Priya Batra '09

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a national organization committed to promoting health by protecting human rights. A few of the many issues we tackle are the rights issues surrounding the HIV pandemic, advocacy for child rights, improving inhumane conditions at prisons and detention centers, providing medical care for torture survivors and asylum seekers, and the removal of landmines, a project for which PHR shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

The Columbia Chapter of PHR strives to promote awareness of these and other problems by organizing talks and facilitating student involvement in volunteer projects aimed at alleviating human rights abuse. Last year's events included
workshops and lobbying to protect the rights of New York children subject to abuse. PHR also collaborated with other student groups in events and lectures focused upon the global HIV crisis.

In the coming year, we plan to organize more speakers on various issues as well as continue to expand our projects. Input and involvement is welcome from any and all health science students!