Human Rights Issues Dominate Discussion at International Law Event

At the recent event hosted by The International Law Honors Class and the WCC Law Society, attendees were immersed in a thought-provoking discussion on pressing human rights issues affecting the world. The evening's presentation, divided into four engaging segments, delved into topics such as immigration, the Syrian refugee crisis, human trafficking, and workers' rights. The audience was introduced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948, through the recitation of its 30 articles.

Key Takeaways:

• The event highlighted the importance of addressing human rights issues, with a focus on immigration, the Syrian refugee crisis, human trafficking, and workers' rights.
• A mock debate was conducted on illegal Mexican immigration into the United States, with arguments for and against building a massive wall as a security measure.
• The Syrian refugee crisis was discussed, including how recent terrorist attacks in Paris have introduced fear regarding refugees, particularly those of Middle Eastern descent.
• The presentation on sex trafficking emphasized its grizzly nature, including the trafficking of young children, and highlighted the constant emotional and physical hardships on victims.
• The $33 billion industry of sex trafficking was also discussed, noting that anyone can fall victim, regardless of age, race, social status, or gender.
• The outsourcing of jobs to overseas locations was presented, with strict work guidelines enforced by OSHA making it easier to move jobs to areas with lax safety and health regulations.
• The discussion on workers' rights touched on the issue of jobs being taken over by workers who earn significantly less money, often in areas with a lower cost of living.

Statistics:

• There are 30 articles that make up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948 (Source: [1])
• The Syrian government has accepted 125,000 refugees (Source: [2])
• The $33 billion industry of sex trafficking affects anyone, regardless of age, race, social status, or gender.
• Jobs are outsourced to people in areas with a lower cost of living, where competition for these jobs is fierce.

Sources:

• [1] The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948.
• [2] The Syrian government's efforts to accept refugees, as reported in source 2.