Page 15 - Human Rights Program 2025 Annual Report

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L to R: Dr. Luis Ramos-Garcia, Dr. Sonja Kuftinec, Amelia Shindelar, Dr. Brenda Child, and Dr. Emily Winderman
A faculty panel discussion, “Rights in Focus: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity and Human
Rights,” featured recent recipients of our Human Rights Initiative grants. The panelists shared
how they are mobilizing creativity and the arts to advance work on reproductive rights, systemic
violence, and Indigenous approaches to climate change. The presenters included Dr. Luis
Ramos-Garcia, Spanish & Portuguese Studies; Dr. Emily Winderman, Communication Studies
and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies; Dr. Sonja Kuftinec, Theatre Arts & Dance; and Dr.
Brenda Child, American Studies and American Indian Studies. Human Rights Initiative Manager
Amelia Shindelar moderated the discussion.
The event concluded with a keynote address,
“International Law and Justice in a Time of
Genocide,” by Dr. Simon Adams, President
and CEO of the Center for Victims of Torture.
While acknowledging the ongoing challenges
to the prevention of genocide and mass
atrocities, Dr. Adams emphasized the role that
we all play in holding governments
accountable, and the small acts of courage
and decency that we can all contribute. “We
don’t need more bystanders for human
rights,” he said. “We need more upstanders.
So be an upstander.”
Dr. Simon Adams
We are grateful to everyone who participated in the event, and for the support of the Institute
for Global Studies, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the Master of Human
Rights Program, Global Minnesota, the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and the
College of Liberal Arts for making this event possible.