Master of Human Rights Symposium 2025 highlights critical areas of need for advocacy

The University of Manitoba’s interdisciplinary Master of Human Rights program’s annual Symposium took place on January 17, 2025 in the Moot Courtroom at Robson Hall. The Symposium gives students enrolled in the graduate degree’s practicum and thesis streams an opportunity to present their research and share field experiences. The students’ research advisors are scholars from the Faculties of Arts, Education, and Social Work, in addition to the Faculty of Law.

Twelve students showcased their work across four different thematic panels including Human Rights, Equity and Socio-Economic Rights; International Human Rights Law – Comparative, Indigenous Peoples, Race Relations; International Human Rights Law – Identifying, Shaping & Realizing Rights; and Human Rights and Justice – Case Studies.

Keynote speaker, Senator Marilou McPhedran.

Dr. Mary Shariff [LLB/02], Professor of Law and Director of the Master of Human Rights Program, introduced this year’s keynote speaker, Senator Marilou McPhedran, who discussed instances she has witnessed throughout her career of the need for Human Rights activism and the life-saving effects that evidence-based advocacy has had on such efforts. “Evidence-based advocacy is what makes for a turning point,” she told students.

The former lawyer and University of Winnipeg Global College professor and dean, then remained in the audience throughout the afternoon to take notes, listening carefully and asking questions following each presentation.

Each panel was moderated by an expert who also facilitated the question-and-answer sessions following each presentation. These individuals included:

• Amar Khoday, Professor at the UM Faculty of Law who specializes in the intersection of law and resistance. He teaches courses in criminal law and immigration law at Robson Hall, among other topics related to resistance and challenging injustice.
• Ran Ukashi, Manager and Research and Head of Knowledge Translation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, who oversees the conduct of research supporting the Museum’s curatorial, programmatic, educational and digital initiatives. His doctoral degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from UM’s Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice focused on international conflict resolution and management, and international peace keeping.
• Laurelle A. Harris, K.C., [LLB/01] Director of the Internationally Trained Lawyer Program, Equity and Transformation at the UM Faculty of Law who leads anti-racism education, policy reform and systemic reviews, including at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
• Marc Kruse [JD/15], Director of Indigenous Legal Learning and Services at the UM Faculty of Law. In addition to engaging in academic research on social justice education and Indigenous educational ethics, he practices as a criminal defence lawyer at Rees Dyck Rogala Law Offices. He co-teaches the Indigenous Methodologies and Perspectives course at the UM Faculty of Law and is a proud member of Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan.

The Faculty of Law, together with collaborators and advisors from the Faculties of Arts, Education and Social Work and practicum site supervisors, extends sincere congratulations to all students on their hard work. We look forward to celebrating their upcoming graduation.

Students and their respective symposium topics are as follows:

Panel One: Human Rights, Equity & Socio-Economic Rights
Panel Moderator: Dr. Amar Khoday

Avery Selby-Lyons

Paper title: “A Matter of Human Rights, Not Luxury: Enacting Legislation for Uniform Guaranteed Access to Menstrual Products Across Canada”
Practicum site: PERIOD
Advisor: Dr. Rory Henry
Site supervisor: Damaris Pereda

Irene Uwase

Paper title: “Rural Women, Cooperatives, & Legislative Action in Addressing the Gender Pay Gap in Rwanda”
Practicum site: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Advisor: Dr. Jesse Hajer
Site supervisor: Molly McCracken

Augustine Caesar Nyero

Paper title: “Refugee Resettlement & Access to Socio-Economic Rights – Role of Settlement Agencies in Manitoba”
Advisor: Dr. Laura Rosenoff Gauvin
Practicum site: Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM)
Site supervisor: Carol Reimer

Panel Two: International Human Rights Law – Comparative, Indigenous Peoples, Race Relations
Panel Moderator: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Talia Mohammed

Paper title: “Ethnoracial Relations in Trinidad and Tobago: Analyzing how Racial Divisions Among Political Parties Block Progressive Realization”
Advisor: Dr. Amar Khoday
Practicum site:  Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties (MARL)
Site supervisor: Sandra Krahn

Piaroa Nunez

Paper title: “Dispossession, Violence, Resistance: First Nations and Mapuche Women in the Face of Settler Colonial Patriarchy”
Advisor: Dr. Adele Perry
Practicum site: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Site supervisor: Kaila Johnston

Priscila Alves Werton

Paper title: “Indigenous Genocide and the Pandemic: The Case of Brazil”
Advisor: Dr. Kjell Anderson
Practicum site: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Site supervisor: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Panel Three: International Human Rights Law – Identifying, Shaping & Realizing Rights
Panel Moderator: Laurelle A. Harris, K.C.

Kyra Campbell

Thesis title: “Reproductive violence in Armed Conflict: International Law and the Case of Gaza”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko 

Imtiaz Mahmud

Paper title: “A Critical Emanation of Bangladesh’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (CCSAP) from the Adaption Perspective”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko
Practicum site: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Site supervisor: Dr. Ran Ukashi

Atefeh Abedinpour

Thesis Title: “International Humanitarian Law under the Light of the Human Right to a Healthy, Clean and Sustainable Environment”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko

Panel Four: Human Rights and Justice – Case Studies
Panel Moderator: Marc Kruse

Victoria Nelson

Paper Title: “The Overlooked Human Rights Violations in Prisons and the Case Against the Death Penalty”
Advisor: Dr. Rick Linden
Practicum Site:  MARL
Site Supervisor: Sandra Krahn 

Wendy Daphne Ochola

Paper Title: “Reinterpreting Article 33 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Case for Harm Reduction as a Rights-Based Approach to Child Protection”
Advisor: Dr. Nathan Derejko
Practicum Site: Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
Site Supervisor: Jonny Mexico

Stella Louku

Paper Title: “Impact of Forced Early Marriage on Public Secondary Education: Maasai Girls in Kenya”
Advisor: Dr. Bruno de Oliveira Jayme
Practicum Site: MARL
Site Supervisor: Sandra Krahn

Story submitted by Faculty of Law.