Review the Course content and if applicable, the transcript from your practitioner interview. Next, decide on a problem within the theme of Migration, Health and Human Rights that interests you. Write a 750 to 850 word Op-Ed advocating for a policy solution to your selected problem. In your Op-ed, be sure to follow the general frame of a human right’s argument:
1. Identify the problem / “facts” in terms of who, what, when where and how
2. Describe the human rights’ violation with reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant for Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (ICESCR), International Convent for Civil and Politician Rights (ICCPR), the Geneva Conventions, accompanying protocols and commentaries or local laws.
3. Describe the rights violations relative to the problem / facts
4. Present a remedy comprised of two to three solutions
Keep in mind, when one discusses health care in a rights context, one necessarily talks about health care quality, accessibility, availability and affordability
Also, that in politics, the more the merrier (and credible) so policy positions are best backed up by other individuals, organizations and/or academic studies. Also, stories play an essential role in motivating action, but in an Op-ed, keep them short and sweet. For assistance in writing an op-ed, please refer to the following resources:
For assistance in writing an op-ed, please refer to the following resources:
– https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/hks-communicationsprogram/files/new_seglin_how_to_write_an_oped_1_25_17_7.pdf
– https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/25/opinion/tips-for-aspiring-op-ed-writers.html
Here are some human rights related op-eds that can be used as models. Read others!
– https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/opinion/border-detention-migrant-children.html
– https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/17/opinions/andr-carson-china-minorities-op-ed/index.html
– https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/11/150701.htm
– https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/15/opinion/ukraine-refugee-crisis.html
