PDF joins other Human Rights Funders in NYC

The Peace Development Fund participated in an international conference of human rights funders that took place in New York City, July 12th and 13th.  The semi-annual conference of the International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG) provides a regular opportunity for member funds to come together and share lessons and resources and build an international movement for human rights.

PDF, in partnership with the Groundswell Fund and the Wellspring Advisors sponsored a panel discussion entitled, "Stemming the Harm: Defending the Human Rights of Women Prisoners."  The panel consisted of moderator Rachel Herzing from Groundswell, PDF Program Coordinator Kazu Haga, WORTH founder and PDF board member Tina Reynolds, and the coordinator of the Young Mothers United program of the Center for Young Women's Development, LeaJay Harper.

This panel discussion followed an article that PDF submitted to the IHRFG's spring newsletter about the issue of shackling pregnant inmates even during delivery.  The speakers talked about first-hand experience of this gross human rights violation, the campaigns being waged around the country to ban the practice, and how funders can support this issue.

"Here in the United States, we sometimes think of human rights abuses as something that happens abroad," said Kazu.  "We need to realize that there are abuses going on every day in our back yard and begin seeing this work under a human rights framework."

PDF is proud to have worked with Groundswell Fund and the Wellspring Advisors, and to be supporters of WORTH and the Center for Young Women's Development.