Human Rights Day December 10, 2010 Bruce Thao

What are human rights?

What do human rights mean to me? Is it something I need to be concerned about here in Chicago? What can I do? Questions to Consider

Hmong

High school – Amnesty UNITY College – Elementary tutor HAWKS Los Ninos Workers’ Rights NH Building Awareness

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 non- refoulement  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 ChallengesStructures & SolutionsChallengesStructures & Solutions

Street children Outreach and Drug Prevention/Intervention Video

What are the issues we are facing here in Chicago? Are they human rights issues? So here we are…

What do human rights mean to me? Is it something I need to be concerned about here in Chicago? What can I do? Questions to Consider

Organizations: International Bodies: Volunteering: Other: Additional Resources

Questions / Comments