The First Step
Hear why our students thought studying human rights was the right choice for them:
“I worked for over 10 years in a government agency that deals directly with the implementation of international conventions such as CEDAW, CRC and CRPD. This experience pushed me to study human rights and the things I learn from this course will strengthen Samoa’s obligations and reporting of the UN conventions.”
– Vai, MHRD student from Samoa
“I was working at the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives before I joined the program. So once I came to know about this opportunity, I thought it would be great to study further to build my career in the area of Human Rights. After joining the program I had a sense of a true Human rights defender with adequate knowledge and experience.”
– Laiza, MHRD student from the Maldives
“I think that I always had the characteristics of a human rights activists in myself, but I really realized it by studying human rights and being involved in human rights projects.”
– Anais, MHRD student from France
“By studying Human Rights and democratization, I hope to have a chance to open my mind, to ask a lot more questions, and to help people to ask a lot more questions as well.”
– Huong, MHRD student from Vietnam
Protecting People
Around the world people live in fear of the way their governments, or their communities, may treat them. People are trafficked and sold into slavery. Children are exploited and not allowed access to a safe place to sleep and an education. Ethnic, religious and LGBTQ minorities are not protected from violence and persecution.
As human rights defenders we work towards a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Through studying the science, history and philosophy which supports the practice of human rights, and developing skills learned through academic work, we can improve the effectiveness of our work to make the world we aim for come a little closer.
“Human Rights work makes one more open to different realities.”
– Joel, MA Human Rights alumni
“I don’t see human rights as being about an imaginary utopia. It is about how we manage and improve the human condition in society now. It is about dealing with the realities of the situation which we are all in. At some point there has to be some type of calibrating of the playing field and I see human rights as facilitating that. It’s all about making relations and structures more fair and sustainable.”
– Matt Mullen, Professor IHRP
“Human rights are important to everyone. They’re very important to those who are marginalized from mainstream society. They’re very important when things start going wrong. They’re useful in everyday life when organizations need to make certain decisions.”
– Mike Hayes, Professor IHRP
Careers
Whether you have been working already in human rights, or other fields, or you are fresh from undergraduate studies, a graduate degree in human rights will help to create opportunities in a range of fields. Some of our graduates work in human rights law, academia, for the United Nations or for many different human rights focused non-governmental organizations.
Bangkok is the regional hub for organisations such as the UNHCHR, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Rescue Committee. Spending time studying human rights in Thailand and attending conferences and workshops in which IHRP collaborates with these organisations is the perfect opportunity to learn more about a range of opportunities working in the field.