Physician for Human Rights
Mission
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) promotes health by protecting human rights. We believe that human rights are essential preconditions for the health and well-being of all people. Using medical and scientific methods, we investigate and expose violations of human rights worldwide and we work to stop them. We support institutions that hold perpetrators of human rights abuses, including health professionals, accountable for their actions. We educate health professionals and medical, public health and nursing students and organize them to become active in supporting a movement for human rights and creating a culture of human rights in the medical and scientific professions.
Since 1986, PHR members have worked to stop torture, disappearances, and political killings by governments and opposition groups; to improve health and sanitary conditions in prisons and detention centers; to investigate the physical and psychological consequences of violations of humanitarian law in internal and international conflicts; to defend medical neutrality and the right of civilians and combatants to receive medical care during times of war; to protect health professionals who are victims of violations of human rights; and to prevent medical complicity in torture and other abuses.
As one of the original steering committee members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. PHR currently serves as coordinator of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Physicians for Human Rights at WVU is one of over 50 student chapters located nationwide on the campuses of medical schools, nursing schools and schools of public health.
Information on national student events, or for more detailed resources, please visit: https://phr.org/get-involved/participate/students/
PHR student chapters promote and educate their communities on the important link between health and human rights. Our chapter reaches out to and educates the medical community, other health sciences schools, and the community in general. There are many opportunities to gain leadership experience and community service hours. Some activities include National AIDS Action Week, Human Rights Day, the national PHR conference, leadership conferences, and a lecture on recognizing/reporting victims of torture.
For more information contact:
Officers
- Anna Schuster
- President
- Joshua Peterson
- Vice President
- bBianna Caison
- Secretary
- Barbaara Wehle
- Treasurer
- Dr. Josephine Reece
- Faculty Advisor
Bylaws
. Physicians for Human Rights is a non-profit, volunteer-run student organization at the West Virginia University School of Medicine dedicated to maintaining an alliance with Physicians for Human Rights, an international coalition of physicians devoted to protecting human rights.
2. Any student, faculty, or staff at West Virginia University is eligible for membership.
3. An elected committee of medical students will serve as liaisons to the faculty advisor, office of student services and administration. The members of Physicians for Human Rights will elect the liaison committee at the last meeting of each year.
4. Correspondence to Physicians for Human Rights can be carried out through the elected committee or through the assistant to the faculty advisor.
5. The appointed treasurer of Physicians for Human Rights shall account for all funds available to the organization on a monthly basis and report to the WVU Foundation.
6. Any funds acquired by Physicians for Human Rights either by donation or fundraiser shall be used at the discretion of its elected committee and faculty advisor to aid in collection, sorting, and shipping of supplies, advertising, special events, travel expenses, sponsoring student travel abroad, or any other function deemed relevant to Physicians for Human Rights.
7. Physicians for Human Rights will meet no more than monthly during the year, from September to April, and more often if deemed necessary by its members.
8. Physicians for Human Rights will collaborate closely with an advisor who understands the goals of Physicians for Human Rights and is committed to the achievement of the aforementioned goals.
Goals
The goals set by Physicians for Human Rights are as follows:
1. To maintain an alliance with Physicians for Humans Rights on a national and international level.
2. To promote an awareness of the issues challenging human rights a global level.
3. To provide an outlet for persons to collaborate and effect change in the world through the use of their leadership, resourcefulness, and compassion.