For the past six years, PHR Chapters across the US have led the annual Global Health Week of Action (GHWA) at their schools. Your GHWA can be part of a larger push for Health and Human Rights Education (HHRE) at your school, or it can be a short period of intense advocacy around a global health issue. Either way, you are educating others and encouraging them to act.
What are you doing for GHWA on your campus? We’ve got a couple ideas to get you started:
2010 Global HEALTH Act
A great option is promoting the passage of the 2010 Global HEALTH Act. Representative Barbara Lee will introduce the bill in the House of Representatives soon. As Helen Potts wrote in a recent post,
The bill’s consistent focus on equity, non-discrimination, participation and accountability indirectly promotes the incorporation of a human rights approach to health into the Strategy… It is essential that it obtain a large number of co-sponsors to demonstrate significant support for this legislation, which will help move this bill towards final passage. This is not only for the benefit of the populations in the countries receiving direct assistance but also for the benefit of the US. This bill has the potential to do more for the credibility of the US in the arena of human rights and global health than anything that has gone before.
During GHWA, set up a meeting with your Representatives to encourage them to sponsor the bill! If you’re not sure how, email Barbara at bcastro[at]phrusa[dot]org and she will help you arrange and prepare for a meeting. It’s a worthwhile experience. I’m planning to meet with Representative Michael Capuano in April, and you’re invited to join me.
Also, on April 7—World Health Day—please be ready to email your Representatives and encourage them to sponsor the bill!
Humanitarian needs of women and girls in Darfur
Another option for those who want to focus on the impact of conflict on health or ending gender-based violence, PHR recently released Joe Read’s Action Agenda for Realizing Treatment and Support for Women and Girls in Darfur. Since 2004, PHR has documented the systematic human rights abuses in Darfur, including displacement and killing. In March 2009, the Government of Sudan expelled 13 international NGOs who had provided lifesaving humanitarian assistance. A year later, the needs of women and girls are as urgent as ever. The Action Agenda has recommendations for addressing critical needs in Coordination, Humanitarian Access, and Programming.
The main action for a week focused on Darfur is to call the US Envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, at 202-647-4000. You could create a call-in table: invite people to sit down, call General Gration, and urge him to increase funding for programs that protect and promote women’s rights and support survivors of sexual violence. You could also have a reading group on your campus meet to discuss the Action Agenda, or work with another student group to host a panel discussion or photo exhibit.
The GHWA Toolkit
Whatever topic you choose for your campus’ GHWA, you’ll find tips and resources in the new GHWA Toolkit.
Please take photos during your Week of Action to share with PHR and inspire other Chapters!
