Human Rights Week kicked off last night in the Memorial Union as a panel of experts answered students' questions about immigration rights.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee, the WUD Art Committee and other student organizations will host celebratory events throughout the week.
Although the events will be student-run, The Human Rights Initiative and World Affairs and Global Economy will also help promote awareness on campus.
We think [the collaboration] is such a great idea,"" Florence Chenoweth, managing director of the Human Rights Initiative, said. ""We've been participating in their meetings and brainstorming with them.""
Topics being covered this week are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, established by the United Nations in 1948.
According to Amanda Schmidt, member of the WUD Arts Committee, the declaration deals with many things people consider human rights, but also some that people would not.
""We're hoping through this week we can bring awareness to this declaration and to the rights that are being violated on a daily basis by ... millions of people,"" she said.
Leaders from the Madison community spoke about their experiences where immigrants' rights have been infringed upon, and what can be done to change the situation.
Documentary filmmaker Dan Banda said the issue extends beyond Mexico and the United States.
""We're really looking at an enormous amount of people moving every year to find work,"" he said. ""This is a global issue.""
Alex Gillis of the Immigrant Workers Union said the way to protect workers so their rights are not being infringed upon is to pass legislation so immigrants have the rights to live.
""I think how we treat the immigrants says a lot about our society and how brutal or not - how civilized or not - we are,"" he said.
The WUD Arts Committee will be running a campaign this week called the Button Project to spread awareness about the issue. Members will distribute 5,000 bright buttons around campus for students to wear.
For more information about the events this week visit today.wisc.edu.
