Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. and Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights are pleased to sponsor this seminar.

Thursday, June 21, 2007, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.,
U.S. Bank Plaza, 200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000, Minneapolis, MN

Kirk Allison, Program in Human Rights and Health, U of M
Mark Anderson, Barbara Schneider Foundation
Joe Carlile, Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s Office

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that “[e]veryone has the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being of himself and of his family, including medical care…” How we design and implement health policies and programs in the U.S. can either promote or violate human rights. The failure to promote and defend human rights can lead to serious health consequences. However, we can reduce people’s vulnerability to ill health by taking steps to respect, protect and fulfill human rights obligations. What does it mean to promote and protect the right to health and medical care? Who is protected? How do socioeconomic inequalities in the U.S. become human rights violations regarding the right to health? How are we failing to protect the human rights of people with mental illness? What are some legislative initiatives to address the right to health and medical care? The speakers will answer these and other questions during this thought-provoking lecture.

Biographical Information

Kirk Allison is Executive Director of the Program in Human Rights and Health in the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health where he teaches on health and human rights. A Fulbright scholar (University of Munich), his graduate degrees include a Ph.D. in Germanic Studies (University of Minnesota; thesis on the intersection of medicine, literature, politics, and eugenics) and an M.S. in Health Services Research, Policy and Administration. In the past year he has presented Congressional testimony on organ harvesting in China and co-authored a study on Minnesota physician attitudes toward health care financing alternatives.

Mark Anderson is Executive Director of the Barbara Schneider Foundation, a Minnesota based non-profit that works with it’s partners in law enforcement, courts, corrections, mental health, social services and health care to improve the response to mental health crisis and prevent mental health crises. He was an advisor to Senator Wellstone on health care and human rights issues in Wellstone’s US Senate Office where he advised Wellstone on universal health coverage, mental health and substance abuse treatment parity, human rights in Colombia, reform of the US immigration system and many other human rights related issues. He has a BA from the University of California in Political Science and an MA from Hamline University in Liberal Studies. Besides his work with the Foundation he consults on health care and human rights issues.

Joe Carlile has worked with Congresswoman Betty McCollum in various capacities in the last few years. Joe began his work in the office as a District Office Representative, handling casework and outreach in the areas of healthcare, housing, immigration, labor, banking and finance. After a brief hiatus to attend graduate school, Joe returned to the office as a District Outreach Specialist, doing outreach around the Congresswoman’s Appropriations Committee assignment, as well as healthcare. Joe has graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Please R.S.V.P. by Tuesday, June 19:
Julia Kashaeva
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
Phone: (612) 341-3302 ext. 127
Email: jkashaeva@mnadvocates.org

Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP. Application will be made for one CLE credit.

This human rights speaker series will be held on the third Thursday of every other month throughout 2007. (Please note that the day of this particular lecture is an exception.). Lectures are free and open to the public (registration required). Lunch will be provided for those who pre-register. Application will be made for one Continuing Legal Education credit. For more information, please contact Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. You may find directions to Fredrikson & Byron at: www.fredlaw.com/contact.htm