This year we were fortunate to be a part of the human Rights Day Discussion Panel to acknowledge the UN Human Rights day, which falls on the 10th of December. During this discussion, there were a series of focus groups within the community, Equality, Voices for Refugees, PACE, and G.E.P.
The goal of the session was to spreading awareness about human rights and connect the rights within the main ideas which are related to the UWCSEA Community. Within the panel, we had our Co-Chairs, Lexie and Soumya and Ms Wilson, share their stories about the topics and ideas that are brought up.
This brought up the idea of asking a series of questions to influence these general ideas, asking questions that are associated with the focus groups.
How is the theme of Human Rights Communicated within our community?
Voices of Refugees– Trying as a focus group to communicate the theme and concept of human rights in various forms, such as large-scale community activities such as run for rights, they have also had the ability to create some film screenings which are relevant to day-to-day relations. A way which helps with this idea is through CAS.’
GEP- A focus group which is centralised period equity, the theme of human rights are communicated in a series of ways, we split up into a series of different project groups; we feel as if it is essential for us to acknowledge the fact that we are all being biologically safe and relevant, not being scared to talk about it. Being localised within the school, there were times when individuals were nervous or directed towards a pad dispenser within the community. While having to pay for and to receive some menstrual products. Not getting the ability to have access to these products, in some cases, will cause individuals to have to use unsanitary ways of receiving the products and using other methods as they may not be of significance as they have to live their everyday life with their expenses.
Equality- focuses on LGBTQ+ communities; they focus on the PSE curriculum, which will help and broadcast the ideas to the numerous mentors. They focus on research and educating themselves on various issues which they face. Most of the equality group are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, wanting to spread the message of love.
How does the use of intersectionality impact the focus group:
PACE– The idea of intersectionality did not exist during 1976; the language has evolved, and how they process information evolves; in the context of the voices for refugees, there is the provision of primary and secondary education. What happens when you don’t think about intersectionality, when writing in 1950, the constitution was written gender-blind, resulting in female migrants to be experiencing harsher and more difficult times when they could express themselves.
When looking at the 1951 convention, it is found that females, to qualify, had to fit into a particular social group, which is a group that has a common characteristic of “just being a female,” this is an example of what happens when we don’t take into account the different perspectives. Women have their livelihoods being much more tied within the land, there are a series of issues coming, with a system being created without the view of intersectionality. This can be changed through law and a different framework; however, this is also applied with the idea that they are aware of the past and what has happened.
GEP– When learning about human rights, there was no talk about intersectionality; it gives the ability to understand the issues. IN GEP, we do a lot of work around period shaming in different contexts. Countries such as Nepal are forced into dangerous menstrual huts when they menstruate. This is through the idea of gender and the fact that they are menstruating. When transitioning within self-identity, they may have a challenge; in particular, within GEP, we try to ensure that we are making it gender-neutral to try to prevent the general idea of negative stereotypes.
