• UNITY
• College –
• Elementary tutor
• HAWKS
• Los Ninos
• Workers’ Rights
• NH
RADION TRAILER
HMONG-LAO REFUGEES
Huay Nam Khao camp – Deb Dawb
 about 5,000
 cramped conditions
 MSF pulled out
 Nong Khai Detention Center
 152 men, women and children
 all have UNHCR refugee status
 2 cells, couple hours walking time per day
 international human rights groups media attention/outcry
 Site X
 about 350 people, 70 families
MAIN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
 Persecution in Laos
 Thailand’s denial of access to refugee
assessment by UNHCR
 Forced deportations- violation of nonrefoulement
 Laos denial to transparency and
monitoring of repatriation process
NOW
 Last Christmas all deported back to Laos
 Severe violation of international human
rights law
 No transparency in repatriation or
resettlement process
HMONG-THAI VILLAGERS
Emergencies & Disasters
• Social stigma
• Relief is always channeled to
mainstream Thais first
• Road Access
• Some rural areas are not
reached
• Hmong seen as second-class
citizens
• Lack job skills
• Domestic violence
• Alcoholism, drugs, glue, pills
• Poverty
• Abandoned elderly
• Children at risk
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT &
CRISIS RELIEF PROGRAM
Challenges
Structures & Solutions
Socially
Marginalized &
Second Class
Citizens
Domestic
Violence, Drug
abuse
Baseline needs
unmet & social
stress increases
CECRP
High poverty
rate & Lack of
education
Poor Or Little
Job skills
Empowerment
Arm
Capacity Building
Crisis Arm
Meeting
immediate needs
Street children Outreach and Drug
Prevention/Intervention
Video
So here we are…
What are the issues we are
facing here in Chicago?
Are they human rights issues?
Questions to Consider
What do human rights mean to
me?
Is it something I need to be
concerned about here in
Chicago?
What can I do?
Additional Resources
Organizations:
• www.amnesty.org
• www.hrw.org
International Bodies:
• www.ohchr.org
• www.un.org
Volunteering:
• www.volunteermatch.org
• www.heartlandalliance.org
Other:
• www.humanrights.uchicago.edu
Questions /
Comments