U.S.A. Unveiled

A data project analyzing U.S. prisoner's rights, children's rights, and media rights over a 22-year period

About

This is a capstone project for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights John Lewis Young Leaders Fellowship that observes prisoner’s rights, children’s rights (child labor), and media rights (freedom of speech & press) in the United States on a national and subnational level. It is a collaborative effort with students and professors from the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies. This project was inspired by and uses components of the CIRIGHTS human rights dataset.

Objectives

Advocate for tangible improvements in human rights practices throughout the United States using a data-driven approach to aid evidence based policy making.

National Violations

As a leader in the human rights movement, it is critical that the United States upholds its principles and stands strong with its OECD counter parts.

Subnational Violations

The U.S. is geographically large, pinpointing where rights are being violated or protected fosters accountability and presents a more nuanced approach to human rights advocacy.

Aid Evidence Based Policy-Making

Evidence-based policy making is grounded in data. Therefore, it helps policymakers understand the scope of human rights, identify vulnerable populations, and allocate resources efficiently.

Expand Human Rights Research

Expanding research on human rights helps uncover systemic issues, document violations, and understand their root causes. It expands discourse and contributes to the development of effective strategies.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Brenden Skip Mark, for this invaluable guidance and support throughout the completion of this project.

I am also grateful to Dr. Ashlea Rundlett for her insightful feedback, expertise, and guidance in RStudio.

Special thanks to Zahra Khan and Jack Cox for contributing to the success of this project by scoring these rights, ensuring intercoder reliability, and supporting me throughout this project.

Thank you to the many NGOs, scholars, and activists who have offered their time to my project.

Additionally, I extend my gratitude to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and the John Lewis Young Leaders management team for allowing me to complete this project.

Questions?

Contact mmacneil@rfkhumanrights.org to get more information on the project

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