human rights workers

Describes the life and achievements of Rick Hansen, a paraplegic who has dedicated his life to improving the quality of life for others with disabilities. Includes color photographs, a glossary, quotes, writing prompts, and further resources.

One morning in April 2012, China's most famous political activist--a blind, self-taught lawyer--climbed over the wall of his heavily guarded home and escaped. Days later, he turned up at the American embassy in Beijing, and only a furious round of high-level negotiations made it possible for him to leave China and begin a new life in the United States. Chen Guangcheng is a unique figure on the world stage, but his story is even more remarkable than anyone knew. The son of a poor farmer in rural China, blinded by illness when he was an infant, Chen was fortunate to survive a difficult childhood. But despite his disability, he was determined to educate himself and fight for the rights of his country's poor, especially a legion of women who had endured forced sterilizations and abortions under the hated 'one child' policy. Repeatedly harassed, beaten, and imprisoned by Chinese authorities, Chen was ultimately placed under house arrest. After nearly two years of increasing danger, he evaded his captors and fled to freedom. Both a riveting memoir and a revealing portrait of modern China.

The author describes his experiences working to defend rights, discussing cases and issues he faced, beginning in 1963, on the staff of the American Civil Liberties Union, as co-founder of Human Rights Watch, and as president of the Soros Foundations and Open Society Institute.

An autobiography of Dr. Hawa Abdi who founded a camp for displaced people from Mogadishu, Somalia saving countless women and children whose lives have been shattered by violence and poverty.

A compilation of writings, drawings, and poems by Rachel Corrie that provide insights into the thoughts and motivations that led her from her home in Olympia, Washington, to the Middle East where she was killed in 2003 while trying to block the demolition of a Palestinian family's home in the Gaza Strip.

The author describes his youth and maturation in the West Bank and his relationship with his political activist father, who in 1967 advocated a peaceful, two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and was murdered in 1985.

Describes how children from around the world have stood up for their rights and the rights of others.

Chronicles actress Angelina Jolie's involvement with the United Nations, describing her work as a Goodwill Ambassador, which allows her to travel around the world raising funds and awareness for refugee causes in third world countries.

A group of men and women fighting the civil war in Sudan find themselves thrown into a well of moral corruption that tries to turn their strengths into weaknesses, forcing them to make ethical compromises in order to survive.

Examines the peacekeeping efforts of former President Jimmy Carter in the years since leaving the White House; and describes how he has fought diseases, monitored over sixty-five elections in foreign nations, and led a war against poverty, hunger, and mental illness around the world.