Since the end of World War II, treaties and international institutions have defined and developed international human rights and institutions. Now, with little fanfare, the U.S. State Department has announced the establishment of the "Commission on Unalienable Rights." At first glance, this may sound like an unobjectionable reference to an important document and concept of U.S. history. It may be much more than that. Legal and political commentator Duane W. Krohnke (JD) lends his perspectives on this development, calling on human rights advocates to pay close attention to the Commission.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Donald Fraser, an important member of Minnesota’s human rights community who was ahead of the times in advocating for human rights reform.

Rising U of MN Senior Tony Burton and rising U of MN Junior Tala Alfoqaha have been selected as the 2019 Fraser Fellows. Tony, a Political Science Major and Tala, double majoring in Mathematics and Global Studies will intern at ECPAT-USA and The Advocates for Human Rights, respectively. This will offer the undergraduate students hands-on opportunities to practice human rights research and advocacy alongside human rights professionals.

Brooke Chambers, a third year Sociology PhD student, studies some of the most difficult questions facing human rights scholars--how to understand and respond to the multi-generational effects of instances of mass violence. With a particular focus on the Rwandan genocide, Brooke is using her education to seek a better understanding of how genocidal violence reverberates throughout space and time, along with how Rwandan society remembers and commemorates the Genocide. Next semester she will conduct field research in Rwanda, interviewing young adults about their experiences growing up in a post-genocide society.