The Advocast for Human Rights

This episode features a speech from Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project and recipient of The Advocates' Special Recognition Award at this year's Human Rights Awards Dinner. This episode also included a brief introduction by Michele McKenzie, Deputy Director at The Advocates. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This episode features a speech from Sarah Stoesz, the former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Stoesz was honored at our 2024 Human Rights Awards Dinner for her lifetime commitment to reproductive health and human rights. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This episode features an interview with Bill Hittler, who discusses his experience volunteering as a pro bono attorney with The Advocates. Bill was also recently honored with a volunteer award at our 2024 Human Rights Awards Dinner. Want to get involved? theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

In this episode we talk with Lindsey Greising, Staff Attorney with The Advocates, about the recent political happenings surrounding immigration. Take action to protect immigration: https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/News/A/Index?id=474 Learn more about our work at theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This year, at our annual Human Rights Awards Dinner, we recognized Justice Alan Page as the Don & Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award Recipient for his life-long commitment to human rights. Justice Page has actively advocated for human rights, equality, and social justice throughout his career as a Supreme Court Justice, attorney, and professional athlete. This episode features a conversation with Justice Page moderated by PBS NewsHour's Fred de Sam Lazaro. Prefer to watch this episode in video form? Click here. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

Across the United States, a dramatic rise in legislation targeting transgender and gender non-conforming people increasingly threatens the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people. These laws not only put transgender and gender non-conforming people at serious risk of discrimination and harm, but they also contravene international human rights standards. In this episode, we will look at the anti-trans movement in the United States, the impact of these laws on transgender people's lives, and how international human rights law addresses issues of gender identity and expression. Watch the full presentation here: https://buff.ly/3XwfZIm Learn more about The Advocates here: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

An explosive report in the New York Times found that hundreds of unaccompanied children are being exploited for their labor by some of America's biggest companies. Child labor is only possible through multiple failures of the protection system to prevent such abuses. In this episode, Michele Garnett McKenzie, deputy director of The Advocates for Human Rights, is joined by attorneys Kim Boche, who represents unaccompanied children facing removal, and Lindsey Greising, who represents victims of labor trafficking, to understand how the legal system protects - or puts at risk - unaccompanied children. Learn more at theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

The Immigration Court Observation Project draws on the international human rights practice of trial monitoring to identify, bring visibility to, and end systemic human rights violations arising in the context of civil immigration enforcement. The project brings observers from the public into the Fort Snelling Immigration Court in Minnesota to observe and document immigration hearings. The project launched in 2017 to monitor hearings of people facing deportation while held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Today, volunteers observe hearings on the detained, non-detained, and dedicated families and children dockets. For more information on the Court Observation Project, click here. Edited by Peter Olson The Advocast is presented and produced by The Advocates for Human Rights

The following episode is a recording of the conversation between Alison Beckman, Hanne Sandison (Senior Staff Attorney at the Advocates) and Madison Swanson (Refugee and Immigrant Program Legal Intern at the Advocates). Alison Beckman is a licensed therapist and Senior Clinical Consultant for the Center for Victims of Torture, a Minnesota-based organization which envisions a world free from torture and all of its sociological, psychological, and physical effects. CVT combines research, training, and advocacy with hands-on healing services for torture survivors in Minnesota, Georgia, and abroad. In our conversation, Alison breaks down CVT's work and delves into the experiences of torture survivors as they navigate the asylum process, including how their trauma may affect their memory and ability to testify in court. Highlighting what can be most terrifying for torture victims while sharing best practices to carry them through these moments, our conversation covers how attorneys can best support their clients when CVT's therapists cannot be in the room with us.

After the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Afghans who had believed in and worked for the vision of human rights and democracy in their country faced serious and urgent harms. An extraordinary effort to evacuate them is still ongoing. But, most of the nearly 100,000 people who were evacuated to the United States hold temporary immigration status. This uncertain immigration future compounds the trauma of lost homes and families and risks returning people to face serious human rights violations. In this episode, we discuss the evacuation, refugees, asylum, as well as the much needed Afghan Adjustment Act. Learn more about the AAA by clicking here. Visit us at our website: www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

Neil Datta is a founder of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. We selected Neil as our 2022 Don & Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award recipient because of his fearless commitment to investigating and exposing the far-right movement to roll back advancements in human rights. In the face of lawsuits and personal threats, Neil has persevered in his efforts to protect fundamental rights. His work aligns with The Advocates' efforts to investigate the far right's strategies and support our NGO partners in countries around the world as they counter the backlash to human rights. The following episode is a recording of the event, and features Rosalyn Park (Director of the Woman's Program here at the Advocates) and Neil Datta himself speaking about the importance of this work. To learn more about The Advocates, go to www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

In this episode, The Advocates discusses how we work on many levels to uphold LGBTIQ+ rights. We invite LGBTIQ+ clients to contribute their expertise to our advocacy at the United Nations. We help LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers gain permanent status in the U.S. We partner with human rights defenders internationally to protect LGBTIQ+ rights in their home countries. This episode also commemorates International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia, which celebrates LGBTIQ+ people globally, and raises awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination. Learn more at www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

On International Women's Day 2022, The Advocates for Human Rights' staff shared stories from our multifaceted work for women's human rights. Listen to this episode to hear stories of brave women who fled violence at home to seek asylum, a recent victory in changing Colombia's domestic violence laws, and our partner human rights defenders in Ukraine. Visit The Advocates' website, www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org, for more upcoming events and ways to get involved. Donate to support our work for women's rights: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/...

January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In this episode, join The Advocates staff and volunteers to learn about sex and labor trafficking, identifying and supporting survivors, how non-citizens are uniquely impacted, and efforts in Minnesota to combat trafficking and support victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call now: 1-888-373-7888. Referral directory of anti-trafficking organizations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Produced by The Advocates for Human Rights theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Edited by Peter Olson

In this episode, join The Advocates staff (Jennifer Prestholdt, Elizabeth Lacy, Sarah Brenes & Lindsey Greising) as we discuss the local, national and global response to the afghan refugee crisis. This episode was previously recorded as a virtual event called "Responding to the Afghan Crisis - Locally, Nationally & Globally". You can find the original recording of this event, alongside our other virtual events, at www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/Events_Archive The Advocates for Human Rights is mobilizing resources to provide essential legal help to thousands of people from Afghanistan as they resettle in Minnesota. Join us today in welcoming the thousands of Afghans arriving in our region. Learn more about The Advocates by visiting theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Edited by Peter Olson

In this episode, The Advocates staff mark one year since the murder of George Floyd and the remaining gaps in justice despite the conviction and sentencing of Derek Chauvin. With our guest, Ahmed Sirleaf, we discuss how transitional justice mechanisms and international norms may provide some frameworks for addressing racial justice and community trauma. The Advocates for Human Rights: Lindsey Greising, Kaarin Long, and Jennifer Prestholdt Guest: Ahmed Sirleaf, human rights and international justice advocate, is currently a Ph.D. student in Comparative International Development Education at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and an independent international development consultant who works for Community Mediation and Restorative Services, Inc). Sirleaf is a former staff member of The Advocates for Human Rights' Liberian Truth & Reconciliation Commission Diaspora Project. He also holds a M.A. in Public International Law & the Settlement of Dispute from the United Nations[mandated] University for Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica. Liberian TRC Project https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/liberian_trc Ahmed's article about TJ in the U.S. https://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2020/06/transitional-justice-can-create-a-just-fair-and-shared-future-for-all/

After the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, where do we go from here to address rampant police violence in the US? Join us and our guest, former US Attorney Joyce Vance, to hear about what the federal government can do about the problem. Joyce Vance's podcast "Sisters In Law" can be found here: https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/SistersInLaw-p1403924/ theadvocatesforhumanrights.org @The_Advocates

The Advocates received news of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial while recording this podcast. Join us to hear our reactions to the verdict, and our discussion of what comes next in terms of sentencing and appeal. Visit our website: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Follow our Twitter: @The_Advocates

In this episode, we recap the last two weeks of Chauvin Trial, and discuss use of force by the police. We also interview Nils Melzer, who is a noted academic, author, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. For more info on Nils Melzer, go to https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/SRTorture/Pages/NilsMelzer.aspx Find out more about The Advocates here: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_Advocates

In the first episode of The Advocast, presented by The Advocates for Human Rights, we recap what's happened in the Derek Chauvin trial so far, and discuss its broader implications on international human rights. Learn more about our work here: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_Advocates