Human Rights Day is Sunday, December 10th, 2017.
The APSA has a history of involvement in human rights activities.
The American Political Science Association recognizes the connections between human rights and the political science enterprise, from the right of political science researchers and other scholars to conduct their work without fear of harassment or intimidation to the human right to available, accessible, affordable scientific knowledge of quality and the benefits of scientific progress, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.
APSA and AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition
APSA is a member of the AAAS Science and Human Rights Coalition, a network of scientific, engineering and health membership organizations that recognize the role of science and scientists in the promotion and protection of human rights. The Coalition is devoted to:
(1) bridge-building and coordinating: both within the scientific community – among scientific associations and across disciplines – and between the scientific and human rights communities
(2) education and capacity-building, within scientific associations and within the human rights community.
The APSA’s membership inthe Coalition creates multiple opportunities for leadership, engagement and participation in efforts at the intersections of science, technology and human rights.
- Meetings: the Coalition meets in Washington, DC in January and July. These meetings provide an opportunity to learn about and engage in robust discussions about contemporary themes at the intersections of human rights, science and technology (e.g., climate change, water, big data), and to further the Coalition goals through project meetings, workshops, and leadership discussions. Meeting information, including video archives, is available here.
- Projects: the Coalition is focused on getting work done, from building the capacity of human rights organizations to use scientific methods in their research, to developing teaching materials on human rights for STEM curricula, to bringing institutional change within member organizations. Current opportunities for involvement are presented on the Coalition website.