Noushin Ketabi, 2010
Center for Human Rights and the Environment (CEDHA)
Córdoba, Argentina
May –July 2008
The Center for Human Rights and the Environment (CEDHA)
CEDHA is a non-profit organization based in Córdoba, Argentina with a second office in Buenos Aires. The Córdoba headquarters house about ten staff members including attorneys and policy analysts, while Buenos Aires has another handful of employees.
CEDHA employs research, litigation and advocacy as tools toward optimizing the sustainability of our natural resources and enhancing human rights in Latin America. The organization aims to increase awareness and collaboration among human rights and environmental advocates by promoting public policy based upon inclusive socially and environmentally sustainable development. The organization also litigates cases of specialized harm resulting from the environmental violations of state and private actors. More information on CEDHA’s specific programs can be found at their website: http://www.cedha.org.ar.
My Work at CEDHA
My internship was principally oriented toward writing two policy reports. One report was a general summary of the effects of climate change on Latin America. My assessment was two-fold: I analyzed both the particularized threats facing Latin America from climate change, while identifying individual countries’ infrastructural weaknesses in the face of these threats. My report highlighted policies that were started with an aim to mitigate climate change’s effects, such as carbon offset projects and biofuel production, which have had negative human rights implications for specific communities, such as indigenous groups, in Latin America. CEDHA will use my report as part of a presentation to the Organization of American States (OAS) as the regional body develops a climate change program for Latin America.
The second report I worked on focused on human rights abuses against environmental defenders in Latin America. The bulk of this work required extensive research of various sources, such as Amnesty International reports, press, and information from governmental agencies, to create a compilation of the recorded human rights abuses suffered by individuals and groups that defend environmental resources against threats posed by various private and public actors.
While in a perfect world, I would have had the chance to perform more legal advocacy, I feel fortunate to have had the chance to play a pivotal role in creating two reports for CEDHA given my limited internship period.
My Career
I came to CEDHA with a foundation in environmental legal and policy experience working with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for two years, and with the California Climate Action Registry. I chose to work with CEDHA because I seek to understand the dynamics of legal and policy environmental advocacy in an international context. As I look toward my career, I am committed to advocating on behalf of sustainable development – especially as our world becomes more globalized, crowded, and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. I am currently pursuing a Masters in International Political Economy and Development in conjunction with my J.D. degree to fortify my knowledge base in this important field.
One of the most compelling environmental issues plaguing Latin America is related to the negative externalities derived from the high production of certain organic sources of biofuels, such as soy. I poured over numerous reports and cases that elucidated how the heightened production of soy has led to environmental degradation, and direct political and civil human rights abuses. I was so struck by this discovery that I am currently writing a Note based in part on this phenomenon -- which exists under the mainstream radar of environmental advocacy in the developed world. More abstractly, I gained a comprehensive conception of how small our world truly is. While my undergrad education was presumed on the notion that we, as American citizens, have a duty to assess how our policies affect the world, I saw the reality of this belief in how our climate change policies directly impact the environment in the developing world.
The Office
I truly enjoyed every aspect of working with CEDHA. As CEDHA receives interns from various corners of the world, our small office held a diverse group of intelligent, committed, fantastic individuals. I particularly appreciated having the opportunity to become acquainted with law and policy students from around the world. Between our small group of interns, we developed a strong bond that has continued as we have each returned to our respective homelands.
One aspect that I most valued from the experience was the ability to carve out my own work. Like most of non-profits, CEDHA benefits and suffers from a weighty workload, and I had the option of selecting what areas I preferred to focus on given my limited time. CEDHA was quite accommodating in scheduling, allowing the interns to choose our daily hours. I especially appreciated this aspect, as it allowed me the chance to take Spanish classes on the side. Taking Spanish concurrently with the internship was critical in improving my Spanish skills -- one of my foci this summer.
In conclusion, I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to work with CEDHA as a Leitner fellow. The experience strengthened by environmental advocacy skills, introduced me to critical human rights issues, and reaffirmed my conviction to work toward making this world, in any modest way, a better place.
Friends from CEDHA (and my Mom visiting!)
Mountains near the Chilean border
Puente del Inca near Mendoza
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