Below is an article published by UNPO:

Forty young Degar youths from different cities across North Carolina, USA spent 2 days undertaking a course designed not only to help them identify their rights as enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) but also to assist them advocate for wider application of such rights in the US as well as back in the Central Highlands, Viet Nam, homeland of the Degar people. Just three of the participants had been born in the US, others having fled along with family or alone in the years preceding.

As one young participant noted, after the training, held on August 27 and 28 2010, “I feel more confident now in identifying the different UN structures that are there to assist us”, and another said that it had been an “exciting and fun way to learn”.

The first day also showed just how complex the idea of universal rights can be, especially in different cultures and mentalities. Discussions and debates about how far you could apply the UDHR gave the day an exciting and provocative edge. UNPO Programme Coordinator and facilitator for the two-day session, Maggie Murphy outlined the UN Treaty Body system, showing which Treaties had the signature of Viet Nam, the US, Cambodia and other countries. The second day had a much more practical feel, with participants taking part in role-plays to simulate lobbying meetings, as well as a press conference to give the participants a real feel for the pressure that they may come under when becoming advocates of Degar rights.

The training session took place in Greensboro, at the Church of the Degar People (Sang Ae Die Degar) and many other members of the Degar community showed their support throughout the weekend. Murphy was asked to speak during the service on the Sunday morning and spoke about how the young people and indeed the unity of the Degar people within this community were inspirational in and of themselves, showing great courage and commitment when sometimes it is easier to walk away.

“We were so excited when we heard UNPO was coming to train us”, said one participant. “We were so eager to learn and understand more but nobody had ever come to help train us before”. UNPO looks forward to continuing the work in the future.