AMERICAS AT A CROSSROADS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Blog post
Faced with an unprecedented pandemic, governments across the Americas have begun to respond to COVID-19 in a variety of ways, ranging from calling for states of emergencies, to imposing travel bans, to implementing quarantines. Stakes are high and the way governments respond to this pandemic could determine the future of millions of people.
Governments are ultimately responsible for protecting people and their human rights but have often failed to do so in the Americas. Deep inequality, structural discrimination, a tendency to revert to repressive policing, censorship, underfunded public health systems, and inadequate social security and labour protections long predate the outbreak of COVID-19 in the region.
Americas Argentina Chile Colombia Global Guatemala México Peru United States
Gender-Based Violence against Women: Both Cause for Migration and Risk along the Journey
Each year, countless women and children flee violence at home and take an uncertain journey in the hope of finding safety in a new country. While many escape conflict zones or generalized human-rights abuses, some also run from more intimate forms of violence namely, sexual and domestic violence perpetrated by men. Setting off on the journey is no guarantee of safety; many are vulnerable to gender-based abuse in transit and even at destination.
International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP)
ICMP ensures the cooperation of governments and others in addressing the issue of missing persons, including provisions to build institutional capacity, encourage public involvement and address the needs of justice and provides technical assistance to governments in locating, recovering and identifying missing persons.
https://www.icmp.int/what-we-do/
Africa Asia Central America Europe Global Latin America United States
Male Rape and Human Rights
For the last few decades, the prevailing approach to sexual violence in international human rights instruments has focused virtually exclusively on the abuse of women and girls. In the meantime, men have been abused and sexually humiliated during situations of armed conflict. Childhood sexual abuse of boys is alarmingly common.
Evaluating Asylum Seekers: An Interview with Dr. Arno Vosk
In the third installment of Evaluating Asylum Seekers, Sampsonia Way speaks to Dr. Arno Vosk, an advisor to a medical student clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. I find it incredible that people who have endured such suffering in their home countries should find it so difficult to get refuge in the United States.
Terrorism Safety Tips
Terrorist attacks like the ones we experienced on September 11, 2001 have left many concerned about the possibility of future incidents of terrorism in the United States and their potential impact. They have raised uncertainty about what might happen next, increasing stress levels. There are things you can do to prepare for terrorist attacks and reduce the stress that you may feel now and later should another emergency arise. Taking preparatory action can reassure you and your children that you can exert a measure of control even in the face of such events.
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/terrorism.html
Psychologists for Social Responsibility (PsySR)
PsySR uses psychological knowledge and skills to promote peace with social justice at the community, national and international levels.
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC)
Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International (TASSC) is the only organization founded by and for survivors of torture. It was established in 1998, on the guiding principles that torture is a crime against humanity and that survivors are the strongest and most effective voice in the campaign to end the practice of torture.
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters
The purpose of this fact sheet is to tell what is known about the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents and suggest steps to minimize long-term emotional harm.
PHR, Physicians for Human Rights, Persecution and Asylum
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) in Boston operates an Asylum Network of over 300 health care professionals to help people who have fled torture or other persecution in their native countries and are seeking political asylum in the United States. Volunteers conduct examinations of asylum applicants and prepare written testimony.