FDU Representatives Attend U.N. Human Rights Conference

Fairleigh Dickinson University was among the U.N./DPI (Department of Information)-accredited nongovernmental organizations that attended the 61st Annual NGO/DPI Conference from September 3 to 5 at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris, France — the first time the conference took place outside the U.N. Headquarters in New York City. This year’s conference, titled “Reaffirming Human Rights for All: The Universal Declaration at 60,” celebrated the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The University was represented by two of its Global Scholars: Jillian Cadet, a business management major from the Metropolitan Campus, and Jackie Humen, a political science major from the College at Florham. They were accompanied by Jason Scorza, associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor) and philosophy/political science (Metro), and Jo Anne Murphy, coordinator of U.N. programs, global learning (Flor/Metro).

From left: Jo Anne Murphy, coordinator of U.N. programs, global learning (Flor/Metro), with Fatou Matasylla, conference delegate from Guinea; one of the posters in the conference venue depicting Eleanor Roosevelt; and Jason Scorza, associate provost for global learning (Metro/Flor) and philosophy/political science (Metro), with global scholars Jackie Humen and Jillian Cadet.

Scorza welcomed the opportunity to be part of what he said “represents the best of what the global civil society — complex intersecting and overlapping organizations and associations that work tirelessly to address the health, environmental, economic and security challenges facing the world — has to offer.”

Attending the conference was a valuable learning experience for Cadet and Humen, Murphy said, “Such experiences provide an intensive learning environment. However, they also enable our students to learn how to relate and communicate with people of vastly diverse cultures and concerns. They experience the warmth of human exchange, seeing the world through the eyes of the other, and even networking for possible internship opportunities for fieldwork in the future.”

Aside from attending breakout sessions and workshops on various human rights issues, Cadet and Humen interviewed some of the conference delegates, who, Cadet said, “helped put a face to the thousands of representatives who attend these conferences, put a face on human rights issues and give global exposure to the motives and inspirations of these representatives.”

Among the delegates they interviewed were Shamina de Gonzaga, assistant to the president of the General Assembly and conference chairperson; Nkem Oselloka-Orakwue, executive director of the Children and Young Persons Development Centre in Nigeria; Nina Goncharova, president of International Interface; Idika Christiana Ngozi, a nun from the Congregations of Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy who is involved with UNANIMA International; Sozan Abdelsam, Sudanese human/women’s rights lawyer; Sistei Sujata, Florence Home Foundation; Joyce Oneko, founder of Mamana Dada-Africa; Ene Ede, founder of Equity Advocates; and Carmen Magallon, vice president, Fundación Seminario De Investigación Para La Paz.

Scorza said, “I fully expect that the experience of the students at this human rights conference will not only have a transformational impact on their own studies and careers, but will also help develop programs and initiatives to engage students on all of our campuses.”

Murphy added, “Participating students are expected to assume leadership roles in organizing and promoting human rights and other U.N.-related activities and programs on our campuses and within the surrounding communities in partnership with the primary and secondary schools. As global citizens, they are motivated to expand their relationships and collaborative experiences with other students from the more than 100 countries represented in the FDU student population.”

Other members of the University community who are interested in learning more about current global issues may attend any of the weekly NGO briefings held at the U.N. Headquarters in New York City (see United Nations Events Scheduled this issue http://inside.fdu.edu/otw/0809/unevents.html or go to http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/index.asp.