Comments on: Live, From Mae Sot! http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/07/10/37/ Repo(ssess) Repro(ductive Justice): Bringing Rights within Reach Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:13:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Liz http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/07/10/37/#comment-766 Liz Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:37:11 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/07/10/37/#comment-766 Hooray! I spent last summer in Mae Sot -- also through an LSRJ internship -- doing research for the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights, a group affiliated with the Mae Tao Clinic that works with the children of Burmese migrants in Thailand, many of whom are unrecognized by either the Burmese or Thai governments, making them effectively stateless. Mae Sot is a fascinating place -- a border town on the receiving end of a steady stream of people fleeing conflict and repression under the Burmese military junta. So many people in need of aid, health care, education, and jobs...and also an inspiring array of activists, advocates, and researchers who use Mae Sot as a homebase for their work in the border region. In my conversations with Burmese colleagues and acquaintances, I was continually struck by the powerful impact of human rights language and concepts -- even with limited or no enforceability in the present context -- and how important it is for Burmese activists to have human rights law and institutions to draw on for inspiration and guidance in their work. This is especially true in the RJ context, where women's rights advocates may not always be able to speak directly about sexual and reproductive issues but can draw on human rights concepts to convey important information about women's choices in a way that is empowering and effective. Emily, I hope you're enjoying Mae Sot as much as I did -- look forward to hearing more about your work and experiences there! Hooray! I spent last summer in Mae Sot — also through an LSRJ internship — doing research for the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Child Rights, a group affiliated with the Mae Tao Clinic that works with the children of Burmese migrants in Thailand, many of whom are unrecognized by either the Burmese or Thai governments, making them effectively stateless. Mae Sot is a fascinating place — a border town on the receiving end of a steady stream of people fleeing conflict and repression under the Burmese military junta. So many people in need of aid, health care, education, and jobs…and also an inspiring array of activists, advocates, and researchers who use Mae Sot as a homebase for their work in the border region.

In my conversations with Burmese colleagues and acquaintances, I was continually struck by the powerful impact of human rights language and concepts — even with limited or no enforceability in the present context — and how important it is for Burmese activists to have human rights law and institutions to draw on for inspiration and guidance in their work. This is especially true in the RJ context, where women’s rights advocates may not always be able to speak directly about sexual and reproductive issues but can draw on human rights concepts to convey important information about women’s choices in a way that is empowering and effective.

Emily, I hope you’re enjoying Mae Sot as much as I did — look forward to hearing more about your work and experiences there!

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