Human Rights: Inspiring Stories

Right to Play

“Creating a healthier and safer world for children through the power of sport and play.” In an effort to help people in war-torn countries and areas of distress, in 2003, Right To Play was organized by Olympic Aid, a part of the Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee (LOOC). What better way is there to reach children than sports, in this case, it is all about a little red soccer ball! The idea behind Right To Play is “to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.” Many children around the world do not even have a ball to play with; this program, however, is not just about giving a child a ball — instead, Right To Play has specific “games” that are played with the ball. Children love sports and especially the opportunity to kick, throw, or roll a ball — and so the idea of using a little red ball has been a huge success worldwide. Athletic skills are not the only skills that can be learned from playing sports, there are many others that can be taught while having fun.

Community leaders in more than 33 countries are trained to implement the Right To Play program and work as coaches to teach specific methods that target four specific areas all by using this little red ball:

• Basic Education and Child Development
• Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Conflict Resolution and Peace Education
• Community Development

Some reports of success include: a reduction in violent behavior and ethnic violence among children, increased school attendance and performance, children are more confident and cooperative, girls are gaining control over their own bodies and building self-esteem, and more. To learn more about this remarkable program, visit Right To Play (http://www.righttoplay.com/site/PageServer).

Loung Ung

Loung Ung was born in 1970 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. When she was 5-years-old, she and her family left the city with thousands of others who fled to the countryside for safety from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. At the young age of 8, both her parents and two of her siblings were killed by the Khmer Rouge. (The Khmer Rouge are also responsible for killing approximately 2 million Cambodians out of a population of just 7 million.) Ung was then forced into being a child soldier; but in 1980 (when she was just 10), she and her older brother escaped to Thailand where they lived in a refugee camp for five months. Then, through a U.S. charity group they were relocated to Vermont to live.

Fifteen years later, Ung returned to Cambodia for a memorial service for the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide, and was devastated to discover that 20 of her relatives had been killed by the Khmer Rouge. A survivor of what has been referred to as the “killing fields of Cambodia … one of the bloodiest episodes of the twentieth century,” Ung turned her grief into action, working for justice and reconciliation in her beloved country, Cambodia. After learning that there were still landmines scattered around the her country, killing and maiming her people including many children, she began a campaign to educate the world about the presence and effects of these horrific weapons that continue to take their toll not only in Cambodia but in other countries as well. In addition to writing two books on her experiences (First They Killed My Father and Lucky Child), she has become an advocate, speaking around the world spreading awareness about child soldiers, women and war, and landmines. For more information on Loung Ung, visit:  (http://www.loungung.com/acorn.php?page=home).

The Elders

In 2007, a group of retired statesmen from around the world came together to join a group to take action “on the world’s knottiest problems, starting with Darfur.” Formed by former South African President Nelson Mandela, the purpose of this group of 13 men and women is “Bringing Hope, Forging Peace” by calling for recommendations to end the violence in Darfur. The 13 members include:

• Nelson Mandel (Former President of South African)
• Desmond Tutu (South Africa)
• Ela Bhatt (India)
• Gro Harlem Burndtland (Norway)
• Jimmy Carter (Former President of the United States)
• Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh)
• Graça Machelm (Mozambique)
• Kofi Annan (Ghana, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations)
• Lakhdar Brahimi (Algeria)
• Fernando H. Cardoso (Brazil)
• Mary Robinson (Former President of Ireland)
• Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma)

In 2007, the Elders traveled to Sudan to assess the Darfur situation and promote its support for the two-year-old Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan; meeting with a number of leaders and groups including Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir, opposing political party representatives, the United Nations, the African Union humanitarian agencies, the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), tribal leaders, women’s groups, and displaced persons. From this mission, the Elders developed a set of recommendations, which include inclusive peace, democracy, and allowing the deployment of the United Nations peacekeeping forces and humanitarian agencies. They have not stopped with Sudan and continue to address crises around the world.

Doctors Without Borders / Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971, MSF is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to providing medical assistance to millions of people in more than 60 countries around the world. MSF’s principles are based on medical ethics and impartiality; a neutral organization, it does not support the agendas of any political, military, or religious groups. Their focus is to provide medical care to those who need it the most including those who are suffering as a result of violence, neglect, or catastrophe; and those who do not have access to health care. MSF also responds to natural disasters (such as earthquakes and cyclones) and epidemics, worldwide. MSF consists of more than 27,000 individuals from many different nations that work together to provide assistance to people around the world. Some of countries “in need the most” include Somalia, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Northwestern Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Iraq, and Eastern Congo. Malaria, HIV / AIDS, malnourished children, and the lack of medicine and immunizations are some of the health crises in need of immediate attention. This organization is making a difference, saving lives and easing suffering, thus providing people with the ability to rebuild their lives and communities. For more information, visit: Doctors Without Borders / Medécins Sans Frontières (MSF) (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/).

Molly Melching

Born in the United States, Molly Melching went to Senegal in 1978 as an American exchange student from the University of Illinois. Upon graduating, she decided to stay in Senegal, where she then joined the Peace Corps and created the first radio program for children in different languages. Her work took her to different villages and she began to realize that much more work needed to be done. During the 1980s, she expanded her efforts and in 1991, Melching founded Tostan, a nongovernmental organization whose mission is “to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights.” Tostan means breakthrough in the Wolof language.

Molly Melching and Tostan have become increasingly well known around the world for their endeavors to partner with African communities in an effort to abandon female genital cutting (FGC) and child-forced marriage. Since 1997, 3,307 villages in Senegal, 298 in Guinea, and 23 in Burkina Faso, as well as villages from three other African countries, have joined forces, abandoning the harmful practice known as FGC. In addition, more than 2,460 communities in West Africa have abandoned child marriage. Recognized for these accomplishments, Molly Melching was presented with the 1999 Humanitarian Alumni Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the 2002 Sergeant Shriver Distinguished Award for Humanitarian Service. FGC and child marriage are sensitive topics for a number of reasons especially for Western countries and also because these are century-old traditions that require respect and understanding from outsiders. Molly Melching and Tostan have found a way to reach out to African communities and change the lives of thousands of women. For more information on Molly Melching and Tostan, visit Tostan (http://www.tostan.org/).