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Nurturing human rights leaders

 UWinnipeg’s BA in Human Rights unique in North America

WINNIPEG, MB – As the Canadian Museum for Human Rights prepares to open its doors to the world, dozens of University of Winnipeg students are hitting the books to become tomorrow’s human rights leaders. Launched in 2008, UWinnipeg’s Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights, housed within Global College, is one of just a few offered in North America and gives students the opportunity to structure their education around the study of social justice, global citizenship, and human rights.

Currently 44 students are enrolled as Human Rights Majors and another 38 students have graduated to pursue careers or graduates studies. The unique BA degree has also become a preferred choice for students interested in international law. Madison (Maddie) Pearlman and Chelsea Caldwell are both recent graduates who have been accepted into prestigious academic programs. Pearlman is packing her bags to do a Masters degree at Oxford University (England) while Caldwell is now at Osgoode Hall Law School (York University, Toronto).

“Global College and the Human Rights degree really helped me realize my potential in how I can impact the world around me,” said Caldwell. “As a class we visited the United Nations headquarters in New York and watched the UN Security Council in session, including a speech by Hilary Clinton. I also had the chance to work with local human rights organizations as part of my course work. I feel well prepared to pursue my dream of becoming a human rights lawyer.”

Pearlman says the multidisciplinary approach at UWinnipeg gave her the opportunity to explore  different fields and provided exposure to legal, political and economic systems. She is now taking a one-year Masters degree in Refugees and Forced Migration. “The human rights degree and Global College fosters a passion for social justice and creates a platform for student engagement,” she says. Pearlman is specifically drawn to advancing the rights of children and youth who are refugees and immigrants.

Marilou McPhedran is a human rights lawyer and Director of the Institute for International Women’s Rights at Global College.  “This is truly an inter-disciplinary program that offers many opportunities for students, not only in the arts but also in science and business, to infuse their learning with an understanding of and ability to integrate human rights analysis into their studies and their work,” said McPhedran. ”This program attracts rich diversity in every sense of that word among the students. Often the most powerful learning is done when students are in dialogue with each other.”

Meet the next generation of human rights activists – short profiles:

 Four HR students WEB

Photo: Students currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights – Graeme Carlson, Teruni (Rahasin) Walaliyadde, Shaluckie Boatswain and Stephen Krzos – September 2014.

Graeme Carlson is in his 3rd year of Bachelor of Arts – Human Rights, an academic journey that he never expected to take.

Born and raised in Pine Falls, Manitoba, he entered university with the dream of pursuing business and computer programming.  Because of the multi-disciplinary nature at The University of Winnipeg, he took a course in Global Issues and that shifted everything. “It changed my viewpoint, and I discovered I really want to become a social studies teacher.” He is taking a minor in history and hopes to pursue a Bachelor of Education when he completes the Human Rights degree.

Teruni (Rahasin) Walaliyadde is in her 2nd year of study with a double major in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution.

Tueruni was born into war in Sri Lanka. She says her earliest memories are bombs going off, the sound of gunfire, and poverty everywhere. Even today she is still affected by loud noises like thunder.  She has a deep desire to work for UNICEF in the field as an advocate for children. “Even when war is over, human rights are not a given,” she says.

Shaluckie Boatswain is in her 2nd year of a double major in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution.  Originally form Guyana, she planned to attend UWinnipeg for one year.  Then she wrote a paper on what was going on inside Sudan and felt she had to pursue the Bachelor in Human Rights. “I have a passion to be a peacemaker, and to work one day for the United Nations.”

Stephen Krzos travelled up to The University of Winnipeg from Minneapolis because he heard the tuition here is affordable, offered on par with what Manitoba students pay. He was attracted to UWinnipeg because he discovered it is one of the only places that offers a BA degree in Human Rights.  “I have always been interested in other cultures, I grew up with friends who are refugees,” he says. “My plan is to graduate and join the Peace Corps and teach English for several years in Latin America.  I hope to continue working internationally.”

MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Senior Communications Specialist, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca