On Dec. 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlined the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as human beings—regardless of “race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Since then, people around the world have celebrated Human Rights Day annually on Dec. 10—including the members of Case Western Reserve University’s Amnesty International.
Formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the student organization is a human rights advocacy group dedicated to fighting for human rights—on campus, in the Cleveland area, and around the world.
Kenzie Fox, president of CWRU Amnesty International, said any student is welcome to join to help make a difference about something they’re passionate about.
“Human rights advocacy can span across so many different causes from reducing gun violence and police brutality to championing reproductive rights and climate justice,” she noted.
The group, which already has more than 150 members, meets once or twice a month to focus on a specific issue related to human rights. Fox said this can involve an educational presentation, discussion and/or taking actions sponsored by Amnesty International related to the cause.
“One of amnesty’s main causes is fighting for abolition of the death penalty, so seeing the recent cases of Julius Jones and Pervis Payne being taken off death row after completing various actions to help with this was incredibly rewarding,” Fox explained.
To join CWRU Amnesty International, check out their CampusGroups page and make sure to follow them on Instagram.