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Interview human rights project
For our human rights project, we had an interview with Barbara Oomen. Barbara Oomen works at the Roosevelt University, and has a lot of knowledge about human right. That’s why we went to the Roosevelt University to ask her a couple of questions.
Interview Prof. Barbara Oomen
Can you tell us something about your job? What is your job?
I am dean at the Roosevelt University, which means that I’m actually the head of the college. Secondly, I also teach Human Rights classes here at the university. I have also written a few books, including books about the International Criminal Law, the SGP case and a book about my experiences in South Africa, where I have lived for half a year.
Why did you choose to do this job to earn your living?
Well, I studied for lawyer at a university. When I was living in South Africa, I realized how many differences there are between people over the whole world. I wanted to do something with that feeling, so I started interesting myself in the subject of Human Rights.
What do you think is the most interested about your job?
Something I find very interesting is the fact that I teach students coming from all over the world. I have students from Nepal, Belgium but also students coming from Zoutelande. They all live together here in Middelburg, and they’re all really motivated students.
Do you have one outstanding story about human rights, refugees or immigrants?
No, I don’t really have one outstanding story, but in my carrier I have met so many people who's rights have been violated. For example, in South Africa I met a woman who has been tied up behind a car, and a woman who has been tortured. But I do not think this doesn’t happen in the Netherlands. I think it is all closer to us than we maybe think it is.
What do you think we should change of the human rights, so that we can make them better? Or do you think it’s okay like this?Well, there is a difference between the official Declaration of Human Rights, and the use of it. Because a declaration is just a declaration. You can’t go to court because someone has violated the rights of the declaration. So, I think the Human Rights we have on paper, do not need to change. They’re good like this, and I can’t think of a new right either. But I do want people to follow these rights, because the world will become such a better place. So, that is actually a thing I want to change: everyone on earth should follow these 30 Human Rights.
If you were able to speak with an important person about human rights, who would it be?
I have already met Nelson Mandela one time, and I really liked this. He is such an icon for me. But, if I could choose someone else, I would choose the Chinese painter Ai Weiwei, because he battles against the Chinese government and also dedicates himself to Human Rights. If I could also choose from dead persons, I would really like to speak with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was in the organization that introduced the 30 Human Rights, and I would really like to speak her about the Human Rights and how we can change the world.
The link in our assignment with human rights is very clear I think. That is because the person we interviewed is a dean at the Roosevelt Academy and gives human rights at the university and also gives her own time in favor of human rights. Also she has met a lot of people who had a lot to do with human rights for example Nelson Mandela who was in jail for nearly 30 years because he fought inequality and after his imprisoning went to become the president of South Africa.
For our human rights project, we had an interview with Barbara Oomen. Barbara Oomen works at the Roosevelt University, and has a lot of knowledge about human right. That’s why we went to the Roosevelt University to ask her a couple of questions.
Interview Prof. Barbara Oomen
Can you tell us something about your job? What is your job?
I am dean at the Roosevelt University, which means that I’m actually the head of the college. Secondly, I also teach Human Rights classes here at the university. I have also written a few books, including books about the International Criminal Law, the SGP case and a book about my experiences in South Africa, where I have lived for half a year.
Why did you choose to do this job to earn your living?
Well, I studied for lawyer at a university. When I was living in South Africa, I realized how many differences there are between people over the whole world. I wanted to do something with that feeling, so I started interesting myself in the subject of Human Rights.
What do you think is the most interested about your job?
Something I find very interesting is the fact that I teach students coming from all over the world. I have students from Nepal, Belgium but also students coming from Zoutelande. They all live together here in Middelburg, and they’re all really motivated students.
Do you have one outstanding story about human rights, refugees or immigrants?
No, I don’t really have one outstanding story, but in my carrier I have met so many people who's rights have been violated. For example, in South Africa I met a woman who has been tied up behind a car, and a woman who has been tortured. But I do not think this doesn’t happen in the Netherlands. I think it is all closer to us than we maybe think it is.
What do you think we should change of the human rights, so that we can make them better? Or do you think it’s okay like this?Well, there is a difference between the official Declaration of Human Rights, and the use of it. Because a declaration is just a declaration. You can’t go to court because someone has violated the rights of the declaration. So, I think the Human Rights we have on paper, do not need to change. They’re good like this, and I can’t think of a new right either. But I do want people to follow these rights, because the world will become such a better place. So, that is actually a thing I want to change: everyone on earth should follow these 30 Human Rights.
If you were able to speak with an important person about human rights, who would it be?
I have already met Nelson Mandela one time, and I really liked this. He is such an icon for me. But, if I could choose someone else, I would choose the Chinese painter Ai Weiwei, because he battles against the Chinese government and also dedicates himself to Human Rights. If I could also choose from dead persons, I would really like to speak with Eleanor Roosevelt. She was in the organization that introduced the 30 Human Rights, and I would really like to speak her about the Human Rights and how we can change the world.
The link in our assignment with human rights is very clear I think. That is because the person we interviewed is a dean at the Roosevelt Academy and gives human rights at the university and also gives her own time in favor of human rights. Also she has met a lot of people who had a lot to do with human rights for example Nelson Mandela who was in jail for nearly 30 years because he fought inequality and after his imprisoning went to become the president of South Africa.