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21. Millennials, Human Rights, and Returning Home

Author:
Christy Dehus
Publication Date:
04-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center on Human Rights Education, University of Denver
Abstract:
Millennials that leave their home country, are raised in the west, then return to their home countries leave an impact on both countries. It’s similar to the brain drain phenomenon, but this generation has the potential to positively impact both countries: their home countries by returning and the countries they are raised in by educating from afar via social media. Ugaaso Boocow is an example of this. She uses Instagram to document her journey back home to Somalia after spending the majority of her childhood and young adult life in Canada. Through this process she depicts the Somalia that the media doesn’t portray: a country full of rich heritage and geographical diversity. Her friends in the west learn about life in Somalia and Somalia is positively impacted by the education she obtained in the west. How does the influx of millennials returning to their home country after living in the west mold their understanding of universal human rights? In Somalia, as in other war-torn countries, human rights are violated on a daily basis. International humanitarian law, which provides laws to protect civilians and combatants during armed conflict, is violated. The spirit of humanity is captured through Ugaaso’s Instagram pictures, providing hope for failed states. Perhaps the return of these young people will create pressure for failed states to change. They are the champions for their countries.
Topic:
Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, Social Movement, and Youth
Political Geography:
Global Focus

22. Homeless LGBTQ Youth

Author:
Lauren Palarino
Publication Date:
10-2017
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Center on Human Rights Education, University of Denver
Abstract:
One of the most prevalent communities in the homeless population are those who are LGBTQ. In statistics with homeless youth who are aged 12 to 24 years old, LGBTQ individuals have 40% of the population despite them being only 7% of the general youth population. Once they become homeless they have higher risks of unsafe sexual behavior, victimization, mental health issues, and a predictor of engaging in crime than their housed counterparts.
Topic:
Human Rights, Youth, LGBT+, and Homelessness
Political Geography:
Global Focus

23. License to Be Yourself: Trans Children and Youth

Publication Date:
11-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Open Society Foundations
Abstract:
The vast majority of trans youth around the world cannot obtain legal recognition of—or official documents that match—their gender identity. This means trans youth have to navigate sex-segregated situations with no formal documents that support their gender identity. This exposes trans youth to exclusion, discrimination, and abuse. Day-to-day impacts include being excluded from single-sex schools, and from gender-segregated activities such as sports teams or school camps. Often trans children and youth are prohibited from using school bathrooms that are appropriate for their gender identity, placing them at high risk of violence and bullying. This brief explains international human rights obligations and current recognition laws from across the world. It also examines key arguments made by those who opppose legal gender recognition for trans youth. It is the third of four resources for activists that accompany Open Society’s 2014 report on legal gender recognition across the world, License to Be Yourself.
Topic:
Education, Gender Issues, Youth, LGBT+, Sexual Violence, Justice, Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Transgender
Political Geography:
Global Focus

24. A Discussion of Youth Civic Activism: Screening Concepts and Levels of Youth Engagement

Author:
Tanja Dibou
Publication Date:
12-2013
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Studies of Changing Societies Journal (SCS)
Institution:
Studies of Changing Societies Journal (SCS)
Abstract:
In the twenty-first century youth activism in society is a certainly interesting, multifaceted and complex research topic. The review of the literature on the theme of youth civic activism have shown that it is higher level of fuzziness in the youth field with the application of concepts 'civic' and 'political'; 'engagement' and 'participation'. Therefore, the key issue of the paper is to explore these concepts. Comprehensive analysis of the concepts offers a more effective way to understand youth civic activism. A focus on the youth involvement in civil society brings to discuss about various forms from 'true' to 'false' forms of activism. Scholars in youth field identify that not every action of young people in society should be seen as the full of value. Additionally to defining the main terms of civic activism, the scholars often flow into long debates about how these terms should be measured. Therefore the paper brings some ways of measurement the level of civic engagement and covers the issues of youth disengagement and finds the answer to the questions: why youth civic activism is important, who can benefit from it? The article is theoretical and youth civic activism will be analyzed through a review of literature.
Topic:
Education, Political Activism, Youth, and Disengagement
Political Geography:
Global Focus

25. Millennials and Social Media

Author:
Evan Kraus
Publication Date:
09-2012
Content Type:
Working Paper
Abstract:
We hear a lot of talk about millennials, those 50 million Americans aged 18 - 29 who have entered our society with a bang. Like most past generations in their younger days, this group is idealistic, leans liberal and is excited about the future. Where millennials differ most from the generations who came before them is in their prodigious use of social media. According to Pew, 75 percent of millennials participate in social networking, and more than 20 percent have uploaded video of themselves to the web. It is that expressive nature of the generation, and their willingness to share in so public a venue, that defines the group. This idealism, combined with the expressive instincts of millennials, can have a profound impact on public policy. Take the Kony 2012 movement as an example. In March 2012, Invisible Children released a short film about Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army that urged its mostly young viewers to get involved in its publicity campaign. Within a few months, the video attracted more than 100 million views on YouTube and Vimeo, generated tremendous traditional media coverage and inspired the U.S. Senate to pass a resolution and the African Union to deploy troops, an unprecedented response to a fairly obscure issue in a remote part of the world. Of course, Joseph Kony has been a menace in Central Africa for more than a quarter-century and was indicted for war crimes by the Hague in 2005. But it took a simple, inspiring video plugged into social media to get millennials inspired and active. This is the central challenge for activists and leaders who wish to persuade millennials to adopt a similar response on other issues. By their very nature, foreign policy issues are nuanced and almost impossibly complex. The public in general, and millennials in particular, do not, as a group, have the patience to sift through every wrinkle and dependency. The age of the white paper or long-form reporting feature is largely over, replaced by the simple infographic or video-based story. It takes real talent, creativity and even a little bravery (just browse through the withering criticism aimed at Invisible Children to see why) to isolate the basic elements of an issue and express them in an interesting and compelling visual format with enough emotion and energy to inspire a supportive response. But this is the talent we must increasingly cultivate and celebrate in public affairs circles if we want the millennial public to get involved.
Topic:
Youth Culture, Social Media, Youth, and Millennials
Political Geography:
Global Focus