[Hamp-law] AI-USA Research Assistance

[Susan Thomson]

Hello,

I am writing to ask if there is anyone who would like to act as my Research Assistant for Amnesty International - USA and Freedom House human rights advocacy that I am involved in.  I spoke to colleagues and they suggested I first contact potentially interested folks from the Hampshire Amnesty International and Law Program lists.

I am new faculty at Hampshire, having arrived in July 2010. I have just been appointed the Country Specialist for Rwanda and Burundi with Amnesty International -- USA.  The official announcement from the International Secretariat in London will be out any day now.  I am also the newly-appointed Country Representative for Freedom House's "Countries at the Crossroads" publication.  I will advise FH on its democracy indicators and write a country conditions chapter for them.

I'd like to propose getting a group of senior student to mirror me in this work as an Independent Study (which meets Advanced Learning requirements).  This would a great opportunity to see the human rights process from the NGO side. I should make clear that I am actually critical of AI's work, and hope through Specialist status to push it to be more outspoken in its reactions to the human rights and political situation on the ground in both Rwanda and Burundi.  This is my hope with FH as well.  Both organisations are engaged in criticism and comment on different aspects of contemporary events in both countries.  

Some activities we would work on together include research current events for both organisations, drafting policy advice to the US and Canadian governments, drafting comments for AI advocacy with the Rwandan and Burundian governments, drafting press releases to raise general awareness about issues under the microscope (like we are doing with journalists right now).  This is great experience for anyone wishing to do human rights-related NGO or activist work in the future.  

It is important to note that this is behind-the-scenes work.  Our research and analysis will be fed to the AI-USA office for transmission to the International Secretariat in London.    

I prefer to work with students who have done research on Rwanda and/or Burundi before, who have travelled to, or will travel to the region, and who speak French (much of the primary source material is in French).  If you are interested, please get in touch: sthomson at hampshire.edu