Applying my advanced, interdisciplinary theories and practices of human rights and social justice from legal, academic, and experiential perspectives within human rights and social justice studies
I consider international human rights frameworks, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-elimination-all-forms-discrimination-against-women), important in forming national laws and policies from a legal viewpoint. Such critique brings to the fore disparities between the legal standards and their implementation—hence, areas for reform to ensure protection and equality for marginalized groups.
I draw, academically, on critical theories—that is, intersectionality and decolonial thought—to question how different identities, such as race, gender, and class, converge to produce experiences of oppression. Applied in this way, this theoretical lens challenges dominant paradigms while advancing an inclusive understanding of social justice.
I worked with the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to collect first-hand accounts of lived experiences, using participatory methods that amplify the voices of those historically marginalized. This approach informs policy advocacy, community empowerment, and resilience. This combination of perspectives, I hope, will prepare me to contribute to a society that is just and equitable.
My awareness and understanding of the past and present debates shaping human rights and social justice issues reveal a complex interplay of historical movements, legal advancements, and ongoing struggles.
Historically, abolitionism, civil rights activism, and feminist movements built the first basic frameworks through which contemporary human rights discourses developed. Central events, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights), provided major milestones, but debates over its universality versus cultural relativism continue unabated today.
Discussions now center around systemic inequalities, where intersectionality becomes a very important lens to view the operations of overlapping identities on experiences of oppression. The rise of movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo has brought to the spotlight issues and problems that need inclusive dialogue around race, gender, and economic disparities.
Moreover, globalization and technology have transformed advocacy, raising debates around digital rights and surveillance implications. Engaging with such historical and contemporary debates deepens my understanding of the dynamic landscape of human rights and social justice.
Demonstrating my knowledge of key human rights and social justice issues through experiential learning involves engaging with real-world contexts, illuminating these challenges at local, national, and global levels. Locally, I have participated in community outreach programs that address food insecurity and housing rights. Through involvement with grassroots organizations, I first learned how systemic barriers burden the marginalized and simultaneously observed how local policies affect individual entitlements to and access to available resources.
On a larger scale, nationally, my involvement in the advocacy campaigns and services for people living with HIV/AIDS under the auspices of the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) gives me a deeper meaning of the multifaceted problems of mass incarceration of the marginalized such as LGBTQ, Sex workers, substance abuse people, etc. Working with organizations championing policy changes made me come to value those challenges that arise when grassroots efforts are pursued at the legislative level and the necessity of community voices in shaping national discourses.
I have also researched and volunteered with NGOs such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Voice TB Project on issues ranging from Child rights to Climate Justice. Through these voluntary works, the connections between human rights violations across borders and global policies affecting the local community have become reasonably clear. Exposure to various perspectives has strengthened my conviction that one must fight for justice on all fronts and therefore holistic approach is necessary to address such vital issues.
Demonstrating leadership in recognizing, respecting, and advancing intercultural understanding and worldviews regarding human and environmental diversity through experiential learning in human rights and social justice involves several key initiatives:
I conduct workshops and activities to demonstrate different cultures’ concerns about human rights and environmental stewardship. These activities, such as Indigenous drum-making or traditional storytelling, are hands-on for individuals with differing worldviews, fostering appreciation and respect for cultural heritage.
Participating in field trips to the local community such as the Indian Residential School, Paul Lake involved in social justice and environmental issues provide experiential learning opportunities and knowledge about diverse population groups’ lived experiences and realities.
This experiential learning will always involve running a collaborative project in cooperation with community organizations representative of cultural diversity. In so doing, the means to learn from and respect each other are availed in projects such as environmental cleaning and awareness.
I encourage participants to participate in some reflective activity following the experiential event, such as group discussions or journaling. This practice allows individuals to process their insights and consider how their perspectives can evolve through intercultural engagement.
I always try to include others around me in the learning environment to ensure that all voices are heard respectfully. Diversity in the curriculum needs to be incorporated, and cultural contributions must be encouraged.
As Lead Addictions Worker currently at A New Tomorrow Treatment Solutions, I lead processes that enhance commitment to intercultural understanding and support for substance abusers seeking recovery from trauma and substance use. Through an inclusive learning environment, I nurture respect for diversity in worldviews, with the consequence of strengthening the collective approach toward human rights and cultural diversity.