Human Rights Heroes

U.S. Special Representative for International Labor Affairs, Sarah Fox, participates in a discussion with Shawna Bader-Blau, the Executive Director of the Solidarity Center on the Solidarity Center’s work, some of its recent successes, and opportunities to continue to strengthen workers’ rights worldwide.

Judith Heumann, the State Department’s Special Advisor for International Disability Rights has a discussion with Silvia Quan about the role of advocacy in changing policies and attitudes towards people with disabilities. Silvia is nearing the end of her term as Vice-Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and she played an important role in the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She is active in several institutions in her native Guatemala, including the National Council for the Disabled and the Disability Rights Advocacy Unit in the Ombudsman’s Office.

Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, holds a conversation with Angolan Journalist and Human Rights Activist Rafael Marques de Morais on human rights, press freedoms, governance, and corruption issues in Angola. This series will aim to spotlight different individuals who are engaging in meaningful human rights work around the world. Join the conversation using the hashtag #HumanRightsHeroes.

Hashtag: #HumanRights Heroes

Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South and Central Asia, holds a conversation with Dr. Ali A. Zainalabdeen, President of the Turkmen Rescue Foundation and Murad Ismael, Co-founder and Executive Director of Yazda, on how to address challenges and improve conditions for religious and ethnic minority communities. This audio series aims to spotlight various individuals engaging in meaningful human rights work around the world. Join the conversation using the hashtag #HumanRightsHeroes

Judith Heumann, U.S. Special Advisor for Disability Rights holds a conversation with two Paralympians: Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta of the Philippines and Olesya Vladikina of Russia on their experiences, some of the challenges disabled athletes face while competing in sports and what advice they would give to others in their situations.‎ Join the conversation using the hashtag #HumanRightsHeroes. Transcript for Conversation on Disability Rights: http://go.usa.gov/cS9Wd

Randy Berry, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons holds a conversation with International Women of Courage Awardee Nisha Ayub on her personal story, her work on transgender rights, and the issue of #transgenderism in the first episode of the new #HumanRightsHeroes audio series. This series will aim to spotlight different individuals who are engaging in meaningful human rights work around the world. Join the conversation using the hashtag #HumanRightsHeroes. Transcript for Conversation on Transgenderism: http://go.usa.gov/cS9WW