Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a national organization committed to promoting health by protecting human rights. A few of the many issues we tackle are the global HIV pandemic, improving inhumane conditions at prisons and detention centers, providing medical care for torture survivors and asylum seekers, and the removal of landmines, a project for which PHR shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

The Columbia Chapter of PHR strives to promote awareness of these and other problems by organizing talks and facilitating student involvement in volunteer projects aimed at alleviating human rights abuse. Last years events included: a seminar with a human rights lawyer and an asylee who shared his experiences in dealing with the horrific process of seeking asylum in the US ; an AIDS Action Week and World AIDS Day events; and training for health science students to volunteer at asylum detention centers.

In the coming year, we plan to organize more speakers on various issues as well as continue to expand our projects. Input and involvement is welcome from any and all health science students!