The Advocast for Human Rights

In this episode of The Advocast, we delve into how The Advocates and our partners utilize the UPR to help promote and defend the rights of LGBTIQ+ people around the world. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This episode features a speech from Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project and recipient of The Advocates' Special Recognition Award at this year's Human Rights Awards Dinner. This episode also included a brief introduction by Michele McKenzie, Deputy Director at The Advocates. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This episode features a speech from Sarah Stoesz, the former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Stoesz was honored at our 2024 Human Rights Awards Dinner for her lifetime commitment to reproductive health and human rights. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This episode features an interview with Bill Hittler, who discusses his experience volunteering as a pro bono attorney with The Advocates. Bill was also recently honored with a volunteer award at our 2024 Human Rights Awards Dinner. Want to get involved? theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

In this episode we talk with Lindsey Greising, Staff Attorney with The Advocates, about the recent political happenings surrounding immigration. Take action to protect immigration: https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/News/A/Index?id=474 Learn more about our work at theadvocatesforhumanrights.org

This year, at our annual Human Rights Awards Dinner, we recognized Justice Alan Page as the Don & Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award Recipient for his life-long commitment to human rights. Justice Page has actively advocated for human rights, equality, and social justice throughout his career as a Supreme Court Justice, attorney, and professional athlete. This episode features a conversation wi...

Across the United States, a dramatic rise in legislation targeting transgender and gender non-conforming people increasingly threatens the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people. These laws not only put transgender and gender non-conforming people at serious risk of discrimination and harm, but they also contravene international human rights standards. In this episode, we will look at the anti-trans movem...

An explosive report in the New York Times found that hundreds of unaccompanied children are being exploited for their labor by some of America's biggest companies. Child labor is only possible through multiple failures of the protection system to prevent such abuses. In this episode, Michele Garnett McKenzie, deputy director of The Advocates for Human Rights, is joined by attorneys Kim Boche,...

The Immigration Court Observation Project draws on the international human rights practice of trial monitoring to identify, bring visibility to, and end systemic human rights violations arising in the context of civil immigration enforcement. The project brings  observers from the public into the Fort Snelling Immigration Court in Minnesota to observe and document  immigration hearings....

The following episode is a recording of the conversation between Alison Beckman, Hanne Sandison (Senior Staff Attorney at the Advocates) and  Madison Swanson (Refugee and Immigrant Program Legal Intern at the  Advocates). Alison Beckman is a licensed therapist and Senior Clinical Consultant for the  Center for Victims of Torture, a Minnesota-based organization which  envisions...

After the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Afghans who had believed in and worked for the vision of human rights and democracy in  their country faced serious and urgent harms. An extraordinary effort to  evacuate them is still ongoing. But, most of the nearly 100,000 people who were evacuated to the United States hold temporary immigration status. This uncertain immigration future compoun...

Neil Datta is a founder of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. We selected Neil as our 2022 Don & Arvonne Fraser Human Rights Award recipient because of his fearless commitment to investigating and exposing the far-right movement to roll back advancements in human rights. In the face of lawsuits and personal threats, Neil has persevered in his efforts to protec...

In this episode, The Advocates discusses how we work on many levels to uphold LGBTIQ+ rights. We invite LGBTIQ+ clients to contribute their expertise to our advocacy at the United Nations. We help LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers gain permanent status in the U.S. We partner with human rights defenders  internationally to protect LGBTIQ+ rights in their home countries. This episode also commemorates Int...

On International Women’s Day 2022, The Advocates for Human Rights’ staff shared stories from our multifaceted work for women’s human rights. Listen to this episode to hear stories of brave women who fled violence at home to seek asylum, a recent victory in changing Colombia’s domestic violence laws, and our partner human rights defenders in Ukraine.   Visit The Advocates’ website, www.theadvo...

January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month. In this episode, join The Advocates staff and volunteers to learn about sex and labor trafficking, identifying and supporting survivors, how non-citizens are uniquely impacted, and efforts in Minnesota to combat trafficking and support victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call now: 1-888-373-7888...

In this episode, join The Advocates staff (Jennifer Prestholdt, Elizabeth Lacy, Sarah Brenes & Lindsey Greising) as we discuss the local, national and global response to the afghan refugee crisis. This episode was previously recorded as a virtual event called "Responding to the Afghan Crisis - Locally, Nationally & Globally" . You can find the original recording of this event, alongside ou...

In this episode, The Advocates staff mark one year since the murder of George Floyd and the remaining gaps in justice despite the conviction and sentencing of Derek Chauvin.  With our guest, Ahmed Sirleaf, we discuss how transitional justice mechanisms and international norms may provide some frameworks for addressing racial justice and community trauma. The Advocates for Human Rights: Lindse...

After the guilty verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, where do we go from here to address rampant police violence in the US? Join us and our guest, former US Attorney Joyce Vance, to hear about what the federal government can do about the problem. Joyce Vance's podcast "Sisters In Law" can be found here: https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/SistersInLaw-p1403924/ theadvocatesforhuman...

The Advocates received news of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial while recording this podcast. Join us to hear our reactions to the verdict, and our discussion of what comes next in terms of sentencing and appeal. Visit our website: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Follow our Twitter: @The_Advocates

In this episode, we recap the last two weeks of Chauvin Trial, and discuss use of force by the police. We also interview Nils Melzer, who is a noted academic, author, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. For more info on Nils Melzer, go to https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/SRTorture/Pages/NilsMelzer.aspx Find out more about The Advocates here: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Twitter: htt...

In the first episode of The Advocast, presented by The Advocates for Human Rights, we recap what's happened in the Derek Chauvin trial so far, and discuss its broader implications on international human rights. Learn more about our work here: theadvocatesforhumanrights.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_Advocates