From Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2009, Human Rights Week (HRW) debated "free vs. fair" in relation to access to health care, distribution of resources, political participation, and elections in addition to the traditional discussion of trade. We are proud to have inspired dialogue and highlighted the achievements of students and faculty at UD who have contributed to the advancement of human rights in our community.

Human Rights Week's only agenda relates to empowering students to engage in open dialogue about human rights. We use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a starting point because it provides a widely accepted framework from which to begin dialogue. As the Holy See's permanent representative to the UN explained, the UDHR "remains the single most important reference point for cross-cultural discussion of human freedom and dignity in the world and represents the customary-law base for any discussion about Human Rights." Starting with the UDHR is not meant to limit conversation but rather begin it. Though we use the UDHR as a framework, we welcome conversations born of a different context, such as one's faith.

Unfortunately, only those who decide to participate are able to shape that discussion. Due to limited time and resources we are not able to find a guest speaker to represent every perspective and we tend to focus on themes that engage a multidisciplinary audience and/or reflect the strengths of UD's academic community. The HRW planning team does not endorse the views of guest speakers but encourages critical thinking and open discussion of their ideas. Although the controversial nature of human rights can lead to polarized dialogue, we actively seek to provide a friendly platform for varied perspectives. We hope students and faculty will come ready to engage in the larger debates that make these topics interesting in the first place.

Our primary wish for HRW is that it remains a forum for discussion and empowerment. The week is enriched by diverse viewpoints and the team welcomes ideas for programs and events. Now is the time to start planning for next year's HRW. Please e-mail udaytonhrw@gmail.com to get involved.

Andrea Smith-Rippeon, Class of 2007 Erin Aldrich Miller, Class of 2008 Steph Zielonko, Senior Caitlin Jacob, Junior