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Representative Jan Schakowsky encourages the advancement and protection of human rights at home

CHICAGO, Apr. 14 - On Saturday April 11th, the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, along with a number of its member organizations, participated in the 2nd Annual Chicago Conference on Human Rights. This one-day convening brought together over 100 human rights advocates, students, academia, and members of the community to discuss timely local and international human rights issues.

The 2nd Annual Chicago Conference on Human Rights: Tools to Bring Global Advocacy Home was co-organized by the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University College of Law, the Midwest Coalition, Nancy Bothne (a MCHR Individual Advisor), along with representatives from local universities in Chicago. The event featured workshops and discussions aimed at providing participants with the skills and resources needed to become effective advocates who can address human rights violations affecting their communities, as well as nationally and internationally. Five of our member organizations – the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University School of Law, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, The Advocates for Human Rights, and the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights – conducted workshops at the conference, along with Nancy Bothne and the Midwest Coalition's Associate Coordinator, Trisha Chokshi.

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky of Illinois’ 9th Congressional District delivered the Keynote Address (Part 1 of 4 is posted above; all are available here). Among the issues the Congresswoman touched upon were poverty, healthcare, torture, immigration, and U.S. ratification of the CRC and CEDAW. Throughout her career, Schakowsky has worked to achieve economic and social justice and to improve the quality of life for all citizens. An avid supporter of women’s rights, Schakowsky has won major legislative victories to increase federal funding for abused women and children. She has also sponsored legislation aimed at preventing violence against immigrant women and establishing housing for victims of violence. As a leading member of the House, Schakowsky continues to push for a national investment in healthcare, public education and housing, along with humane immigration reform.

“This conference is an important instrument in the fight for human rights and equality,” said Chuck Tucker, executive director of the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul College of Law.  “Leaders, advocates and future practitioners will highlight the important role that the Midwest, and more specifically Chicago, plays in the international dialogue about human rights.”

Workshops at the conference explored many important issues, including those that our members presented: the human rights implications of sentencing youth (CFJC, Northwestern); creating human rights web sites for students (UICHR); the relationship between poverty and human rights (Heartland Alliance); rights-based approaches to social justice work (The Advocates for Human Rights); using international human rights standards to condemn human rights violations at home (JCUA); community building with immigrant survivors of torture (Nancy Bothne); and using social media to spread the human rights message (Midwest Coalition).

This conference was the result of a cooperative effort between active Midwest organizations in the academic and non-profit communities. It provided the Midwest Coalition and our members an opportunity to discuss with fellow advocates, students, and community members the complexity of current human rights issues, opportunities for action, and ways we can begin coordinating our advocacy efforts. It follows on the success of the inaugural event in October 2008.

This conference was co-sponsored the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, American Friends Services Committee - Great Lakes Region, Coalition of African, Arab, Asian, European and Latino Immigrants of Illinois, Columbia College, DePaul University College of Law, DePaul University School of Public Service, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, Midwest Coalition for Human Rights, and Roosevelt University.

Watch Representative Schakowsky's Keynote Address

By MCHR Staff, 04/13/09