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UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights Virtual Program

Virtual, Spain, Morocco, Nigeria, UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights Virtual Program
Virtual, Spain, Morocco, Nigeria, UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights Virtual Program
Virtual, Spain, Morocco, Nigeria, UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights Virtual Program
Virtual, Spain, Morocco, Nigeria, UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights Virtual Program

We are not accepting applications for this program for Summer 2024.
Click here for a full list of programs currently accepting applications.

Virtual, Virtual

UW Circle of Care for Global Health and Human Rights is a virtual study abroad program offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with International Academic Programs (IAP). This virtual program expands the idea of an international “Field Experience” and allows students to address issues of sex-trafficking and human rights violations by engaging with individuals and organizations on the ground in Spain, Morocco, and Nigeria in an online format. 

In a time when the meaning of borders has dramatically shifted, this course will help us reexamine borders and explore human trafficking and human rights. It will cover three of the key territories on the route of migrant women from West Africa (specifically Nigerian women): Spain, Morocco, and Nigeria. It will take place over three weeks, one for each territory. In each territory there will be organizations that will manage the infrastructure, technology, and resources (human and material) necessary to carry out the virtual activities. 

This course will use trauma-informed virtual participatory techniques and collective discourses to develop a circle of Care and Communication between UW students/course leaders, victims/survivors, and the staff of organizations in Spain, Morocco, and Nigeria. In order to elevate the experiences and suppressed voices of victims and survivors of human trafficking, this course will heavily rely on collective narratives and life stories, drawing upon the lived experience, leadership, wisdom, and courage of these remarkable human beings. “Care” and “communication” techniques will be used to approach victims/survivors in a virtual way. Our goal is to open up virtual spaces for interaction and communication. 

Geographic Focus - Spain, Morocco, and Nigeria

Spain is one of the major destination countries in Europe for women and girls trafficked from African countries, primarily from Nigeria (Benin City), for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Every year, hundreds of women and girls begin a tremendously dangerous and harsh trip throughout the African continent towards the North, with the dream of reaching Europe; by the time they arrive at the Spanish border with Morocco, most of them are already caught up in sex-trafficking networks. Morocco is a major transit country for migrants from sub-Saharan countries trying to reach Europe. In the last few years, however, strict border control initiatives established by the European Union between Spain and Morocco have resulted in an increased number of migrants who reside more permanently in Morocco, especially in larger cities like Rabat and Casablanca.

UNESCO Chair on Gender, Wellbeing, and a Culture of Peace at UW-Madison 

This course is offered within the institutional international framework of the UNESCO Chair on Gender, Wellbeing, and a Culture of Peace at UW-Madison. UNESCO’s mission during these difficult times of COVID 19 pandemic, is to strengthen education systems to ensure international collaboration and prevent abuse, exploitation and other human rights violations. Investing in virtual education during this crisis would help to increase resilience and social cohesion across communities, organizations and academic institutions. The UW UNESCO Chair is pursuing a line of work with the 4W UW-Madison STREETS Project (Social Transformations to End the Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex) on human and sex-trafficking as extreme violations of human rights. Through its transnational collaborative nature, the 4W-UNESCO Chair is devoted to fostering community engagement and applied research, as well as interdisciplinary and intersectoral dialogue with specific pragmatic goals to combat human and sex-trafficking.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Define human trafficking in historical and geographical contexts, and gain an understanding of the scope and magnitude of human trafficking, both domestically and internationally
  • Contextualize key terminology associated with human trafficking
  • Use different trauma-informed virtual tools and techniques to identify different aspects of the trafficking process
  • Understand the construction of silence in the lives of victims and survivors
  • Through collective narratives based primarily on the visual arts (painting, collage, photography, etc.), help the staff of organizations, and also victims and survivors to find and use their previously silenced life experience.
  • Recognize the roles of various disciplines, organizations, and professionals working on anti-trafficking efforts
  • Understand sex trafficking from multiple perspectives including non-governmental organizations, governmental organizations, academics and researchers, civil society, victims and survivors 
  • Engage in a series of educational virtual workshops and activities with international human rights activists, survivors, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations
  • Understand and analyze the demand side of trafficking
  • Identify efforts undertaken in Spain and Morocco to assist trafficking victims, prosecute traffickers, prevent trafficking, and reduce the demand for commercial sex
  • Share final projects with specialized anti-trafficking organizations in Spain, Nigeria, Morocco

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Depending on the number of applicants, a short interview may be required with the instructor.
  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Knowing a foreign language is not a requirement for this course.
  • Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Sex Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Public Health, Global Health

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Program Duration

Summer: Late May - Mid-June (3 weeks)

Application Deadline(s)

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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Students receive three credits of Nutritional Sciences 421 for the completion of this program.

The advocacy-training component of this program will focus on topics related to the mechanics of commercial sexual exploitation with attention to supply and demand issues, vulnerability factors, immigration legislation, and the overall impact on survivors’ rights, health, and their status in society. Students will learn about the physical and psychological health consequences as well as principles for promoting the human and health rights of trafficked women and girls. This program will give a deep perspective on the connections between global and local by focusing on the lives of trafficked persons, the work of traffickers, and both the opportunities and limitations for action by policymakers, law enforcement, researchers, and human rights activists.

Tentative Program Schedule (day by day activities will be shared with the students during orientation)

Program dates are 5/24/2021 through 6/13/2021.

Most program activities and interactive workshops will take place between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM Central Time, although some days will finish later; the schedule is subject to change, so please keep your calendar as flexible as possible during the program dates.

Week 1 – Spain (multiple locations within the country)

Main Topics: Contextualization of European destination and demand sites. Introduction to the course. Exploring destination sites of human trafficking—Madrid and the Mediterranean (Benidorm city). What does “destination” mean for women who have migrated from central-west Africa and who have been involved in trafficking networks? Interaction with Nigerian women in destination sites, some of them in rehabilitation and others still in trafficking networks; creative interviews based on lived experiences, personal narratives through the arts. Legal aspects of trafficking in destination.

Week 2 – Morocco (multiple locations within the country)

Main Topics: Contextualization of migration route from West Africa. Control and outsourcing of European borders from the human rights perspective. African migration and gender. Strategies and resources to support the migrant population during their transit in Morocco, especially women. Creative interviews with migrant women through the arts, some still in trafficking networks hoping to arrive in destination countries: What does Europe mean while still in transit? Reconstruction of migration and trafficking routes through the arts—body expression.

Week 3 – Nigeria (multiple locations within the country)

Main Topics: Conceptualization of Nigeria as the main country of origin in trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe. Sociocultural keys to approach the characteristics of Nigerian Trafficking. Recruitment of victims of trafficking. Trafficking networks. What is happening in Nigeria? More precisely, what is happening in Benin City? Vulnerabilities. Prevention and sensitization programs. Voluntary return and deportation programs. Creative interview with women who have returned to Nigeria after being trafficked. 

Final Group Project Examples


Virtual, UW Circle of Care for Global Health & Human Rights

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Program leader photo placeholder

Dr. Araceli Alonso and Dr. Esperanza Jorge-Barbuzano

This program is co-led by UW faculty member Dr. Araceli Alonso (located in Madison) and Dr. Esperanza Jorge-Barbuzano (located in Spain).