The Human Rights Program

We are thrilled to introduce our new undergraduate research assistant, Staël Kpetsu! Staël is a rising junior double-majoring in global studies and sociology of law, criminology and justice, with a minor in Spanish. She grew up in Togo, West Africa, where she developed a strong interest in women and children’s rights. Staël has interned with The Advocates for Human Rights, the Ramsey County Courthouse, done immigration-focused research, and created a gender-based violence advocacy organization on campus. This summer, she will assist Dr. Carrie Walling across multiple projects including the Minnesota Oral History Project, mapping human rights violations during Operation Metro Surge, and programming related to voting rights.

Welcome, Staël!

Human Rights Watch has launched a new report on the human rights crisis caused by the U.S. Federal Government in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge. The impacts of this manufactured crisis continue to be felt today.

People have a right to truth, justice, and accountability, including reparation for the harm caused. This report is a step towards ensuring accountability.

Read the report: https://www.hrw.org/report/2026/06/18/a-manufactured-crisis/minnesota-communities-terrorized-by-the-federal-government

Happy Juneteenth! On June 19th, we celebrate the liberation of African Americans from the oppressive and racist system of slavery after it was abolished in 1865. As we celebrate Black pride and liberation on this day, it is also critical to advocate against continuing and systemic racism. We acknowledge that African American history will always be ingrained in American history, and we celebrate progress while continuing the struggle for truly equal rights.

Congratulations to recent Master of Human Rights graduate Aidan Thomason (MHR '26) on receiving the Frey Fellowship! The Barbara Frey Human Rights Fellowship assists in the development of human rights leaders, and supports a year of paid, full-time employment in the field of human rights for an exceptional graduating student from a professional or PhD level program of the University of Minnesota. Aidan will begin her Fellowship with Amnesty International USA, where she will be joining the authoritarian issues team and will work on democracy protection and issues around freedom of expression in the US. Congratulations, Aidan!

Happy Pride Month! June is a time to celebrate and embrace our LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledge the continuing struggle for rights. The first Pride march was held in New York City on June 28, 1970, a year after the Stonewall Uprising. Today, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to suffer threats to their rights to safety and security, as q***r and transgender people face exclusion and violence around the world. We must uplift LGBTQIA+ voices and continue to advocate for their fundamental human rights-- during Pride Month and every month.

We are thrilled to introduce our new Human Writes student editor, Hugo Breese! Hugo is a rising junior studying political science and Spanish studies. He is a former Institute on the Environment undergraduate leader and member of the Undergraduate Student Government. Hugo has contributed several pieces to the Human Writes blog, and has been a part of the Human Rights Working Group since 2025. He is excited to take over the blog!

Welcome, Hugo!

HRP is thrilled to welcome our new student program and communications assistant, Elizabeth Gust! Elizabeth is a rising senior studying English and political science with a minor in environmental geosciences. She previously completed internships with Juvenile Justice Advocates International and the Minnesota Senate. Elizabeth has been a member of the HRP Undergraduate Working Group for three years and was also the Student Coordinator for Brewing Justice Coffee Hours. She is excited to begin this next role with HRP!

Welcome, Elizabeth!

We are excited to announce that the project, "Parental Incarceration & Children's Human Rights," has won the Inclusion Award for Community Building from the Association of Professional Schools in International Affairs. With the support of a Liberal Arts Engagement Hub residency, the Human Rights Program and Children of Incarcerated Caregivers collaborated to address the issue of parental incarceration in a system that doesn’t prioritize children’s rights. The project brought together Master of Human Rights students and other UMN students, NGO leaders, professionals in the criminal legal system, former elected officials, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people impacted by the incarceration of a parent or family member.

We are grateful for the support of the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub and our partners in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the College of Liberal Arts for making this project possible. Congratulations to all who have contributed to this valuable project!

Read the latest Human Writes blog by Livinia Kaunda, “Rethinking Western Models of Support for Adolescent Mothers in School.”

Livinia Kaunda draws on her research on educational support and schooling of adolescent mothers in Malawi to highlight the risks of exporting Western policy and practice.

Check out the blog: humanwrites.umn.edu

Link in bio!

Interested in submitting a piece? ‘Human Writes’ accepts submissions on a rolling basis! We are looking for a range of written pieces including blogs, personal/narrative essays, short fiction, poetry, and more. Any student from any college or major can submit. Visit humanwrites.umn.edu/submission-guidelines for more information and reach out to [email protected] with questions.

Skylar Strudwick reflects on the power of collective action in the latest Human Writes blog, “If Not You."

Read the blog: humanwrites.umn.edu

Link in bio!

Interested in submitting a piece? ‘Human Writes’ accepts submissions on a rolling basis! We are looking for a range of written pieces including blogs, personal/narrative essays, short fiction, poetry, and more. Any student from any college or major can submit. Visit humanwrites.umn.edu/submission-guidelines for more information and reach out to [email protected] with questions.