Human Rights Workshop: Abuses at the Border

Dates: June 17 - 18, 2008

Time:TBD

Location:
Joan B. Kroc building
University of San Diego

Co-sponsored by:
Trans-Border Institute
ACLU Human Rights Program
ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos

To register, please contact the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties at (619) 232-2121 or consult the ACLU website.

The ACLU Human Rights Program, ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, and the University of San Diego Trans Border Institute are presenting a 2-day workshop for social justice advocates interested in developing human rights strategies to end human rights violations that occur at the U.S.-Mexico border. At the workshop, we will strive to develop concrete strategies for using human rights standards and mechanisms on both sides of the border-to expose and end migrant deaths, inhumane detention, family separation, racial profiling, and other violations. The workshop will use a human rights lens to tackle a range of issues including the following:

• The increased militarization of the border, the advent of intrusive surveillance, and the stripping of constitutional rights in the border region;
• The consequences of a trend towards privatization of detention centers across the country;
• The lack of accountability and the need for oversight mechanisms to monitor Border Patrol and other law enforcement at the border;
• The human death toll of the Border Wall and the consequences of its expanded construction at the border;
• The unique issues that face communities particularly vulnerable to abuses, including women, children, asylum seekers, and LGBTQ communities.

What training will the workshop provide?

• An overview of the human rights framework that protects the rights of individuals and communities against border abuses;
• Ways to utilize and improve documentation efforts to expose violations against crossing migrants and border communities, including using multimedia formats;
• A forum for identifying shared advocacy goals and collaborating on solutions;
• Concrete strategies for using human rights mechanisms to end border abuses in southern California and beyond.

Who should come?

This interactive training will be of use to a broad spectrum of groups and individuals engaged in protecting the rights of crossing migrants and their families, including practicing lawyers, policy advocates, community organizers, and communications strategists from both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border. Though the workshop will focus on specific challenges in southern California, it will also benefit advocates in other border states facing similar problems. The event is an opportunity for activists to learn about applicable human rights resources from experts in the field and to share experiences and strategies with other social justice advocates.

Why should I come?

Human rights violations against crossing migrants and border communities have long been rampant at the U.S.-Mexico border; however, today the situation has reached a dangerous precipice. The so-called "War on Terror" and the Department of Homeland security have demanded increased law enforcement and military presence at the U.S.-Mexico border. Border crossing has also become significantly more treacherous: As cities and towns are closed off to crossing migrants, such as through "Operation Gatekeeper," migrants are forced to cross through deserts and other desolate areas that lack adequate water, food or shelter. Women, children, asylum seekers and LGBTQ migrants are also especially vulnerable against violence while crossing. Additionally, conditions at detention centers are often squalid, and as these centers are increasingly privatized, they become less accountable for for their treatment of detainees.

One of the most powerful statements of the immigrants'/migrants' rights movement is "No Human Being is Illegal," affirming the inherent dignity of every individual regardless of immigration status. Universal human rights standards, which often provide more affirmative rights and protections than U.S. statutory or constitutional law, can be used to complement existing advocacy to protect migrants' and immigrants' rights, as well as to develop new strategies for monitoring, documentation, litigation, public education and policy advocacy. Human rights are providing fuel for new grassroots movements because they encompass disparate issues-such as economic and social rights and intersectional forms of discrimination-not adequately addressed in domestic law or mainstream advocacy. During this workshop, you will learn how to actively engage human rights principles to protect the rights of crossing migrants against abuse, document and expose incidents of human rights violations, and help survivors and victims of abuse and brutality at the hands of law enforcement find justice.

What are the conference fees? How do I register?

The conference is free but space will be limited. Travel and accommodation scholarships will be available and will be awarded based on demonstrated need and interest in the workshop. Information on registration will be sent shortly. In the meantime, mark your calendars!

Contact Information

Questions? Please contact:

Ashwini Hardikar
Advocacy Associate
ACLU Human Rights Program
Tel: (212) 549-2663
ahardikar@aclu.org

Para español, contacte:

Andrea Guerrero
Field and Policy Director
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
(619) 232-2121 x 28
aguerrero@aclusandiego.org