Raising Global Citizens Shero Series: Human Rights

For millions of children around the world, access to education is an impossible dream. Little girls and boys need to live in an imaginary world with superheroes like Wonder Woman and Spiderman.  However, they also need to see a person who cares about them meeting the needs of their every day life.

Last week I wrote 7 Reasons We Love Wonder Woman; a global superhero whose greatest power is her empathy. Raising Global Citizens Shero series is about highlighting every day superhero women who are serving around the world to give the future generation a world of possibility.

Most of us have asked the children in our lives, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” By reading and learning about people who are worthy role models for children, in turn we encourage our next generation to become empathetic global citizens.

“Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful.

And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.” 

– Misty Copeland

Raising Global Citizens Shero Series

Our definition of a shero:

• Teachers and mentors who live by example
• Those who tirelessly work so that others may be cared for.
• Women who educate others about equality and cultural accountability
• Influencers who create positive change locally and globally
• Women who represent those who cannot represent themselves
• Champions of basic human rights and equality for all

“We are Philanthropists, we are Graduates, Business Owners, we are your neighbors, your sisters, your friends and we are whomever and whatever we want to be.”

– Cherissa Jackson (Capt. US Air Force Retired)

(picture found here)

Shero: Human Rights Lawyer, Christie Edwards

This past week we recognized Juneteenth and World Refugee Day. This is a perfect week to introduce our first shero in our global citizen series.  Christie Edwards has worked globally on international human rights, international humanitarian law, international development policy, and gender issues for over 15 years. Connect with Christie on Twitter!

Tell us about your job.

I am an international women’s human rights attorney for international NGOs.  Also, I educate the American public on the Geneva Conventions and the rules of war.  My niche focus is on issues such as sexual and gender based violence and disability inclusion. My job also includes international disaster law, protecting healthcare workers as well as hospitals in conflict areas, etc.

Have you always known human rights was your path or did you evolve over time?

I grew up in a family who was very focused on international issues.  The  choice to go into international human rights law as a career happened when I was in college. The event that propelled my decision was spending a semester in Washington DC during 9/11. This catastrophic event changed my view of the world and the problems we face.

It was then I decided wanted to find a way to advocate for and empower the millions of people around the world.  My goal was to advocate for those who are suffering from terrible violence and do not have a voice. For me, my passion was especially for women and children.

How would you say fighting for human rights fits in to being a global citizen?

Every human being is entitled to human rights protections. However, in many places around the world, governments do not adequately protect these rights. In some cases, countries actually violate them directly. As a human rights lawyer, I advocate for and train other women (and men!) in many countries.

My focus is to help them work with their governments to strengthen these protections. By doing this, they better meet the needs of people who are most vulnerable. This is particularly crucial in countries where there is an armed conflict.

What books would you recommend that girls (and boys!) read about strong women in history that fought for human rights?

My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem

Tomorrow is Now: It is Today That We Must Create the World of the Future, Eleanor Roosevelt

We Should All Be Feminists, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

What resources can you recommend for authentic culture being taught at home or in your home community?

Being involved in human rights does not mean that you have to go to the other side of the world. I started my human rights career as a volunteer with an organization in my hometown of San Diego. They provided services and care for victims of political torture that have sought asylum in the United States.

I also volunteered with a refugee organization as a tutor for children who recently arrived in the US. My role was to teach English so they could graduate high school with the goal being to go on living successful lives in the US.

I thought I was giving my time and resources to these refugee families, however it was I who learned so much. The students I worked with taught me so much about their cultures, their languages, their food, their traditions, and their histories.  All of my students have enriched my life in ways I never imagined.

 What words of encouragement do you have for boys and girls who feel getting an education is hopeless?

Every great leader started out with a dream, and then overcame powerful obstacles to achieve incredible things. Leaders like Nelson Mandela, Kakenya Ntaiya, Martin Luther King, Jr., Justice Sonya Sotomayor, and so many more. If you have a dream, work HARD to achieve it and never be afraid to ask for help!

Tell people in your life about your dream! You will be shocked by how many people will help you achieve it! Finally, your most valuable possession is a library card. Books will introduce you to worlds you never knew existed, and teach you how to get there – for free!

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai

How can families advocate for human rights on a daily basis in their individual communities and globally?

The world is facing an unprecedented number of refugees, as well as people who are displaced.  This is a direct result of armed conflicts and large natural disasters. However, human rights issues are happening right in your community as well! Contact your local refugee resettlement organization to see the best ways you can get involved.

You can also research the closest Amnesty International office, UNICEF club, or other organization. This way they can give you practical ways to volunteer, donate, or support their work. This is such a great way to address human rights issues in your community and around the world!

What are your daily habits to better educate yourself on the global issues in the human rights world?

I read the news from a wide variety of sources (politically and geographically). I realized how limited the news in the US was when I lived in Israel during the Second Intifada. The news at home in the US was wildly inaccurate about what was happening on the ground. However, I discovered that BBC News gave a more accurate description.

I suggest reading and watching a diverse number and type of news sources such as: CNN, Al Jazeera, Fox News, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Economist, and The Atlantic.  This is not an exhaustive list, but try to tune into a variety of sources. This will deepen your understanding of why things happen.

Human rights issues do not occur in a vacuum – there are economic, political, and social contexts to every issue and understanding the broader frameworks helps human rights activists work for better solutions.

What would you recommend for parents to help them prepare their children who are interested in a career in human rights?

Teaching children empathy is an excellent beginning. Children in developed countries have SO many advantages.  A great place to start is teaching them to appreciate the opportunities that they’ve been given and how they can use those gifts to help others.

Secondly, exposing them to social justice issues in their communities or country is incredibly important! Children need to be taught and have discussions about social justice.  In turn, they will empathize with the injustices their neighbors and friends are facing.  This will hopefully translate to caring about these issues on a global scale as they get older.

Finally, get active! Go to a political rally for an issue you care about. Volunteer with a refugee organization. Write your congressperson WITH your child, take your family to volunteer at a homeless shelter.  Donate gifts to children in need during the holidays, etc. Children mimic the behavior they see, so instill these values early!

Tell us about some of your own sheroes.  

An amazing woman is Patricia Viseur Sellers who was a Legal Advisor for Gender Related Crimes. She was also a prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia. Thanks to her groundbreaking work, the ICTR was able to convict one of the genocidaires for rape as a form of genocide. This paved the way for other convictions for sexual and gender based criminal convictions. You can watch part of her incredible story in the film The Uncondemned.Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In encouraged me to take risks and to develop my leadership skills. At times, I would second guess myself and that I was too young and inexperienced. Sandberg’s words were inspirational to me during moments of self-doubt. Because of her, I learned how to communicate, to trust my judgment, and to advocate for myself. In turn, my self-value led me to the leadership positions that I am in today.

I greatly admire Anne Marie Slaughter. Not only for her incredible international legal career, but she has written and advocated about work-life balance. She also champions the need for paid family leave and a transformation of the way we think about work and families.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an absolutely legendary legal mind. She has been a champion for international law and women’s rights for decades. I hope to leave a fraction of the legacy she has upon the world.

Dr. Aisling Swaine, Countess Matilda, Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett (the founders of my law school who weren’t allowed to enroll in law school because they were women), Judy A. Bernstein, and countless other women inspire and mentor me in many, many ways.

Lastly, your husband also works in the human rights world. Tell us about how you empower and support each other as individuals?

I am incredibly fortunate to have a spouse who believes in absolute gender equality. He is my number one cheerleader and support (as I am for him)! He truly believes I am Wonder Woman, and there’s nothing I cannot do even when I don’t believe it myself.

We are fortunate to work in the same field, but also dealing with the same issues. It is so helpful to be able to discuss detailed issues about our jobs with someone who understands. We think through how to solve problems together on a daily basis. We have different areas of expertise within our field, so we complement each other’s skills and knowledge frequently at work.

Raising Global Citizens Shero Series has only just begun! If you enjoyed this interview, please join our tribe and subscribe below. You do NOT want to miss any of our amazing everyday shero stories!

Part 2: Healthcare

Part 2 is Raising Global Citizens Shero Series: Healthcare This is an interview with LaSheena Washington who is a nurse practitioner for the United States Embassy in Accra, Ghana.  Her journey from rural South Carolina to global health expert is fascinating.  You will love learning about her unique career as a medical professional, as well as her experience in the diplomatic world. 

Part 3: Education

Part 3 is Raising Global Citizens Shero Series: Education is an interview with Emily Silva who is an international school teacher in Monterrey, Mexico.  She has taught in 5 different countries around the world. The children in her classroom have parents who are among the top leaders of the world.  Imagine having a parent-teacher conference with a sheikh or a President of a country.

They do not train you for talking about literacy to a CEO of an oil company in any teacher education course I took.  Below is her amazing story of her journey around the world as a teacher.

Part 4: Mental Health

Part 4 is Raising Global Citizens Shero Series: Mental Health.  This incredible interview is with a sociologist working in a mental health facility in North Carolina, USA.  This single mom shares her journey through an abusive relationship and finding her strength through books and education.  She has a deep love for a group of people that are seen as outcasts by most societies.  Her professional career is truly (s)heroic.

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