About
Human rights has emerged as a language and an organizing strategy for
activists and advocates around the globe to challenge inequalities and
propel social change. The assertion of human rights often serves as
an alternative to rights grounded in nationality, gender, or social
identity. Yet human rights as a framework, particularly as embodied
in international documents, has not always provided an effective
organizing tool for grassroots efforts and progressive organizers on
the ground. Some feel it is too rooted in technocratic approaches to
social change, some that it does not effectively capture grassroots
communities' struggles to gain power.
"Boston Human Rights: Ideas and Action" will bring together academics
and activists to explore the current state of human rights activism,
to push the boundaries of the human rights tradition, and to move
forward a human rights campaign in Boston that will actually work for
our communities. The conference is open to academics, activists,
Boston-area organizers, and the general public.