2024 Fraser Fellows Are Following their Passion for Human Rights
For the past six years, University of Minnesota students have been gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the field of human rights advocacy, all thanks to two Human Rights Program opportunities called the Fraser Fellowships. These fellowships are open to undergraduate students who hold a deep commitment to human rights work. Named after Don and Arvonne Fraser, two trailblazing advocates of human rights and women’s rights, these fellowships allow two selected students to work closely with leading human rights organizations in the Twin Cities over the summer. This year’s Fraser fellows, Manushri Ivaturi and Bella Minahan, were placed with The Advocates for Human Rights and Global Rights for Women, respectively. Read on to learn more about their experiences.
Helping Her “Fellow Humans”
Manushri Ivaturi (CLA ’25), a senior majoring in Political Science and English, worked for the International Justice Program at The Advocates for Human Rights, a non-profit international human rights organization with a focus on research work and UN advocacy. Ivaturi reflects on how her experience with the organization broadened her understanding of issues around the world: “I really enjoy reading the newspaper. Like a typical Political Science student,” she laughs. “But you often read the news through a Western lens. Thanks to my internship with The Advocates for Human Rights, I know to approach it through various perspectives, whether it be legal, social justice, or humanitarian—really, a combination of all of those.” During her time with the Advocates for Human Rights, Ivaturi’s responsibilities included looking into countries’ human rights conditions and researching and drafting reports for submission to the United Nations. “Through this research, you gain insight into how well various countries are complying with international standards and what they are doing locally,” she says. While research work was a major part of her job duties, Ivaturi undertook several different tasks, ranging from preparing oral statements to drafting blog posts and newsletters.
According to Ivaturi, there were a multitude of reasons why she wanted to apply for the fellowship. She cites a major inspiration being the research work she completed with the Director of the Human Rights Program, Dr. Carrie Booth Walling. Their research focused on the effectiveness of addressing sexual violence in armed conflict, and it was this project that ultimately motivated Ivaturi to take the next step in her human rights advocacy journey.
To Ivaturi, human rights “are rights that belong to everyone.” She explains, “Everyone has the fundamental right to be themselves and live peacefully. These are basic rights, not privileges, which is why it’s crucial to care about human rights. Many of us have privileges, and it’s our responsibility to support our fellow humans.”
When considering post-graduation plans, Ivaturi knows that law, international relations, and human rights will play a role in her career. Working with those who are in the international human rights field gave her an invaluable glimpse into the world of working legal professionals. She also believes that understanding how lawyers operate in the field is important for young students to know. However, in the field of human rights advocacy as a whole, Ivaturi has one main piece of advice for her fellow student activists: “Follow your passion! It might sound cliche, but it is true.” Following her passion and “doing the next interesting thing” has intimately shaped Ivaturi’s present journey and her future in the human rights field.
“We Are All Intertwined with One Another”
The recipient of the Arvonne Fraser Fellowship, Isabella Minahan (CLA ’25), is similarly pursuing her passion in the advocacy and prevention of domestic violence perpetrated against women and girls. Isabella is a senior majoring in Spanish Studies and Global Studies with a concentration in Human Rights and Justice. She is particularly interested in memory studies and memory culture, LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, as well as issues pertaining to Ireland. Over the summer, she worked for Global Rights for Women (GRW) as a Fraser fellow.
“Global Rights for Women focuses on advocating for the rights of women and girls around the world, specifically through legal reform and institutional and systemic change,” Minahan says. Upon request, the organization partners with international and domestic organizations, government agencies, U.S. embassies, and the United Nations to create or reform legislation so as to better secure the rights of women and girls. “I think their work is a great complement to a lot of the work that is already happening in the gender-justice sphere that is usually geared more toward direct and individual support of survivors of gender-based violence,” adds Minahan.
As a fellow for GRW, Minahan primarily worked with the Development and Communications team, spending her days helping with research, creating social media and website content, writing grant proposals, and planning for the fall fundraising event. She was also involved in the planning of a professional development event at the University of Minnesota in collaboration with the Human Rights Program and Human Rights Center in the Law School. Minahan has been heavily involved with the Human Rights Program, working on the Minnesota’s Human Rights Stories Oral History Project under the direction of Human Rights Program Director Emeritus Barbara Frey. The Oral History Project aims to collect and preserve the stories of influential human rights activists and figures with a connection to Minnesota.
Minahan traces her early motivation to pursue human rights to her father, an immigrant from Ireland. “I feel as though he has imparted to me an ability to view the world through a more globalized lens, and growing up with him sparked a personal interest in the immigrant experience in the US, which led me to want to learn more about this topic and its intersections with human rights,” she says. “Especially given the context of how US immigration policies and practices often stand in opposition to human rights standards.” In addition, her personal experiences as a queer woman inspire her to advocate for the community’s protections and rights. She says she often draws strength from the civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer's famous quote, “Nobody's free until everybody's free,” which she finds “very inspiring.”
“I very much believe in the idea that everyone's access to human rights is intertwined with each other and when we advocate for and uplift one group or identity, there are benefits to be enjoyed by all,” Minahan affirms.
Celebrating Students
The Human Rights Program extends its heartfelt congratulations to this year’s Fraser fellows. The work they have accomplished over the summer exemplifies the dedication and hard work of the student advocate community on campus. As they continue to fight for human rights protections and raise awareness around key human rights issues, they will hopefully encourage more students to join them.
