South Africa: International Human Rights - Apartheid and HIV/AIDS

January 2-23, 2009

Course Credit: GVPT 359 / UNIV 318A / CPSP 379I / AASP 398P / HONR 348Y / CORE [D]

The United Nations and the international community are struggling to adapt longstanding human rights principles of non-discrimination, personal and bodily integrity, health and social development to the complexities of modern problems like racial discrimination and epidemics like HIV/AIDS. It is an effort that many consider to be one of the most important new challenges in the modern human rights movement.

During this three-week course, students will first study the history of the apartheid, to discover how the future of human rights was dramatically changed by a few extraordinary people. Next, students will examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on South Africa, and determine the legal, political, social and health challenges encountered in extending human rights to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The course will primarily be based in Cape Town and Johannesburg South Africa and will include a bush safari near Kruger National Park. Upon returning to Washington, D.C., there will be several days of visits to organizations based in the nation's capitol as we turn the attention of the course to domestic issues and initiatives related to our international focus.

Faculty and Staff

Mark Bromley is Founding Director of LGBT Foreign Policy Project, a new advocacy initiative that promotes an LGBT inclusive U.S. foreign policy agenda. He was previously the Director of External Relations and Policy at Global Rights.

Michael Ulrich directs the study abroad office at UM and teaches a study abroad course on HIV/AIDS in Western Europe, including London, Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam. His international experience includes service learning trips to Mexico, El Salvador and Jamaica.

For questions about the application, registration and pre-departure logistics, please contact Shoshana Griffith, a Program Assistant in the Study Abroad Office.